With the 2019-2020 NBA season fast approaching, Our First Draft is providing team previews for all 30 NBA teams. These are intended to inform the reader about important roster changes for all teams, as well as summarizing the outlook of the team ahead. This includes the Vegas Over/Under line, OFD’s recommendation on which side to take, as well as a projected record for the team.
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Conference: Western
Wins O/U: 40.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Last Year’s Record: 33-49
Projected Roster (Projected Starters marked with asterisks): R. Broekhoff, J. Brunson, S. Curry, L. Doncic*, D. Finney-Smith*, T. Hardaway Jr., J. Jackson, M. Kleber*, C. Lee, B. Marjanovic, K. Porzingis*, D. Powell, I. Roby, D. Wright*
Key Offseason Moves: Signed D. Wright, D. Nowitzki retired, Signed S. Curry, Signed B. Marjanovic
Overall Summary: It was 1997 – the year Barbie Girl and Tubthumping were released, and Titanic hit the big screen – the last time the Dallas Mavericks began a season without Dirk Nowitzki. The greatest European NBA player ever retired this past offseason, but that has not changed the European flavor of this team. Doncic and Porzingis are the two stars, but the Mavs are also likely to start Maxi Kleber, hailing from Bremen, Germany, just like Dirk. The signing of Seth Curry should improve the outside shooting on this team, and Delon Wright provides the Mavs with a more explosive option at point than the steady but limited Jalen Brunson when Doncic isn’t on the ball. Finally, while Boban Marjanovic may not help so much on the court, his addition will bring levity to the locker room, and could always come in handy if the Mavericks need an assassin.
Verdict: This pains me, but take the under. I love Luka, I love Porzingis’ game (R.I.P. Knicks). However, they play in an absolutely loaded Western Conference. Furthermore, Kristaps will not have played an NBA game in well over 18 months when he suits up – even if he regains all of that form and potential that he showed in New York, it will likely take a few weeks for him to acclimate. As discussed in the companion article, I love the possibility of the two playing together, but since they have not done so previously, that chemistry will take time to build. I believe the two will come to be perhaps the most important duo of the 2020s in the NBA, but it won’t be this year. This, combined with concerns about Luka’s conditioning, and a frankly weak roster outside their top two, and I expect the Mavericks to finish with a record of 39-43.
