Top 10 wings the Dallas Mavericks should sign in free agency

The best time of the year is less than 24 hours away.

2023 NBA free agency begins on Friday, June 30 at 5 p.m. CT. This time of year is crazy, as players sign with teams you'd never expect them to go to, and trades are more frequent.

There are no guarantees when it comes to NBA free agency, so everything heard around this time should be taken with a grain of salt. The Dallas Mavericks are a team that should be fairly active during free agency as they will try to re-sign Kyrie Irving and finish building their roster around him and Luka Doncic.

Top 10 wings the Dallas Mavericks should sign in free agency

Last year didn't work out as expected, as the Mavericks missed the playoffs after trading for the star point guard, but they will look to make the necessary moves to return to the playoffs this offseason.

They have already been rumored as a team to be interested in Andre Drummond to help their bigs, and have also been linked to Pascal Siakam and Deandre Ayton. Although Drummond opted into his deal with the Bulls, the latter is still in play via trade. Center is an obvious need, but another need is adding wing depth.

You can never have too many wings on your roster, and Doncic creates plenty of shots for the players around him. They have Tim Hardaway Jr., Reggie Bullock, Josh Green, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper on the roster now but will need to add at least one more solid wing into the mix. They will benefit most from adding a 3-and-D wing because their defense was sub-par last year, and Doncic and Irving create so many open shots.

Here we list some free-agent wings and a few shooting guards and discuss their strengths and how they'd fit on the Mavs.

10. Cam Reddish

Cam Reddish is another player that the Mavericks could consider signing in free agency, and his best basketball could still be ahead of him.

Reddish is entering his fifth NBA season and has played for the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Portland Trailblazers. He is only 23 years old and would be a good piece to add to the Mavericks' young core.

Last season, Reddish averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and one steal per game. He played around 25 minutes per game for the Knicks and Trailblazers and started 20 games. He would likely come off the bench in Dallas and provide three-level scoring in defense.

Reddish wasn't known as the best defender at the start of his career but has improved as time goes on. He has the perfect size and length to guard multiple positions and works hard on that end of the floor. Reddish disrupts passing lanes and plays good off-ball defense.

The Mavericks have also been interested in Reddish as recently as last season. Back in January, the Mavericks were reported as a suitor for Reddish via trade, but he ended up being traded to the Trailblazers.

Now the Mavericks can pursue him without giving up any assets as he is a restricted free agent. If the Mavericks can get him for the right price, they should go after him. He brings youth, defense, and scoring.

9. Kyle Kuzma

Kyle Kuzma is one of the most dynamic scorers in this bunch and could be a player that the Mavericks target in a sign-and-trade to start free agency. He likely wouldn't be obtainable with the full MLE, so the Mavs would have to use a sign-and-trade to get him to Dallas if they re-sign Kyrie Irving.

Matt Moore of Action Network reported that the Mavericks are one of the teams interested in Kuzma in free agency. He would be a great third scorer alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and the Mavericks should look to bring him in to strengthen their frontcourt.

Kuzma can play both small and power forward and would provide the Mavs with plenty of offensive firepower. He had the best season of his career last season in Washington as he averaged 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field.

Kuzma is one of the better forwards in the league at creating his own shot, and he hits moving threes effectively. He also utilizes head fakes to get to the bucket and finish in the lane. Kuzma also has deep range and lights up the scoreboard with ease.

Kuzma isn't a great defender, but he isn't a liability. He has a 7-foot wingspan and can disrupt passing lanes when locked in.

This move doesn't look likely for Dallas but we've seen crazier things in free agency.

8. Jalen McDaniels

A player much different from Cam Reddish that would still fit great in Dallas is Jalen McDaniels.

McDaniels finished last season with the Philadelphia 76ers and averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and one steal per game. Just like Reddish, McDaniels would give the Mavericks a big, lengthy wing. He is 6-foot-9 and has a 7-foot wingspan, giving him ideal metrics for defensive versatility on the wing.

He has good athleticism and can switch onto guards. McDaniels uses his length to disrupt everything and always competes on that end of the floor.

