NBA Free Agents the Dallas Mavericks Must Pursue During 2015 Offseason
The Dallas Mavericks have a busy summer ahead. With only four guaranteed contracts on the books, a different team could step on the American Airlines Center hardwood next season.
Dirk Nowitzki, Devin Harris, Chandler Parsons and Raymond Felton are the only players guaranteed to wear Mavericks uniforms next season (barring trades).
If Dallas were to renounce the cap holds on all of its outgoing free agents, it could have up to $32 million to spend, per Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. That figure has dropped slightly with Felton opting into the last year of his $4.54 million deal. Monta Ellis also has a $9 million player option that could eat into that cap space, but he will most likely opt out, per Kyler. With that in mind, Dallas should have a max-deal bullet in its chamber if it goes after the big names.
It's not quite that easy, though. Head coach Rick Carlisle has been forced to deal with significant roster turnover every year since the team's championship run in 2011, and it's difficult to build a title contender without any consistency.
The Mavs have several free agents they would probably like to keep. Letting go of Al-Farouq Aminu after uncorking some of his potential would sting, while J.J. Barea proved his worth as a steady backup point guard yet again in the playoffs. Then, there are the starters.
Rajon Rondo is gone. But Tyson Chandler and Ellis could still be back, and both were crucial to the team this season.
Without Chandler's rim protection, the defense could collapse completely. Ellis' ability to break down a defense is also hard to replace, and the offense would have to take a new shape with him gone.
At the same time, bringing back the same group won't solve anything. This roster wasn't close to being a serious contender, and some kind of change has to take place.
The Mavericks don't want to keep Chandler and Ellis waiting for too long, though. They could strike out in free agency, and both players will garner interest in the open market. If the Mavs take too long pursuing other free agents, both could be gone.
Still, Dallas has to explore other options before signing up for more of Ellis and Chandler.
DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan will likely be the primary target for the Mavs. According to ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon, the player has shown interest in joining the team, and the two parties will most likely meet this summer.
Even though the Los Angeles Clippers have confirmed they will be offering Jordan a max contract, he is an unrestricted free agent and will have the freedom to choose his next team.
Adding fuel to the fire are the rumors that Clippers superstar point guard Chris Paul has gotten into arguments with Jordan regarding his free-throw shooting. That would suggest they are not on the best terms.
On the flip side, Dallas and Jordan are a match made in heaven. At 26, he is a younger, more athletic version of Chandler. He would come at a higher price, but the extra millions would be worth it.
The Mavericks would kill two birds with one stone if they landed Jordan's signature. He would make the team better right now while also being a solid building block for the future. He is entering his prime, and the Mavs need to get younger and have a transition plan for the post-Nowitzki era.
Jordan doesn't quite have the defensive smarts to match Chandler, but he makes up for it with his freakish athleticism. He is one of the best shot-blockers in the league and will only get better as an anchor.
Offensively, Jordan would fill Chandler's role. He is explosive in the pick-and-roll, sets good screens and catches anything in the vicinity of the rim. His free-throw percentage of 39.7 percent is the only big issue.
There is also the possibility that Jordan will look for a one-year deal so he can cash in a bigger max contract when the cap jumps massively during the 2016-17 season. He is extremely durable and hasn't missed a single game in three years, which makes him one of a handful of players who can forgo immediate long-term safety for more future dollars.
If Dallas strikes out on Jordan, bringing back Chandler to anchor the defense will be key.
Danny Green
If the Mavericks can't land Jordan but manage to convince Chandler to come back at a discount, they should explore alternatives on the perimeter. Ellis is great for the offense, but he will be 30 next season and struggles defensively.
With Nowitzki also being a liability on defense, the Mavericks have to be better on the perimeter. Perhaps sacrificing some offense for two-way versatility on the wing would be a positive big-picture move for Dallas.
That's where Danny Green comes into the picture. He isn't capable of mimicking Ellis' wizardry in the pick-and-roll, but he would be an intriguing piece.
Green is one of the best off-the-ball marksmen in the league. He is a 42 percent career three-point shooter, is a nightmare to chase around screens and has just enough off-the-dribble bounce to punish defenders who close out hard on him. He is also an elite defender capable of checking both guard positions.
If Green were to replace Ellis in the starting lineup, he'd likely bring more balance. Dallas would have to find a point guard who can break down the defense and rely a lot more on Parsons as a ball-handler while having Green spotting up for threes on the weak side.
Basically, Green isn't as glamorous as Ellis, but Dallas could become better with a three-and-D wing it currently lacks.
The San Antonio Spurs have enough cap space to keep Green, but if Dallas throws a deal worth $10 million a year his way, it might be enough to land his signature. It's a hefty price tag considering his limited offensive game, but it wouldn't be too hard to swallow with the impending cap boom.
Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton will get paid. He is a restricted free agent, and the Milwaukee Bucks have the right to match any offer he receives this summer. Even so, a lot of teams will be looking to steal him.
He is a unique specimen who would be a joy to watch in Dallas. Middleton is a 6'7" 2-guard who can swarm opponents with his long limbs while possessing the lateral quickness to stay in front of perimeter players.
Middleton could also open a lot of doors for Carlisle offensively. He isn't the greatest pick-and-roll threat, but he is a 40.3 percent career three-point shooter and has a solid post game. Thanks to his size, Middleton can shoot over smaller guards with some nifty turnaround moves.
That type of versatility in a 23-year-old is intriguing and would allow Carlisle to get creative. Middleton could take favorable matchups to the post while having Nowitzki spotting up on the strong side. It's a nightmare proposition for a defense.
It's unclear what kind of money Middleton will get in free agency. He isn't a max player, but overpaying him wouldn't be a terrible idea considering his upside.
The Bucks will likely match any big offer for him unless the bidding gets out of hand. But putting out some feelers and trying to snatch up Middleton will be a viable option for Dallas.
There are plenty of other free agents the Mavericks could pursue, but things happen quickly once the signing frenzy commences. Dallas will have to get its priorities straight and go after some of the aforementioned guys before exploring alternative options lower in the food chain.
All salary information is courtesy of HoopsHype.com.
You can follow me on Twitter: @VytisLasaitis
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