4 Dallas Mavericks whose stocks are skyrocketing, 4 that are fading fast

After eight games, the Dallas Mavericks are sitting at 6-2 and second place in the Western Conference.

This is not the position that the national media predicted Dallas to be in, as seemingly every writer thought that the Mavs wouldn't be a contender this season.

Dallas has proved everyone wrong so far, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.

4 Dallas Mavericks whose stocks are skyrocketing, 4 that are fading fast

Many of their offseason additions are stepping up in a big way, showing that Nico Harrison did a great job of constructing a complimentary roster around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Here's a look at four Mavericks whose stock is skyrocketing, along with four players whose stock is fading fast this season.

8. Stock skyrocketing: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Mavs were seemingly in an awkward spot during training camp, as Hardaway Jr. said that he and head coach Jason Kidd hadn't talked about his potential role yet.

Kidd made it clear to the media that Hardaway Jr. would be coming off the bench this season, but when Hardaway Jr. was asked about it, he seemed confused.

After eight games, Hardaway Jr. has embraced his role of coming off the bench and has been crucial for Dallas in many of their games.

Hardaway Jr. is averaging 18.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 40.5 percent from downtown. He is still displaying his ability to score in bunches often and has stepped up as a leader for this team as well.

Hardaway Jr. was one of the veterans who stepped up in the locker room during halftime of Dallas' comeback win over the Orlando Magic, and he is proving that he isn't just an overpaid sharpshooter.

He is someone who can contribute on a playoff team, and the teams that passed on trading for him this summer are likely regretting it now as he could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year.

7. Stock fading: Seth Curry

After being the Dallas Mavericks' second signing of free agency behind only Kyrie Irving, Mavs fans couldn't wait to see Seth Curry on the court for Dallas.

He is widely known as one of the best shooters of all time, and he performed well in his previous two stints with the Mavs. Despite all of the hype surrounding the signing, Curry has disappointed thus far.

Curry was a DNP-CD in Dallas' last three games, and his role has been minimal even in games that he does play in.

In five games, Curry is averaging 1.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 20 percent from downtown. This slow start to the season is not what fans expected from Curry, and his role could shrink even more if Jaden Hardy continues to play at a high level.

Dallas' bench is crowded with strong guards, and Curry could remain behind Tim Hardaway Jr. and Hardy for the remainder of the season unless he begins to cash in his open looks and make an impact when on the floor.

Curry is only shooting 1.0 3-pointers per game, so maybe an increase in playing time and volume could help the former Blue Devil earn his spot in the rotation back.

Dallas is winning games despite Curry only playing 9.0 minutes per game, but everyone expected more out of the sharpshooter before the season started.

6. Stock skyrocketing: Dereck Lively II

When the Dallas Mavericks drafted Dereck Lively II, some fans thought that he wouldn't start over Dwight Powell.

After eight games, it's safe to say that Lively II is the best big on the team by a long shot. Although Lively II didn't start in Dallas' first game against the San Antonio Spurs, he has made a big impact in every game thus far.

Lively II is the best rim protector on the team, and when he's not on the floor, Dallas' defense is clearly worse.

Through seven games, Lively II averages 9.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game. He is outperforming everyone's expectations and is proving that he is one of the best rookies in the NBA.

One of Lively II's best skills so far has been his ability to finish above the rim. He has great chemistry in the pick and roll with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and he is seemingly always available as a dump-off option.

Having a center that dunks everything is an underrated luxury, and Lively II dunks the ball whenever he has the chance. He also has better touch than expected in the paint, and that can likely be attributed to his work with Tyson Chandler on that part of his game.

5. Stock fading: Maxi Kleber

Maxi Kleber has been known as a floor-spacing rim protector for most of his tenure in Dallas, but his performance since he returned from his torn hamstring last season has been subpar.

Kleber hasn't looked like the same player he was when he was at his peak, and the Mavericks could be regretting the three-year extension that they gave him a few summers ago. He is nowhere close to the same rim protector that he once was, and he has been shaky offensively.

Although Kleber has missed time with a toe injury this season, he hasn't been great when he is on the floor. In four games, Kleber is averaging 3.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 33.3 percent from downtown.

His offensive game lacks confidence and is extremely one-dimensional, and his struggles from last season have worsened during this season.

