What are the Mavericks saving for next offseason: A look at NBA free agency

The Dallas Mavericks have been careful to keep money clear for free agency in 2018. Who exactly do they have their eyes on?

The Dallas Mavericks may be rebuilding the old fashioned way – through the draft — but that doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned their dreams of snagging a big fish in free agency. Talk has heated up recently that the Mavs are interested in making a run at free agency in 2018.

Resistant to up the offer to restricted free agent, Nerlens Noel, the Mavericks are working hard to keep their financial flexibility intact for the summer of ’18. With memories of free agent pipe dreams still fresh in our minds, Mavs fans know what kind of hill free agency is to climb for a non-coastal community like D/FW.

But before we cast too many stones at the rediscovered rebuilding strategy of years past, let’s take a look at who they may be targeting (dreaming of) next summer:

Not Even in your Dreams Category

LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant – these players are at the absolute top of the NBA totem pole. They are going to play where the money is the best or in a coastal community on a team that’s ready to win now. None of these things describe the Dallas Mavericks.

Pipe Dreams

Paul George – see also “Not Even in Your Dreams”. He’s a player a tick below the royalty listed above but a superstar nonetheless. He’s likely to either stay with Westbrook in OKC and make extra money alongside him or take off to a more desirable location by the sea with more marketing opportunities.

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Old Dreams

LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Paul – both players are accomplished superstars the Mas would be lucky to have. They are still capable enough of being the best player on a playoff team but not leading a championship team.

Age is a factor with L.A. and Paul both turning 33 next summer. And it will be difficult to pull them from their current teams that can offer more money and stability. But then again, at this age they wouldn’t be much help for the rebuilding Mavs anyway.

Somewhat Realistic Dreams

DeMarcus Cousins – The Dallas Mavericks have liked DeMarcus Cousins for years. I’m not sure if that includes the no-nonsense Rick Carlisle but I’m sure he’d be happy to take on the challenge of “Boogie”.

Cousins is a great player capable of playing either the 4 or the 5 and could match up decently with Nerlens Noel in the front court.

Most importantly, the trade that sent him to New Orleans last season disqualified him from receiving a supermax deal.

Without overwhelming financial incentive to re-sign, Boogie may actually be looking for a new home.

Realistic Dreams

Joel Embiid and Jabari Parker – both players are going to be high-risk/high-reward restricted free agents. Their respective clubs can match any outside offer, but if a team like the Mavericks wanted to gamble, they could overpay and potentially scare their home teams away.

Next: Is Donnie Nelson the right GM for Dallas?

It’s clear the Dallas Mavericks are eyeing free agency next summer. But the number of viable options are slim for a team like the Mavs. The best way to improve the team remains internal development. If Dallas can stay committed to developing over winning, they’ll be in better shape next summer and quite possible more attractive for outside free agents.

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