How The Dallas Mavericks Can Fill Their Final Roster Spot

Despite a lack of significant activity, the NBA free agency period is still underway. Most teams made their deals early, leaving rumors to fill the news cycle. The Dallas Mavericks are especially quiet, yet they are one of the few teams with more work to do.

Dallas still has an open roster spot—and an available two-way spot. With only 14 players under contract, the Mavericks have some flexibility in filling out the roster. How they choose to do so could be particularly important for the upcoming season.

The free agent pool has shrunk dramatically in recent weeks. However, looking at the roster, Dallas still has some glaring holes it needs to address. The team either traded for or signed two big men—Christian Wood and JaVale McGee, respectively—but did nothing to add additional ball handling in the absence of Jalen Brunson or wing depth.

There are still players that can fill those needs who are available. Players like D.J. Augustin, Kent Bazemore, Avery Bradley, Facundo Campazzo, P.J. Dozier, Frank Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Ben McLemore, Tomas Satoransky, Dennis Schroder and Tony Snell could all serve in a deep bench role, providing spot rotation minutes.

The catch is that Dallas is up against the cap. So if the Mavericks were to sign another free agent to fill the last roster spot, they could only offer the league minimum salary. The minimum salary is based on the salary cap and a player’s time in the NBA.

For the 2022-23 season, the cap is projected to be upwards of $123.6 million. That means that a rookie with no NBA experience will earn a minimum of over $1 million—the first-time rookie minimums have exceeded $1 million. A veteran with 10 or more years of experience will make more than $2.9 million.

Taking the minimum could be a dramatic pay cut from previous contracts or the value they perceive they bring to a team for some veterans. For others, it’s the cost of being on a roster that has the potential to make a deep playoff run and contend for a championship. Unfortunately, despite the Mavericks’ trip to the Western Conference Finals last season, Dallas is by no means favored to return.

Another option available to Dallas is a trade. The Mavericks can absorb an additional player if they are involved in a trade. There have been rumors—albeit dubious—linking the team to the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Collin Sexton. Given Dallas’ dearth of desirable assets, they would likely serve as a third team to help facilitate any potential blockbuster deal. Still, it’s an option.

It would have been easy for the Mavericks to fill their final roster vacancy this offseason, but they shied away from all attempts to do so up to this point. Rumors linked them to free-agent Goran Dragic, a close friend of Luka Doncic, but the Dallas front office sat on its hands, and Dragic agreed to a deal with the Chicago Bulls.

At the very least, Dallas has options. General manager Nico Harrison has proven shrewd on the trade market but not so much on free agency. Filling the last roster spot with a player able to contribute on a nightly basis will go a long way in alleviating any lingering doubts about his acumen in managing the roster. It will also help put the Mavericks in a position to repeat their success.