5 Free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill hole at backup point guard
The Mavs struggled in the playoffs without a reliable third ball handler to go with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, and they appear to be attempting to solve this issue in free agency.
In addition to trading for Quentin Grimes and executing a brilliant sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson this offseason, Nico Harrison is not going to waste this roster position.
Dallas will be selective in their signings, and this youngster has the opportunity to have an immediate impact.
The Dallas Mavericks should sign these five backup ball handlers to cover that position in their lineup.
5. Malachi Flynn
Malachi Flynn is reportedly interested in signing with the Dallas Mavericks. He may be the ideal player to come off the bench for the Mavericks and provide scoring and ball handling.
Flynn averaged 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.6 steals a game while playing for the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons in the previous season. He also shot 33.1 percent from three-point range and 41.8 percent from the field. Flynn’s season peaked during his time with the Pistons, when he scored 50 points against the Atlanta Hawks, making a lasting impression.
Flynn’s skill at scoring is underappreciated; he was able to get to his positions at the rim and within the arc with his tight grip. He would be a fantastic fit in Dallas because he is a competent shooter who exudes confidence both off the dribble and off the catch.
In addition to fitting the Mavs’ schedule, he can lead the offense and serve as a complementary scorer when necessary. Flynn is only 26 years old, and the Mavs have done a fantastic job of selecting players that are both young and ready to start making an impact right away.
Flynn is a fantastic player, and the Mavs ought to think about acquiring him.
4. Dennis Smith Jr.
The Dallas Mavericks have been missing Dennis Smith Jr. since the franchise traded him for Kristaps Porzingis, and this is the ideal time for the Mavs to get him back. The Mavs were home to Smith Jr.’s most successful seasons, and they also happen to be in need of backcourt depth.
Dallas has been connected to a backcourt upgrade that the Mavericks are reportedly searching for off the bench. Smith Jr. could be the deciding factor in this team’s ability to make a trip back to the NBA Finals next season, as his defense has improved over the past few seasons.
With his excellent hands and anticipation, Smith Jr. is one of the NBA’s greatest guard defenders, giving ball handlers little room to maneuver when he’s completely committed. Being among the top free agents available, the Mavs have a good chance of acquiring him at a low cost.
Smith Jr. is an excellent offensive player with exceptional quickness who never hesitates to try to dunk on a man. Although he isn’t the same scorer Mavs supporters witnessed in his rookie year, as he has moved around the NBA, his playmaking has increased and his role has diminished.
Smith Jr.’s defense and potential to guide the second unit and generate some would aid the Mavs bench, but the Mavs wouldn’t sign him for his scoring.
3. The Lowry brothers
Although he hasn’t yet been connected to the Mavericks, former Philadelphia 76ers player Kyle Lowry offers the Mavs exactly what they need in a backup guard. Lowry provides all of the skills the team needs—he can create, defend, and make big plays while remaining fearless in the face of pressure.
With 136 postseason games played and 101 playoff starts under his belt, Lowry might be the ideal addition to Dallas. They don’t need someone who will play for thirty minutes every night, and Lowry in a smaller role might extend his career and maximize his potential.
As a member of the Sixers last season, Lowry shot 40.4 percent from three-point range and 44.4 percent from the field while averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 0.9 steals a game. The Mavs would benefit much from having him run the second unit on a veteran minimum contract, and he would be a perfect match.
Lowry is now 38 years old, so this would probably just be a one-year contract, but his versatility as a point guard and his experience shouldn’t be overlooked. Lowry is the kind of player the Mavs need, and he might be interested in moving to Dallas in order to have one last chance to win a ring before retiring.
2. Dinwiddie Spencer
On the buyout market, the Dallas Mavericks had the opportunity to improve their 2024 trade deadline from an A+ to an A++.
Dallas had recently acquired P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, two players who are known to have greatly benefited the squad, but they also had the opportunity to improve even further through a buyout. Spencer Dinwiddie was being considered by the Mavericks to take the vacant roster space, but he ultimately chose to play for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Dinwiddie had an all-around ineffective season while playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Lakers, and he didn’t perform as well in Los Angeles as some had anticipated. He wasn’t the same player he used to be, but this summer he has the opportunity to get back to his best.
This summer, Dinwiddie has already expressed interest in joining Dallas, and the Mavericks could not be happier with his additions. Dinwiddie would be the ideal third creator for the Mavericks—someone who can score points and play both on and off the ball.
He may be the finest fit on this list because he has already shown that he can succeed both in the postseason and alongside to Luka Doncic. It would be a great deal to sign Dinwiddie to a veteran minimum salary, and playing in Dallas might be just what he needs to turn around his career.
1. Fultz Markelle
It’s been shown time and time again that playing with Luka Doncic is exactly what many players need to turn their careers around. Most significantly, Doncic gets role players paid while assisting them in becoming top role players.
Although Markelle Fultz has not lived up to the expectations placed on him as the first overall choice, he has had a respectable NBA career and would thrive in Dallas. He wouldn’t play a major part, and the Mavs could assist him in becoming the player that the public saw in the previous season.
Fultz is coming off a mediocre season with the Orlando Magic, averaging 7.8 points per game, a significant down from his previous season’s average of 14 points per game.
Fultz, who is 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, possesses the physical attributes and aptitude to contend on defense. Although he’s a competitor and puts up good effort in that area, his offensive game needs work. Fultz might offer the Mavericks’ more defense, which they happen to need.
Although he is a good creator, his lack of a 3-point shooting makes it difficult for him to be an exceptional player in that area. Although Fultz has occasionally demonstrated his ability to score in the paint, he could be the least effective offensive player on this list.
Even though Fultz isn’t the greatest player on this list, it could be wise to give him a veteran minimum contract.
Stay tuned for all the latest information on the Dallas Mavericks during the free agent period.
Originally posted on thesmokingcuban.com, this piece was titled “5 Free Agents the Dallas Mavericks Should Sign to Fill Gap.”
