The Dallas Mavericks’ run in the 2022 NBA Postseason hasn’t even been over for 24 hours, yet people are already contemplating and discussing ways for the front office to improve the roster. This is a deep, talented team that outperformed expectations during Jason Kidd’s first season as head coach.
Having a transcendent star in Luka Doncic leading the way is going to help Dallas remain competitive each and every season. But, if they want to get over the hump and win a championship, they need to continue tweaking the roster around him.
Retaining Jalen Brunson is probably their top task, as he is entering unrestricted free agency and expected to garner a ton of interest. Finding another wing that is a dependable scorer and defender should be near the top of their to-do list.
However, some people think the Dallas Mavericks are one player away.
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Over at ESPN, Tim McMahon shared a thought from an NBA executive and provided some insight into the thinking of that executive’s one-player-away remark.
“They’re one player away,’ an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN, suggesting the Mavs could win a title as soon as next season if they figured out a way to add an impact center — in the mold of 2010-11 Tyson Chandler — who could be a primary Doncic pick-and-roll partner, rebounder and rim protector.”
The center spot was evident as an area needing an upgrade every night the Mavericks took the court. Starting center Dwight Powell would start the first and third quarters and normally not go back into the game. Maxi Kleber logged the most minutes at the position for Dallas but is likely better suited to be playing a combo frontcourt role, not strictly minutes at center.
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Dallas was crushed on the boards, which is what Mark Cuban pointed out following Game 5 on Thursday as something the team will have to address this offseason.
“We see what we need,” Cuban said in the wake of the Warriors’ closeout win. “When one of their guys is getting 17, 18 rebounds a night, it kind of tells the story. That’s one of the things that we’ll try to fix.”
Luckily for the Dallas Mavericks, some centers could be available this offseason that would help shore things up. Could they get into the bidding for Rudy Gobert should the Utah Jazz make him available for trade this offseason?
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Rudy Gobert would be a perfect addition given his strengths. In terms of rebounding and controlling the paint, there aren’t many centers better at it than Gobert. And unlike Utah, Dallas has the personnel to adjust should the need to go small arise.
