11 Dallas Mavericks that never played a single minute

The Dallas Mavericks have the second-most wins in the NBA since 2000 behind only the rival San Antonio Spurs. Their regular season success has resulted in one championship and multiple deep playoff runs. They always had a shot with Dirk Nowitzki, even when mistakes were made. Luka Doncic led them to the conference finals in 2022, and there is no reason he cannot dominate the next decade in Dallas.

Building a contender is difficult and fragile. The front office must keep improving and tweaking their roster to keep the team at the top. It takes finding players via trade, free agency, and the draft. There is no guaranteed formula, either. All franchises can do is find talent and try to get the most out of it.

The Mavs have acquired multiple players over their first 44 years as a franchise that never saw a minute on the floor in their uniform. Whether the players got rerouted in a trade, acquired in a draft-night deal, or injured before taking the court, sometimes the pieces move fast. Who are the best former Mavericks who never saw the floor?

Dallas Mavericks that never played a single minute

11. Kelly Olynyk

The Mavs missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 years in 2013. It left them with the 13th pick, but Dallas wanted to jump back into contention. Dirk Nowitzki was in his mid-30s, but still playing like an All-Star. The Mavericks wanted to build a winner around their GOAT, which made their lottery pick expendable.

They, technically, selected Olynyk, but he was traded to Boston for the 16th overall pick and two second-rounders. Dallas then flipped that selection with two role players for the 18th pick. They took Shane Larkin and created some cap space to add in free agency. The plan did not work, and the Mavericks missed on drafting Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Kelly Olynyk goes down as the 13th overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Dallas Mavericks, but he never played for a second for the franchise.

10. Pat Garrity

Garrity was drafted 19th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1998 NBA Draft and was part of arguably the two biggest trades in Mavericks history.

The 6’9 forward joined Dirk Nowitzki in coming to Dallas as the Bucks traded nine and 19 to move up to sixth overall to select Robert Traylor. The Mavericks were not done, though. They needed a point guard to pair with the teenage German, so Dallas traded Garrity, Bubba Wells, Martin Muursepp, and a 1999 first-round pick for Steve Nash.

It was the start of the Mavericks turnaround. They missed the playoffs for a decade straight before Nowitzki got them back in 2001, and it may not have been possible without Pat Garrity. Dirk has talked about how Nash helped him get through his first season, and the duo became stars together. If the Mavs were happy keeping Garrity, Nash likely does not end up in Dallas, and Nowitzki’s career would be extremely different.

Pat Garrity played a decade in the NBA, including nine seasons with the Orlando Magic. He averaged 7.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game for his career. The 6’9 forward retired in 2008 and is currently the assistant general manager for the Detroit Pistons.

9. Rudy Fernandez

Fernandez is a legendary international player, but known more for his work in the EuroLeague and with the Spanish National Team. He became a pro at 17 years old and is a three-time All-EuroLeague selection and three-time EuroLeague champion. The 6’5 wing helped Spain win two Olympic silver medals and one bronze along with two World Cup titles and four EuroBasket championships.

Fernandez came to the NBA in 2008 after being drafted 24th overall in 2007. He spent his first three years in Portland as a role player where Fernandez averaged 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steal in 24.1 minutes per game. The 6’5 wing was traded to the defending champion Mavericks before the 2011 lockout for the 26th overall pick.

When the lockout ended, Dallas traded Fernandez and Corey Brewer for a 2016 second-round draft choice. The 6’5 wing played for Real Madrid during the work stoppage and would be limited by a back injury during the NBA campaign. Still, the Spanish legend never played a game for the Dallas Mavericks, despite costing them a first-round pick to acquire.

Rudy Fernandez left the NBA in 2012 to return to Real Madrid where he remained a star. He talked about why he left, and it is clear that he preferred being a top player in Europe, but the Mavs never found out what he could do in Dallas.

8. Robert Traylor

The Dallas Mavericks did not technically draft Dirk Nowitzki in 1998. They had the sixth overall pick and jumped at the chance to trade back knowing Dirty would still be available. The Bucks gave up nine and 19 to move up and select Traylor.

