The Dallas Mavericks may be out of the Playoffs picture, but they did so in without a hint of heaviness in their hearts. Franchise player Dirk Nowitzki bade goodbye to Dallas in emotional fashion, leaving the team to the able hands of Luka Doncic and big man Kristaps Porzingis whom they acquired from New York last before the trade deadline last February. Now that the Mavericks have ample cap space, owner Mark Cuban recently detailed his plans for his team.
In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, the infamous Dallas Mavericks owner said that he still has high hopes for his team despite missing the Playoffs for the last three years. Most evidently, Luka will be their go-to guy, but Cuban is keen on keeping Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and Dorian Finney-Smith to provide the youngster with firepower and presence on both ends of the floor.
The main priority of the Mavericks, according to another source, is to convince Porzingis to stay with the team. He is currently a restricted free agent, and they see several teams to go after him. Dallas, on the other hand, will have to match their contract offers or probably deal the Latvian a max contract.
When asked if they are planning to catch a "big fish" free agent, Cuban admitted that their decision "depends on who the big fish is." The franchise is considering several key players, but Cuban wants to fill out the roster first. Dallas can, for all intent and purposes, can go for a younger core, or rely on the experience of "older" players.
Kemba Walker is one player whose name has been linked with the Mavericks lately. The All-Star point guard is expected to be one of the highlights of the 2019 free agency list, and Dallas could use someone of his caliber. Walker is a scorer and has proven time and again that he can close down games when it goes down the line.
Cuban can still turn the franchise around. He can be very vocal and emotional in his decision, but he can be a steady arrow in this field. Doncic is a prodigy and had a stellar season, while Kristaps can extend their offense as a shooting big man. Dallas can definitely go with a mixture of youth and experience, provided that they entice Porzingis to stay. They can be a sleeper in the Western Conference and can be a stiff competition if Cuban can make the right moves this summer.
