Dallas Mavericks: 3 reasons to build a contender now

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Rick Carlisle talks with Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks against the Utah Jazz during a game on October 28, 2018 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. Young talent and young contracts

Luka Doncic is obviously the nuclear center of the Mavericks right now and there isn’t any indication that he won’t be a very good player, possibly a great player. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, this speeds up their timeline because Luka is also relatively cheap right now and under contract through the 2021-22 season.

Dennis Smith Jr. is also very talented, very useful, and his future with the team is very much in doubt.

The Dallas Mavericks are escalating discussions to find a trade for point guard Dennis Smith Jr., league sources tell ESPN. Phoenix and Orlando have engaged in ongoing talks with Mavs. Smith Jr., has sat out three straight games with what team has termed a sore back.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 15, 2019

It would be better if the Mavs could hang on to Smith, and if they do that’s another young player locked down for a few more years, through 2020-21 in his case. Jalen Brunson, another rookie who has looked decent, and Ray Spalding, currently looking pretty good in the G League, are both on multi-year contracts that are practically free by NBA standards.

Due to the aforementioned trade with Atlanta, the Dallas Mavericks will only keep their 2019 first round pick if it’s in the top five. That is not going to happen. Dallas is currently tied for the ninth- worst record in the league and would need many more losses to break through the Atlanta-Chicago-Cleveland-Memphis-New York-Phoenix blockade. So they can’t realistically add to their long-term young talent until 2020.

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