The big man listed at 6’8 and 284 pounds and was known for his physical play in college. Milwaukee thought he could become a dominant force in the NBA, but it never happened. He played seven years for four different teams, but only averaged 4.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 14.3 minutes per game for his career.

Tractor Traylor struggled and a heart issue ended his career in 2005. The big man died of a heart attack in 2011 at just 34 years old. Traylor played overseas after leaving the NBA and was the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year in the Puerto Rican league.

The Dallas Mavericks picked up Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity in the trade for Robert Traylor. Garrity was then flipped for Steve Nash as the Mavs added two future Hall of Famers and MVPs on the same night in 1998. It was a historic night for the franchise, but it kept Mavericks fans from seeing what Traylor could do in Dallas.

7. Dana Barros

Barros was the 16th overall pick in 1989. The 5’11 point guard was a reserve for his first four years in the NBA before being traded to the 76ers where he broke out. He became an All-Star and won the Most Improved Player award in 1995 after averaging 20.6 points, 7.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 40.5 minutes per game. Barros joined the Celtics in free agency following his breakout and spent five years in Boston before his next move.

The Dallas Mavericks acquired the 5’11 guard in the first four-team trade in NBA history. They gave up Robert Pack, Hot Rod Williams, and Bruno Sundov to get Howard Eisley, Bill Curley, and Barros. It was a massive deal, but Dallas was not done.

They traded Barros and Ansu Sesay to the Pistons for Loy Vaught just two months later. The 5’11 point guard was already 33 years old and settled in as a 15-minute per-game backup by that point in his career. The Mavs had Steve Nash and Eisley, which left no minutes for Barros, so they moved him to Detroit.

The former All-Star played two more years in the NBA before retiring in 2002. Dana Barros made a brief comeback in 2004, but it lasted just two games. He played for four different teams, but never with the Mavericks, despite being on their roster for just over two months.

6. Muggsy Bogues

Bogues is the shortest player in NBA history at just 5’3. He was the 12th overall pick in 1987 and played 14 years in the league. The point guard was known for his quickness and athletic ability. He suited up for four different teams, including spending a decade with the Hornets.

Bogues played just three games in the 2000-01 season with the Toronto Raptors and was ready to hang up the sneakers in the 2001 offseason. He was dealt to the Knicks in February, and New York was eager to move as Bogues had three years left on his deal. Dallas acquired him in a three-team trade, but the 5’3 point guard never played for the Mavericks.

Mark Cuban could have bought out Muggsy Bogues’ contract, but he decided to pay him the full $3.6 million remaining through 2004. It was a fantastic parting gift for the shortest player in NBA history.

The 5’3 point guard was a joy to watch in his prime and a fan favorite. The Dallas Mavericks always had to admire him from afar, but the August 2001 trade that sent Howard Eisley to the New York Knicks brought Muggsy to Dallas. Bogues had nothing left in the tank, but he was still briefly a Maverick.

5. Rashard Lewis

Lewis was a stretch four before it was all the rage in the NBA. The 6’10 forward was drafted in the second round by the Seattle SuperSonics in 1998. He averaged over 20 points per game and shot north of 40 percent from 3-point range in his prime. Lewis made two All-Star appearances and helped the Orlando Magic get to the NBA Finals in 2009.

The 6’10 forward spent his final two seasons on the Heatles with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Lewis won his first and only championship in 2013. The Heat got back to the NBA Finals in 2014 before losing to the Spurs. Lewis played just 200 games over his final four seasons combined but attempted to continue his career.

He signed with the Mavericks in the 2014 offseason, but the contract was voided after four days because of a knee injury that was discovered during his physical. The 35-year-old never played in the NBA again, but he did join the BIG3 where he won MVP honors in 2017.

The two-time All-Star only lasted four days with the Dallas Mavericks, but he was an outstanding stretch four that helped revolutionize the position. A healthy Lewis would have fit nicely backing up Dirk Nowitzki in 2014, despite being past his prime. Sadly, Mavs fans never got to find out.

4. Kiki Vandeweghe

Vanderweghe was the Dallas Mavericks first draft pick in franchise history. They selected the 6’8 forward out of UCLA with the 11th overall pick, but he refused to play for the expansion franchise. It took six months, but the Mavs finally found a trade in December of 1980 that sent him to the Denver Nuggets. The two first-round picks they received in the deal turned into Ronaldo Blackman and Sam Vincent.

