Is new Mavs PG Delon Wright a 'quality starter'?

DALLAS- In an effort to improve their size and athleticism in the backcourt, the Dallas Mavericks traded for Memphis point guard Delon Wright, adding a long-bodied defender with positional versatility on the perimeter, in exchange for a pair of second-round picks to Memphis. He's a starter here. But there's still a question.

Is Delon a "quality starter''?

The deal had Wright signing a three-year $29 million contract. If you are a believer in what Delon is or can become, those numbers are fine. The 6-foot-5 Wright is likely to start at the point, with Luka Doncic alongside him.

"He’s a point guard and he can make things easier for me and easier for the team,'' Luka recently told Mavs.com. "So I’m excited to have him.''

Wright checks a lot of boxes that the Mavericks were in search of heading into the summer, including length, athleticism, perimeter defense, playmaking, and the ability to penetrate and get to the rim.

Wright has been on Dallas' radar since he came off of the board just one pick before the Mavs were on the clock in the 2015 NBA Draft. Had he still been available, the Mavs likely would have picked him, but with Toronto snatching him up, the Mavs selected Justin Anderson instead.

In four years with the Raptors, Wright's impact was minimal, averaging 6.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in just over 17 minutes per game.

Wright was then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with Jonas Valacunius, and C.J. Miles, as part of the Marc Gasol deal, where his career would take a nice step forward with more minutes at his disposal.

In 26 games in Memphis, Wright started 11 of them and averaged 30.8 minutes per outing. In those increased minutes, Wright averaged 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game.

Though he hits just 33 percent for his career from beyond the arc, the Mavs think Wright does everything else on the offensive end well enough to make up for that kind of shortcoming.

Wright was also extremely effective against his new team, the Mavericks, in his back-to-back matchups against them in the season's final two games, coming away with two-straight triple-doubles of 26 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds, and 20 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists, respectively.

As for playing inside the American Airlines Center, Wright should be very happy in his new home, where he averages 13 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and one steal for his career.

“The league is getting more positionless,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “Delon fits with that trend. He can do a lot of things well.''

In Dallas, that includes being a full-time starter for the first time in his career.

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