Mavs Free-Agency Signings Indicate Multiple Trades Coming?
Although the Dallas Mavericks successfully completed their top priority of the offseason by re-signing star point guard Kyrie Irving to a three-year, $126 million contract, they still have a lot of work to do if they want to accomplish their other big goals.
The Mavs were the worst rebounding team in the league last season, and they ranked 25th in defense. Naturally, GM Nico Harrison gave an honest assessment of those two areas of concern at season's end by stating his intentions of fixing them.
"I think for us going into the offseason, the two biggest things that we need to work on is defense and rebounding," Harrison said. "That's going to be addressed."
Indeed, those areas were addressed during the NBA Draft, as the Mavs ended up with Dereck Lively II, OMax Prosper and Richaun Holmes in separate trades. Despite that glowing draft night, those moves alone won't truly fix what they set out on fixing this summer. Yes, Lively and Prosper are defensive-minded and have a lot of potential, but they're also rookies who will need some time to grow. Holmes can grab rebounds if given the opportunity, but he doesn't help the Mavs' defense much.
So far in free agency, the Mavs have signed Irving, Seth Curry, Dwight Powell and Dante Exum. Three of those guys are guards, and the other was Dallas' starting center last year that led to the Mavs seeking big-man upgrades this summer. For a roster that now has seven guards and three centers in total, that probably aren't true, starting-caliber centers ... shouldn't that indicate that a trade or two is on the way?
It's no secret that the Mavs have been trying to move on from veteran center JaVale McGee, who simply hasn't lived up to the expectations bestowed on him last summer. Tim Hardaway Jr. has been in his fair share of trade rumors this year as well. And although the Mavs don't want to part ways with young prospects Josh Green and Jaden Hardy, they are two players the Atlanta Hawks reportedly asked for when Dallas attempted to trade for Clint Capela.
Depending on the outcomes of the potential James Harden and Damian Lillard trades, there could be more opportunities open up for the Mavs. When and if that time comes, Harrison and the Dallas front office must be ready to wheel and deal, because they still have some work to do in order to completely transform this Mavs' roster into a true contender.
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