Where the Mavericks went wrong in the 2021 offseason: Can they fix it?

Can the Dallas Mavericks correct their 2021 offseason mistakes?

NBA trade season heats up on Dec. 15 as the players that signed contracts during the offseason are eligible to be dealt. Calls will increase and last until the Feb. 10 deadline. Expect the Mavs to be active and aggressive under new general manager Nico Harrison, but can they fix their issues?

Centers will be readily available and often come at a discounted price because many of them are played off the floor in the playoffs as teams go small. The Mavericks could fix their issue by playing Kristaps Porzingis at the five, which is likely their plan in the postseason.

Finding another ball-handler and playmaker won’t be easy. The Mavericks still owe their 2023 first-round pick to the Knicks from the KP trade, and the top ten protection on it prevents Dallas from trading their 2025 first-rounder. They will have limited assets available to deal, and playmakers rarely come cheap.

Goran Dragic may be headed for a buyout with the Raptors and could wind up in Dallas next to his countryman Luka Doncic, but will that fix the issue? Dragic is a below-average defender at this stage in his career and needs to play a limited role to stay healthy.

The Dallas Mavericks need to improve their roster before the playoffs roll around, and fans should stay tuned to see what their front office can make happen before the trade deadline.