The 10 worst front office moves by the Dallas Mavericks since 2000

By Cal Durrett | Aug 21, 2023

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 19: Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looks on during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 107-105. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Mavericks Worst Move #3: Relying too much on free agency

We’ve already covered the Chandler debacle, but one of the reasons he wasn’t retained was for Dallas to try and attract a max player to pair with Dirk. However, as Mavs fans know, that proved to be a mistake. Cuban failed to lure any top free agents over a span of several seasons. The first was Deron Williams back in 2012; next came Dwight Howard in the summer of 2013, and LaMarcus Aldridge in the summer of 2015.

The same summer, the Mavericks appeared to be on the verge of signing then-Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. In fact, he had verbally agreed to a deal, only for him to back out at the last minute and re-sign with the Clippers. That change of heart can’t be blamed on Cuban, of course, though the hole that they were trying to fill was a result of him letting Chandler leave.

Dallas’ free agent approach and them subsequently striking out again and again resulted in the team failing to build a winner around Dirk in his final seasons in the NBA. On the bright side, it inadvertently put them in a position to acquire the draft rights to Luka Doncic.