Will the Dallas Mavericks regret the 2022 offseason?

Why Dallas Mavericks won’t regret 2022 offseason: 3. Improved frontcourt

The Mavs went small in the playoffs with Maxi Kleber at the five to unlock their offense. Kleber is a strong and versatile defender, but Dallas struggled on the glass and to protect the rim. They were outrebounded in nearly every game, and Kleber was the only shot blocker left on their roster.

The front office focused on improving their frontcourt this summer. They traded four players that were outside their playoff rotation and the 26th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to Houston to acquire Christian Wood before the Warriors wrapped up the championship.

The 26-year-old will fill some of the scoring void created by Jalen Brunson’s departure. He is a career 38.0 percent 3-point shooter along with averaging 9.9 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game over his last two seasons combined in Houston.

The Mavericks used the majority of their mid-level exception on JaVale McGee. The 34-year-old is an upgrade over Dwight Powell, who started all 18 playoff games, despite playing limited minutes. McGee is an elite rebounder and rim protector that should thrive as a roll man playing off Luka Doncic.

The Dallas Mavericks upgraded their frontcourt and improve their depth this offseason. Both Wood and McGee will play in the postseason, and they should help solve the team’s biggest issues from last season. The frontcourt upgrades alone will keep the Mavs from regretting this summer.