Dallas Mavericks: 5 biggest questions heading into the offseason

The Dallas Mavericks made the playoffs for the second straight year but were bounced in the first round by the LA Clippers. Luka Doncic was otherworldly in the series. He averaged 35.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 10.3 assists over the seven games, but it was not enough for the Mavs to advance to the second round for the first time since winning the championship in 2011.

Dallas has a bona fide superstar and top-five player in the NBA under contract. They cannot afford to waste a second of Luka’s incredible talent. The Mavericks should be building a title contender around him as fans read this article.

They are facing a crucial offseason. The Mavs can create $34.4 million in cap space if they decide to renounce their free agents. Dallas has important pieces hitting the open market, though. Do they re-sign their current talent or search for upgrades elsewhere? Here are the five biggest questions heading into the offseason.

Biggest questions for the Dallas Mavericks heading into the offseason

The Mavs have nine players under contract for next season. That does not include Josh Richardson’s $11.6 million player option. It will be a difficult decision for the talented wing after two consecutive subpar seasons. Does JRich search for a larger role elsewhere or cash in with the Mavericks? Dallas could look to trade the 27-year-old if he opts in.

Tim Hardaway Jr., Boban Marjanovic, and J.J. Redick are all unrestricted free agents. Nicolo Melli heads into restricted free agency with Tyler Bey and Nate Hinton. The Mavericks also have a $4.1 million team option on Willie Cauley-Stein.

Here are the five biggest questions for the Dallas Mavericks entering the 2021 offseason.

Next: No. 5

Dallas Mavericks question heading into offseason: 5. Can they fill holes?

The Mavs currently have a flawed roster. Luka Doncic produced unthinkable numbers in the playoffs because he had to for Dallas to have a chance to advance. They outscored the Clippers by seven points during his 281 minutes on the floor in the series, but LA won the 55 minutes he was on the bench by 43 points. The Mavericks need to get Doncic some help.

They crave a secondary creator that can keep the offense rolling when Luka rests. If Dallas held their own during his time on the bench, they would have won the series. The Mavericks need a veteran that can run the offense and get his teammates open shots.

Dallas will also be searching for defensive upgrades this offseason. They had the top offensive rating in the league in 2020 but slipped to eighth this season. The Mavs traded Seth Curry for Josh Richardson in hopes of sacrificing some offense for a defensive upgrade. Instead, they finished 21st in defensive rating and allowed 119.7 points per 100 possessions to the LA Clippers in the playoffs.

Dallas would also benefit from putting more shooting around Luka. They also could be searching for rebounding and rim protection upgrades on the open market. Can the Dallas Mavericks fill their holes this offseason?

Next: No. 4

Dallas Mavericks question heading into offseason: 4. Do they extend Brunson?

The Mavs are going to offer Luka Doncic a rookie max extension at the start of free agency. Expect the 22-year-old superstar to sign the contract quickly. He will be the first player to make over $200 million in their rookie extension.

Dallas has a more difficult extension decision to make this offseason. Jalen Brunson has a non-guaranteed $1.8 million deal for next season as part of the four-year contract he signed after being drafted in the second round in 2018. It is a no-brainer for the Mavericks to guarantee it, but doing so makes him an unrestricted free agent in 2022. That means they must be aggressive in inking JB to an extension if the Mavs want to keep him in Dallas long-term.

What type of offer would it take for the Dallas Mavericks to extend Brunson? The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his third NBA season as he was in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. Brunson’s playing time diminished in the playoffs, but he is a valuable piece moving forward.

Can the Mavericks agree to a contract extension with Jalen Brunson this offseason? If not, do they look to move him before he hits the open market in 2022?

Next: No. 3

Dallas Mavericks question heading into offseason: 3. Do they re-sign THJ?

Fans may view this question as an afterthought. Tim Hardaway Jr. is coming off arguably the best season of his career as he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The Mavs have unlocked his catch and shoot ability, and THJ showed improvement attacking off the dribble in 2021.

There appears to be mutual interest in keeping him in Dallas long-term. Coach Rick Carlisle called re-signing him a “priority” this offseason on June 7. Hardaway Jr. said, “I really felt like this was home for me, and I created a niche for myself here to be part of something bigger than myself” during his exit interview.

Re-signing Hardaway Jr. is a bit complicated, though. He has a $28.4 million cap hold meaning the Dallas Mavericks would have to renounce his bird rights to sign another star player. If he returns, the organization will just have the $9.5 million mid-level exception and minimum contracts to use on free agents. Will that be enough to allow them to jump into title contention? Does Dallas look to create more?

Expect Tim Hardaway Jr. to be back with the Dallas Mavericks next season. Both sides appear committed to a reunion, but things change fast in the NBA. Can they get a deal done this offseason? Stay tuned.

Next: No. 2

Dallas Mavericks question heading into offseason: 2. Should they trade KP?

Some fans may view this as the biggest question of the offseason, but things are complicated. Dallas would not be selling high on KP. He has missed 50 of the team’s 160 games over the last two seasons combined. The Unicorn saw his offensive role diminish in the playoffs and his defense declined after returning from offseason meniscus surgery.

The Mavericks still owe two first-round picks to the New York Knicks from the trade. Porzingis has over $100 million and three years left on his contract if he accepts his player option in 2023. Teams will not be lining up to acquire Kristaps.

Dallas must improve their roster this offseason. Trading Kristaps Porzingis for pennies on the dollar makes little sense given the team’s timeline. The free-agent crop is not flush with star players. The Mavs would likely have to take a step back in talent to deal KP this offseason.

Expect Dallas to field calls on the Unicorn. They are committed to building a championship threat around Luka Doncic. If the Mavericks can upgrade their roster, expect them to do it. Kristaps Porzingis is likely to be back in Dallas next season, but there are serious questions about his fit and role at this moment.

Next: No. 1

Dallas Mavericks question heading into offseason: 1. How do they improve roster?

The Mavs were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the LA Clippers for the second straight year. They will be looking to take the next step in 2022. Dallas has not advanced to the second round since winning the title in 2011. They need to upgrade their roster to achieve their goal.

Fans are wondering what the organization has in store this offseason. The Mavericks want to add talent, but they need mutual interest from the player. Who can Dallas add this summer? Will it be enough to push the Mavs into title contention in 2022?

Will they add one player or multiple pieces this offseason? Finding a player that stands out on defense and can handle the ball is the top priority. Is that piece available? Dallas will be looking to improve their floor spacing as well. Who are the targets and what pieces can they acquire this summer?

The Dallas Mavericks have options in improving their roster. They will be aggressive in field calls and making moves, but fans will have to stay tuned to see what their front office can accomplish. The Mavs have Luka Doncic, and he is not going anywhere. How do they build the roster around him? Stay tuned.