Asked by Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report (video link) whether Luka Doncic has enough talent surrounding him to win a title, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban suggested Dallas already has the pieces in place to accomplish that goal.
“We hadn’t been out of the first round in 10 years and so a lot of it was execution and talking to our guys during the series, that was the thing that kept coming up,” Cuban said of the Western Conference Finals matchup against the Warriors (hat tip to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.net). “… So I think for us it’s not so much we need that second star or whatever, it’s more, let’s just get some time and experience in crunch time situations in the playoffs and that will pay off.”
As we relayed last night, Cuban also credited Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins as a difference-maker in the series, and said Golden State’s combination of execution, experience, and adjustments made the team too difficult for the Mavericks to handle.
Cuban’s comments are noteworthy for a few different reasons. After trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans, the Mavs found success with lineups featuring multiple shot creators and floor spacers, as well as more versatile defenders. Obviously Porzingis was pegged to be Dallas’ second star, but things never really worked out with the 7’3″ big man for a variety of reasons.
He didn’t state it outright, but Cuban’s comments give the impression the club didn’t view Jalen Brunson as a star, and the Mavs were reportedly unwilling to match — or exceed — the contract he received in free agency from the Knicks. Brunson had a strong playoff run for Dallas, averaging 21.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 3.7 APG on .466/.347/.800 shooting in 18 games (34.9 MPG), so losing him will sting.
Along the same lines, it could be interpreted that Dallas doesn’t view offseason acquisition Christian Wood as a star either. The Mavs traded the No. 26 pick of the 2022 draft and four players on expiring deals to Houston to land Wood.
Of course, how a team perceives players doesn’t matter nearly as much as the on-court product, and the Mavs are coming off their most successful season since winning the championship in 2011. The question is, have they done enough to keep progressing toward another ring? With the Clippers and Nuggets getting healthy, potential improvement from the Timberwolves and Pelicans, and the Warriors, Grizzlies and Suns still in the picture, the West is going to be stacked with talent in 2022/23, so winning the title certainly won’t be easy.
Rooks’ interview with Cuban lasts over an hour and is worth checking out in full for any Dallas fans.
They don’t have a way to get one anyways! No cap space nor any leading piece to land a star in trade ! In trade they have a lot of secondary filler but no headliner
They also don’t need a Championship. They won’t get one the way they are constructed currently
Luka reminds me of James harden. Both thrive when you surround them with 3 shooters & a rolling big man. They’re ELITE scorers who need the ball in there hands, also can’t play with other elite players.
Luka hasn’t played yet with an elite player. Harden had all time greats as teammates.
Harden was a slightly better defender and much more efficient shooter however lacked the leadership qualities of Doncic.
Harden has also had great teammates and Doncic has had some good guys but not the same caliber.
Not that it’s easier now at all but Harden also went up against GSW in their prime, LeBron in his prime and other very strong sides.
In no way at any point in his career was James Harden a better defender than Luka. Please get serious.
@sn33 ld narrative, Harden isn’t a great defender but he held his own on defense the last couple years in Houston when he was usually assigned PFs to defend.
How would you know that? He’s never played with another star.
Can win a ton of games with Luka (beyond) dominate ball – he’s that good. Will never win a championship that way. LeBron, Curry, Freak, (Iverson)… none of them could do it without that 2nd star.
It’s so incredibly hard to make shots when you’re just standing and waiting… and waiting… and waiting…
and waiting…
and waiting…
And finally receive the pass.
Luks almost has to have Curry, Thompson-type shooters around him to win, the way Dallas plays.
Unfortunately, the way they do play gives them their best chance to win (and for the coach to not alienate Luka and keep his job). Luka ain’t goin for no motion offense or a bunch of sets.
They’ll win games but…
Dallas has great role players around Luka and Wood is really good but I disagree with Mark. In today’s NBA, you absolutely need at least 2 superstars to win a ‘ship.
2 superstars? GSW won with only one superstar, MIL too.
star=/= superstar
It depends on your definition of superstar, Klay Thompson wasn’t as key to their success as he was in the past, hell he wasn’t even one of the top 3 players on the team but you don’t lose the persona of superstar because of injuries. They also had Green and while he’s not a superstar he’s pretty close.
How about for MIL in their championship season? Can Middleton or Jrue really be defined as “superstars”?
I am inclined to think they don’t quite make the cut (and I’m a Bucks fan), but maybe others see it differently?
