Winning 13 of their last 16 games, the Dallas Mavericks have made it clear this NBA season that they are to be taken seriously as a real playoff threat in the Western Conference. 

However, their defense has carried them this season. 

Dallas ranks 5th in defensive rating and they have been one of the best all-around defensive teams in the NBA since the start of 2022, but they rank just 18th in the league in offensive rating and struggled to find real production outside of Luka Doncic. 

Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie have stepped up in the backcourt with Tim Hardaway Jr. presumably being out for the year with a foot injury, as has Dorian Finney-Smith on the wing, but Luka Doncic is really the only main scoring threat on this team. 

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The Mavericks are going to go as far as Luka Doncic can carry them in the playoffs and while they could possibly win a playoff series for the first time since 2011, it is hard to imagine that the Mavs have what it takes to beat the Suns, Warriors or Grizzlies to advance to the Western Conference Finals this year. 

As a result, Dallas is going to be heading into the offseason looking for answers on how to build a strong, sustainable contender around Luka Doncic long-term. 

This could wind up being a troublesome question though, as Dallas is already committed to over $120 million in total salaries for the 2022-23 season and this is not counting the pending negotiations they will have with Jalen Brunson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason. 

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Financially, the Dallas Mavericks are going to have a problem on their hands the next few years, which is why they could look to cut some salaries and make a run at some other key talents in order to contend for a championship. 

Outside of Doncic, nobody on this roster has a secured long-term spot, which is why Dallas could look to target one of these three players in the near future.