The Smoking Cuban
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Dallas Mavericks free agency preview

By Evan Siegel

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 7, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 7: DeAndre Jordan #6 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Denver Nuggets on April 7, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Free agency is two days away, and the Mavericks will be active in the proceedings. Who will they pursue? Who do they hope to retain? What can be accomplished? Below is a full preview.

Trade rumors

The Dallas Mavericks have been heavily linked to DeAndre Jordan in recent days, and according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, they have made Jordan their primary target once free agency begins Sunday.

Jordan will likely command over $20 million in free agency if he decides to opt out of his $24 million option to become a free agent. If he decides to opt in, it would likely be in order to facilitate a trade to the Mavericks, which could help Dallas retain the majority of their cap room.

A trade with the Clippers would almost certainly include Wesley Matthews, which would be a major source of cap relief for a team looking to take on well north of $20 million in salary for their new center.

The Mavs would still be able to afford a pricey free agent if they were to get off of Wesley Matthews’ $18 million by sending him to the Clippers. Already with nearly $30 million in cap room, the Mavericks could find themselves with the ability to add both DeAndre Jordan and another piece to the puzzle as they look to rebuild themselves back into playoff contention.

Who could they re-sign?

At the moment, it looks like Dallas is prioritizing Jordan over some of their own free agents. Center Salah Mejri and guard Doug McDermott were both extended qualifying offers by the Mavericks, making them restricted free agents. Then in a reversal of course, Dallas rescinded both offers, remaining financially flexible, and likely clearing space for the arrival of DeAndre Jordan.

McDermott and Mejri are now unrestricted free agents and the Mavs renounced their rights to match any offers they receive. The Mavericks might be particularly interested in re-signing McDermott, who showed flashes of being a quality swingman in Rick Carlisle’s rotation in the future.

Mejri would be signed for depth purposes, but now in his 30’s and still lacking the improvement the team has been hoping he would make over the last two seasons, the Mavs would probably only be interested in bringing him back on a minimum salary.

The Nerlens Noel experiment failed tremendously, but it would not be wise to rule him out should the team’s primary targets fall through. Still in his developmental years at only 24, Noel was never properly utilized in Dallas. Not to mention he also missed a massive chunk of last season because of thumb surgery. If the Mavs are not able to get their hands on any of the summer’s biggest names at center, Noel could be a viable fallback option.

Seth Curry is the free agent the Mavs will likely pay the most attention to. Curry had his best season in Dallas after he signed a two-year deal, and averaged 13 points right out of the gate. Sadly Curry then suffered a stress fracture in his leg that cost him the entire season.

The Mavs, because of Curry’s injury, will now be able to re-sign him at a significantly lower cost. It is even possible that the Mavericks could use one of their cap exceptions to retain him once their bigger fish are reeled in.

Who will they pursue?

The interest in DeAndre Jordan is well documented, but it is not set in stone quite yet that he will be wearing the blue and white next year. If he again leaves the Mavs hanging, then there are still several options for them left on the market. The first name that comes to mind is restricted free agent Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics.

Every championship team needs a player like Marcus Smart. Defensive minded, rugged, and relentless, Smart has given the Celtics a jolt both in the starting lineup and with the second unit.

Offensively he is somewhat limited, but he did contribute a valuable 10 points per game a season ago and takes intelligent shots when the offense flows his way. You can never have enough perimeter defense, and the Mavs could use Smart’s outstanding hustle and willingness to take on any defensive assignment.

DeMarcus Cousins has been on the Mavs’ radar for some time now as well. While Dallas may have made DeAndre Jordan their primary target, the Mavs believe they have a “good chance” to land the star big man once free agency kicks off.

Cousins is not nearly the rim protector that Jordan is, but he is substantially better on the offensive end and would round out a pretty interesting attack for the Mavs with Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic. Cousins would be by far the biggest fish the Mavs have landed in recent years, and would inch the Mavs closer to the playoffs.

Other names to consider include Alex Len, Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon, Will Barton and Jabari Parker.

Next: DeAndre Jordan trade talks gaining steam

Dallas is significantly below the salary cap threshold, and will certainly look to use the majority of it to improve upon their 24-win season from a season ago. It all kicks off July 1st at 12:00 a.m. ET.