NBA Southwest Division: 5 Burning Questions For The 2016-17 Season
Who Is The Second Best Player On The Mavericks?
Dirk Nowitzki has been one of the most consistent faces of the NBA, draining gorgeous one-legged jumpers in a Mavericks uniform since 1998. One of only four active players to see the court in the 90s, Dirk is now the NBA’s active leader in games played, minutes played and points scored.
Despite entering his age-38 season, Nowitzki has shown little signs of slowing down on offense. Defensively he has fallen off, but that was never his greatest strength. Dirk is going to the Hall of Fame based on shot after shot falling through the net, and the elite offenses that could be built around a seven-footer with a perfect shot.
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Dallas is taking yet another shot at building such an offense around Dirk, and this time even offensive wizard Rick Carlisle will feel himself strained to head up a top-10 offense. No other projected starter on the Mavericks appears capable of creating their own shot, and if Dirk does begin to feel his age this offense could grind to a halt.
Andrew Bogut is the team’s best defensive player, an anchor on defense the Mavericks haven’t had in years. No player in the league posted a better defensive RPM (real plus-minus) last season than Bogut, and his absence during the last three games of the NBA Finals was a major contributor to their 3-1 collapse.
But Bogut is not an offensive threat, better deployed as a facillitator and screener. His role will be complementary, not the player to step up when Dirk is on the bench.
Deron Williams is a former All-Star with the history of being an above-average scorer, but despite a mid-career revival in Dallas, is not ready to be anything more than a borderline starter. Wesley Matthews is a knockdown shooter who struggled all of last season to regain his form recovering from an Achilles tear.
That leaves Harrison Barnes to step up and take on the mantle of wingman. He is being paid as the next star for the Dallas Mavericks, earning a max-level $94 million contract over four years. He boasts the athleticism, strength and physical tools to be a high-scoring combo wing that contributes at both ends.
The reality is almost certainly something less, however. Barnes was unable to take advantage of opportunities afforded him in Golden State, wilting on the biggest stage and missing nearly every open look he received during the NBA Finals. Working as the fourth or fifth option on the Warriors, Barnes never showed himself capable to excelling in any role.
The young forward out of North Carolina will be solid defensively, but he isn’t a lockdown level defender either. He can knock down open three-pointers at a decent clip, score around the rim, and move the ball. But his shot is inconsistent and he has a very limited handle.
In the end the season will show who steps up alongside Dirk Nowitzki. If the team is relying on Deron Williams they will be disappointed; if they are relying on Barnes, it is at least possible he blossoms outside of the Bay Area and steps into a greater role. Possible, but not likely.