5 Moves Mavericks should make after re-signing Kyrie Irving

2. Fill out the rotation

The Dallas Mavericks have 11 players under contract after signing Kyrie Irving and their two first-round draft picks. They went with 14 to start last season to save some luxury tax dollars and keep a space open for the buyout market. If they decide to do that again, the Mavs still need to find three more players.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are locked in as starters. Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, and Curry should all be members of the rotation. That is only eight players. The Mavericks would love to give some minutes to their rookies, but contending and playing young players do not mix. Dallas must add two rotation-ready players to complete their roster.

They have the $12.4 million mid-level exception, which can be split into multiple players. That should net them at least one piece. If the Mavericks use it all on a single option, they would need to sign one minimum player that can play nightly minutes.

The Dallas Mavericks need a starting center and a 3-and-D wing. They will likely use the mid-level exception on one of those options and dangle their 2027 first-round draft pick for the other.