Possible Dallas Mavericks free agent targets from every remaining playoff team

The summer of 2023 is arguably the most important offseason in Dallas Mavericks franchise history as they will try to reload after a disappointing season.

The franchise's top priority is re-signing Kyrie Irving, but they will need much, much more to return to being contenders. The Mavericks lost nine of their last 11 games and found themselves out of the Play-In Tournament.

This was the first time that the Mavericks missed the playoffs since Luka Doncic's rookie year and something has to change.

Dallas Mavericks must upgrade their roster this offseason

One of the first steps should be signing a new starting center. Dwight Powell has been average at best during his time with Dallas, and they should look into bringing him off the bench if they decide to bring him back. Dallas needs a physical big that can rebound and block shots while anchoring their defense.

They also need wing depth. The only true wing under contract is Reggie Bullock, and they will need more than that to return to playing elite defense. They are missing Dorian Finney-Smith dearly, and they didn't replace him with a player that can defend like him.

Dallas needs a haul, and their best bet is to reload through free agency and the draft. One way that they can improve is by signing free agents that played for playoff contenders. These players already have postseason experience, and many could improve the Mavericks immediately.

Here is a list of potential free-agent targets that the Mavericks could sign from every remaining team in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

8. Jalen McDaniels

The Mavericks need wing depth, and Jalen McDaniels could be the perfect option to bring off the bench. Standing at 6'9 and having a seven-foot wingspan, McDaniels would come in and be a versatile defensive piece. He has the athleticism to stay with wings and the size to compete with power forwards.

He is also an excellent defender in the pick-and-roll and switches on to guards effectively. This fits Dallas' defense because they like players that can switch and fly around the court.

This season, he averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 33.2 percent from three and 84.1 percent from the free-throw line. His 3-point shooting wasn't great, but it improved to 40 percent during the 24 regular season games he played for the 76ers.

McDaniels got significant minutes in the Sixers' first-round series against the Bulls but has fallen out of the rotation since and hasn't played more than 13 minutes in the Celtics series. He could be looking for more playing time and a larger role, and Dallas could give that to him.

He would fit phenomenally next to Luka Doncic as he defends and runs the floor. He has also shown some flashes as a playmaker, who often makes the right pass, and the 25-year-old can get to the bucket and finish around the rim.

Jalen McDaniels isn't close to his ceiling, and the Dallas Mavericks could bring him in to add to their young core built around superstar Luka Doncic.

7. Grant Williams

Grant Williams is a restricted free agent this summer and could be leaving Boston for the first time in his career.

Williams was reportedly offered a four-year extension worth over $50 million before the season started, but he didn't accept it. 

Since the beginning of the season, the 6'6 wing's minutes have steadily decreased. He was playing over 29 per night in November and was a big reason why the Celtics went 14-2 in that month. He finished the season playing just 21.9 minutes per game in March and 17.8 minutes in April. Williams only played 36 total minutes in the Celtics' first-round series against the Hawks.

Williams could leave Boston and join a team that would utilize him more such as the Mavericks. He would likely be the starting wing and bring the defensive versatility that Dallas desperately needs.

He brings effort and has the strength to guard power forwards or even centers. We've seen the Celtics use him to try to slow down Joel Embiid this playoffs. Williams also competes and has good hands.

Just like Jalen McDaniels, Williams can switch on to any position. That is a skill that few NBA players have but Williams does it effectively.

He would fit Dallas' scheme perfectly, but his price could be out of the Mavericks' range. Grant Williams is reportedly seeking around $20 million per year, and Dallas does not have the cap space to pay him that much.

6. Gabe Vincent

Besides Dallas' two biggest needs, a wing and a center, the Mavericks also need a ball handler off the bench. Both Kyrie Irving and Frank Ntilikina are free agents this summer and the Mavericks need a point guard even if Irving decides to stay.

Gabe Vincent could be that guy. The 6'2 guard averaged 9.4 points, 2.5 assists, and 0.9 steals this season for the Miami Heat and shot 40.2 percent from the field. He can be both a facilitator and a score-first guard and has done a great job of stepping in during the Heat's playoff run.

Both Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo suffered season-ending injuries in this year's playoffs, and Vincent has taken his game to the next level. In the playoffs, he is averaging 13.9 points and 4.9 assists per game, and his 3-point percentage has climbed to over 37 percent. He has stepped his game up when his team needs him most while also boosting his value as a free agent this summer.

Dallas already has a spark plug off the bench in Jaden Hardy, but having a second one wouldn't hurt. Vincent can light up the scoreboard quickly and flat-out score the ball. His smooth handle allows him to shake defenders and get to his spots behind the arc. He is also good off the catch and has a solid pull-up game inside the arc.

Gabe Vincent would be a fantastic point guard for Dallas to bring off the bench next season or even start if Irving decides to sign elsewhere. He facilitates at a high level when he needs to and is a scrappy perimeter defender with a high motor.

Dallas needs a player like Vincent and they should consider signing him once he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

5. Josh Hart

The Knicks don't have many high-level free agents this summer but one player that could become available is Hart.

