Dallas Mavericks: Grading the Reggie Bullock signing

The Dallas Mavericks made a flurry of moves on the opening night of free agency. They agreed to re-sign Tim Hardaway Jr. and Boban Marjanovic just minutes in. The Mavs added Sterling Brown to provide depth on the wing, but they were not done there.

According to Marc Stein, Dallas agreed to a deal with Reggie Bullock. The veteran wing was a starter for the New York Knicks last season. Shams Charania reported the contract is three years at $30.5 million between the two sides.

What skillset does Bullock bring to the Mavs? How does he fit? What grade should the organization receive for signing the 6’6 wing? Let us attempt to answer those questions.

Grading the Dallas Mavericks signing Reggie Bullock

Bullock is entering his ninth NBA season. The 6’6 wing has been primarily a starter for each of the last four. He played 30.0 minutes per game for the first time in his career last season with the Knicks. Bullock averaged 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 steals. He shot 44.2 percent from the field, 41.0 percent on his threes, and 90.9 percent from the foul line.

Bullock is the 3-and-D wing the Mavs need. He is no stranger to guarding the opposition’s top scorer, but he is not a lockdown option. The 30-year-old ranked 134th in FiveThirtyEight’s Defensive RAPTOR last season. Bullock is a career 39.2 percent 3-point shooter on over 1,400 career attempts. He should be a boost to any Mavericks unit.

The 30-year-old is not a ball-handler or playmaker. He will strictly be used as a spot-up shooter on the offensive end. Dallas wants floor spacers surrounding Luka Doncic, and Bullock is an elite shooter.

ESPN predicted the salary of every free agent (subscription required). They listed Bullock’s starting number in the $8-10 million range. The Mavs grabbed him right in the middle of that.

Dallas Mavericks grade for Reggie Bullock signing: B

The Mavs handed out a fair value contract to a skilled wing. They added some size and length. Bullock is an elite shooter that should help Dallas vault near the top in the league in offensive efficiency. It was a solid signing by Mark Cuban, Nico Harrison, and the Mavericks.

The only worry is Bullock’s lack of playoff experience. He played five games in 2021 to run his total to nine in his eight NBA seasons. Bullock saw more minutes but struggled in the Knicks’ first-round loss to the Hawks. Can the 30-year-old shine in the postseason? The Mavericks need their wings sinking open shots as Doncic draws additional attention. Bullock must be able to fill that role for Dallas to make a deep run.

The Dallas Mavericks did another solid piece of business and earned a B for agreeing with Reggie Bullock. It was not a home run, but a fair deal for both sides.

The Mavs are not done. They still want to add another key piece. How will they make it happen? Keep it locked to The Smoking Cuban to find out, plus get analysis on every transaction.