Dallas is Looking Ready for Redemption

        The Dallas Mavericks ended their season in a very embarrassing fashion. At the trade deadline the Mavericks made a big move trading for All Star Guard Kyrie Irving sending Guard Spencer Dinwiddie, Forward Dorian Finney-Smith, one first-round pick and two second-round picks to Brooklyn. The Mavericks also acquired Forward Markieff Morris in the deal. While the Mavericks gave up some of their defense this trade was expected to boost their offense. Before the trade the Mavericks had a record of 29-26 (5th in the Western Conference). While a Irving-Doncic backcourt was predicted to be unstoppable the results said otherwise. The Mavericks would go 9-16 after the trade deadline, when they acquired Kyrie Irving, they would finish the season 38-42 and finish 11th in the Western Conference thus eliminating them from playoff contention. Going from the 5th seed to 11th is a huge drop and going from making the Western Conference Finals to missing the playoffs entirely was a huge setback. This offseason the Mavericks had a lot of work to do to upgrade their roster and get back into contention especially when the Western Conference is looking insanely competitive. 

        Free Agency started and the Mavericks knew they needed to reshape their roster so to start they signed sharp shooting Guard Seth Curry. This is Curry's second stint with the Dallas Mavericks. The last time we saw Curry with the Mavericks was in the NBA Bubble where they would face off against the LA Clippers in the first-round but would lose the series in six games. Curry and the Mavericks agreed on a 2-year, $8 Million contract. The first year is fully guaranteed but the second and final year is non-guaranteed. The Mavericks acquired Forward Grant Williams in a 3-team deal along with two second-round picks (2025 SRP via San Antonio and a 2028 SRP from San Antonio). In the deal the Boston Celtics acquired three second-round picks (2024 SRP via San Antonio, 2025 second-round pick swap and a 2030 SRP via Dallas Mavericks) and the San Antonio Spurs acquired Forward Reggie Bullock and an unprotected 2023 first-round pick swap via Dallas Mavericks. With Grant Williams on the roster the Mavericks added solid 3 pt shooting to the front court and brought back some solid defense. Williams landed with Dallas on a 4-year, $53.3 Million contract. The Mavericks did not finish working out some business. 

        The Mavericks traded for Center Richaun Holmes sending cash consideration to Sacramento. The Mavericks also acquired the draft rights of Forward Oliver-Maxence Prosper who was the 24th overall pick in this years' draft. Holmes has spent his last four seasons with the Kings however this past season Holmes barely made the rotation and played in just 42 games. Holmes still has 2 years left on his current deal with the second year being a player-option. The Mavericks went out and signed high flying Forward Derrick Jones Jr. Jones Jr spent the last couple seasons with the Chicago Bulls where he averaged 5 PPG, 3 RPG and 1 BPG. Jones Jr and the Mavericks agreed on a 1-year, $2.7 Million contract. The Mavericks added some solid depth to their front court for the upcoming season. 

        Kyrie Irving was a free agent this summer and there was some speculation as to what team he would sign with. Teams like the Lakers, Suns and Clippers had interest in Irving however would not be able to give Irving the contract he was looking for. There was also some pressure on Dallas to re-sign Irving after trading for him. Kyrie Irving did express that he wanted to return to Dallas and he got his wish. The Mavericks and the All Star Guard agreed to a 3-year, $120 Million contract, the final year is a player-option. The Mavericks had a solid offseason and did a great job adding solid players to help Luka and the Mavs make some noise in this crazy Western Conference.