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The Dallas Mavericks need to take the next step forward. They have now had two straight seasons of making the playoffs, but failed to win a series. Luka Doncic has become not only one of the best guards in the league, but one of the top scorers. And if the Mavercks free agency rumors are true, it’s going to be a busy offseason.
It’s becoming more and more prevalent that you need at least three guys in the NBA that play at an elite level if you want to win a championship. You can make the argument that the Mavs have 1.5 (Doncic and then Kristaps Porzingis, but he hasn’t been what he was in New York).
With the NBA offseason and free agency ahead, the Mavericks should target players that will be complementary to Doncic’s playing style and help improve a team that is almost there, but not quite in terms of contending.
Mavericks free agency rumors 2021
The Mavs’ offseason starting by trading away Josh Richardson to the Boston Celtics. That opened up some more salary space to sign a free agent.
It’s high time the Mavericks surround Doncic with a better supporting cast, especially if the rumors are true that he may not stay long term down in Dallas. They can do that this offseason, by going out and getting high-end players. Obviously you want to improve the team, but you need to do it in a way that makes Doncic want to stay around. You don’t give up on those kinds of once-in-a-generation players just because you weren’t willing to break the bank a bit.
With that, here are three free agents the Mavericks should target this offseason.
Kyle Lowry
The Mavericks are reportedly the favorite to focus on Kyle Lowry during free agency. The 35-year old averaged 17.2 points and 7.3 assists this past season with the Toronto Raptors and is expected to be one of the more attractive free agents.
Yes, he’s small at 6-foot-0. But Lowry could be the compliment to Doncic that the Mavericks are in need of. The six-time All-Star can play on or off the ball on offense, and gets gritty on defense, defending some of the best ball handlers in the league. You can also run the offense through him whenever Doncic is on the bench.
He brings a winning pedigree (aside from this past season in Toronto). He’s got an NBA Title under his belt. He can be a great locker room guy. At the right term and right price, Lowry should be the Mavs’ top priority.
Tim Hardaway Jr.
Coming over in the Porzingis trade as a salary dump for the New York Knicks, Tim Hardaway Jr. found a role in Dallas and relished in it.
He’s a catch-and-shoot type guard who averaged 16.6 points on 44.7% from the field and 39.1% from deep. Not only that, but Hardaway Jr. has stepped up in the playoffs the last two seasons, averaging over 17 points for the Mavs in their back-to-back series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Re-signing Hardaway Jr. seems to be at the top of Dallas’ offseason to-do list. It makes sense, considering the Mavs want to be able to re-sign Hardaway Jr. and still have enough money to get someone else. Dallas should get him to ink the new contract before he hits the open market and his value starts to climb higher and higher.
Richaun Holmes
The big man from the Sacramento Kings, Richaun Holmes averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks last season. He also shot 63.7 percent from the field and 79.4 percent on his free throws. Holmes has gotten better and better each year with the Kings, and is in for a pay raise.
There have been reports that Holmes is expected to re-sign with the Kings, but Dallas is one of the teams that will try and pry him from out west.
The Mavs got exploited at the rim in the playoffs against the Clippers, but bringing in someone like Holmes to protect the rim can solve that problem. Not to mention, he’s excellent in the pick-and-roll game, something Doncic would most definitely appreciate.
Dallas did just trade for Moses Brown from the Celtics in the Richardson trade, but he’s an unproven project. They need an upgrade in the paint now. Holmes would come in and immediately be their starting center and improve both ends of the court.
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