Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2024 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Dallas Mavericks.
Free agent signings
Klay Thompson: Three years, $50,000,000. Includes 15% trade kicker. Signed using Bird rights and acquired via sign-and-trade from Warriors.
- Naji Marshall: Three years, $27,000,000. Includes 5% trade kicker. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
- Spencer Dinwiddie: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Jazian Gortman: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Emanuel Miller: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Jamarion Sharp: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired the draft rights to Melvin Ajinca (No. 51 pick) from the Knicks in exchange for the draft rights to Ariel Hukporti (No. 58 pick), the draft rights to Petteri Koponen, and cash ($1MM).
- Acquired Quentin Grimes from the Pistons in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr., the Raptors’ 2025 second-round pick, the Heat’s 2028 second-round pick, and either the Clippers’ or Hornets’ 2028 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
- Acquired Klay Thompson (sign-and-trade) and either the Nuggets’ or Sixers’ second-round pick (whichever is more favorable in a six-team trade in exchange for Josh Green (to Hornets) and the Mavericks’ 2031 second-round pick (to Sixers).
Draft picks
- 2-51: Melvin Ajinca
- Signed with ASVEL in France.
Two-way signings
Departed/unsigned free agents
- Greg Brown (unsigned)
- Derrick Jones (Clippers)
- Markieff Morris (unsigned)
Other moves
- Waived Alex Fudge.
Salary cap situation
- Operating over the cap ($140.6MM) and above the luxury tax line ($170.8MM).
- Carrying approximately $176.1MM in salary.
- Hard-capped at $178,132,000.
- Approximately $4.25MM of mid-level exception available; full bi-annual exception ($4.67MM) available.
- Two traded player exceptions available (largest worth $16,193,183).
The offseason so far
The vibes were good in Dallas after the Mavericks made an unexpected run to the NBA Finals this spring, with general manager Nico Harrison suggesting after the team’s loss to Boston that his plan was to simply keep the core intact and to find a way to re-sign starting small forward Derrick Jones.
The Mavs’ ability to give Jones a raise on his previous minimum-salary contract was limited because they only held his Non-Bird rights, but Harrison vowed that bringing back the talented defensive swingman was “priority 1A and 1B” for the organization.
When Dallas struck a deal to send Tim Hardaway Jr. and some future second-round picks to Detroit in exchange for Quentin Grimes, the team’s intentions looked pretty clear — having created nearly $12MM in extra cap flexibility as a result of that move, the Mavs gained the ability to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to re-sign Jones.
That didn’t happen though. Instead, Jones opted to sign a three-year, $30MM contract with the Clippers, prompting the Mavs to pivot to another free agent, Naji Marshall. Dallas used a portion of its MLE to bring in Marshall – a three-and-D forward – on a three-year, $27MM deal.
That signing hard-capped the Mavs at the first tax apron for the rest of the 2024/25 league year, but the front office wasn’t done wheeling and dealing yet. The club reached an agreement with the Warriors and Hornets on a three-team trade that would send Josh Green to Charlotte and Klay Thompson to Dallas on a three-year, $50MM contract. The move was eventually combined with a handful of other transactions and completed as a six-team deal.
When the dust settled, the Mavs had essentially replaced three wings – Jones, Hardaway, and Green – with three new ones in Thompson, Marshall, and Grimes. Thompson isn’t the perennial All-Star he once was, and Grimes is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued season, but between Thompson’s shooting ability and Marshall’s and Grimes’ three-and-D skill sets, Dallas has a good chance to come out ahead in the series of wing swaps, strengthening a roster that just won the West.
The Mavs also brought back Spencer Dinwiddie, who had a down year with the Nets and Lakers in 2023/24, but thrived in Dallas during the one-year period from the 2022 trade deadline (when he was acquired in the deal sending Kristaps Porzingis to Washington) to the 2023 deadline (when he was sent out as part of the package for Kyrie Irving). A potential bargain on a minimum-salary deal, Dinwiddie will provide additional depth behind the star-studded backcourt of Irving and Luka Doncic.
