Mavericks buyout targets: Ranking the best remaining candidates

The Dallas Mavericks signed Justin Holiday in the buyout market to fill their final roster spot. They needed wing depth after the Kyrie Irving trade, and it appeared the Mavs had landed Terrence Ross before the Suns swooped in to sign him at the last moment. Dallas quickly pivoted to Holiday to give them a steady 3-and-D option off the bench.

The blockbuster trade for Kyrie has the Mavericks eyeing title contention. They now have two superstars in their backcourt, and Dallas needs pieces around them to jump into the championship mix.

The Mavs do not have an open roster spot, but they have four players on expiring contracts that could be easily waived if Dallas sees an upgrade on the buyout market. The available free agents are getting slim, but here are the three best candidates for the Mavericks.

Best remaining Dallas Mavericks buyout target: 3. Serge Ibaka

Ibaka fell out of the Bucks rotation, and he was away from the team for a significant stretch. The 6’10 big man averaged just 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in his 11.6 minutes per contest over 16 games this season. Ibaka was traded to the Pacers at the deadline, and he is already available on the buyout market.

The 33-year-old struggled and injuries have hampered him in recent years, but he was a productive rotation player in a limited role last season.

The Mavericks desperately need defense after the Kyrie Irving trade, and Ibaka is known for his D. He is a three-time All-Defensive first-teamer, and he led the league in blocks for two straight years. Ibaka helped the Raptors win a championship in 2019 as a rim protector and rebounder off the bench.

If Serge Ibaka has anything left to offer a contending team, the Dallas Mavericks could use it. They have struggled to protect the rim, and the Mavs are the worst rebounding team in the NBA this season. Ibaka is past his prime, but it will be interesting to see if he gets another shot on a contending team. Can he help? Time will tell.