2 Mavericks that earned untouchable status, 4 that should be cut loose

The Dallas Mavericks just wrapped up a disappointing season that featured an epic collapse that saw them drop from fourth to 11th in the Western Conference over the final two months. They won just seven of their final 25 games as little went right for Dallas. Luka Doncic was still putting up historic numbers, but the roster around him was subpar, and the results speak volumes.

The Mavericks now face a crucial offseason. There is already fear that Doncic will request a trade in 2024 if the roster around him does not improve. Kyrie Irving is a free agent, and there are real reasons to think that he has played his last game as a Maverick. Dallas must add defense and depth after finding a way to keep the eight-time All-Star. The Mavs front office certainly has their work cut out for them.

There was plenty to learn about their roster this season, and here are six players who changed their values. Two joined Doncic in the untouchable category, with the caveat that Dallas would trade anyone not named Luka for the right price, and four are on the chopping block this summer.

Dallas Mavericks player that earned untouchable status: 2. Jaden Hardy

The Mavs traded back into the 2022 NBA Draft to select Jaden Hardy 37th overall. They were targeting him with their late first-round pick before dealing it to Houston to get Christian Wood. When Hardy slipped into the second round, Dallas pounced back in to grab the 6’4 guard.

Hardy was the number two player in his class coming out of high school, but he decided to play for the G League Ignite over going to college. The teenager struggled against pros, but he quickly outperformed his draft stock this season. The 20-year-old is a walking bucket that shot 40.4 percent from 3-point range over 177 attempts.

The rookie guard improved throughout the year, and the coaching staff often praised his work ethic. Over his final 37 games played, Hardy averaged 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 17.1 minutes per game as he shot 45.3 percent from the field and 43.3 percent on his 3-point tries.

Jaden Hardy showed enough during his rookie season to have the Dallas Mavericks excited about his present and future. The team hopes he can crack the rotation next season, and the 20-year-old looks like the franchise’s future sixth man. He was not the only young wing to impress this season.

Dallas Mavericks player that earned untouchable status: 1. Josh Green

Green rarely played during his rookie season, which was made worse by the pandemic. The draft process and practice time were limited, so it felt like a lost season for many rookies. The 6’5 wing showed flashes in year two, but he struggled to nail down a consistent impactful role. Green went to work last offseason, and the improvements were on full display.

The 22-year-old averaged 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per game as he shot 53.7 percent from the field and 40.2 percent on his 3-point tries. Green’s numbers may not leap off the screen, but he impacts the game with his energy, effort, and unique skill set. He can handle the ball in a pinch and is more than just a catch-and-shoot option.

The consistency was not always there for Green. There were games where he disappeared and struggled to stay on the floor, but the positive flashes outweighed the negative. The 6’5 wing needs to continue working on his jumper and defense because the Mavericks need a 3-and-D wing. Josh Green could fill that role, but it will take another summer of improvement.

Fans know the 22-year-old is going to put in the work and continue improving. He is the Dallas Mavericks' third-most important player behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Green could sign an extension this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if the Mavs can lock him down before his value increases any further.

Dallas Mavericks player that should be cut loose: 4. Frank Ntilikina

The Mavs desperately need to improve their bench, and that starts with letting Frank Ntilikina walk in free agency. Dallas took a chance on the former lottery pick, but things have not worked out. They hoped his jumper would improve, and the French Prince would blossom into a 3-and-D wing that every team covets.

In his two seasons in Dallas, Ntilikina has averaged 3.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 19.5 minutes per game. Injuries have played a factor, but the biggest issues happened this season.

The Dallas Mavericks desperately needed defense after the Kyrie Irving trade. They failed to address that issue on the trade market, and coach Kidd was searching for any answer. After the trade, Ntilikina averaged just 12.0 minutes per night before the last two games when Dallas tanked to improve their draft position. If Frank Ntilikina cannot get on the floor when the team needs his best skill, when does he?

His offensive game is lacking. Ntilikina was drafted as a point guard, but he struggles as a playmaker and shot-creator. The Mavs wanted him to be a 3-and-D wing, but he cannot consistently hit open jumpers.

Frank Ntilikina is a player without a position in the NBA, and the Mavericks must improve their depth this offseason. It is time to let the 24-year-old guard go and look for an upgrade in free agency.

Dallas Mavericks player that should be cut loose: 3. Dwight Powell

The Mavs signed JaVale McGee to be their starting center and traded for Christian Wood to replace Powell in the rotation. DP was a DNP-CD in three of the first four games, and he only played against the Grizzlies because it was a 41-point blowout win. Things fell apart from there.

McGee did not fit, so he went from starting center to out of the rotation quickly. Wood struggled mightily on defense, which limited his minutes and production. That opened the door for Powell to reclaim the starting center gig, and the 31-year-old never looked back.

Powell is what he is at this point in his career. He is a strong pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic that struggles to rebound and protect the rim. DP is a fine backup big man, but he should not be the starter on a team with aspirations of contending.

The Dallas Mavericks desperately need an upgrade at the five this summer. Rumors suggest they want to bring Powell back as their backup center, but they must cut him loose as the starter. Letting him play spot minutes off the bench as a third-string option should be the plan for the Mavs, but can they find two players better?

Dallas Mavericks player that should be cut loose: 2. JaVale McGee

The Mavs signed McGee to a three-year deal worth $17.2 million in the summer of 2022. He was the team’s marquee free agent signing as they used the majority of their mid-level exception to land him. Dallas needed an upgrade at the five, and they believed in McGee after he worked with head coach Jason Kidd in Los Angeles.

Things just did not work out, and it should not be shocking. The only time McGee has consistently held down a starting center gig in his career was those two seasons in LA, and even then, he only played in 14 of the 21 playoff games during the team’s postseason run. McGee is a fine backup, but things have not worked out in Dallas.

The Mavericks need to move on this summer. They have to replace JaVale McGee with a wing or big man that coach Kidd is comfortable using off the bench. The franchise's best bet is to throw McGee into a trade for salary-matching purposes before trying to sign a center replacement on the open market.

The Dallas Mavericks had arguably the worst big-man group in the NBA this season, and they must move on from a third center this summer if they want to jump back into the playoff picture.

Dallas Mavericks player that should be cut loose: 1. Christian Wood

Wood put up numbers, but his team has never reached the playoffs in his seven years in the NBA. He came to Dallas to finally play on a contender, but the epic collapse after the Kyrie Irving trade kept the Mavericks from reaching the postseason. Now, they are praying that they can keep their top-ten protected first-round pick in the lottery.

C-Wood averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 25.9 minutes per game for the season while shooting 51.5 percent from the field and 37.6 percent on his 3-point attempts.

He produced monster numbers, especially per minute, but the defense was another story. Wood struggled to protect the rim and frequently missed assignments. Head coach Jason Kidd did not want to start him, but he did crack the opening group 17 times in 67 games played.

Christian Wood is a free agent this offseason, and the Dallas Mavericks must let him go. The 6’10 big man will not be trusted to play more next season. He averaged just 20.8 per game after the Kyrie trade, and the team is not finding more minutes for him. Dallas cannot afford to have three defensive liabilities on the floor at the same time, so Wood must go.

The Mavericks need to make massive changes this offseason, but can they improve their roster enough to be title contenders? Stay tuned to find out.