Justin Holiday Signing Provides Spark For Dallas Mavericks

The newest member of the Dallas Mavericks made his debut Thursday night. Justin Holiday, who joined the Mavericks on February 15 after being waived by the Houston Rockets, came off the bench in Dallas’ first game back from the NBA All-Star break and immediately made his presence felt.

In the Mavericks’ 142-116 blowout win over the San Antonio Spurs, Holiday had 15 points, knocking down five three-pointers, to go along with two rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes. His scoring outburst tied his highest-scoring game in the first game of a season with a new team.

“We just asked him how did he like his shots,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd joked after the team’s practice on Friday. “Getting him is something that gives us depth to be able to play him in different spots. So, we’ll see. We’re not expecting him to go five-for-six again, but he just gives us another threat and depth at the wing position.”

Dallas needed a player like Holiday, who is 6-foot-6 and a 10-year veteran, after trading for Kyrie Irving before the NBA trade deadline earlier in February. In that deal, the Mavericks sent their best wing player, Dorian Finney-Smith, to the Brooklyn Nets along with Spencer Dinwiddie and multiple draft picks in exchange for Irving and forward Markieff Morris.

Holiday, 33, signed a Rest-of-Season contract with the Mavericks, earning him a guaranteed $819,832. If Holiday consistently replicates his production from his debut, his contract will quickly become the best value on the roster.

The Mavericks currently sit in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, a game and a half ahead of the seventh-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. Given the tight quarters in the West, Holiday’s addition could prove fruitful for Dallas down the homestretch of the regular season if he can knock down shots and be a regular rotation contributor.