Mavericks still have a massive hole their latest signing won't fix

The Dallas Mavericks helped address their biggest weakness over the weekend by converting Ryan Nembhard's two-way contract to a standard deal. The Mavs created room for Nembhard by waiving Tyus Jones after just eight games with the team, and while fans are excited about Nembhard's potential after Dallas locked him up for the rest of this season and next, he can't fix all of their problems on his own.

The Mavericks have had an extreme problem with their shot creation and guard play all season long due to Kyrie Irving's absence, and they obviously didn't address this need seriously enough over the offseason. They signed D'Angelo Russell to a two-year deal and called it a day, and the fact that he's already off the team tells you everything you need to know about how the Mavericks felt about him.

Why the Mavericks' point guard problem is deeper than one signing

He went from being their top free agency signing to being a DNP-CD every game, and the Mavericks moved on at a good time. They sent him to the Washington Wizards as part of the Anthony Davis trade, and without him on the roster, their point guard room is down to two players.

Both guards, Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams, have been on two-way contracts over the last year, and their lack of stability in this area is one of the many reasons that they've struggled so much this season.

Dallas' weak backcourt is just the tip of the iceberg when breaking down why they're 21-40 and one of the bottom teams in the Western Conference after being in the NBA Finals less than two years ago, and they desperately need to sign or draft another high-level point guard this summer.

They can't expect Irving and Nembhard to be enough, and even if they re-sign Williams, this still won't be a formidable enough trio to hang with the best teams in the West. The final 21 games of the season will be a great test for Nembhard, and their search for more backcourt help will be one of the many stories of the offseason.

Dallas can fix their backcourt problem as soon as this summer

Dallas created some serious flexibility by trading Davis, Russell, Dante Exum, and Jaden Hardy to the Wizards, and this move alone was exactly what they needed to get Cooper Flagg some help this summer. The Mavericks will have access to the mid-level exception as well as the bi-annual exception this summer, and this could help them bring them the guard they need.

On top of their exciting free agency opportunities, they're also poised to have a top 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Dallas currently has the seventh-worst record in the NBA, and regardless of where they finish in the lottery standings, they'll have the chance to draft a high-impact guard in the lottery.

Darius Acuff Jr., Darryn Peterson, Mikel Brown Jr., and Kingston Flemings would each be strong fits if the Mavs can get their hands on him, and with their current needs and position in the lottery, it seems likely they'll target a guard in the draft.

Dallas has tons of work to do in their backcourt to return to being a playoff team, and even after Ryan Nembhard's new contract, the work can't stop there.