Dallas Mavericks: 3 takeaways from the 2019-2020 season

The Dallas Mavericks need a veteran presence in the starting lineup

After watching the injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks battle in six games versus the creme de la creme of the league, the sore thumb of the roster falls on the wing. The best answer for Kawhi Leonard’s relentless mid-range game was a frontcourt player in Maxi Kleber.

Unfortunately, Kleber’s efforts, although admirable, fell short of the goal. Perhaps it wasn’t fair to assign him on such a superstar, but it was the only viable option Rick Carlisle had at his disposal.

There is a black cloud hovering over the NBA’s financials. It is difficult to gauge where the salary cap lands after a rocky year. They lost out on massive revenues by not having fans in attendance in the bubble.

With that said, the Dallas Mavericks’ current salary cap situation reinforces the idea of acquiring talent via trade. Donnie Nelson has a first-round draft pick to offer plus some role players with playoff experience. Without delving into specific names, the Mavs could use a player with a prowess for defense and an adequate 3-point shot.

Regardless of the successful journey of an overachieving undrafted player, Dorian Finney-Smith’s numbers don’t match the bill. It’s unfair to insert a player of his stature into playoff basketball guarding some of the top players in the league. Even if Finney-Smith locks horns with the best offensive stars on opposing teams, it doesn’t mean he should. Carlisle can only make do with what he’s given.

Expect a drastic change in the starting lineup moving forward. As the stakes heighten following the last honeymoon season for the Doncic era Mavericks, excuses gradually disappear from a contending franchise’s vocabulary.

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