Dallas Mavericks' Potential Free Agency Additions

Yahoo

2 days ago

The Dallas Mavericks are set to enter a crucial offseason with the top overall selection in the NBA Draft, but the most important additions will come during the free agency period.
Presumably, the Mavericks will select Duke forward Cooper Flagg with the first selection in the draft, leaving just one major hole at the guard position heading into next season.
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Dallas could look to fill this void in a multitude of ways throughout the offseason, but the team will have certain restrictions due to the new NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Currently, the Mavericks have a total of $193.6 million tied to 12 players and some dead cap space. This means the team will have a maximum of roughly $13 million to spend in free agency without moving on from players currently on the roster, according to Bleacher Report.
However, the organization will also look to keep spending low to avoid additional penalties from the league for violating the second apron.
Simply put, the Mavericks have very little cap space to fill an incredibly important need on the roster.
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Below are three players in the upcoming free agency class who stand out as the most realistic based on the spending restrictions the Mavericks will have.
Tyus Jones
Dallas is desperate for a playmaking guard who can immediately step into the role as one of the team's main ball handlers, which is exactly the type of role that Jones can fill if signed in free agency.
Jones is coming off a solid season with the Phoenix Suns, in which he averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 41.4% from behind the three-point line despite playing just 26.8 minutes per game.
Jones's ability to distribute the ball to other shooters while also knocking down an open shot would be paramount for a team that needs additional spacing and playmaking.
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In addition to the fit on the court, Jones has shown a past willingness to sign a cheaper contract on a team that he believes could compete at a high level.
This willingness was highlighted by his contract with the Phoenix Suns last season, which was worth just over $3 million for one year.
If Jones is willing to sign a similar contract this offseason, then the Mavericks should be fully committed to bringing him to Dallas.
Dennis Schröder
Schröder has many of the playmaking skills needed to step into one of the main playmaking roles for Dallas next season, averaging 13.1 points and 5.4 assists per game with the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets, and Golden State Warriors last season.
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Although Schröder struggles to shoot the three, making just 34.2% of his attempts last season, he makes up for this on the defensive side of the ball.
Schröder has consistently proven to be one of the better on-ball defenders in the NBA, which is an attribute that Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison has preached for the past year.
The difficult part about potentially acquiring Schröder comes with the finances, as he could request more than the Mavericks are willing to pay on his new contract.
Schröder is coming off a two-year contract worth just over $25 million and could be searching for a similar contract in free agency this offseason.
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If Schröder does not receive a similar contract, the Mavericks should be prepared to offer him a slightly lower average per year with the potential to make more in the future with a strong season.
D'Angelo Russell
Another option for the Mavericks next season is Russell, who spent the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, averaging 12.6 points and 5.1 assists per game.
Russell is the best ball handler of this group and has spent time working as a team's main playmaking option in the past, giving him ample experience to help lead the Mavericks through the first portion of the season without Irving.
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Although Russell struggled to shoot during the 2024-25 season, making just 31.4% of his attempts, he has a history of shooting the ball well, with a career average of 36.5% from behind the three-point line.
This spacing on the offensive end of the floor should be enough to make up for the issues defensively, as Russell often struggles on the defensive end due to a combination of mental lapses and effort.
Russell is also coming off a large contract worth $36 million over two years, but he is very likely to take a pay cut this offseason after some of his struggles over the past two years.