10 Free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill final roster spot

After making a sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson that sent Josh Green to the Charlotte Hornets and second-round picks to the Golden State Warriors, the Dallas Mavericks now only have one open roster spot.

Dallas has three new additions for this upcoming season, as they signed Naji Marshall, traded for Quentin Grimes, and signed Thompson, and now it's time to start thinking about who the Mavs will give that final roster spot to.

Nico Harrison and the front office have filled out this roster beautifully from top to bottom, and this final player that they'll likely sign over the next couple of weeks could thrust the Mavs to the top of the Western Conference once again depending on who it is.

10 Free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill final roster spot

The Mavs obviously need a point-of-attack defender considering that Derrick Jones Jr. signed with the LA Clippers, and although Grimes could fill in that role, his knee injury could hinder him from ever returning to peak form.

The Mavs also need another ball handler to come off the bench, because as things stand, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, and Jaden Hardy (if you believe he'll take another step on his road to improve as a playmaker) are the teams only trusted ball handlers.

Regardless of how stacked Dallas' roster is right now, this final roster spot will be a big decision for the Mavs front office.

Here are 10 free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill their final roster spot.

10. Spencer Dinwiddie

Regardless of how Spencer Dinwiddie turned his back on the Mavs last season and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers after he was bought out, he is definitely someone the team should consider signing with their final roster spot. The Mavs have already shown interest in Dinwiddie, and he would immediately become the team's third ball handler, even having the chance to be one of the first players off the bench.

Last season, Dinwiddie averaged 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from downtown. This was an inefficient season for Dinwiddie in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, but he'd have the perfect opportunity to bounce back in Dallas.

Dinwiddie already knows how to play alongside Doncic, as he and Luka took the team all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, and he and the organization already have a level of familiarity with each other.

Dinwiddie was well-liked by his teammates in Dallas, and he helped tremendously with the younger guys. Hardy was someone who spoke highly of Dinwiddie when they were teammates, and having Dinwiddie back on the roster would be an easy adjustment.

Dinwiddie's ability to play off the ball and lead the offense when needed is intriguing, and he'd be a great pickup for the Mavs as they try to solidify their roster.

9. Marcus Morris

The Dallas Mavericks need some more depth at the forward positions, especially considering Maxi Kleber has been in and out of the lineup over the last couple of years, and Marcus Morris is someone who could fill in beautifully. Dallas was linked to Morris earlier this week, and he may come to the Mavs and team up with his brother.

Mavs fans have gotten to know, Marcus' brother, Markieff Morris, extremely well over the last year and a half due to his excellent veteran leadership and being liked by everyone around him, and Marcus has a similar reputation.

In the short amount of time that he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers this past season, Marcus knew that his role was going to be stepping up as a veteran leader in the locker room and to always be ready to come in the game.

Marcus likely wouldn't get much run if signed by the Mavs, but he may have the edge over his brother when it comes to on-court production at this point in their careers. Last season, Marcus averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while shooting 40.3 percent from downtown, and he'd be great off the bench in Dallas.

Marcus would bring toughness, shooting, and physicality to the Mavs frontcourt, and Dallas could use another big-bodied forward who can stretch the floor like Marcus. Also, if Dallas lets Markieff walk, Marcus would be a great replacement and an upgrade on both ends of the floor.

8. Dennis Smith Jr.

Dallas Mavericks fans fell in love with Dennis Smith Jr. during his rookie year with the team during the 2017-18 season. Smith Jr. was a high flyer and a dynamic scorer for that Mavs team, and he looked like he was going to form into a star in Dallas.

In the following draft, Dallas selected Luka Doncic and they now had an excellent backcourt duo with Doncic and Smith Jr. The two became two friends during their time together in Dallas, but unfortunately, it came to an end quickly.

Dallas traded Smith Jr. to the New York Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade back in 2018, and he has bounced around the league ever since. Despite Smith Jr. never finding a permanent home in the NBA and playing for several different teams, his improved defense over the last couple of years has turned him into an attractive target for the Mavs in free agency.

