5 Free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill gaping hole

NBA free agency is finally slowing down as most of the top free agents have already signed with their new teams, but the Dallas Mavericks have no time to rest.

Dallas still has an open roster spot, and there are plenty of players they can consider bringing in to give them the best chance at making the NBA Finals next season.

While it looks like the Mavs want to re-sign Markieff Morris, they also want to add more backcourt depth.

5 Free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill hole at backup point guard

The Mavs' lack of a third ball handler outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving who can be counted upon in big moments hurt them in the playoffs, and they look to be trying to address this problem in free agency.

Nico Harrison has made a handful of excellent moves already this offseason that include making a sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson and trading for Quentin Grimes, and he isn't just going to waste this roster spot.

Dallas is going to be strategic when it comes to who they sign, and this player has the chance to make a big impact right away.

Here are five backup ball handlers the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill that hole in their lineup.

5. Malachi Flynn

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly interested in signing Malachi Flynn, and he may be the perfect player to come off of the Mavs bench and provide scoring and ball handling.

Last season for the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, Flynn averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 33.1 percent from downtown. The best point of Flynn's season came when he was on the Pistons, and he put his name on the map as he dropped 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks.

Flynn was using his tight handle to get to his spots inside the arc in the mid-range and at the rim, and his scoring expertise is underrated. He is also a decent shooter who lets it fly with confidence off the catch and off the dribble, and he'd be a great fit in Dallas.

He would be able to lead the offense and be a complementary scorer when needed, and he also fits the Mavs' timeframe. Flynn is only 26 years old, and the Mavs have done a great job of making moves for players who are young, but are also ready to contribute right now.

Flynn would be a great pickup, and the Mavs should definitely consider bringing him in.

4. Dennis Smith Jr.

Dennis Smith Jr. has been missed by Dallas Mavericks fans ever since the team traded him as part of the Kristaps Porzingis, and now is the perfect time for the Mavs to bring him home. Smith Jr.'s most productive seasons came as members of the Mavs, and they just happen to need backcourt depth.

It has been rumored that the Mavs are looking to upgrade their backcourt off the bench, and Dallas has been linked to him. Smith Jr.'s defense has become elite over the last few years, and he may be the missing piece for this team to return to the NBA Finals next season.

Smith Jr. is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA as he has great hands and anticipation, and he leaves ball handlers with no airspace when fully engaged. He is one of the best free agents that remain on the open market, and the Mavs could likely get him for a bargain.

Offensively, Smith Jr. is a good slasher with outstanding athleticism who is never afraid to try to dunk on someone. He isn't the same scorer that Mavs fans saw during his rookie year, but his playmaking has improved and his role has decreased as he has bounced around the NBA.

The Mavs wouldn't be signing Smith Jr. for his scoring, but his defense and potential ability to lead the second unit and create some would help the Mavs bench.

3. Kyle Lowry

The Mavs haven't been linked to former Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry just yet, but he brings exactly what the Mavs need in a backup guard. The team needs someone who can create, defend, and knock down open shots while also not being afraid of the big moment, and Lowry brings all of those qualities.

Considering Lowry has played in 136 playoff games and started in 101 playoff games, he may be the perfect fit in Dallas. They don't need someone who is going to be playing 30 minutes a night, and Lowry in more limited of a role could help with his longevity and bring the best out of him.

Last season for the Sixers, Lowry averaged 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from downtown. Having him as the leader of the second unit on a veteran minimum contract would be a great deal for the Mavs, and he would fit in great.

Lowry is already 38 years old, which means this deal would likely only be a one-year deal, but his veteran presence and abilities as an all-around point guard shouldn't go unnoticed. The Mavs need someone like Lowry, and coming to Dallas to have the chance to win another ring before he retires could intrigue him.

2. Spencer Dinwiddie

The Dallas Mavericks had the chance to turn their 2024 trade deadline from an A+ to an A++ on the buyout market.

Dallas had just traded for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, and everyone knows how much that duo helped the team, but they also had the chance to get even better on the buyout market. The Mavs were eyeing Spencer Dinwiddie to fill their open roster spot, but he ended up curving the Mavs for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Dinwiddie ended up not working out as well in Los Angeles as some people expected, and he had an all-around inefficient year playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Lakers. He wasn't the same player that he once was, but now this summer he has the chance to return to peak form.

Dallas has already shown interest in signing Dinwiddie this summer, and he just happens to bring exactly what the Mavs need. The Mavs need a third creator who can play on the ball or off the ball while also being a scoring threat, and that's exactly what Dinwiddie would bring.

He already has proved he can thrive next to Luka Doncic and during the playoffs, and he may be the best fit of anyone on this list. Signing Dinwiddie to a veteran minimum contract would be a huge steal, and playing in Dallas could be what he needs to get his career back on track.

1. Markelle Fultz

Playing next to Luka Doncic is exactly what many players need to get their careers back on track, and time and time again this has proven to be true. Doncic helps role players turn into elite role players, and most importantly he gets them paid.

Markelle Fultz has had a decent NBA career but has not lived up to the expectations of him being the No. 1 overall pick, and Dallas would be a great situation for him. He wouldn't have too big of a role, and the Mavs could help him return to the player that fans saw in the season before last.

Fultz is coming off an average season with the Orlando Magic in which he averaged 7.8 points per game, and that was a huge dropoff from the 14 points per game he averaged in the season before.

Standing at 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Fultz has the tools and frame to compete defensively. He's a competitor who brings good effort on that end, but his offense is shaky. The Mavs happen to need a little bit more defense, and Fultz could provide that.

His 3-point jumper is nonexistent, and although he is a good creator, it's hard to be elite in that area when he isn't much of a scoring threat. Fultz has shown some flashes as a scorer around the bucket, but he may be the weakest offensive player on this list.

Fultz may not be the best player on this list, but taking a chance on him with a veteran minimum contract may not be a bad idea.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks throughout free agency, stay tuned.