Kleber also doesn't move the same as he did before the injury and seems uninterested when rotating to be a help-side rim protector. That was something that made him so great before the injury, and now his entire defensive playstyle is different.

The Mavs will need more out of Kleber defensively, as their defense in the paint is awful when Dereck Lively II is on the bench or out (as we saw Wednesday night against Toronto). Time will tell if Kleber can ever return to his peak form.

4. Stock skyrocketing: Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic has been a top player in the NBA for the last couple of seasons, but the Luka that we are getting this season may be the best Luka we've ever seen.

Through seven games, Doncic is averaging 31.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three. Doncic's offensive game has taken a big step up and his 3-point shooting has been elite.

Doncic shooting 38.8 percent from three despite taking some of the most difficult shots in the NBA is a massive achievement. He is shooting a step-back three right over a defender most of the time and rarely shoots a three off the catch.

His shot-making ability has been elite, but that's not even the tip of the iceberg when talking about his game this season. He has been an excellent passer, attacker, and has slightly gotten better about not complaining as much.

Doncic has also stepped up on the defensive end. In years past, teams would target Doncic defensively, and he always seemed to be giving up an easy bucket.

This season Doncic has looked more engaged, and his rigorous offseason training has helped him tremendously on defense. He is moving better when in isolation defense and is showing more hustle than he ever has.

3. Stock fading: Richaun Holmes

Richaun Holmes didn't play in any of Dallas' first seven games, but he finally got some playing time in the Mavericks' home game against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

Dereck Lively II was out with a non-COVID illness, and Dallas needed the bench to collectively step up to help minimize his absence. Lively II was definitely missed, and Holmes' first action of the year likely didn't convince head coach Jason Kidd that he is worthy of minutes every night.

Holmes finished with two points and three rebounds in his only action of the year.

Even during the preseason, Holmes was a bit of a disappointment. Mavs owner Mark Cuban labeled him as the "most underrated pickup of the summer" during the offseason, and some fans had high hopes for how he could contribute on this team.

Holmes wasn't great offensively during the preseason and his defense didn't move the needle either. Due to the fact that Lively II, Dwight Powell, and Maxi Kleber are all in front of him on the depth chart, it seems like Holmes won't play much unless one of the players in front of him goes down with an injury.

Holmes was someone that Dallas tried to move on draft night, and it wouldn't be a shock if they tried to move him again this season.

2. Stock skyrocketing: Grant Williams

Despite having his worst game of the season in Dallas' loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, Grant Williams has been the third-best player on the Mavs all season long.

On the season, Williams is averaging 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.

He has also been a reliable 3-point shooter, as he has knocked down two or more threes in every game except for Dallas' second game against the Brooklyn Nets. He has also been the best perimeter defender on the team.

After just eight games, it's clear that Dallas got a bargain for Williams. All Dallas gave up was Reggie Bullock and a 2030 first-round pick swap. He has been the perfect fit in Dallas, and his leadership has been clear since training camp. Dallas needed a player who would speak their mind, and Williams seems open to doing so whenever the team needs it.

On the season, Williams is shooting 52.9 percent from three, but according to him, that isn't good enough. He wants to shoot even better from downtown and isn't limiting himself to 50 percent.

This has been Williams' best season of his career by a large margin, and Dallas found a diamond in the rough this summer.

Who knows where Dallas would be without Williams.

1. Stock fading: Olivier-Maxence Prosper

When Dallas made a trade for Olivier-Maxence Prosper on draft night, the entire fanbase was pumped up.

It even seemed like fans were more excited about Prosper than Dereck Lively II, and all of the chatter coming from the Mavs early on indicated that he would have a role early on.

After eight games, Prosper has played just one minute and has not been a part of the rotation. Despite his lack of minutes, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said that he won't send Prosper to the G League yet. Kidd said that Prosper has been consistent in practice, and it seemed like he wants to get Prosper some in-game action in the NBA rather than sending him to the Texas Legends.

This may be easier said than done, as finding minutes for him would be hard, so Dallas' strategy with him is something to keep an eye on. Dallas sent Jaden Hardy to the Legends last season, and it ended up being a major benefit for his game.

Prosper didn't look ready for NBA action during the preseason either, and his game will have to be much more polished if he wants to play consistently for this Mavs team.

Dallas' next game is tonight against the LA Clippers at home.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.