Did the Dallas Mavericks improve this offseason despite losing Jalen Brunson?

Did the Dallas Mavericks improve this offseason? Why the answer could change quickly

Losing Jalen Brunson hurt, but the Mavericks have more depth for the 2022-2023 season. Dwight Powell and Davis Bertans can be replaced in the rotation with Christian Wood and JaVale McGee. Nobody is going to argue that Powell and Bertans are better players, so the front office clearly upgraded the frontcourt.

Right now, Tim Hardaway Jr. is replacing Jalen Brunson. That is a significant downgrade in the eyes of most, but fans are quick to forget that it was THJ averaging 17 points per game in the 2021 playoffs. He was the team’s second-leading scorer with Brunson scoring just eight a night and virtually dropping out of the rotation in Game 7 against the Clippers.

Determining if the Mavs improved this offseason comes down to how you weigh out depth versus top-end talent. Brunson was unquestionably a better player last season than Wood and Hardaway Jr., but the team playoff rotation is more stout. McGee will outperform Dwight Powell. Wood and THJ should more than cover for Brunson’s scoring, and having two players makes Kidd’s rotation deeper.

The Dallas Mavericks are going to keep improving this roster. They will add another playmaker and ball-handler before the trade deadline in February. Dallas could also improve the rotation by adding a 3-and-D wing that can spell Dorian Finney-Smith and Reggie Bullock in the postseason.

Those pieces would make the Mavs an unquestionably better team, despite losing Jalen Brunson this offseason. Fans should be optimistic heading into the 2022-2023 season. Yes, the Western Conference is loaded with talent, but Luka Doncic and the Mavericks are ready for that challenge. They just proved they can compete with the league’s best, and things should only be better in the coming year, so do not miss it.