Like every year, Basket USA offers you a presentation of the upcoming NBA season, franchise by franchise, in the form of a countdown, from the 30th place to our favorite for the title of champion. And today it’s the Mavericks’ turn to hit the grill. A franchise still very ambitious, which has in Luka Doncic a future MVP. But things happened behind the scenes …
In fact, it’s a real palace revolution that we have seen on the Dallas side. While we thought the franchise had solid foundations, similar to those of Spurs, in quick succession, Donnie Nelson and Rick Carlisle packed their bags! The former had been in place since 1998, first hired as a GM assistant when his father was the team’s coach. It was he who had asked his father to take Dirk Nowitzki, a German landed from the second division, then who built the champion team in 2011 but also selected Luka Doncic in the Draft. It’s the equivalent of an RC Buford in San Antonio, a Daryl Morey in Houston, or a Danny Ainge in Boston.
The reminder of ancient glories
We had barely digested this announcement that we learned a few hours later that Rick Carlisle was leaving the sidelines! In place since 2008, he held the second longest running longevity at the head of a franchise, tied with Erik Spoelstra, named 11 days before him by the Heat. He is also the most successful coach in the history of the Texas franchise with 555 wins for 478 losses (54% success).
Two departures occurred the day after the publication of an article in The Athletic which revealed the influence of the so-called Haralabos Voulgaris on the decisions of Mark Cuban. Except that the same Voulgaris is also gone!
Result: Mark Cuban rebuilt his organization chart from floor to ceiling, and he decided to trust the “elders” of the house. Like the Spurs with Tim Duncan as an assistant or Manu Ginobili in an advisory role, the Dallas owner has hired Dirk Nowitzki as a “special advisor”. This is the first big catch. Then he gave a new cap to Michael Finley, now vice president and assistant to new GM, Nico Harrison, a former Nike executive. This is for the office and recruitment part.
Has Jason Kidd changed?
On the bench, an old acquaintance still since to replace Rick Carlisle, Mark Cuban chose Jason Kidd! He’s a franchise legend. He started there, and he returned to win the title in 2011 alongside Dirk Nowitzki. His previous experiences as a coach have not been very successful, whether at the Nets or the Bucks, but he assures that his time at the Lakers has changed his way of coaching. To be checked…
The stage is set: to find the heights, Dallas has decided to trust prominent personalities in its history. On the field, there is a strong New York accent since the new management has gone to seek Reggie Bullock and Frank Ntilikina who find three former teammates: Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr and Trey Burke. The Bullock-Ntilikina duo have been brought in to fill the team’s main gap, defense.
To these two, we must add Moses Brown, although his contract is not yet guaranteed. Impressive in the Thunder by his athleticism and his timing in defense, he necessarily recalls the young Tyson Chandler. For the moment, he seems to be the fourth pivot of the workforce behind Dwight Powell, Willie Cauley-Stein or Boban Marjanovic but he could be the pleasant surprise of the workforce.
An axis of progression: defense
For the rest, Jason Kidd has to deal with almost the same workforce as last year, obviously with the omnipotent Luka Doncic, whom he compared to a “young Picasso”. The new Mavericks coach has announced the color: to be fresher and clearer, the Slovenian will have to rely more on his teammates. Starting with Kristaps Porzingis since their automatisms and their complicity directly dictate the results of Dallas.
The good news is that the squad seems richer in defenders, and the addition of a “3 & D” like Reggie Bullock will do good on both sides of the pitch. In the lead, Jalen Brunson will compete with Frank Ntilikina, but he starts off with a big lead and he will have to be counted on for the best 6th man trophy.
On paper, the Mavericks’ five is quality with Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr, Dorian Finney-Smith (or Reggie Bullock), Kristaps Porzingis and Dwight Powell. Like Rick Carlisle before him, Jason Kidd could rule out the game as much as possible in attack to leave the axis to Luka Doncic, with Dwight Powell to play in the back of the defense, and the others to draw from a distance. But the former All-Star point guard has warned that he mostly expects progress in defense, and the Slovenian will also have to lead by example in this area.
Extended to the maximum (207 million dollars!), The former Real Madrid is starting a new chapter in his career, and we now expect him, like a LeBron James 15 years ago, to play the others, that he gain composure and that he take his training to a new level. For now, the collective record is two eliminations in the first round. Now is the time to settle the team into the Western Conference quartet and reach at least the conference semifinals.
THE SUMMER MOVEMENTS
Arrivals : Moses Brown (Thunder/Celtics), Reggie Bullock et Frank Ntilikina (Knicks), Sterling Brown (Rockets)
Re-signatures : Tim Hardaway Jr, Boban Marjanovic
Departures : Josh Richardson (Celtics)
THE PLAYER TO WATCH: KRISTAPS PORZINGIS
So far, the Latvian’s arrival and contract extension have not paid off, and the Knicks’ former interior is a disappointment. Physically fragile and suffocated by Luka Doncic’s play, he was unable to place himself on the pitch. Confined to an outside shooter role in Rick Carlisle’s system, he ended the last campaign logically frustrated. For Jason Kidd, it is essential that his two star players are on the same wavelength, and he spent the summer reassuring them and connecting them.
It will therefore be interesting to follow the first matches to see what the coach has put in place for them. Will there be simple pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop? Will Kristaps Porzingis be used closer to the circle? Has he progressed in the game with his back to the basket? To go far, Dallas needs a Kristaps Porzingis at the level before his injury at the Knicks, when he was very close to going to the All-Star Game. At the time, he set an example in defense, being a real deterrent near the circle, and he had the attitude of a leader. Biggest salary in the franchise ($ 31 million!) And under contract until 2024, it’s a pivotal season for him.
AVERAGE AGE: 26 years old
MASS OF PAY: 118.5 million dollars (22nd out of 30)
THE IDEAL SCENARIO
We had doubts but Jason Kidd has changed. More patient and calmer, he found the systems so that Luka Doncic was less a soloist and more oriented towards his teammates. Always so strong, the Slovenian behaves like an MVP, able to step back to gain confidence in his comrades, and more particularly Kristaps Porzingis. The two are (finally) with their eyes closed, and above all they set an example in defense.
Dallas thus becomes a surly team, difficult to maneuver and as cunning as Jason Kidd was on the field. Over the weeks, the Mavericks regain their identity, and the enthusiasm that emanates from the team is reminiscent of Slovenia from the Tokyo Olympics. Result: absolutely nobody wants to face them in the playoffs …
WORST SCENARIO
Nothing can be done, Kristaps Porzingis remains a problem at $ 31 million. His game does not stick with that of Luka Doncic and while he makes new passages in the infirmary, his rating is at its lowest, the new management not finding a solution to exchange it. Under these conditions, it is complicated for the group, which had to be carried by its European tandem. The balance between attack and defense is still just as precarious and Jason Kidd, whose impatience and intransigence emerge at the slightest difficulty, struggles to find solutions.
The Mavericks do not come out of the soft stomach, and even struggle to grab a place in the Top 8. With a payroll in the dark red for several seasons, Mark Cuban will have to rack his brains to surround Luka Doncic at best in the years future. Especially since the Slovenian is more and more on the nerves …