Last season for the Brooklyn Nets, Smith Jr. averaged 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from downtown. Smith Jr. isn't the offensive player he once was, but his defense at the point of attack is excellent. The Mavs need another point-of-attack defender, and Smith Jr. would be that and more.

If signed by the Mavs, Smith Jr. would guard the other team's best guard whenever he was in the game, and he may just be Dallas' missing piece to winning the title again next year.

7. Patrick Beverley

The Dallas Mavericks' options at the backup point guard spot are running thin, but there is still tons of hope. Dallas' roster is stacked, but adding one more ball handler could be the team's recipe to winning the NBA Finals next year.

Against the Boston Celtics, the Mavs lacked a third scorer and shooting, and they addressed that by signing Klay Thompson, and it may be time for them to sign a guard with their final roster spot.

Although he isn't the lockdown defender that he once was, veteran guard Patrick Beverley is someone the Mavs could consider signing with their final roster spot. Beverley is a bulldog on the defensive end, and he wouldn't have to do too much offensively on this team.

Last season for the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, Beverley averaged 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from downtown.

Beverley is limited offensively and can still knock down open threes, and his playmaking is also there. By no means is he a selfish player, and his role would be to run the offense when needed and play hard-nosed defense.

Beverley would bring a good veteran voice to the locker room, and he has plenty of experience in the playoffs. He is one of the more questionable options for a backup ball handler on this list, but he could have a bounce-back season in Dallas.

6. Markelle Fultz

Markelle Fultz has had a wild up-and-down career in the NBA ever since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but he has found his way in the league over the last couple of years. The Orlando Magic taking a chance on him back in 2019 paid off majorly for him, and now he's an unrestricted free agent.

Fultz just finished up a massive $50 million deal with Orlando, and now he may be looking to sign with a contender in which he can play a role on. Not to say that the Magic weren't a good team last year, but he may be looking to play in the Western Conference for the first time.

The Dallas Mavericks are a team that should consider him, and they could likely sign him to a friendly deal. Last season for the Magic, Fultz averaged 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from downtown.

This was a down year when looking at the season he had in the year prior, but Fultz could still bring some value to the Mavs. Fultz is a good defender who brings his all on that end, and he is always a threat to go get a chase-down block. That isn't common for a guard, but Fultz always hustles back on defense.

Offensively, Fultz is limited as he doesn't seem comfortable shooting threes anymore, but he is an excellent slasher and good finisher around the rim. He is never afraid to attempt to dunk on someone, and has great athleticism.

5. Markieff Morris

Last summer, the Dallas Mavericks shocked everyone and re-signed Markieff Morris when most people didn't expect them to re-sign him. Morris didn't play much after coming over in the Kyrie Irving trade, but the Mavs decided to bring him back on a one-year deal.

This decision ended out working out great for Dallas, as Morris was huge for the team as a veteran leader and brought great vibes to the bench. Every team needs this type of player, and that's exactly what Morris was last season.

Jason Kidd went as far as to say that Morris was the team's MVP last season, and without him, the Mavs may not have made it to the NBA Finals. Morris gave a speech during the Mavs' losing streak at the beginning of March, and the team responded well to it and went on a big end-of-season run to secure the No. 5 seed.

The Mavs have a tough choice to make when it comes to Morris, as they can either re-sign him and know he isn't going to play real minutes, or they'd let him walk and know they are losing the team leader and a fan favorite.

If the Mavs were to re-sign Morris, he'd likely resume the same role he had last year as a vibes guy and a leader, and only time will tell if he returns to Dallas this summer.

4. Saddiq Bey

In the 2020 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected Josh Green with the No. 18 overall pick. Green played in Dallas for the first four seasons of his career, and he was recently traded as part of the Klay Thompson sign-and-trade, but many Mavs fans wanted the team to select a different player.

Saddiq Bey was a fan favorite among Mavs fans heading into the NBA Draft, as fans loved his potential and wanted Dallas to draft him, but he ended up getting drafted with the No. 19 overall pick, one pick after Dallas.

