Where do Dallas Mavericks rank in Bleacher Report’s future projections?

The Dallas Mavericks signed Luka Doncic to a rookie max extension last summer. Before the deal even kicked in, he led his team to the conference finals and earned first-team All-NBA for the third straight year. Doncic is unquestionably one of the best players in the league, and he should have the Mavericks in contention every year of his new deal.

The offseason did not go as planned in Dallas. Jalen Brunson signed with the Knicks in free agency, and the Mavs got nothing in return. They improved their frontcourt, but the front office failed to make a massive splash after their deep playoff run. Execs rated the Mavericks offseason as the worst in the league in a recent ESPN survey.

What are the team’s prospects over the next three years? Are they set up to be one of the league’s best or will Dallas take a step backward? Bleacher Report ranked the league based on their future projections over the next three years, but where did the Mavericks land?

Where do Dallas Mavericks rank in Bleacher Report’s future projections?

The Mavs sit sixth largely on the back of the prospects of having Doncic. Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey was high on their role players, the addition of Christian Wood, and Spencer Dinwiddie stepping into a larger role. The Mavs ranked just ahead of the Suns, Clippers, and Sixers, who all believe they will be contending for a championship this year.

Dallas needs to improve Luka’s supporting cast if they want to vault into the top five in rankings like these, and the 2023 offseason may be their moment to do it. The Mavericks will not have cap space, but for the first time since Doncic joined the team, they will have all of their first-round picks to trade. Can the Mavs find a star player that pairs well with Luka next summer?

If not, Dallas will have cap space in 2024. Their track record of landing a marquee name is awful, but can they finally do it? Will another star want to join forces with Luka Doncic to try to chase a ring? It is possible if all else fails over the next two years.

Fans can make a case that the Mavericks should have ranked higher than the Warriors and Nuggets over the next three years. Golden State’s core is all in their 30s, so a drop-off will be coming. Denver has Nikola Jokic, but Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are both coming off significant injuries. How will they bounce back? The Mavs are one top-end talent from being in the top three and being a legitimate title contender every year.

How will the Dallas Mavericks build the team around Luka Doncic? What is their next move? Stay tuned to find out.