Up next
The Mavericks have 15 players on standard contracts, but they’ll likely make a change to their 15th spot at some point before training camp. Reports throughout the summer have indicated that veteran forward Markieff Morris is expected to return to Dallas on a new deal.
A.J. Lawson, who is on a non-guaranteed contract, would almost certainly be waived if Morris officially re-signs, since he’s the clear 15th man and the Mavs don’t have enough flexibility below their hard cap to eat a guaranteed salary.
Dallas also still has a two-way slot available alongside Brandon Williams and Kessler Edwards. It’s unclear if the Mavs have anyone specific in mind for that opening or if the team’s current Exhibit 10 players (Jazian Gortman, Emanuel Miller, and Jamarion Sharp) might get a chance to compete for that last two-way deal.
The Mavs have several players who are either already extension-eligible or will become eligible for new deals prior to opening night, though it’s possible none of them will sign contracts before the regular season tips off.
Maxi Kleber and P.J. Washington each have one more guaranteed season on their respective contracts after 2024/25, so there’s no urgency to work something out this year. Still, I’d expect Dallas to at least explore a long-term deal for Washington, who played very well in a significant role after being acquired from Charlotte in February.
Grimes, who is eligible for a rookie scale extension, has yet to suit up for the Mavs and will likely need to prove 2023/24 was an aberration before the team is willing to invest long-term in him. Doncic could technically sign an extension now, but despite meeting the performance criteria for a super-max contract, he needs to have one more year of experience under his belt to actually sign that super-max, so he’ll wait until 2025.
Third-year guard Jaden Hardy is an interesting extension candidate, but unlike the four aforementioned players, he’ll remain eligible for the entire 2024/25 season, not just until October 21, so the Mavs could postpone their decision on him until the winter or the spring.
Their entire season is now going to depend on what version of Thompson they get.
Will they get narcissistic Thompson who is still trying to regain his old form?
Or, will they get sharpshooter Klay who accepts the limitations time and injury have placed on him?
The latter will make Dallas a legit contender, while the former will doom their season before it begins.
Really hoping to see Klay come and ball out, even if it’s not on the warriors. He has a chance to make up for the last couple years.
If Thompson falters the Mavs have Marshall and Grimes. Marshall was recently rated as the most underrated acquisition. He is an upgrade over Jones.
Grimes has huge potential. He is known for his on point defense and being a very good three point shooter.
PJ will be a much better shooter this year too. His first two years in the league he averaged 6 3 point attempts at 38%. Being on a loser team his efficiency went down, when usually 3 point efficiency goes up. He now has reason to work on his efficiency this summer.
Obviously, would be great if Thompson is good for the Mavs, but they are still the faves to go yo the finals with or without him. A good Thompson will be needed in the finals though.
Los mavs necesitan que Washington sea mas consistente y que Hardy de un paso hacia adelante y que los novatos se les de mas tiempo de juego.
Brandon Williams, Kessler Edwards and Jamarion Sharpe would be the best two way in the league. Sorry Sacramento
Lawson is nice and up coming hopefully but on this team right now. Morris is the better choice. Last chance to get Jokic back, give him the karma he deserves
I am a Mavs fan, but Morris deserved what he got from Jokic. Morris is the one who gave Jokic the cheap shot first. Cannot cry about it if the player gets you back.
The league needs to protect top players like Jokic and Luka from injury by cheap shots from players with nothing to lose if they are off the court.
Morris did what exactly that is on the same level as getting shoved in the back when your back is turned? Jokic is a coward for that. Go look up other plays jokic is about to attack people when there back is turned. Naw jokic is a loser for that action. If this same thing would happen to you, you would be in the hospital sueing. Jokic was a thug coward
Naw you are just making excuses for top players. You probably think Draymond has never done anything wrong lol