5 Dallas Mavericks players that will surprise everyone in 2024-25

The genesis of the Dallas Mavericks' journey for their second ring in franchise history is less than a month away, and fans' excitement is only going to intensify over the next two weeks.

Over the next two weeks, the Mavs will host media day, Fan Jam, and have their first preseason game at home against the Memphis Grizzlies, and all of these events will get the metroplex fired up about the upcoming season.

The Mavs are in a great spot to compete for the title again next year, and they had an excellent offseason to ensure that some of their reoccurring playoffs from the 2024 NBA Playoffs are all things of the past.

5 Dallas Mavericks players that will surprise everyone in 2024-25

Dallas took their need for more shooting seriously, and signing Klay Thompson was their biggest move of the offseason.

Thompson is clearly fired up to be a Maverick, and he is one of many players who are poised to surprise everyone in the 2024-25 season.

5. Klay Thompson

Whether it ends up being a surprise in a good way or a surprise in a bad way, Klay Thompson is going to surprise everyone this season.

Thompson joining the Mavs is a move that had the entire NBA world buzzing at the time, but now it is being doubted by many. Some media members and fans are concerned about Thompson's defense not being good enough to remain in the starting lineup next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and some even think that Thompson should come off the bench.

This is where the first surprise for Thompson's game will emerge.

Although Thompson doesn't have the same lateral quickness he once had, he is going to be just fine defensively. Fans will be surprised if they expect him to be the same lockdown defender that he was before his injuries, because he won't be, but he should be able to hold his own against slower guards and wings.

Another surprise that Thompson is going to bring is how great of a shooter he truly is. Everyone knows that Thompson is an all-time great sharpshooter, but there is still going to be an initial shock factor when watching him take the floor for the Mavs.

Thompson's shooting could be one of the biggest X-factors for the season, and if he can have a great season shooting the three, the Mavs will be lethal.

4. Naji Marshall

On the first day of free agency, it was reported that former Dallas Mavericks wing Derrick Jones Jr. switched agents. This threw a wrench into Dallas' efforts to try to keep him, and they decided to go with their backup plan.

Dallas' first move of free agency was signing Naji Marshall, and he is poised to surprise everyone with his play on both ends of the floor next season. He has the chance to be just as good or better than Jones Jr. was last season, and he could end up being the best player off the bench.

Last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, Marshall averaged 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 38.7 percent from downtown. This was the best shooting season of his career, and playing next to Luka Doncic should help him have another good 3-point shooting season.

While Marshall's shooting will help Dallas, his defense is going to be much better than people realize. Marshall is a built 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, and he has the foot speed to lock down guards and forwards. He plays with physicality and tenacity, and Mavs fans are going to love his mentality on that end.

Marshall has become one of the more underrated players in the NBA, and his all-around play should catch Mavs fans who didn't pay much attention to the offseason by surprise. He loves doing all the dirty work, and those types of players always seem to end up being good role players in Dallas.

3. P.J. Washington

P.J. Washington became a fan favorite for Dallas Mavericks fans when he stared down the LA Clippers bench in the first round of the NBA Playoffs last season and "stood on business."

One round later, Washington was a star for Dallas and helped them take down the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games. Washington was scorching from downtown, but his shooting came back to earth in the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals.

Going into next season, Washington is someone who will surprise everyone if he can consistently be a good 3-point shooter. Washington's shooting during the regular season was not great, and him taking a big jump in that area would pay big dividends for his scoring numbers.

Washington is going to benefit from the Klay Thompson signing because of how much attention off the ball he commands, and teams could elect to force Washington to beat them due to all of Dallas' other scoring options. If that's the case, he must knock down his open shots. It was reported earlier this offseason that the Mavs were looking to change up some things in his shot, and he was focused on improving his ball handling this summer.

Washington being a knockdown shooter would turn Dallas' offense from elite to lethal, and he would surprise everyone if he turns into a consistent scorer for the Mavs. Everyone knows what Washington brings on defense, but him making a big improvement as a shooter would be colossal for the offense.

2. Dereck Lively II

Last summer, the Dallas Mavericks made a move that would change everything for them.

Dallas drafted Dereck Lively II with the No. 12 overall pick, and he made a big impact right off the bat. Lively II quickly became Dallas' starting big, and he showed early signs that he could anchor the defense.

As the year went on, Lively II's game continued to grow. His defense on the perimeter drastically improved, and he became Luka Doncic's trusted sidekick in the pick and roll. It's clear that Lively II will be key for the Mavs' future moving forward, and he is in a great spot to take a big year jump.

Lively II's continuous growth as a rookie shows that he is nowhere close to his peak, and he is only going to get better next season. He was known as someone who was in the gym as much as anyone this summer, and Lively II taking a huge leap and emerging as a top 10 center in the league would surprise some people who haven't followed his offseason closely.

Lively II is a gym rat, and he is focused on becoming a better scorer in the paint. If he can improve his touch in the paint while continuing to be a monster in the pick and roll, the sky is the limit.

Lively II also flashed his ability to shoot threes in the NBA Finals as he made a three in Game 4, and this is a skill that we could see him bring out some.

1. Quentin Grimes

The Dallas Mavericks' first move after losing the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics was trading Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons for Quentin Grimes. The Mavs had been trying to move Hardaway Jr. for some time, and they were able to do it and arguably make the "steal of the offseason" by snagging Grimes.

Grimes is poised to be an excellent role player off the bench for the Mavs, and his performance early on is going to shock everyone. This wasn't just a salary dump for the Mavs. Grimes is going to be a great role player right away, and his defense will impress right away.

Grimes will likely be tasked with guarding the other team's best guard when he is on the floor, and he has excelled when guarding the best players in the NBA. He can guard one through three effectively, and his defense is going to be an upgrade over what Josh Green provided.

Offensively, Grimes will be at his best if he can knock down open shots. He is a career 37 percent 3-point shooter, and he can make threes off the dribble and off the catch. Outside of his shooting, Grimes is also an underrated attacker and finisher at the rim. He has a quick first step, and he can easily blow by a defender if they close out too hard.

Grimes' balance on both ends of the floor could surprise some fans, and he is poised to be a big difference maker starting on day one.