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

The Dallas Mavericks entered the 2021 offseason with the ability to create cap space and dreams of landing a marquee free agent to pair with superstar Luka Doncic. Their rumored top target was Kyle Lowry, but the six-time All-Star decided to go to the Heat in a sign-and-trade. Dallas did all they could and still missed out on the top names, but their front office made mistakes elsewhere.

After striking out on their marquee targets, the Mavericks re-signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year $75 million contract, brought back Boban Marjanovic, and added Reggie Bullock, Sterling Brown, and Frank Ntilikina. They also opted-in on Willie Cauley-Stein’s final year at $4.2 million.

Dallas made two straight first-round playoff exits, but they pushed the Clippers to seven games in 2021. Owner Mark Cuban and new general manager Nico Harrison put more shooting around Doncic and added a strong perimeter defender in Ntilikina. The Mavs led the league in offensive rating in 2020 with Seth Curry flanking Luka, so adding shooting and defense made sense, but they prioritized the wrong things.

Where did the Dallas Mavericks go wrong in the 2021 offseason?

The Mavs are impossible to stop when Doncic has shooters around him, but Dallas overlooked the moments when the 22-year-old superstar is not on the floor. They outscored the Clippers by seven in Luka’s 281 playoff minutes last season, but LA held a 43-point edge in the 55 minutes he was on the bench. Dallas failed to add a player that can create shots or make plays for others.

Those options were difficult to acquire after the top names, but Dennis Schroder, Alex Caruso, T.J. McConnell, Cameron Payne, Cory Joseph, and Ish Smith all signed for less than Reggie Bullock during the offseason.

Dallas also failed to upgrade at the five and even brought back Cauley-Stein and Marjanovic. The team’s center woes this season are a product of not finding an upgrade on the market, despite plenty of solid options taking less than $4.2 million.

Why was it difficult for Dallas to add another playmaker? How much are they struggling at the five? Can the Mavericks fix the issues moving forward? Let us take a closer look at all three of those questions.

Dallas Mavericks do not want to limit Luka Doncic but need another playmaker

Doncic is one of the best ball-handlers in the league. He led the Mavs to the top offensive rating in NBA history in 2020 before the record was broken last season. Dallas wants the ball in his hands as they watch him break down the defense.

The law of diminishing returns comes into play, though. Luka only has so much energy, and asking him to create every play takes a lot. He wears down in the fourth quarter because no player can handle the workload being thrust onto his shoulders. A little less Doncic means a fully energized version during crunch time.

The Mavericks were hoping Jalen Brunson would step up to be the team’s secondary playmaker. He has been outstanding this season, but JB is an undersized guard. If the Mavs close games with Brunson, that puts him on the floor with Luka and Tim Hardaway Jr. and creates some defensive issues. Dallas needs a bit more size.

Also, two players that can create is not enough in the pace and space NBA. Look around the league, most title contenders have at least three if not four or five players that can handle the ball and run offense. The Dallas Mavericks need to add another playmaker before the trade deadline.

Dallas Mavericks failed to address center position this offseason

New head coach Jason Kidd made it clear during training camp that he viewed Kristaps Porzingis as a four and planned to start him next to a traditional big man.

The Mavs have done just that this season with disastrous results. Their net rating with KP and Dwight Powell on the floor is negative-8.7. Porzingis and Willie Cauley-Stein sits at negative-14.8, and it is a massive negative-75.7 in the six minutes the Unicorn has shared the floor with Boban Marjanovic.

The two big men set up has not worked, and it is difficult to blame KP. Yes, he is shooting just 30.1 percent from 3-point range, but the Unicorn is averaging 19.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. His play has improved significantly from last season.

The group of centers has not played well, and Dallas passed on Hassan Whiteside, Andre Drummond, Dwight Howard, Dewayne Dedmon, Cody Zeller, and Frank Kaminsky, who are all making less money than Cauley-Stein and Bobi this season.

If the Mavericks entered the offseason with the plan of playing KP at the four, they should have been searching for center upgrades. It is difficult to believe that the Mavs could not have signed one of the players listed above to improve their roster.

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.