Will the Dallas Mavericks regret the 2022 offseason?

Why Dallas Mavericks won’t regret 2022 offseason: 2. Maintained flexibility

The Mavs front office did not panic after the departure of Jalen Brunson. They knew it was a possibility when he hit the open market, and it quickly became a reality as the Knicks cleared the cap space.

Losing their second-best player for nothing could have put the Mavericks into panic mode, but it did not. There was no all-in type trade where they overpaid for a talent. The Mavs accepted the setback and stuck to their plan. They upgraded their frontcourt, drafted Jaden Hardy in the second round, and brought back Theo Pinson. It was not an eye-popping summer, but the front office wanted it to be that way.

Adding only on the margins allowed the Mavericks to maintain their flexibility. They have a handful of mid-sized contracts that could be used as a salary matcher in a larger trade, but Dallas has to wait until they have the additional draft capital to move. They owe their 2023 first round to the Knicks but will have a full cupboard of draft choices next summer.

The Dallas Mavericks will not regret this summer if they can swing a trade for a star one year from now. They will have the draft capital to deal, but can they find a game-changer that is unhappy in their current situation and wants to play next to Luka Doncic? The Mavs front office believes they can.