I wouldn’t call them superstars, but they’re all stars. Luka hasn’t ever played w. another all star. GSW had Draymond and Wiggins and a better supporting cast than what Dallas does. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dallas doesn’t make the 2nd round, but also wouldn’t doubt Luka.
That’s an absolutely fair point if we put aside the OP saying a team needs two superstars to win a championship. I think Luka needs at least one all-star teammate for the Mavs to make some real noise in the playoffs.
As a mavs fan, I don’t want another superstar to take the ball out of Luka’s hands. We need near all star level caliber players to surround him, and that’s a dark horse contender
I think the perfect player that fits with Luka is Devin Booker. Obviously they don’t like eachother and neither will both be in Dallas or Pheonix ever. With that being said, I think Dallas should swing a trade for Kyrie Irving. Hes much better than Brunson. His only problem is that he misses a little more than half the season and is delusional. If Kyrie has his head on straight + Luka Doncic, they could win everything
Yeah you’ll win a bunch of games with Luka without another superstar star but in order to actually win a championship your at very slim odds. Dirk did it against all odds but even then they had a couple old stars (maybe not superstars). Kidd, Marion, Peja, Chandler etc former all stars and stuff but this current Dallas team doesn’t even have that.
I think getting Christian Wood was a great move and you have a bunch of really good depth but in order to actually win the title you’ll need another stand out player or two. I’d stay clear of Kyrie, Donovan Mitchell I don’t think would be a good fit, KD’s asking price and age probably rule him out, which does leave slim pickings.
I’d keep an eye on Pascal Siakim, Wood and Siakim would make a good small ball big man duo. Siakim brings really good defence, can space the floor for Doncic and doesn’t need a bunch of touches to be effective.
I’d be interested in Myles Turner. Another good defender and big man that can still space the floor however less off a difference maker. Would have to come at the right price.
Then lastly Andrew Wiggins, less of a big name but proven to step up when needed. But again not the big name so would have to come at the right price.
Kidd was a superstar, just an old superstar.
Superstar by name, it was 2 years before he retired. He wasn’t an all star, hadn’t made an all nba team in 6/7 years and averaged 8 points and 8 assists for the season.
That’s like saying Carmelo Anthony is still a superstar.
As I said he had a bunch of old stars, former all star guys that would’ve known their roles and were good at them
Pascal and Turner are the 2 players I want most on the mavs actually, mostly Turner. I’d also be interested in John Collins. I like Wiggins but I feel like we’d have to overpay to get him which I’m not a fan of. I think my ideal (realistic) dallas roster would be:
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Spencer Dinwiddie
SF – Dorian Finney Smith
PF – Christian Wood
C – Myles Turner
6 – Matisse Thybulle
7 – Javale Mcgee
8 – Reggie Bullock
9 – Jaden Hardy
10 – Maxi Kleber
11 – Josh Green
12 – Frank Ntilikina
13 – Davis Bertans
14 – Boban Marjanovic
15 – Theo Pinson
jordan poole would work.
The Mavs can create $57 million in cap space after the 23-24 season, Just in time for Siakim and Jaylen Brown’s free agency.
Yeah idk just off the top I think for Turner you’d want to offer Bertans and young player and picks as the Pacers are a rebuilding team and it also gets rid of a terrible contract for you.
So I’d try Myles Turner for Bertans, Green, a first and 2 seconds. Id be reluctant but could stretch to two protected firsts. But he’s also on an expiring contract so you’d have to work out and extension or bring him back in FA which could get expensive. I’d happily make the first deal. In which case line up:
Doncic Hardaway Finney-Smith Wood and Turner with Dinwiddie Hardy Bullock Kleber and McGee off the bench.
As for Siakim, my guess is the Raptors would want a huge offer for him. Player wise you probably don’t have enough talent so whoever leaves for salary matching will also leave with a few picks which hurts too.
As for Wiggins, again expiring contract so if you wanted him now I think GSW would definitely consider an offer.
Maybe Finney-Smith, and either Powell or Bullock for Wiggins could get it done. But then you still have to fight to keep him in FA. Alternatively You could wait for FA but I’m sure he will have a good market then regardless
Yeah the roster I made I think was more for next year after signing turner in FA. he wants to play in dallas (he’s said, he’s from the area and loves the team and loves luka) and i think his value will be lower than it should be.
I agree. Luka just needs good complimentary pieces to conduct a good team. I think mostly Dallas was missing a multidimensional scorer to take pressure off Luka, he doesn’t need to be a star or necessarily one player.