Mavericks' 'biggest loss' of offseason will quickly turn into major win

The start of free agency this summer did not go as originally planned for Dallas Mavericks fans.

The team was fresh off their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011, and one of the key pieces that helped them reach the Finals, Derrick Jones Jr., became a free agent after the season ended. Jones Jr. wanted to return, and the Mavs wanted him back, but things quickly changed the morning of the start of free agency when he switched agents.

This was a major curveball, and rather than re-sign Jones Jr., Dallas looked elsewhere and signed Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million deal. This same deal was on the table for Jones Jr., but he decided to sign with the LA Clippers for $1 million more annually.

Jones Jr.'s impact on Mavericks will be replaced by Marshall and Grimes

According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, Dallas losing Jones Jr. to the Clippers was their "biggest loss" of the offseason.

While losing Jones Jr. will be a big blow for the Mavs considering his huge impact on both ends of the floor from the playoffs, losing him could turn into a big win quickly considering how Dallas replaced him.

The Mavs replaced Jones Jr. by signing Mashall, and while they have many similarities, Marshall looks like he'll project to be an even better player than Jones Jr. was in Dallas' system.

Last season, Marshall averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game for the New Orleans Pelicans while shooting 38.7 percent from downtown. While this is a whole 1.5 points per game difference from what Jones Jr. provided in Dallas, Marshall will provide his value in other areas.

His numbers from last season (if they remain consistent) show that he can be a better 3-point shooter than Jones Jr. was, and his game offensive is more complete. Marshall can get to the rim and finish when needed, and his passing in the open floor shows his strong feel for the game.

On the other end of the floor, Marshall is an excellent perimeter defender, and just like Jones Jr., he does all the dirty work and embraces the role of guarding the other team's best player. He moves his feet well in space, and he has shown a relentless ability to guard some of the league's best guards.

Marshall also happens to be an inch taller than Jones Jr. and has a stockier frame, and this should allow him to guard up more effectively than Jones Jr. did. While Favale does think that Marshall doesn't have the same "positional malleability" that Jones Jr. has, an argument can be made that Marshall's versatility is close to Jones Jr.'s.

Marshall may not be able to guard point guards as well as Jones Jr. did, but he can effectively defend two through four and he can guard some ones.

Jones Jr.'s leaving will also be alleviated by the addition of Quentin Grimes. The Mavs acquired Grimes in a trade with the Detroit Pistons early in the offseason, and he is someone who loves to do the dirty work just like Marshall and lock down on defense.

Grimes is also a 37 percent 3-point shooter for his career, and he is much more offensively dynamic than Jones Jr. was. While Jones Jr. was best as a 3-point shooter and lob threat, Grimes provides much more versatility and skill on that end. He is nowhere near the athlete that Jones Jr. is, but his ability to score off the dribble, handle the ball, and hit tough shots is underrated.

Grimes is a much better shooter than Jones Jr. is, and his ability to create his own shot is growing. He likely isn't someone who Dallas will use as an initiator, but his focus on improving his playmaking should only improve his fit on the Mavs. Grimes will be a great fit next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and he could end up breaking into the starting unit by the end of the season.

While Marshall and Grimes may not be able to provide the same impact that Jones Jr. did individually, them together is an upgrade over him. Grimes' shooting and defense combined with Marshall's tenacity, defense, and versatility gives the Mavs two excellent options off the bench, and Dallas should be praised for finding a way to land both of these players rather than being knocked for losing Jones Jr.

Jones Jr.'s impact as a Maverick will not be forgotten, but Marshall and Grimes should be able to carry his weight just fine.