Breaking down how the Mavericks can have a perfect season next year

Last season, nothing went according to plan for the Dallas Mavericks. After failing to retain their second-best player from the 2022 Western Conference runner-up squad, things took a turn for the worst.

Jalen Brunson proved to be an invaluable contributor for the Mavs during the 2022 playoffs. He averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists during those playoffs. Additionally, Brunson kept the Mavs afloat when Doncic missed time in the first round against the Utah Jazz.

Once the offseason began, there was an inkling that Brunson may walk in free agency. He went on to sign a four-year, $104 million pact with the New York Knicks.

The rest of the 2022 offseason turned out to be extremely forgettable. The Mavs traded for Christian Wood and signed JaVale McGee. Both players will most likely not return for the upcoming season.

Dallas finished the 2022-23 season with a 38-44 record. Things deteriorated so much throughout the season that the Mavs failed to make the Play-In Tournament. The only positive was that Dallas retained their first-round selection.

Flash forward to the present.

Kyrie Irving is a Maverick, and the Mavs added numerous useful players in the draft and free agency. The Mavs spent their first-round picks on Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, both of whom are already quality defenders with untapped potential on the offensive end.

Furthermore, Dallas traded for center Richaun Holmes and forward Grant Williams in separate deals. They also signed Seth Curry and Dante Exum to bolster their guard unit.

Dallas has greatly improved its roster with the aforementioned flurry of moves. Now, the stage is set for a comeback season.

Let's take a look at what must go right for the Mavs to accomplish a perfect season and what that perfect season would actually look like.

Something to take note of - a perfect season doesn't mean 82-0 or even 72-10. But it does mean a wildly successful season in which Dallas wins 55+ games and makes a deep playoff run.