Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Dallas Mavericks

[MrGoat]

Not 100% on keeping Nico but it would be too quick to fire him now. Keep Kidd. Definitely performed better than expected. This is a treadmill team if they don't find a massive rim protection upgrade without giving up DFS or Bullock.

[Schmooftie]

Mavs are crazy if they choose not to pursue a S&T with Brunson. He’s our most valuable piece and the Mavs desperately need a big

Yep this is the move, Brunson's value will likely never be higher and he is not worth paying $25M a year to when you already have Hardaway and Dinwiddie on the roster, along with a major hole in the front court

Who that player is i'm not sure - but they need a pick and roll big who can play good defence

[Floody100]

Luka needs to drop 15-20 pounds.

[ILOVEIT]

Luka = James Harden. Loves the glory of scoring but is relatively out of shape AND doesn't play much defense AND is ball dominant.

He'll always have great moments, but unless they can get a player like Klay Thompson (two player that doesn't need to dominate the ball) Mavs will be a treadmill tough out in the early to mid rounds of the playoffs. NEVER win a chip unless they solve the Luka second star fit.

[metalinguss]

All positives here.

[JujitsuFlip]

Good season for Luka and the Mavs, they need to construct the team around Luka even more.

[timO]

trade bertans and powell

sign Brunson 90/4 if not wait to his offers in RFA, dont think he gets too much than that

[giberish]

They may not be THAT far away. Another DFS quality wing and an above-average (or perhaps even just average) starting C and they can credibly contend for a title. They wouldn't have a classic #2 but rather 4 or 5 guys who are #3-4 quality. Or they can try for a more classic #2 if the opportunity arises but you don't want to put your team on hold for years waiting for that guy (or making some desperate, flailing move to get what you think is that guy but really isn't).

The other two issues are that Luka needs to do less on offense (a 32% usg rate star is in better position for a title run than a 38% usg rate star) - this means both better teammates and being willing to use them (even if a Luka P&R is the best option for any one possession you need a more diverse offense). Also, as many others have already pointed out Luka needs to have more energy for defense, largely through better fitness (though taking a small step back on O would also help).

[sunsbg]

Mavs had some luck in the playoffs - Jazz tanking, Suns chocking. Also you never know how a player will look like after getting paid. If Brunson gets 25M and regresses he would be just another bad contract on this team. Dinwiddie offers something similar anyway. Maybe they try to deal Brunson for Ayton to fill that hole in the middle teams (other than the Suns) are ready to exploit. DA is progressing as an offensive player, so he can turn into the two-way star Mavs need. I can root for the Mavs if that happens.

[LAL1947]

Luka had a great series but I think his immaturity/inexperience showed in this last game's 1st quarter. There were a few occasions when the Mavs could have pulled equal and maybe taken the lead, which would have made GSW's players nervous and who knows how they would have then reacted... but he squandered them by trying to be a hero. That set the tone for the rest of the match as GSW were always in control. The GSW roster just has too much quality in depth though, so I'm not putting the loss on him... just saying those small moments can make or break matches.

Luka needs to drop 15-20 pounds.

I think he needs to drop 20-30 pounds, at least.

[Soca]

They have to find a way to improve their rebounding. They were in the bottom half in rebounding during the regular season and they got outrebounded by double digits in four of the five games of the WCF.

[durden_tyler]

Meh they have Luka so will be a constant playoff team so a matter of getting over the hump. With Suns and Warriors' average age up there, it's going to be a matter of time when they replace those teams at the top.

[Dubnation]

Meh they have Luka so will be a constant playoff team so a matter of getting over the hump. With Suns and Warriors' average age up there, it's going to be a matter of time when they replace those teams at the top.

Coming from you, I'm surprised you didn't mention Memphis, another team in the way of the Mavs.

[durden_tyler]

Meh they have Luka so will be a constant playoff team so a matter of getting over the hump. With Suns and Warriors' average age up there, it's going to be a matter of time when they replace those teams at the top.

