Mavericks need to make peace with the player fans hate most to fix their defense

The Dallas Mavericks' perimeter defense has been a problem for some time now, and one of the best possible fixes to this issue began his playoff journey yesterday for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Lu Dort has become a controversial figure among Mavs fans due to his history of dirty plays, but his defensive impact is undeniable.

Why Dallas should pursue Lu Dort this summer

He is one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the NBA, and while his playstyle constantly teeters on blatant dirtiness, Dallas should take a chance here if they can. Dort has a team option on his contract for next season, and if the Thunder want to save money, they could consider declining that option.

Dallas has access to the full non-taxpayer MLE, and if they can get Dort to agree to a deal in the $14 to $15 million range, they should be all-in. Getting to utilize the MLE was one of the biggest benefits of the Anthony Davis trade, and Dort would be an incredible pickup at that number.

He has cemented himself as one of the better role players in the NBA, and his tenacity has helped make OKC one of the scariest teams in the league over the last few years.

The Mavericks have multiple paths to steal Dort from OKC

He is set to make $18.2 million next season if the Thunder opt in, and regardless of what Oklahoma City does, Dallas has a chance to pounce on him. They created a $20.8 million trade exception by trading Anthony Davis, so even if the Thunder picks up his team option, the Mavericks could pursue him in a trade.

This is a similar scenario to what they had in 2023 when they traded for Richaun Holmes, and Dort would be a perfect fit in Dallas alongside Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks desperately need someone who can defend some of the best guards in the NBA, and Dort can do all of this and more.

This season for Oklahoma City, he averaged 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 34.4 percent from downtown. It was an off year for Dort, considering that he averaged over 10 points and four rebounds per game while shooting over 41 percent from three and was voted to the All-Defensive First Team last season, but he's the type of player Dallas needs.

Dort brings exactly what the Mavs are missing

Dort can guard multiple positions while knocking down open shots, and he'd slide right into the starting lineup alongside Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He would immediately become the best pure perimeter defender on the team, and he would help get the Mavericks back on track on the defensive end.

His entire role is to lock down the other team's best player, and he does whatever it takes to achieve that goal. From face-guarding his opponent from half-court to leaving no airspace at all times, he understands his role and does it at a high level.

Whether it's through a trade or free agency, the Mavericks have multiple ways to pursue Lu Dort. It would take fans some getting used to based on his history against Dallas, but they may be able to move on quickly after seeing how much he can impact their defense.

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