Mavericks should pounce on neglected 'bargain' free agent to fix their defense

The Dallas Mavericks need perimeter defense, and few impending free agents offer more value defensively than Keon Ellis. After struggling to contain opposing guards throughout the 2025-26 season, Dallas should strongly consider pursuing the overlooked defensive standout in free agency.

Bleacher Report's Dan Favale listed Ellis among the top "bargain-bin free agents who could help every NBA team" in a recent article, and it's easy to see how he would fit in Dallas. Ellis was neglected by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the NBA Playoffs, as his minutes per game went from 24.8 during the regular season to 7.4 during the playoffs. This includes six DNP-CDs from Kenny Atkinson.

The 26-year-old guard is far too good to be riding the bench during the playoffs, and he's the type of player who would help fix the Mavericks' broken perimeter defense.

Mavericks’ perimeter defense issues create clear offseason need

Despite building a long, rangy, and athletic roster, the Mavericks' backcourt is severely lacking in quality perimeter defenders. Not one Dallas guard graded out as even an average defender this past season, while several struggled mightily in isolation, placing additional strain on the frontcourt. That's why Ellis could be one of the Mavericks' most important free-agent targets this summer.

Ellis ranked 51st among 274 players who logged at least 1,000 minutes in CraftedNBA’s catch-all defensive metric, CraftedDBPM. Among guards, he finished in the top 10. Even more impressive, Ellis was one of the league’s most versatile perimeter defenders despite standing just 6-foot-4 and weighing 175 pounds.

Keon Ellis’ defensive profile hints at elite perimeter ability

During the 2024-25 season, when he appeared in 80 games for the Sacramento Kings, Ellis’ four most common defensive assignments were James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Anfernee Simons, and Stephen Curry. He held all four below 50 percent shooting from the field, further showcasing his strong defensive acumen.

Looking specifically at point-of-attack defense, Ellis held opponents to just 47.4 percent shooting in isolation this past season while forcing turnovers on nearly 20 percent of those possessions. His success wasn't a one-year anomaly, either. During the 2024-25 campaign, opposing players shot just 34.1 percent against him in isolation.

Furthermore, despite its length and athleticism, Dallas struggled to generate turnovers, ranking 24th in the NBA, and finishing 29th in deflections at just 14.1 per game. Ellis, by contrast, ranked fifth among 179 players in steal percentage at 31.7 percent and 21st in deflections at 2.8 per game.

Why Keon Ellis would be a steal for the Mavericks

In short, Ellis profiles as the kind of perimeter defender the Mavericks should target to overhaul their defensive shortcomings. But beyond his fit on the court, there’s another factor that makes the former Sacramento King even more appealing as a soon-to-be free agent — his projected price tag.

Ellis had something of a down year in 2025-26, shooting below 40 percent from the field before being traded to the Cavaliers at the deadline. He played solid minutes down the stretch for the Cavs, but saw his role reduced in the postseason. With an already expensive roster on the books, Cleveland is unlikely to prioritize re-signing him, especially if he is offered the full mid-level exception or more elsewhere.

This is where Dallas could strike. The Mavericks will have both the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and the biannual exception at their disposal this offseason. Cleveland holds Ellis’ Bird rights, meaning a sign-and-trade could be a possibility, but it may not be enough to prevent him from reaching the open market if he receives stronger offers elsewhere.

The former Alabama product has flown under the radar as a potential free-agent target. But his defensive impact, low-maintenance offensive profile, and projected cost efficiency make him exactly the type of player Dallas should prioritize this offseason to fix a porous perimeter defense at a cheap price.

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