Offensively, McDaniels is a good cutter and a solid finisher around the basket. He often uses back cuts, which Luka Doncic would love, and he can also be used as a screener in the pick and roll. McDaniels can also knock down an occasional three and stretch the floor when he needs to.

McDaniels shot 40 percent from three during his 24 games with the 76ers on 1.3 attempts per game. He has a career average of 34.5 percent. McDaniels isn't going to be the player that comes in and knocks down a bunch of threes, but the defense will have to respect him from out there.

He is also a good scorer in transition and is crafty around the bucket. His defense would make him a glue player in Dallas, and you can never have too many young wings.

7. Grant Williams

The Mavs reportedly have an interest in Grant Williams, and he should be a player that they should consider using the MLE on.

Williams averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game for the Boston Celtics last season, but was only playing around 18 minutes per night during the playoffs. He could be looking to have an expanded role, and the Mavericks could be the team that gives him that.

Williams shot 39.5 percent from three last season and would be another player that would fit great next to Luka Doncic. He would get tons of open looks and would stretch the floor. His shooting took a big jump during the 2023 playoffs as well as he shot 45 percent from three.

The most attractive part of Williams' game is his defense. Williams can guard both forward spots effectively and can even guard centers due to his strength. His ability to switch would allow him to thrive in Dallas' system, and they'd likely heavily rely on him on defense. He is a competitor that would bring much-needed physicality and intensity.

Adding Williams to this squad would help the Mavs return to being a good defensive team like they were during their 2022 Western Conference Finals run. Williams has plenty of playoff experience and would be another young piece for the Mavericks to sign.

6. Kelly Oubre Jr.

One of the best scorers of this bunch that the Mavericks could sign in free agency is Kelly Oubre Jr.

Oubre Jr. played two seasons in Charlotte before becoming a free agent this summer and averaged a career-high of 20.3 points per game last season. He is a player that the Mavericks would likely have to give the full MLE to, but he would be worth it.

The left-handed wing can score in a variety of ways, and would immediately be the third-best scorer on the team behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving (assuming he re-signs). He is a great mover without the ball, and he knocks down a large majority of his threes off the catch. He also has a good pull-up jumper.

When he isn't shooting threes, Oubre Jr. is blowing by defenders and finishing in a variety of ways in the paint. He has a good floater and can also be used as a ball handler in the pick and roll.

He is also a freak athlete and a good scorer in transition. Oubre Jr. uses his handle to shake defenders and gets to the rim to finish with authority. He throws down ferocious dunks often and isn't afraid to dunk in traffic.

Oubre Jr. is also a good off-ball defender. He has good instincts and often seems to know where the ball is going. Oubre Jr. also can take steals coast to coast and has great confidence.

5. Dillon Brooks

This player may be the most cntroversial potential target of the bunch, but he'd be great in Dallas.

Dillon Brooks is a player that was in headlines last season for the wrong reasons. He was constantly talking trash, and his on-court antics ultimately ended his tenure with the Grizzlies, as they won't bring him back.

The Mavericks are a team that would benefit from having him on their roster. Brooks is a defensive specialist and was named to the 2022-23 All-Defensive 2nd team. He averaged 14.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 0.9 steals per game for the Grizzlies last season.

He is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA, and he would give the Mavericks a player that isn't afraid to guard the other team's best player and get in their grill. Trash-talking can be good to some extent, but Brooks can't let it go too far if the Mavs decide to sign him. It would be a major distraction.

On offense, Brooks can stretch the floor and knock down threes at a fairly consistent rate. He shot 32.6 percent from three on six attempts per game. Playing in Dallas would also help this number go up, as he'd be getting some of the most open shots of his career.

It looks like Brooks will be signing with Houston, but if he wants to win and sacrifice a little bit of money, he could come to Dallas.

4. Josh Okogie

An underrated, not so flashy signing on this list is Josh Okogie.

Okogie averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals last season for the Suns. He is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Suns likely won't have enough cap to bring him back unless he decides to settle for a smaller contract.

