NBA champion believes Mavericks have what it takes to achieve NBA Finals glory

The Dallas Mavericks advanced to the NBA Finals last season, for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The team came close two seasons ago but came up three wins short. Dallas now looks to make another finals run, as they rejuvenated their roster this offseason.

For starters, the Mavs added experience and defensive weapons. They believe the new acquisitions have the necessary tools to assist them in making another run. Dallas added four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson. The team desperately needed the signing, as they lacked scoring outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Thompson even agrees he can have an impact believing he is the team's "missing piece."

Dallas then boosted their offense even more by adding depth in Spencer Dinwiddie. The former Mav gives the team another scoring threat; who can be used in different ways.

On the other side of the ball, Dallas boosted their defense with the acquisitions of Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall. Both players have shown they can be elite defenders. The Mavs will rely on them to come off the bench and do the dirty work.

Brendan Haywood believes Dallas is a top-tier contender

All these moves gave Brendan Haywood reason to believe Dallas can make another title run. The 2011 champion gave his perspective on the Mavs' recent additions, dating back to the trade deadline.

"I thought they improved at the trade deadline and I thought they improved in the offseason when they got a guy like Klay Thompson also," Haywood said.

He mentions how the Mavs are a top-tier team in the West. Haywood believes Oklahoma City Thunder are the number one team, but thinks afterward it's a toss-up between Dallas, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets. Doncic and Irving are the main factors for his reasoning.

"When you start talking about the best teams in the West, you need to mention the Mavericks because they have two of the best closers."

Haywood also elaborated that Dallas is in prime position to win a title within the coming years. He credits the Mavs' organization as a whole for making the right decisions.

Yet, Haywood might be right. It wasn't too long ago Mavs fans wanted Jason Kidd fired after the team failed to make the playoffs. Then, there was a question as to whether Nico Harrison did the right thing in trading for Irving.

"When you have Luka, you have Kyrie, you have great ownership, a great GM and a great head coach, you definitely have the pieces to win a title," Haywood said.

Dallas will now look to make Haywood's proclamation come true. The team has already been bonding this summer, so that's a huge plus.

The Mavs championship run begins October 24th, when the team takes on the San Antonio Spurs. Until then, stay tuned for the latest updates on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks.