The Dallas Mavericks reached the NBA Finals last year thanks to the top-end talent of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. However, their lack of depth showed once they got there, as they lost to the Celtics 4-1.
Dallas has made some nice moves this offseason in attempt to retool for another deep playoff run, but did they do enough to get over the hump?
Klay Thompson is obviously the centerpiece of the Mavericks' acquisitions. Even though he is not the player he was during his prime, he is still Klay Thompson, one of the greatest shooters in the history of basketball. He will fit nicely as a third option next to Doncic and Irving.
There is not much to worry about when it comes to Thompson. He will be asked to shoot the basketball, which he excels at.
P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford will likely fill out the rest of the starting unit, giving them one of the best lineups in the NBA.
"This isn't a team where we have to look at replacing some of the older players. We have a core, a young core at that, so this is an exciting time to be a Mavs fan," said Jason Kidd after the season.
Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Quentin Grimes were the other Mavericks signings this offseason, and they will be asked to join Maxi Kleber and Dereck Lively II as part of the second unit.
While Grimes probably does not move the needle much, Marshall and Dinwiddie could be two solid under-the-radar pickups.
Dinwiddie is aging but has been an above-average starter during his ten-year NBA career. Now in his second stint with the Mavericks he will be asked to come off the bench. Dinwiddie could prove to be a significant upgrade over the options Dallas had running the offense last year when the two superstars were getting rest.
Dinwiddie knows how to set up his teammates at a high level and is a capable three-point shooter. He can also play the off-guard role when one of Doncic or Irving is on the court.
The Mavericks used their mid-level exception to sign Marshall. He is a versatile defender who can guard multiple positions and shot the ball well from beyond the arc last season (.397). His production off the bench is vital to improving the team's depth from last season, and he could be one of the most underrated signings of the offseason.
We will have to wait and see how everything plays out, but that should give Jason Kidd nine playoff-worthy rotation pieces to work with, which is more than they had last year when they came up just short.
