Western Conference Power Rankings after week 1 of free agency
By Austin McGee
2. Dallas Mavericks
Draft Picks: Melvin Ajinca
Offseason Acquisitions: Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes
Departures: Derrick Jones Jr., Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green
Fresh of an NBA Finals appearance, the Dallas Mavericks bolstered the lineup even further. Following an uneven finals performance, the Mavericks added one of the best shooters of all time. Klay Thompson will slot in for Derrick Jones Jr., who fit in well, but isn't on the same planet as Thompson.
Although the Mavericks lost role players Tim Hardaway Jr. and Josh Green, they were replaced by Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes. Now, instead of relying on two players to generate a bevy of their offense, the Mavericks can work Thompson in off-the-ball and space the floor for their dynamic duo.
After last season's success story, Nico Harrison continued to surround Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with quality 3-and-D contributors. Additionally, the roster is young and ripe for improvement. One of Dallas' most important contributors, Dereck Lively II, won't turn 21 until halfway through next season.
The only drawback of substituting Thompson for Jones Jr. is a lack of defensive versatility. Several seasons ago, Thompson was one of the better defenders in the NBA. At 34 years old, Thompson's defense isn't the same as it used to be. P.J. Washington's defense will be stretched thin for the Mavericks this season.