Dallas Mavericks: Ryan Broekhoff will play meaningful minutes this season

The Dallas Mavericks made the Ryan Broekhoff signing official on Aug. 6, and the wing is in line for significant minutes this season.

The Dallas Mavericks officially signed another international player on Aug. 6 with the addition of Ryan Broekhoff.

Broekhoff is Australian but played college basketball for Valparaiso.  He went undrafted in 2013, but the 27-year-old could be a steal for the Mavs.

Broekhoff will play significant minutes for Dallas this season.  Here are three reasons why that will happen this season.

Fills a positional need

The Dallas Mavericks need a rotation player on the wing that can space the floor.  That is precisely who Ryan Broekhoff is on the court.  He is 6’7 and weighs 215 pounds.  Broekhoff can play two through four in the NBA.

At shooting guard, Luka Doncic figures to be the starter and play the majority of his minutes.  Wesley Matthews will also log minutes at the two.  Devin Harris and J.J. Barea may mop up the remaining minutes at this position, though.

Harrison Barnes figures to be the starting small forward, but will also play minutes at the four.  Matthews will log some time at the three as well.  Dorian Finney-Smith is the only other impediment to Broekhoff earning time at the three.

Dirk likely starts at the four but exits the game early in the first quarter as Barnes moves down and Matthews comes off the bench.  The Mavs could play Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, or Ray Spalding here too.

Minutes are going to be available, and expect Broekhoff to be ahead of players like Finney-Smith, Kleber, and Spalding in the rotation.

Floor spacer

Ryan Broekhoff can flat out shoot the basketball.  He made 2.0 3-pointers per game last season in Russia on 48.9 percent shooting.  Over the previous five seasons, Broekhoff has made 410 of his 956 3-point attempts or 42.9 percent from deep.

The 3-point line may be further back in the NBA, but Broekhoff is a proven shooter.  His best addition to the Mavs will be floor spacing and the ability to knock down 3-pointers consistently.

Doesn’t command the ball

Ryan Broekhoff can do a lot of things on the basketball court, but he is not going to need the ball in his hands.  That is an excellent fit in Dallas as Dennis Smith Jr. and Doncic figure to do the majority of the ball handling and playmaking.

Broekhoff is happy playing off the ball.  He is a fantastic spot-up shooter.  Broekhoff is also a willing cutter and good at moving without the ball.

Do not knock him too much for this because Broekhoff is a solid passer with the ball in his hands, but he does not need that to be successful.

Final thoughts

Ryan Broekhoff will play significant, meaningful minutes for the Dallas Mavericks this season.  He may not be a superb athlete and likely struggles on the defensive end, but his shooting and floor spacing ability will be useful to the Mavs in situations.

Expect Broekhoff to play in nearly every game when healthy and be a productive part of the rotation in Dallas this season.  The 27-year-old Australian should fit nicely on the Mavs.

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