Dallas Mavericks Off-Season Outlook
By Ryan Mayer
The Dallas Mavericks find themselves caught between two eras at the moment. They want to chase success for one last time with Dirk Nowitzki while at the same time trying to find that next young player to build the team around. As they come off a 4-1 loss to the Thunder in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs, eyes turn to the salary cap and what the team can possibly do to try and get back to contender status.
Taking into account Parsons, Nowitzki, and Williams all choosing to accept their options and counting the qualifying offer for Powell leaves the Mavs about $33 million under the projected salary cap ($92 million) and $52 million ($111 million) underneath the luxury tax. In terms of a positional breakdown of the roster based on the players under contract, you're looking at this:
Point Guards (3), Shooting guards (1), Small forwards (2), Power forwards (2), Centers (1).
Again, this is assuming all of those guys pick up their player options, and I don't see much of a reason why they wouldn't. Dirk took a lower salary to try and win again in the last round of contract negotiations, so you wouldn't expect him to opt-out and money chase. Parsons was hurt a lot this season and wouldn't get more on the open market. Sure, Williams could test the waters after a resurgent year, but he'd likely be better served staying in Dallas.
Free Agents to Target
The Mavs, because they have room to get a max guy, will of course be rumored as a landing spot for Durant, and they'll probably get a meeting. Maybe I'm still in the minority here, but I don't think Durant leaves OKC this off season. I think he signs back on with a LeBron type 1+1 deal so he can leave his options open depending on what Westbrook and Ibaka do when they hit free agency next year. With that in mind, Dallas should focus its efforts elsewhere after doing the due diligence on Durant. Particularly, improvement on the defensive side of the ball would help as they were just average (15th) in defensive efficiency this season.
Al Horford, PF/C- Horford is surprisingly set to hit unrestricted free agency this year despite being a 15 and 8 guy in his career while showing this year that he can expand his range further and hit threes. Adding a guy like Horford who can also space the floor, and add some decent rim protection (allowing just 49.5% shooting at the rim according to Nylon Calculus) would be a boon to Dallas. Hereford doesn't fit the "traditional" center role, but in an NBA that's becoming more and more perimeter oriented, you could get away with him playing alongside Dirk.
Nic Batum, SG/SF- Batum rebounded this season after and off-year in 2014-15, averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds and nearly 5 assists per game while shooting .426/.348/.849. Batum would provide an option at either the 2 or 3 spot, and with the uncertainty around Parsons injuries, would supply an immediate starting-caliber guy. Granted, you can't assure him of that starting spot, so signing him may be a little trickier. Batum has also had injury issues of his own which makes the next guy on the list maybe a better option.
Kent Bazemore SG/SF- Bazemore shined after getting more minutes this season following DeMarre Carrol's departure to Toronto in free agency last summer. Just 26 years old, mainly a defensive stopper, Bazemore would add a wing defensive presence that this roster is currently missing.
Now, Batum and Bazemore would give the Mavs a really crowded wing rotation, so you're probably only going to sign one of the two. Horford should be at the top of the Mavs summer wish list, especially considering the money they can offer and adding him to a starting line-up of Williams, Matthews, Parsons, and Nowitzki would look really good. The Mavericks have plenty of cap space to add some solid mid-tier free agents like they did with Wes Matthews last year.