Mavericks already have the perfect weapon to help Sergio De Larrea succeed

Sergio De Larrea hasn't played a game with the Dallas Mavericks yet, but the roster already has the tool that he needs to succeed — elite rim-rolling bigs who are good at catching lobs.

De Larrea proved that he has a gift for operating out of the pick-and-roll and throwing alley-oops during NBA Summer League, and his success in this area in Las Vegas should translate to Dallas, considering the roster they have in place. Dallas' frontcourt lacks self-creation, but they make up for it in finishing.

Why De Larrea will help Dallas' bigs feast

The Mavericks' center rotation is led by Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, two players who played meaningful minutes during their run to the NBA Finals in 2024. Luka Doncic helped bring out the best in both players with his lob passing and IQ, and De Larrea will have the chance to do the same.

His IQ, selflessness, and precise passing will help these bigs feast inside, as he should be able to create countless open looks for them. Whether De Larrea is running a pick-and-roll with Gafford or Lively II or just running with them in transition, he will always look to get them the ball to finish at the rim.

Dallas' big men haven't played with many elite playmakers since Doncic was traded in 2025, and De Larrea gives the team's offense a wrinkle that they've missed for some time.

While Lively II and Gafford are currently the team's best two centers, their lob threats don't stop there. Second-year big man Moussa Cisse is also an exceptional alley-oop catcher, and he loves to run in transition. He'll get plenty of looks around the basket that he wouldn't have gotten otherwise when sharing the court with De Larrea, and both players will have the chance to prove themselves as key pieces of the young core with a solid season.

Mavericks have lob threats beyond the center position

The Mavericks have other good alley-oop finishers who don't primarily play center as well. Morez Johnson Jr., Cooper Flagg, and Tobi Lawal all love to finish above the rim, and we'll likely see some highlight-reel plays between De Larrea and each of these guys.

We already got a glimpse of what De Larrea looks like when sharing the floor with Johnson Jr., as the two players connected for some big-time plays that ended with dunks for Johnson Jr. in Summer League. De Larrea is already building good chemistry with his fellow rookie, and De Larrea's Summer League-leading 8.8 assists per game is just the start of what his passing can look like at the NBA level.

He has a gift for looking off the defense with his eyes before hitting a cutter in stride on the way to the basket, and with the Mavericks' frontcourt filled with athletic finishers, he's in position to maximize the players around him.

De Larrea's fit looks like it will be excellent in his first year with the Mavericks, and all of the lob finishers around him will make his life significantly easier. The young guard still needs to improve his handle, shooting, and strength before becoming a staple of Dallas' rotation, but his alley-oop passing and feel for the game is a great foundation to help him be successful for the Mavs.

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