Why mismanagement will sink the Dallas Mavericks again this offseason

Dallas Mavericks pulled off a blockbuster trade but failed to fix the remaining holes

Fans were cautioned about a week before the blockbuster trade that acquiring a star alone would not fix the team’s issues. They had too many holes and not enough assets to plug them all.

The Mavericks traded Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and three draft picks for Kyrie Irving. It left Dallas with just two playmakers, made their defense even worse, and further depleted the team’s assets. The team’s defense had already gone from strength to question mark, but it was significantly worse after giving up their best perimeter stopper for the undersized Kyrie.

Size became a new issue after the trade along with their lack of perimeter defense. Dallas had an elite offense, but they could not get a stop. No NBA team can win consistently giving up 120 points every night because the margin for error is just too small.

The Mavericks needed wing defense, rebounding, and rim protection after the blockbuster trade, and they did nothing. Dallas explored the market, but they could not find a deal that worked. They could not afford to overpay, but it was still disappointing.

Assuming the Dallas Mavericks can re-sign Kyrie Irving, they have two pillars to build around, but can they find the right pieces that put them back into contention next season? It seems unlikely with the resources that they will have to work with this summer.