Coming from you, I'm surprised you didn't mention Memphis, another team in the way of the Mavs.

i see both in the same situation actually. We'll be replacing those "top teams" the next few years, just need to be patient.

[Branduil]

The plus side of how the Mavs went out is it's extremely obvious where their holes are. Upgrading their starting center and getting a reliable backup wing are their most immediate needs.

In the long run, I think they will need to get that third guy next to Luka and Brunson. A three-level scorer who can hit open shots on the move will open things up immensely when their offense gets bogged down. They need their own Klay Thompson or Khris Middleton, basically. So they should be looking for guys who weirdly spell their first name with a K instead of a C in this draft.

[LAL1947]

So they should be looking for guys who weirdly spell their first name with a K instead of a C in this draft.

Does Kofi Cockburn qualify?

[Hugi Mancura]

Adding Khris Middleton or Jrue Holiday and Myles Turner would make this team so much better. Both Bucks players are wild dream and I don't think Indiana is interested to trade Turner anymore, so they gotta find second best options. Jerami Grant could be an interesting choice and wild card choice of Bobby Portis as a new starting center. Those two would at least be available with what Dallas have and I know Portis is far reach as a starting center. He never been one and probably with good reason, but maybe he can perform. Deandre Ayton could be interesting option, but I don't know how Dallas could be able to pry him from Suns. But I think Dallas should start making moves that improve starting positions instead of just getting another role player.

Several people have mentioned that Luka needs to do less and I do agree. You need to keep your team mates happy too and specially if you want to add another star. So Luka needs to learn to share little bit more. I think he will learn, but does it happen next year we will see? Probably not. He needs his MVP.

They did overachieve in playoffs and I honestly think no matter what they do they will do less next year. They will still be a playoff team.

[makubesu]

The West may be better next year, and the only way up is to the finals, so I don’t know about “rising team”. But Luka should get better and I think they can make some real moves this off-season.

[Bob8]

Adding Khris Middleton or Jrue Holiday and Myles Turner would make this team so much better. Both Bucks players are wild dream and I don't think Indiana is interested to trade Turner anymore, so they gotta find second best options. Jerami Grant could be an interesting choice and wild card choice of Bobby Portis as a new starting center. Those two would at least be available with what Dallas have and I know Portis is far reach as a starting center. He never been one and probably with good reason, but maybe he can perform. Deandre Ayton could be interesting option, but I don't know how Dallas could be able to pry him from Suns. But I think Dallas should start making moves that improve starting positions instead of just getting another role player.

Several people have mentioned that Luka needs to do less and I do agree. You need to keep your team mates happy too and specially if you want to add another star. So Luka needs to learn to share little bit more. I think he will learn, but does it happen next year we will see? Probably not. He needs his MVP.

They did overachieve in playoffs and I honestly think no matter what they do they will do less next year. They will still be a playoff team.

Luka's teammates look happy enough to me and most importantly all of them are getting paid a lot. THJ career was going in bad direction before Mavs, and he got paid last year. Undrafted DFS and Kleber are suddenly respectable players, Powell is alive only because of Luka, Bullock has perfect role for him, Dinwiddie playing great again after Washington fiasco and second rounder Brunson will get 100 mio. The only player, who didn't work is Richardson, but he had only 1 good year in his career.

Superstars are not coming in Dallas no matter what Luka does, so the plan should be getting solid starters on the right positions. We're seeing that you can get solid C for very reasonable price, that should be Mavs priority.

[Bob8]

Mavs had some luck in the playoffs - Jazz tanking, Suns chocking. Also you never know how a player will look like after getting paid. If Brunson gets 25M and regresses he would be just another bad contract on this team. Dinwiddie offers something similar anyway. Maybe they try to deal Brunson for Ayton to fill that hole in the middle teams (other than the Suns) are ready to exploit. DA is progressing as an offensive player, so he can turn into the two-way star Mavs need. I can root for the Mavs if that happens.

I have never heard someone tanking in playoffs.

Yes, Ayton would be great, but unfortunately it's near 0% for that happenig.