Mavs Linked to Free Agent Wing Targets, Including Grant Williams
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks' top priority remains to re-sign Kyrie Irving in free agency, but the team faces plenty of other needs around him and Luka Doncic. Among them is a talent deficit on the wing that must be overcome.
In terms of specific areas of the game that must be improved, the Mavs' goals include achieving improvement on defense and rebounding. Amid a 38-44 season, Dallas ranked 25th in defensive rating and 30th in total rebounding percentage.
The Mavs' top reported targets in free agency have already been mentioned with names like Bruce Brown and Grant Williams. Despite having a pathway to the $12.4 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception, Dallas will face stiff competition in acquiring either of those two players.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Mavs have been linked to various forward candidates including Williams, Jae Crowder, Eric Gordon, and Malik Beasley among various options.
"Celtics forward Grant Williams will likely have to wait out this initial rush of mid-level signings to find an interested bidder," Fischer wrote. "Dallas has been linked to various wings and forwards, from Williams to Jae Crowder to Eric Gordon to Beasley."
There will be no shortage of interested suitors in Williams' services, who still very well could have his offer sheet matched by the Boston Celtics as a restricted free agent. If the Mavs proved successful, they would add a needed contributor at the four spot. Crowder, who also stands at 6-foot-6, could be a stopgap option otherwise.
The main challenge the Mavs would encounter with names like Beasley and Gordon is a continued trend of having a lack of perimeter size around Doncic and Irving, given both players are 6-foot-4. There would need to be a further balancing of the roster using subsequent moves.
Among other reported moves the Mavs intend to make in free agency include re-signing Dwight Powell to serve as a stopgap center as Dereck Lively II develop. The team had reported plans to "remake" the center position and could still re-route Richaun Holmes and or move on from JaVale McGee.
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
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