Whenever an NBA season concludes, it’s important for a team to make moves and trades in free agency to come back stronger. The Dallas Mavericks needed to put together a better roster than the roster that fell in the 2024 NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics.
Dallas wasted no time immediately when the team traded Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Detroit Pistons. Just days later, Dallas was then able to complete a sign-and-trade for one of the greatest 3-point shooters in NBA history, Klay Thompson. The Mavs were also able to sign underrated forward Naji Marshall from the New Orleans Pelicans and were able to bring back guard Spencer Dinwiddie on a one-year deal.
However, there might be people who still think Dallas lost huge value by losing Hardaway Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. in free agency. Based on a recent article on Bleacher Report, the Mavs received an unfair word about the team’s decisions this free agency.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus published an article titled “1 Word To Describe Every NBA Team’s Offseason.” When Pincus described the Mavericks’ offseason, he labeled the Mavericks as “better?” Pincus made a bold statement about the question of whether the Mavs got better or not.
“The answer isn’t apparent,” Pincus said. “Is Naji Marshall ready to fill in Jones’ role? Is Klay Thompson, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history, a significant upgrade over Hardaway? (given Thompson’s many leg injuries that have hampered his mobility, especially defensively).”
Without thinking about it, most would say the Mavs got better. Thompson was the big addition in free agency, and the Mavs had to make a big splash to send a message the team doesn’t want to be looked at as a fluke. When the Mavs lost the 2024 Finals, the team lacked 3-point shooting in the series. Thompson provides that 3-point shooting the team desperately could’ve used against the Celtics.
Losing Jones Jr. in free agency to the rival Clippers did hurt, but Marshall will still be able to provide outstanding defense and be able to shoot the three. Marshall was also dubbed the “most underrated” forward in the NBA, so Marshall will be looking to improve his game and put his name on the map.
Hardaway Jr. became a big liability for the Mavs in the 2024 playoffs by sitting on the bench for most of the series. With Thompson on the team, he is a big upgrade over Hardaway Jr. offensively and defensively. Also, Quentin Grimes will be eager to get a fresh start in Dallas and he is younger than Hardaway Jr. too.
A big late signing was bringing back Dinwiddie. Dallas has been a place where Dinwiddie has thrived, especially in the Mavs’ run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals. When the Mavs signed Dinwiddie back, the Mavs fan base was beyond excited to welcome him back.
The Mavs have had more than just a “better” offseason according to Pincus. The team did lose a fan favorite with Jones Jr. but got rid of dead weight by trading Hardaway Jr. to Detroit. Adding Thompson, Dinwiddie, Marshall, and Grimes makes the Mavs roster better.
