OKC Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks, 2019-20 team preview

With money to spend, the Rookie of the Year and a healing unicorn in house it seemed odd more of the bevy of top free agents didn’t consider Dallas.

Even if the very elite were set on New York and LA it seemed likely someone like JJ Redick and or Danny Green would find their way to the Mavericks. Perhaps the focus of the free agents was too narrowly aimed but something tells me hindsight will result in more than a few signing regrets.

Conversely, maybe those stars are waiting for a full season demonstrating this Euro tandem can work (it says here they will feast). Regardless, with the wunderkid freshly out of his teens and a full summer of committed growth, time is very much on the Mavericks side.

Despite no big signings, a few savvy additions bolster the depth chart. Delon Wright can start and help improve the defense and is accustomed to accepting a supplementary role as he did while developing in Toronto, or assume a bigger piece of the pie as he did in Memphis.

Seth Curry adds spacing and was a cost-effective pickup while existing assets who re-signed did so having bought into the system and the bright future.

Although the biggest signing wasn’t technically this offseason it may as well have been. Dallas elected to give Kristaps Porzingis the full year to rehabilitate while simultaneously committing to sign him for the maximum five years.

For those voicing concerns over the deal, much of it is due to the unknown effect a torn ACL will have on a player of Porzingis 7’3″ height. Early preseason signs are impressive suggesting he’ll pick up right where he left off pre-injury. If Porzingis sustains these efforts the move by the Mavericks will be considered a stroke of genius.

Players Added:

Free Agency:

G: Seth Curry
G: Josh Reaves
G/F: Antonius Cleveland
C: Boban Marjanovic

Trade:

G: Delon Wright (trade with Grizzlies)

Rookies:

Isaiah Roby (45th pick via trade from Pistons)

Departing Players:

Free Agents:

G: Trey Burke (signed with Sixers)
F: Kostas Antetokounmpo (waived)
G: Devin Harris (unrestricted)
C: Salah Mejri (unrestricted)

Retired:

F: Dirk Nowitzki