DALLAS — Re-signing Kyrie Irving remains the Mavericks’ biggest focus as the NBA approaches the start of free agency at 5 p.m. Friday.
But Dallas also has one key salary-cap slot open to pursue another rotation contributor in a crucial offseason for the playoff-less franchise’s intent to revamp around Luka Doncic.
Thanks to the draft-night salary dump of Davis Bertans, the Mavericks can offer free agents the full mid-level exception.
The NBA offers teams operating above the salary cap one of two mid-level exception options, so all have a pool of money above the veteran minimum to spend on free agents.
The non-taxpayer mid-level exception — which the Mavericks can now utilize — can be used to sign free agents for up to four years and a projected $12.4 million in 2023-24.
The taxpayer mid-level exception — which the Mavericks faced last season — limits teams to signings of three years and up to $5 million this season.
The importance of hitting on mid-level signings is key.
Dallas signed Reggie Bullock to the non-taxpayer mid-level during the 2021 offseason, and he emerged as one of the team’s most reliable 3-point shooters and defenders en route to the Western Conference finals nine months later.
Last season, Dallas added JaVale McGee with the taxpayer mid-level, and he lost his starting job eight games into a season that saw the Mavericks embarrassingly miss the playoffs.
Here are five pending free agents with potential to sign for the mid-level exception and help fill the Mavericks’ roster shortcomings in the frontcourt and on the wing.
Harrison Barnes
— Position: Small forward/power forward
— Age: 31
— Previous teams: Sacramento Kings (2019-23)
— Previous contract: 4 years, $85 million
Life with Luka, Part 2? Barnes played for the Mavericks from 2016-19 before the team infamously salary-dump traded him to the Sacramento Kings just before the February 2019 deadline — while in the middle of a game. Barnes endeared himself to the franchise and the Dallas community for his on-court production and his off-court service, and the franchise could use another boost from his veteran savvy and size.
The Mavericks are likely to target wing and forward upgrades with their mid-level exception. While part of a Kings defense that struggled throughout last season, Barnes still averaged 15 points (including 37.4% 3-point shooting) and 5.4 rebounds a game while deferring to Sacramento’s two All-NBA leaders. Barnes’ familiarity with Doncic could also help shorten a new teammate’s learning curve entering a season in which the Mavericks have little time to waste.
Dillon Brooks
— Position: Small forward/shooting guard
— Age: 27
— Previous teams: Memphis Grizzlies (2017-23)
— Previous contract: 3 years, $35 million
Like previous Doncic antagonizers have turned into seamless teammates, perhaps Doncic and Irving can forgive Brooks’ villainous trash talk from recent clashes against Memphis if he arrives in Dallas as a major defensive upgrade on the wing.
The Grizzlies have appeared to cut ties with their brashest free agent after another playoff shortcoming, and Brooks’ market outlook remains unclear after his career-low 39.6% field-goal percentage in 2022-23 included near-nightly poor decisions.
However, general manager Nico Harrison and crew have highlighted the Mavericks’ continued need for improvement in frontcourt size and rebounding, and Brooks as a reigning second-team All-Defense selection would provide a supporting upgrade.
Bruce Brown Jr.
— Position: Guard/small forward
— Age: 26
— Previous teams: Denver Nuggets (2022-23)
— Previous contract: 2 years, $13.3 million (declined 2023-24 player option)
The Mavericks have made their championship aspirations with Doncic and — they hope — Irving clear. No better addition than one of the key contributors in the most recent NBA Finals, right? Brown showcased his versatility and dependability throughout his lone season with the Nuggets, posting a career-high 11.5 points a game while also averaging 4.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals as a spot starter for the champion Nuggets. He projects as one of the most sought-after wings on the open market after he declined his $6.8 million player option for Year 2 of his Denver contract.
The Mavericks reportedly targeted Brown as a luxury taxpayer mid-level exception signee last offseason (before adding JaVale McGee to the contract slot instead), so no doubt Harrison and Co. want to avoid another mid-level miss if Brown is within reach.
Seth Curry
— Position: Point guard/shooting guard
— Age: 32
— Previous teams: Brooklyn Nets (2021-2023)
— Previous contract: 4 years, $32 million
Third time’s the charm?
During his first two Mavericks stints — from 2016-18 as part of his first multi-year NBA contract and 2019-20 — Curry’s 3-point shooting prowess was never in doubt. In two full seasons, he shot a combined 43.8% from three across 134 games, including 45.2% in his second. But injuries (a year-long fibula absence in 2017-18 and other nagging issues) and his 2020 trade to the Philadelphia 76ers overshadowed his standout offensive production.
Unlike his brother (lifelong Golden State Warrior Steph), Curry has never played more than two seasons for one franchise. He also still lives in the Dallas area during the offseason, so if interested, the Mavericks could potentially land Curry on a deal less than the full mid-level exception. Perhaps that’s a move that can further boost the open 3-point opportunities Doncic creates if some of Dallas’ defense-first targets fall through.
Grant Williams
— Position: Power forward
— Age: 24
— Previous teams: Boston Celtics (2019-23)
— Previous contract: 4 years, $11.8 million (restricted free agent)
Don’t let Williams’ puzzling disappearance from the Celtics’ playoff rotation overshadow his potential to upgrade the Mavericks’ frontcourt as a two-way contributor whom Boston drafted in the first round just one year after Doncic’s rookie class.
Williams averaged a career-best 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists across 79 regular-season games last season. While his overall shooting numbers dipped a couple of percentage points from the previous year, Williams’ 39.5% 3-point rate still would’ve ranked third among all current Mavericks.
Grant possesses defensive versatility to guard across all positions, reliability to play at least 77 games each of the last two seasons, and tenure to fit with the Mavericks’ push to add more young talent. That could make him a Dallas target on a full mid-level offer the Celtics might not be willing to match.
