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Dallas Mavericks: Grading The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks point guard Devin Harris (20) guards Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 127-111. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 18, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks point guard Devin Harris (20) guards Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 127-111. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dallas Mavericks
Feb 28, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) smiles from the court prior to the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Finally Got D-Will

It’s 2015, and yet there are moments when we pretend that Deron Williams is still a good player. Though he averaged 13.3 points and 6.6 assists per game last season with the Brooklyn Nets, he was demoted out of the starting lineup for 13 games by Jarrett Jack, he was eventually bought out and his former team will be paying him to NOT play for them anymore.

Williams still has some value, of course, especially for a Mavs team that lost its entire starting backcourt this summer. D-Will’s departure from Brooklyn had more to do with his injury history, the way he failed to ever step up as a leader and the fact that he was on the books for $21 million next season (before the buyout).

The Mavs will only be shelling out $10 million over the next two years for his services, but it’s hard to feel great about Dallas locking in D-Will about three years too late.

That $5 million a season is a great price tag for a player who’s much better than what was left on the free agency market at that point. But will D-Will’s ankles hold up coming off summer surgeries? Will he be able to defend his position now that he’s playing against an elite point guard on a nightly basis in the West?

Williams could experience a mini-resurgence playing under Carlisle…but then again, D-Will is a notorious coach-killer…maybe let’s just leave this as a “C” and leave a little wiggle room on both ends of the spectrum.

Grade: C

Next: The Mavs' Starting Center?

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