The Mavericks' answer to their longtime frontcourt flaw is already on the roster

Marvin Bagley III has been playing with a sense of conviction ever since he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in the Anthony Davis deal, and given his 3-point shot continues to prove to be efficient, he's the exact type of big man the Mavericks must re-sign this summer. Ever since Maxi Kleber started declining in Dallas and was ultimately traded in the Luka Doncic deal, Dallas has lacked a 3-and-D type of big man, but Bagley III gives them that and more.

While Bagley III will never be a game-to-game high-volume shooter, he's put together some prolific shooting displays for a big man recently, including going 3-6 from downtown in Dallas' recent loss to the Phoenix Suns, as well as 3-5 from outside in a March 27 win versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Bagley III is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but his shooting from outside should be the final nail in the coffin for Dallas to work a deal out to re-sign him.

To go along with his shooting, he's been solid at attacking closeouts for a big, has seen success with his baby-hook shot in the post, and has a quick second jump as an offensive rebounder. With Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II (for now) both being non-shooters, Bagley III offers Dallas an immense level of lineup flexibility if they want to play five-out offense while still having a center on the floor.

Bagley III's 3-point breakout should be enough for Dallas to re-sign him

While he's not the same level rim protector as Lively II or Gafford, he's certainly not a slouch on the defensive end either, and he hasn't had enough seasons of sustained production to where he'll command more money than Dallas is willing to pay this offseason. Dallas could elect to let Bagley III walk this summer in lieu of adding another floor-spacing big this summer, but with him already in their backyard, the easiest bet would be to retain him.

Since Bagley III is on a veteran's minimum and was acquired via trade, Dallas only has his non-bird rights, meaning they can only offer him a deal of $3.7 million annually unless they dip into part of their MLE to re-sign him. However, if they were to make another salary relieving trade with someone like P.J. Washington or Gafford, this could provide a workaround to not having to use their MLE money to re-sign him.

Dallas hasn't had this type of big man since Maxi Kleber

Having just turned 27 years old, Bagley III seems to be at the precipice of his prime, and his talent on the offensive end far supersedes what Dallas ever got from someone like Kleber, as Bagley III is a former No. 2 overall pick with a decent dribble-drive game for a big, even if he's never fully hit the ceiling analysts expected from him.

It's very ironic that Bagley III is on the Mavericks after being dubbed as a bust, being that he was the pick before Doncic in the 2018 NBA Draft, but he's still extremely talented and is shooting a career-high 48 percent from downtown this season, albeit on only 0.8 attempts per game. With his shooting continuing to blossom, though, Dallas must make him a priority this offseason, as they need his skillset and versatility at the center position as the Cooper Flagg era takes off.