The Dallas Mavericks are pegged to soar higher next NBA season as their new acquisitions settle and adjust to the team's dynamics. With Dirk Nowitzki leading the team alongside former Golden State Warriors star Harrison Barnes and ex Sacramento Kings player Seth Curry, the group looks as promising as ever. However, key pieces are still needed and the 2017 NBA Draft is anticipated to fill in these needs.
The majority of the teams at the bottom of the league these days are eagerly looking at the draft picks and checking how these new stars could fit in their roster. In particular, the Dallas Mavericks are anticipated to move pieces to win the De Aaron Fox draft lottery. Amid the improvements made in the roster of the Dirk Nowitzki squad, it appears that they still need more talent to fill in their point guard roles.
"It's time to upgrade the point guard spot in Dallas," said Newy Scruggs of NBC5. He added, "This draft could be the best place to upgrade. The Mavericks best years were when they had talented point guards: Derek Harper, Steve Nash and Jason Kidd."
The move to sign younger stars had been earlier discussed by Dirk Nowitzki himself. According to the Dallas Mavericks veteran, the team would perform better with new blood injected in their old veins. Pointing out the contributions of Nerlens Noel in particular, the future Hall of Fame awardee believes that younger players would catapult the team to become NBA Finals contenders. It remains to be seen if they can continue this track and actually succeed in their purported plan of winning the De Aaron Fox draft lottery.
"We were the oldest team (in the league) a couple of years in a row, it feels like. Always up there. We basically made this cut within a few days. We went from older guys, obviously trading Bogues [Andrew Bogut], and D-Will left, and suddenly we had 10 guys under the age of 26. And it happened overnight," noted Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks.
He added, "[E]ventually, we had to make this cut. We're thrilled with how the young guys have progressed and played. They want to learn, they're hungry. It's been fun. Nerlens has been great ... really like what he brings -- his activity, his athleticism, can finish above the rim, a shot blocker. And we need him, for sure."
What do you think? Should the Dallas Mavericks try to move assets to win the De Aaron Fox draft lottery? Or should they sign younger stars via free agency?
