Dallas Mavericks look to do some damage with their own star duo
By Phil Watson
2019-20 roster
Key additions: Isaiah Roby (draft-night trade), Delon Wright (sign-and-trade free agent), Seth Curry (free agency), Boban Marjanovic (free agency).
Key subtractions: Devin Harris (free agency), Dirk Nowitzki (retirement), Salah Mejri (free agency), Trey Burke (free agency).
The Dallas Mavericks didn’t turn over the roster a lot this offseason, in part because they had already made a big move in late January when they traded former first-round pick Dennis Smith Jr. along with veterans DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews and a pair of top-10 protected first-rounders to the New York Knicks in the deal for Kristaps Porzingis.
Dallas also got Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee in the trade, as well as Trey Burke, who left to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer.
So while the Mavericks didn’t make moves that were earth-shattering, they could wind up being significant nonetheless.
It began on draft night, when Dallas traded the rights to second-round pick Deividas Sirvydis to the Detroit Pistons and picked up second-round selection Isaiah Roby with second-round picks in 2020 and 2021. Roby signed a three-year deal in early August that includes a team option for 2021-22.
Roby doesn’t project to be a major contributor this season, but had some solid moments in the Las Vegas Summer League.
A lot of what the Mavericks did this summer was to hold onto what they had. They re-signed Porzingis to a max deal that includes a fifth-year player option for 2023-24 and also held onto free agents Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith and fan favorite J.J. Barea while inking Dwight Powell to a three-year extension.
Dallas added a point guard, at least for defensive purposes, in a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Memphis Grizzlies that cost them the rights to 2015 second-round pick Satnam Singh along with a traded player exception and second-rounders in 2021 and 2023.
But Delon Wright will be in a position to play a secondary ball-handling position at the offensive end while ensuring Luka Doncic doesn’t have to try and guard opposition point guards at the other end of the floor.
The Mavericks also made the biggest offseason addition in the NBA, literally, outside of Tacko Fall by signing Boban Marjanovic to a two-year deal to back up/split time with Powell at the 5.
Of course, the biggest offseason departure was the retiring Dirk Nowitzki, while the team also lost veteran Devin Harris and Salah Mejri in free agency. Neither has signed an NBA deal for this season, but Mejri has signed to play in China this season.
So what are the storylines to watch this season?