Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks have been very active at the official opening of the NBA offseason, retaining one of the best players in the league and bringing in a pair of veterans to bolster their starting lineup and bench depth.
The biggest move the Mavs made was retaining one of their own, re-signing 10-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, who the Mavs traded for in the middle of the 2022-23 season in hopes of re-signing him to a longer term deal. They’ve now done that, inking Irving to a three-year contract. Coach Kidd, who had a relationship with Irving prior to the two getting together in Dallas, was a big fan of the move and of Irving, and pined for the Mavs to re-sign the championship-winning point guard.
“I think he truly is happy here. I think he wants to be here,” J-Kidd said after the season. “So we’re going to do everything to keep him…we hope that we’ve done everything to make him comfortable and want to be a Mav for life.”
With Irving locked into the backcourt with Luka Doncic, and a whole offseason for the two to work off each other to form a partnership in the backcourt that works for both, the Mavs turned their attention to the frontcourt, swinging a three-team deal with the Boston Celtics for Grant Williams.
The Mavericks initially showed interest in signing Williams, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet after their offer sheet to Matisse Thybule was matched by the Portland Trail Blazers. Following that, the Mavs got together with the Celtics and worked out a deal. The trade came at a cost, as Dallas had to send Reggie Bullock and future picks to Boston, but bringing in Williams, known as one of the best three-and-d players in the league, was worth the price.
“I remember being super stoked and excited because of the organization and the people there,” Williams said of hearing Dallas’ interest. “The team and the potential there and the growth they have shown, coming off a Western Conference finals appearance two years ago. And the past year not necessarily having the year they wanted to have, and getting Kyrie and trying to accustom themselves to a new group. Being a part of that (the goal is to) hopefully building a foundation to have great success and get back to not only the Western Conference finals, but further.”
Williams is known as an agitator around the league, something the Mavericks have lacked, but is also a terrific defensive player and one of the best three-point shooters among frontcourt players. He shot 39.5 percent from deep last year and 41.1 percent from beyond the arc in 2021-22. Williams is thrilled to bring those skills to a Dallas team that lacked defensive consistency and perimeter scoring at times last season.
“The coaching staff has been amazing. Great dialogue about what’s upcoming, but also what’s expected. I’m super-excited,” Williams said. “Being in a different environment, you never know what to expect. But it’s been very welcoming and I feel like I’m already part of the family.”
With two new starters locked in and several other pieces in place, the Mavs went about securing some depth by re-signing Dwight Powell and signing point guard Dante Exum, who has spent the last two years playing in Europe, and Seth Curry, who will mark his third stint in Dallas.
With a backcourt consisting of Irving, Doncic, Exum, Curry, Jaden Hardy and a frontcourt built around Tim Hardaway Jr., Williams, Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, Powell, Richaun Holmes, who was acquired in a draft night trade, JaVale McGee, and 2023 draft picks Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper the Mavs believe they have all the pieces to compete at the highest level of the Western Conference.