Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
Draft: Ignas Brazdeikis
Immediate difference-makers are seldom available at No. 37. That works for the Dallas Mavericks. They’re more concerned with maximizing cap space, which gives them the leeway to take on a longer-term project.
Adding another wing should be their top priority. Dorian Finney-Smith (restricted) is a free agent, neither Tim Hardaway Jr. nor Courtney Lee is optimally suited for minutes at the 3 and the Mavericks’ only small-ball 4 options are Luka Doncic and Justin Jackson.
Michigan’s Ignas Brazdeikis does the trick as an early second-rounder. He isn’t especially explosive, but he has the offensive groundwork to do some damage from the outside, as The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote:
“Even after shooting 39 percent from three last season, NBA teams still question his jumper a bit because of his previous rep in high school as an improving shooter, but not a high-level one. They also wonder how his athleticism translates on offense, as he’s an advantage scorer who gets by with change of pace. Defensively, he was also a fairly big problem for Michigan. But one some level, Brazdeikis is just a tough dude that no one ever wants to play against. There’s a real chance an NBA organization falls in love with him in the predraft process and takes him a bit higher than [No. 47].”
Free Agency: Kemba Walker
Khris Middleton (player option) and Kemba Walker are expected to top the Mavericks’ offseason wish list, according to the New York Times‘ Marc Stein. They also have eyes for Tobias Harris, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Sticking to the second tier of star free agents is smart. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard are dream fits beside Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis (restricted), but the market for their services will be both fierce and finite. Dallas hasn’t been mentioned as a top destination for any of them.
Focusing on the next batch of big names gives the Mavericks a better crack at success. Walker figures to be the most gettable. He’s eligible for a supermax from the Hornets, but he’s made the postseason only twice in eight years. Whereas Harris and Middleton already play for contenders, Walker has more of an incentive to prioritize fit and situation over dollars and cents.
Trade: JR Smith
Dwight Powell will reportedly decline his $10.3 million player option, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, which works in service of Dallas’ free-agency aims.
Removing his cap hit from the ledger fast-tracks the Mavericks toward more than $37 million in space while ferrying free-agent holds for Finney-Smith, Porzingis and Maxi Kleber (restricted) and guaranteeing Ryan Broekhoff’s salary. But that’s assuming they cut ties with Powell. They prefer to bring him back, per Haynes.
Paying Powell even slightly less than his player option costs the Mavericks their superstar wallet. They can max out another restricted free agent like Malcolm Brogdon or D’Angelo Russell, but not a Harris, Middleton or Walker.
Sending Lee’s expiring contract—or less likely, Hardaway’s deal—to Cleveland in exchange for JR Smith’s partially guaranteed salary ($3.9 million) takes care of the difference. The Cavaliers will command a sweetener, of which the Mavericks have few, but attaching a distant second-rounder, Jackson or, less ideally, Jalen Brunson should allow them to iron out the details.
from Update News Topic http://bit.ly/2wvvzZa
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