Mavericks' next free agent target just became impossible to ignore

Less than a week after the Dallas Mavericks' offseason began, Coby White proved exactly why the team should pursue him in free agency as the Cooper Flagg era begins.

White finished with 19 points off the bench in the Charlotte Hornets' thrilling overtime win over the Miami Heat in the first round of the Play-In Tournament, putting his name on the map right before he hits unrestricted free agency. His 17-point second half helped the Hornets pull off the victory, and they wouldn't have won if he hadn't hit the craziest shot of the postseason.

Coby White's dominant performance proves why Dallas should sign him

White hit an unbelievable game-tying 3-pointer with just over 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, helping Charlotte force overtime. Every diehard NBA fan was tuned into this game, and Mavericks fans will be hoping that Dallas pursues White once again.

The Mavericks showed interest in White at the trade deadline, and while they never made a move for him, this summer would be the best time to reignite their interest. They need a second creator to join Kyrie Irving in the backcourt desperately, and White would fill this role perfectly.

His ability to create off the dribble, knock down open shots, and act as a secondary playmaker would help take a massive load off Irving's shoulders, and with Dallas having access to the MLE, he should be right up their alley.

White averaged 17.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 36.2 percent from three for the Chicago Bulls and Hornets this season, and his performance in the postseason with Charlotte could determine the type of money he'll earn in free agency.

White is the exact guard that the Mavericks need

One of the Mavs' biggest problems all season was their guard play, as Irving missed the entire season after tearing his ACL last March. Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams did all they could, but their production clearly wasn't enough for Dallas to emerge as a playoff team.

One of their biggest priorities this summer should be finding a player to play behind Irving, and the draft and free agency should give them an excellent opportunity to shore up their guard room. Dallas will be in a position to draft a strong guard in the lottery, but this doesn't mean that they can't pursue White as well. They need playmaking and shooting badly, and his offensive game would help give the offense the dynamism it needs.

This is one of the most pivotal offseasons in franchise history, as the team has the chance to build a playoff team around Flagg. They made the Anthony Davis trade earlier this season to create financial flexibility, and now they can use it.

A combo guard like Coby White makes too much sense to ignore, and this summer may finally be the time that Mavericks fans get their wish and he comes to Dallas.

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