NEW ACQUISITION \ † INJURED ( 2017 – 18 STATS)
LUKA DONˇCI ́C will have to
avoid the sophomore
slump, but he’s well
beyond that. He was
a seasoned vet out of
the gate. I think he’ll
duplicate what he did
last year. He does it
all at that size [6' 7",
218 pounds]. What he
lacks in athleticism
he can speed up with
his IQ and his strength
and his shooting range.
He never seemed to
have a down month,
he just powered
through.... The biggest
key to their season
is KRISTAPS PORZINGIS’s
health and whether
he can perform like
the rising star he was
a couple years ago in
New York. Dallas will be
less of a distraction—
now he can focus on
basketball. Dirk retires,
and they get a guy
who’s kind of like him—
it’s pretty lucky. I don’t
think they gave up too
much for Porzingis.
I’m not high on Dennis
Smith Jr., and if you
get the best player in
the deal, to me, you
won.... They have to
figure out what young
guys fit around those
two moving forward
and who to keep when
they decide to spend
money again. They
definitely need a third
guy at some point....
I like DELON WRIGHT as a
bench role guy. They
have some nice parts,
but they need more heft
in the starting lineup.
Even DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH
and MAXI KLEBER have
had some moments.
SETH CURRY is coming
back, but they need
more firepower in the
starting lineup....
I’d put them lower
than Sacramento and
New Orleans as far as
making the playoffs,
unless their guys
are just so dynamic
together—which could
still happen.
Projected Lineup
Bench
Anyone paying attention knew
that 6' 7" point guard Luka Donˇci ́ c,
entering the NBA at 19 with two
dominant European seasons under
his belt, was never going to be
a normal rookie. In an up-and-down year the
Mavericks didn’t treat him like one: DONCIˇ ́C’S
29.6% USAGE RATE was the highest for a rookie in
the 42 seasons the stat has been kept. And now,
as the post-Dirk era begins, Dallas can pair him
with a presumably healthy Kristaps Porzingis (and
build on the team’s European flavor). The 7' 3"
Porzingis—who hasn’t played since tearing his left
ACL with the Knicks in February 2018—can ease
some of the pressure on the Mavs’ lead ballhandler.
(His usage two years ago before his injury was
31.0.) He also gives Donˇci ́ c a high-efficiency scorer,
something the Mavs lacked last season. There’s
room for statistical improvement across the board
as Donˇci ́ c continues to acclimate to the NBA.
Expect wins to follow. —Jeremy Woo
29.6%
TELLING NUMBER
ENEMY LINES
A rival scout weighs in
KRISTAPS
PORZINGIS†
22.7 PPG; 6.6 RPG;
2.4 BPG; 43.9 FG%
PF
Starters
SF
TIM
HARDAWAY JR.
18.1 PPG; 3.4 RPG;
40.4 FG%; 34.0 3FG%
LUKA
DONCIˇ ́C
21.2 PPG; 7. 8 RPG;
6.0 APG; 42.7 FG%
PG SG
DELON
WRIGHT*
8.7 PPG; 3.5 RPG;
3.3 APG; 43.4 FG%
C
DWIGHT
POWELL
10.6 PPG; 5.3 RPG;
0.6 BPG; 59.7 FG%
SG
SETH
CURRY*
- 9 PPG; 1.6 RPG;
45.6 FG%; 45.0 3FG%
PF
DORIAN
FINNEY-SMITH
- 5 PPG; 4.8 RPG;
43.2 FG%; 31.1 3FG%
97
GREG NELSON (DONCIC)
DALLAS
2018 – 19 RECORD 33– 49 3rd in Southwest
Mavericks COACH RICK CARLISLE 12th season with Mavericks
∂41 wins ∂Miss the playoffs ∂After a so-so start, Mark Cuban (jokingly?) asks Dirk to unretire.
THE
WEST
Crystal Ball: