Predicting where each Dallas Mavericks' free agent will play in 2023-24

Following an incredibly turbulent season that saw them finish 11th in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks will now enter one of the most crucial off-seasons in recent memory.

Not only do they have to worry about re-signing a superstar in Kyrie Irving, but they also have to make the right moves to keep their other superstar, Luka Doncic, happy. In addition to Irving, the Mavericks' front office will have to make some decisions regarding their other impending free agents, which include some other key contributors. With all of that said, let us look at all of Dallas' impending free agents and predict where they will be playing on the opening night of the 2023-24 NBA season.

McKinley Wright IV - Dallas Mavericks

McKinley Wright IV appeared in 27 games this past season with the Mavericks and did not play much of a role, which was to be expected on a two-way deal. He showed potential in spurts, and Dallas may want to keep him around. In a guard room that also features Doncic and Irving, the youngster could undoubtedly learn a thing or two. Wright will likely stick around with the Mavericks or find himself in the G-League next season.

Theo Pinson - Dallas Mavericks

Every team in the league needs a player like Theo Pinson. While he might not be a contributor on the floor nightly, his impact is felt elsewhere. He's an excellent locker room presence, and his energy can be felt whenever he is on the sidelines. Whenever a Maverick throws down a highlight dunk or hits a big shot, Pinson will be reacting on the sidelines with glee. That type of energy is contagious and can genuinely give a team a boost at times. With that said Dallas should absolutely look to bring Pinson back on a team-friendly deal.

Markieff Morris - Phoenix Suns

After coming to Dallas via the Kyrie Irving trade, Markieff Morris did not play a huge role. The forward will now hit the open market. Though he may not have the most significant market, Morris could be a fine addition to a team looking for some depth. With that in mind, the Phoenix Suns make sense as a suitor for the veteran forward.

More than anything, the Suns need depth this off-season. They needed depth last season, but that need became even more prominent after swinging a trade for Bradley Beal. Now, this team has one of the league's best foursomes in Beal, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Deandre Ayton, but they lack depth everywhere else. They will have minimal avenues to add talent this off-season outside of a few veteran minimum contracts, one of which they could use on Morris.

Morris wouldn't be a game-changing addition by any means, but he could bring some forward depth, toughness, and serviceable outside shooting to the table. He does not need the ball in his hands, so he would complement the other four well. Morris is also not afraid to do the dirty work defensively, which would also be beneficial for the others. Given his minimal role with Dallas, the forward will likely not be looking for a huge deal this off-season, which would give Phoenix even more incentive to bring him in via a team-friendly deal.

Frank Ntilikina - Phoenix Suns

After putting together one of his least productive seasons to date, it would be surprising if Dallas retained Frank Ntilikina. The guard will not have a robust market, but there are surely some teams out there who would take a low-risk gamble on the 24-year-old. One such suitor should be the Suns.

Ntilikina would make sense for the Suns for a lot of the same reasons that Markieff Morris would. The team needs depth and defense, and the guard fits both. Ntilikina's strongest attribute has always been his pesky defense, and the Suns could use a player like that in the backcourt alongside the pairing of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Again, he's another player who does not need the ball in his hands, so he wouldn't take touches away from Phoenix's ball-dominant scorers.

Similarly to Morris, the guard could likely be had on an incredibly cheap deal. After failing to carve out a legitimate role for himself in Dallas, Ntilikina will likely be looking to make a name for himself wherever he lands. At 24 years old, the guard still has plenty of room to grow, and in the right role, perhaps some of that potential that had him picked eighth overall in 2017 could be unearthed. At the bare minimum, he'd be a solid defensive-minded guard for the depth-hungry Suns to bring in.

