The Mavericks had high hopes last season after reaching the 2021-22 Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, a second-half collapse caused Dallas to miss the playoffs, leaving the team in a position to regroup this offseason.
General manager Nico Harrison did a good job at shaking up the roster over the summer, adding notable names like Grant Williams and Seth Curry while bringing in rookies bursting with potential like Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
Having said that, moves that look good on paper don't always translate to perfect on-court results. The Mavericks' lineup still has some weaknesses that must be taken care of if a deep postseason run is the ultimate goal.
Here are the three biggest weakness that the Mavs still need to address for the 2023-24 NBA season.
Mavericks Biggest Weaknesses
1. Lack of Playmaking
Having reliable playmaking is crucial to putting up points in today's NBA. While the Mavericks have gifted passers like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the roster, that didn't stop them from averaging the third-fewest assists per game (22.9) last season.
Dallas did add a few guards in free agency, but that still doesn't move the playmaking needle. Curry only averaged 1.8 APG last season while Exum hasn't played an NBA contest in over two years.
The truth is that making the playoffs because increasingly tough if a team can't pass the ball well. That's why seven of the bottom 10 teams when it came to assists per game missed the 2022-23 postseason.
Even if Doncic and Irving have career years from a playmaking perspective, it's clear that more depth is needed behind them. There are a few available free-agent point guards worth exploring, but the Mavericks must act quickly before they're snatched up.
If Dallas can't address its playmaking woes, fans better gear up for another series of headaches.
2. Wing Rebounding
It's no secret that the Mavericks struggled to collect rebounds last season. They finished second-last in the Association in both rebounds per game (47.5) and rebounding percentage (47.3%), forcing them to add names like Lively, Prosper, and Richaun Holmes during the offseason.
While the trio should be productive grabbing boards, their addition doesn't address the Mavericks' need for better rebounding from wing players.
And while Williams is capable of playing small forward minutes, he'll spend the majority season at the 4.
While Irving averaged 5.1 RPG, he's only 6-foot-2 and can't be expected to win every battle against bigger players. Both Josh Green and Tim Hardaway Jr. averaged just over three rebounds per outing, but neither man is exactly known for their rebounding.
The Western Conference is stacked with elite wings — LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, etc. — and the Mavs can't expect to be a top team unless this issue is addressed. That isn't to say that they need to add another superstar, but bringing in another competent wing defender would go a long way.
3. Backcourt Defense
Few teams are as gifted as the Mavericks when it comes to backcourt offense. Doncic and Irving are two of the most creative players with the ball in their hands and can put on a show on any given night.
Unfortunately, the duo's defense leaves much to be desired. They're decent defenders when they're off the ball, but their on-ball defense is another story.
The Mavericks' lack of credible backcourt defenders beyond Doncic and Irving also helps. Curry isn't exactly known for having stellar defense while Jaden Hardy needs to prove that he's ready for an expanded role. The jury is also still out as to whether or not Exum is still an everyday NBAer.
Defense wins championships and the Mavs can't afford to ignore their lack of backcourt defense for long. Their lack of consistent play in their own end resulted in a 116.1 defensive rating — good for sixth-worst in the Association.
Everyone across the board needs to play better defense this season, but addressing the backcourt's shortcomings is the first step to getting there. If the Mavericks remedy this weakness, the results will follow shortly.
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