Mavericks' missing piece to winning a title just hit free agency in shocking fashion

With free agency beginning in just a few hours, all signs are pointing to the Dallas Mavericks signing D'Angelo Russell to a two-year deal right away to fill their final open roster spot (outside of one open two-way spot). But that shouldn't be the only move Dallas makes.

The Mavs could explore trading a player like Jaden Hardy or Olivier-Maxence Prosper to free up a roster spot, and now they have the perfect chance to pursue former Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson on the open market. Clarkson is someone who Mavs fans have wanted Nico Harrison to pursue for some time now, and with him now being available on the open market, it may be the perfect time to pounce.

Clarkson was shockingly bought out by the Jazz on Monday afternoon ahead of free agency beginning, according to ESPN's Shams Charania, and while the Mavericks have interest in signing Dante Exum if they do end up opening another roster spot, Clarkson may be the much better option to push for a title.

Mavericks must pounce on Jordan Clarkson after shocking release

Last season for the Jazz, Clarkson averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field and a near career-high of 36.2 percent from downtown. Clarkson remains one of the better sixth men in the NBA due to his brilliant scoring and flair, and with the Mavericks needing some more scoring and shooting, he would bring all of that and more.

If Dallas were to sign Clarkson, he would immediately become one of the first players off the bench, as they quietly need much more shot creation and scoring until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL tear at some point in 2026. The current roster, even after the assumed addition of Russell, doesn't have enough players who can create their own shot and score in bunches, and that's where Clarkson would come in.

Putting the ball in the hoop is Clarkson's specialty, as he can get hot extremely quickly while scoring in a variety of ways. Clarkson excels when scoring off the dribble, as he loves shooting pull-up jumpers from downtown as well as the mid-range. He also has a smooth handle that he uses to get to his spots and occasionally operate out of the pick and roll, making him someone who Jason Kidd can play at either guard spot.

Clarkson spent 21 percent of his minutes last season at point guard and 71 percent of his minutes at shooting guard, showing he can bring versatility when needed. He isn't someone you want to rely upon to be your primary initiator at all times, but when needed, he can bring the ball up and get the offense rolling.

While signing Clarkson would be a major risk, considering that the only true point guards on the 15-man roster would be Irving, Brandon Williams, and Russell, the tradeoff to acquire Clarkson's dynamism on offense may be worth it. His pure scoring is something the Mavs should be all over, as they need much more self-creation, especially at the start of the season, and signing a player like Clarkson would ensure that too much of an offensive burden isn't placed on Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg's shoulders early on.

Ryan Nembhard, the Mavs' recent two-way signing, would also help considerably in the playmaking department, and it's known that Jason Kidd wants to play Flagg at point guard at times. If Nembhard can play real minutes in his rookie year, and Flagg is advanced as a playmaker right away, then Dallas might not even need Exum to begin with, and there would be a clear need for Clarkson on the roster.

Clarkson is bound to receive plenty of interest from around the NBA in free agency, and if the Mavs decide to jump into that mix, he would be an excellent bench option.