Justin Holiday - Golden State Warriors

Justin Holiday has been well-traveled throughout his NBA career, having landed with Dallas last season as a buyout addition. While he could return to the Mavericks, he could also very well take his talents elsewhere to continue his journeyman status. He'd make sense as the third consecutive Maverick to join the Suns on this list, but that wouldn't be too creative. One other team that could make sense as a suitor is the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors will likely be on the hunt for wing depth this off-season. With Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green set to hit free agency and Andre Iguodala retiring, this team needs some wings. Holiday isn't the flashiest name, but he's still a solid 6-foot-6 wing who can shoot the long ball and play passable defense. He's also got experience with several core players and the coaching staff in Golden State, having played there in 2014-15.

Wherever he lands, Holiday will not be seeking a lucrative deal, in all likelihood. That should be music to Golden State's ears, as they will not have much money to spend. Once they get a deal done with Draymond Green, they will have very few avenues to improve the roster left, so adding a veteran with experience like Holiday would be justifiable.

Dwight Powell - Dallas Mavericks

Dwight Powell has turned himself into a regular contributor for the Mavericks over the last few years. He's had some ups and downs, but it looks like the big man, who is loved by the organization, will not be going anywhere anytime soon.

On the latest episode of Howdy Partners, ESPN's Tim MacMahon said that he believes Powell will be back with Dallas on a minimum deal. On a minimum deal, there are certainly worse things Dallas could do. If they do indeed come to terms, the Mavericks would retain a center who has familiarity with the team's core and can provide fine enough rebounding and scoring. He's been a solid pick-and-roll partner for Luka Doncic over the years, which is a plus.

Even if Powell is on the roster to start next season, he may just be a depth player, as the team has a pair of new bigs in Richaun Holmes and the recently-drafted Derrick Lively II. Keeping Powell as an insurance policy as the third-string big man on a cheap deal is certainly reasonable. Dallas will have some competition if they want to keep Powell, as The Houston Chronicle's Johnathan Feigen (subscription required) has reported that the Rockets are also eyeing him. Yet, unless Houston offers him a massive deal, Dwight Powell will likely stick around in Dallas.

Christian Wood - Miami Heat

The Mavericks have already made a decision on Christian Wood's future with the franchise. Per NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required), Dallas has already moved on from Wood and will look to rebuild its center rotation. They've already started to do so with the additions of Richaun Holmes via trade and Derrick Lively II in the draft. If Wood leaves, the Miami Heat should call him immediately.

Miami has been hunting down a starting power forward who complements Bam Adebayo for years now, and Wood would be the perfect fit. The 6-foot-10 forward would bring more scoring and 3-point shooting to Miami, two things this team desperately needs. Over the last four seasons, Wood has put up averages of 16.8 points while shooting 38.2 percent from deep. Players like that certainly are not as available as Christian Wood seems to be in today's NBA.

Wood's value seems to be incredibly low right now despite those previously highlighted averages over the past few seasons. He'll likely be looking at a prove-it deal this off-season with hopes of getting a better deal next year. Not only could Miami provide him with a prominent role, but they could also give him a chance to contend with one of the East's premier contending teams. Wood joining the Heat would have plenty of benefits for both parties.

Kyrie Irving - Dallas Mavericks

There's been plenty of chatter about Kyrie Irving's impending free agency, and rightfully so, as he's arguably the hottest player on the market. While there have been rumblings about other teams being interested in prying Irving away from Dallas, the Mavericks should be focused on keeping him around, which it appears they are.

While the Irving and Doncic pairing did not pan out how fans would have liked last season, they must remember that the two were thrown together at the last minute and had no chemistry. With an entire off-season under the belts and more time to work together, the chemistry between the two would improve. It's not too controversial to say that these two have the potential to be one of the best duos in the league due to the sheer offensive skills they both possess.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the "full expectation" is that Irving will sign a new deal with the Mavericks in free agency. The financial figures are unknown, but one would guess it will be around the max over the next four or five years. Dallas knew this would be coming when they traded for Irving earlier this year, so they should have no problem paying up. It would be interesting to see what a team with Irving and Doncic, as well as a few tweaks to the supporting cast, could do next season.