Vandeweghe was booed whenever he came to Dallas, but that did little to stop him. The 6’8 forward was one of the best scorers in the 1980s. He made two All-Star appearances and played 13 years in the league, but he never suited up for the Mavericks.

After retiring he joined the Mavericks as director of player personnel and assistant coach in 1999 where he helped Dirk Nowitzki blossom. He spent two years in Dallas before becoming the Nuggets' general manager in 2001 with zero front-office experience.

Kiki Vandeweghe was GM for the Nuggets and Nets before joining the league office from 2013 to 2021. He has transitioned into an advisory role to commissioner Adam Silver over the last two years.

Vandeweghe was the first Mavericks’ draft pick, despite never playing for the team. He went on to have a lengthy career in the NBA, but MFFLs never forgot his refusal to join the team.

3. Zach Randolph

Randolph is most known for his days with the Grit and Grind Grizzlies. He was a two-time All-Star and helped Memphis make seven straight playoff appearances. Z-Bo was one of the best rebounders in the NBA and used his lefty stroke to net 20 points per game in his prime.

The 6’9 forward was a first-round draft pick in 2001, who played for five different teams. Randolph spent six years in Portland to begin his career before joining the Knicks and Clippers over the next two seasons. He arrived in Memphis in 2009 and departed after the era’s final playoff appearance in 2017. The 36-year-old signed with the Sacramento Kings in free agency, but it was the beginning of the end.

Z-Bo got a two-year $24 million deal in 2017, but he only played one season with the Kings. The 6’9 forward could only handle 25 minutes per game at that stage, and Sacramento’s shift to a youth movement bumped him out of the rotation. He did not play at all in the 2018-2019 season but was traded to the Mavericks with Justin Jackson in February 2019 for Harrison Barnes.

Zach Randolph never played a second for the Dallas Mavericks. He was waived just one day after the trade and formally announced his retirement in December of 2019.

2. Mark Price

The Mavs drafted Mark Price in the second round in 1986, but he was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a draft night trade. Dallas acquired the pick as compensation for Pat Cummings signing with the Knicks in free agency in 1984, but the franchise was loaded with talent by 1986. They selected Roy Tarpley seventh overall, and he only played 18.7 minutes per game as a rookie.

The Dallas Mavericks had Derek Harper and Brad Davis at point guard to go with a loaded starting five featuring Rolando Blackman, Mark Aguirre, James Donaldson, and Sam Perkins. They were bounced in the first round of the playoffs in 1987 before reaching the conference finals in 1988.

Mark Price became a legend in Cleveland. The six-foot point guard slipped into the second round as questions about his size and speed took over. Price proved everyone wrong as he made four All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections over his nine seasons with the Cavaliers. He led his team to the conference finals in 1992 where they lost to Michael Jordan’s Bulls.

Mark Price played 12 seasons in the NBA and was one of the best point guards of his era. It was not quite a Hall of Fame worthy career, but the six-footer is a Cavaliers legend that never played a second for the Mavericks.

1. Trae Young

The Mavericks and Hawks pulled the rare draft night swap where both players turn into stars in 2018. Dallas had the third-worst record in the NBA but fell to fifth in the draft lottery with Atlanta and Sacramento jumping into the top three. The Mavs had their eye on Luka Doncic but knew he would not be available at five. They had to find a way to move up to get the reigning EuroLeague MVP.

The Hawks gave Dallas that shot, but it was not without paying a hefty price. They were forced to give up their 2019 first-round pick to move up two spots. The Mavericks did it and never looked back. Doncic quickly became a superstar and is annually one of the best players in the NBA.

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Trae Young in 2018 because trades are not finalized until after draft night. Atlanta took Luka and selected Cam Reddish with the Mavs first-round pick in 2019. It was a wild trade that will forever link the two All-Stars. Luka Doncic and Ice Trae will always be compared, but both are on paces to become legends.

Trae Young has not played a second for the Dallas Mavericks, but the best is still yet to come for the two-time All-Star. He is only 24 years old and still improving. Does he eventually come to Dallas? Stay tuned to find out.