The 6'4 guard has a player option for $12.9 million this summer and could opt out if he thinks he could get more money elsewhere. Dallas should be one of the first teams to call if he hits the open market.

Hart averaged 9.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game this season during his time with the Trail Blazers and Knicks while shooting 52.9 percent from the field. He plays with high basketball I.Q. and is one of the best rebounding guards in the league.

Dallas needs rebounding help, and it would be huge to sign an elite-rebounding guard in free agency. He also plays with great energy and is a good scorer in transition. He would be a perfect player to bring off the bench in Dallas as he hustles, shoots the three effectively, and defends.

Hart can guard one through three, and he stays locked into his defensive assignment. Dallas needs capable defenders to throw into the mix on the wing, and Hart would be a fabulous addition to that group.

He is expected to re-sign with the Knicks, but if he decides to test free agency, Dallas would benefit tremendously if they sign him. He would fit their culture and would bring another deadly shooter to play with Luka Doncic.

4. Reggie Jackson

One veteran point guard that the Mavericks could sign to lead their bench unit is Reggie Jackson.

Jackson averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 assists, and 0.7 steals per game this season and started 38 games for the Clippers before getting traded to the Nuggets. He would be a valuable piece for Dallas to bring in, and they could likely sign him on a team-friendly deal as he is in the back half of his career.

He would be the second string point guard in Dallas and would likely benefit from not having to play starter minutes. Jackson had a rough final stretch in Los Angeles and didn't play much better in Denver, but he could get back to playing at a high level if given a change of scenery and having a smaller offensive load.

He is a selfless passer and would allow Luka Doncic to take over while he is the secondary ball handler. Jackson can lead units well and brings solid intensity on both sides of the floor.

This isn't a move that is necessary for Dallas, but it would be an underrated signing if they can get him on a short contract that allows him to prove he is still a valuable NBA player. Dallas could play him 20 minutes per game and let him run the bench unit while being a veteran voice in the locker room.

3. Josh Okogie

The Phoenix Suns will have some decisions to make this summer as the Deandre Ayton drama continues, and they try to figure out how to build around Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

Josh Okogie is a player that could be looking for his first payday, and Dallas should consider him in their free agency plans if he doesn't re-sign with the Suns. He averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 steals while playing around 19 minutes per game.

He isn't a player that will come in and light up the scoreboard, but he makes his presence felt through the little things. Okogie plays phenomenal perimeter defense and can take players out of the game with his D alone.

Standing at just 6'4, he may seem a bit undersized for the wing position, but his hustle, strength, and seven-foot wingspan make up for it. Okogie plays with energy and runs opponents off the line. He has a high motor and plays with a type of physicality that frustrates offensive players.

Josh Okogie isn't the best offensively, but Dallas doesn't necessarily need more offense. They would just need him to improve his catch-and-shoot threes to be a reliable 3-and-D option. He would be the best perimeter defender on the team if they sign him, and this could be one of Dallas' better under-the-radar moves of the summer if they can land Okogie.

2. Draymond Green

The Golden State Warriors have won four championships in the last eight years, and their success has largely been due to the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

Green has a player option this summer and will become a free agent if he opts out. If he hits the open market, Dallas should be one of the first teams calling because they need defense.

Green has a Defensive Player of the Year award under his belt and has made an All-Defensive team seven different times in his career. Defense is his bread and butter, and he would have the chance to be the best defensive player in Dallas for over a decade.

But along with his defense comes his trash-talking, complaining to officials, and dirty plays. Green is a wildcard on the court, and he often pulls off antics that result in ejections. He was ejected for stomping on the chest of Domantis Sabonis this year in the playoffs. Green makes some dirty plays, and this could lead Dallas to stay far away.

Besides his defense, Green brings incredible passing. Green averaged 6.8 assists this season and has one of the best basketball I.Q.s in the NBA. Having a smart player next to Luka Doncic would be a great fit, but the 33-year-old's pricetag could scare away the Mavericks.

1. Austin Reaves

The Los Angeles Lakers came into the playoffs as the number seven seed and are two wins away from a Western Conference Finals berth. A big part of their playoff run was due to their play from role players on the team, and Austin Reaves has been at the center of it.

Reaves has struggled offensively in the second-round series against the Warriors but was lethal in the first-round series against the Grizzlies. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists and was a vital part of their offensive success.

He makes hustle plays often and competes with heart. Having Reaves in Dallas would bring in an elite role player to pair with Luka Doncic. He is just 24 years old and would be a great start to a young core alongside Doncic, Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, and their potential first-round pick.

Reaves already knows how to play off the ball with a superstar player like LeBron James, so playing with Doncic wouldn't be too much of an adjustment. He also can handle the ball when he needs to and can be trusted to make smart plays.

Reaves will become a restricted free agent and could leave Los Angeles depending on how much money he commands in free agency. Stay tuned to see if the Dallas Mavericks will be in the mix, as they have a crucial summer ahead of them to return to the playoffs.