The Mavericks should bring in Okogie because of his defense alone. He is a phenomenal perimeter defender and can guard multiple positions. Okogie has the quickness and motor to pick up ball handlers full court, and he is dedicated to locking people down.

Dallas would benefit from having Okogie because they don't have a player that can lock down guards. Reggie Bullock and Josh Green are both good defenders, but Okogie is better at guarding point guards. He is athletic and plays the passing lanes. He also has a massive wingspan and plays a pesky, frustrating type of defense.

The Mavericks would love to have that type of player off their bench.

Offensively, Okogie crashes the glass and makes hustle plays. He averaged 1.5 offensive rebounds last year and does all the little things. Okogie is a streaky three-point shooter as he shot 33.5 percent last season, but there is room for improvement there as he is just 24 years old.

Okogie is a guy that would fit the Mavericks' culture perfectly and would be an under-the-radar move that would pay off for Dallas.

3. Bruce Brown

Bruce Brown might be the best fit of any player on this list, and the Mavs should be excited about the opportunity to bring him in.

Brown is already rumored as a Mavericks' target, and he is scheduled to meet with the Mavs at the start of free agency on Friday.

Brown was a crucial part of the Nuggets' NBA Finals run as he averaged 12 points, four rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in the playoffs. He is a great two-way player, and his fit in Dallas is inevitable.

He would step in and be the best defender on the Mavs, and can competitively guard the other team's best wing or guard. Brown is a competitor, and he knows what it takes to win in the playoffs, as he just won the NBA Finals.

Adding a player that is young and has championship experience is ideal, and Brown has both.

If the Mavs were to sign Brown, it would probably be for the full MLE (if they can free it up). If they can bring in some more supporting pieces through trade and with the bi-annual exception, this move would be golden for Dallas. They could want to split up the MLE on multiple players, but if they don't, Brown would be the perfect candidate.

2. Matisse Thybulle

Mattise Thybulle is one of the better defenders in this bunch, and the Mavs should consider bringing him in if the money is right.

Thybulle played three-and-a-half seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to the Trailblazers. He started all 22 games he played in Portland and averaged 7.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks.

Thybulle fills up the stat sheet on defense, and the Mavericks are in need of that type of player. He is a restricted free agent, but Portland could have other plans in the making, as Damian Lillard's future is uncertain, and they could be making a monster trade soon. This could cause them to move on from Thybullee if a team offers him enough money.

He has been on an All-Defensive team twice in his career, and just like many of these players, he would step in and be the best defender on the team. Thybulle is always making a defensive play. Whether if he's blocking someone's pull-up jumper or intercepting a pass out of the air, he makes his presence felt.

Thybulle's offensive game is limited, but he showed flashes while in Portland. He shot 38.8 percent from three as a Trailblazer, and if he can carry this momentum into next year, he'd be a valuable piece on the Mavericks. For context, Reggie Bullock shot 38 percent from three for Dallas last season.

The Trailblazers would likely match whatever the Mavericks threw at Thybulle, but if things get crazy in Portland, they may not match.

1. Seth Curry

The final player on this list isn't a defensive wing like most of the other previously listed players, but he is a great shooter that has already played a season with Luka Doncic.

His name is Seth Curry.

Curry played for the Mavericks in the 2016-17 season and again in the 2019-20 season. In his more recent campaign with the Mavs, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per game. This is the season that he played with Doncic, and bringing him back likely wouldn't be a huge adjustment for the two.

Curry is a plug-and-play type of player. He would thrive in any system, and his ability to knock down threes consistently will keep him on the floor with whichever team he signs with. The Mavericks would be a great fit for him, and he can play either guard spot.

In Curry's second stint with the Mavericks, he shot a career-high 45.2 percent from three. He was the most consistent shooter on the team that season and would come in and be a shooter off the bench for the Mavs.

Curry's ability to play either guard spot will make him a valuable target on the free agent market. I don't see his value going any higher than the MLE, so if the Mavs really want him, they could probably land him. They would probably want more of a defensive-minded player if they are going to invest that much money into them, but only time will tell.