Bey has put up great numbers over his first couple of years in the NBA despite struggling at times, and Dallas may be the perfect place for him to do that once he returns from his ACL injury.

Last season for the Atlanta Hawks, Bey averaged 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from downtown. Bey wasn't the most efficient, but putting him on a contender like Dallas could be exactly what he needs.

Bey is a good defender, but not great, and offensively he's a good shooter and a good scorer in transition. He's strong, and he'd be the perfect player for the Mavs to take a chance on as he is only 25 years old.

The Mavs may not have the cash to make a move like this, but Bey would be a good pickup.

3. Robert Covington

If the Dallas Mavericks decide to take the route of adding frontcourt depth over a backup ball handler, Robert Covington could be a good fit. Covington spent last season playing for the LA Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Covington is now an unrestricted free agent, and the Mavs would provide him with the perfect chance to thrive at this chance in his career. Everyone knows that Covington isn't the same player he once was when he was one of the best 3-and-D players in the NBA, but he can still provide some value in his minutes.

Last season, Covington averaged 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from downtown, and although it was a down year, he still showed some flashes that he can still contribute.

Covington can still knock down threes off the catch and be a good off-ball cutter, and those types of players thrive next to Luka Doncic. He wouldn't have to do too much in his minutes other than play good defense and shoot open threes, and that role would be perfect for him.

With the way Covington is playing now, this could be one of his final years to contribute on a winning team. The Mavs need another big-bodied defensive-minded player for their frontcourt, and Covington may be the right guy to fill that role and give the Mavs some depth.

2. Mario Hezonja

After playing five seasons in the NBA, Mario Hezonja decided to head overseas to play over there. Hezonja's short-lived NBA career wasn't amazing, with his best season coming in the 2017-18 season when he averaged 9.6 points and 1.1 steals per game, and now he's looking for an NBA comeback.

Although Hezonja just signed an extension with Real Madrid, the NBA is still an option for him. He has been excellent for the last two seasons of playing for Real Madrid, and now may be the perfect chance for the Mavs to give him another chance in the NBA.

Last season for Real Madrid, Hezonja averaged 10.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from downtown. Hezonja would give the Mavs some size off the bench as he is 6-foot-8, and they could end up getting him for a cheap deal.

For his size, Hezonja is a good scorer off the dribble and can create his own shot when needed. The Mavs love forwards who can handle the ball in space, and although Hezonja likely wouldn't be a primary ball handler, being able to trust him to handle the ball when needed is a plus.

He can also score with his back to the basket at times, and he'd be able to play both power forward and small forward for the Mavs. His all-around scoring is attractive, and although he doesn't provide the same defense that some of the other players provide on this list, he is an extremely underrated scorer.

1. Kyle Lowry

The Dallas Mavericks still need one more ball handler to run the offense when Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are on the bench, and although Jaden Hardy and Dante Exum are both viable options and already on the roster, they need someone else to solidify this spot.

While Spencer Dinwiddie would be a great option, as previously discussed, the Mavs could also consider a veteran like Kyle Lowry. Lowry just finished his 18th season in the NBA playing for the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, and although he is getting up there in age, he is still a viable option to run the point.

Last season, Lowry averaged 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 39.2 percent from downtown. He started in 55 of the 60 games he played in, and he is the perfect addition to this Mavs roster.

Lowry is a willing passer and still an excellent 3-point shooter off the catch. His ability to handle the ball while also being able to play off the ball and drill open shots is intriguing, and adding another veteran presence to this locker room is a good idea.

Everyone saw how impactful Markieff Morris was last season as a leader, and Lowry can bring the same type of impact while also contributing on the floor. Lowry is someone who can play big minutes some nights while also playing in a reserve role due to different matchups.

Lowry isn't the same player he once was, but he is more than capable of leading the team's second unit and being a third ball handler.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks this summer and throughout free agency, stay tuned as we'll have you covered.