The Dallas Mavericks entered the offseason with a complete roster and all developmental slots filled after a flurry of recent moves. While the frontcourt now boasts ample depth, the backcourt remains thin, leaving a clear need for a reliable guard to complement Luka Dončić and keep the offense flowing.
A recent multi-team trade sent AJ Johnson and Khris Middleton out of Dallas in a sign-and-trade arrangement and brought in Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser and the draft rights to Tarik Biberovic. Biberovic was promptly signed to a short-term contract, adding a developmental big-man project to the mix and further loading the frontcourt with versatile talent.
Summer League action highlighted the backcourt gap. Rookie guard Ryan Nembhard has not yet demonstrated the consistency required for a regular rotation role, and fellow prospect Sergio De Larrea is still far from NBA readiness. Their performances underscore the urgency of finding a guard who can handle the ball at the league’s pace and provide stability alongside the team's star player.
Center Moussa Cisse, who spent last season on a two-way contract, remains a pending free-agent. The Mavericks extended a qualifying offer, but his contract status is still unresolved, leaving an additional roster decision on the table as the team evaluates its long-term plans.
With the roster weighted toward frontcourt talent, Dallas must decide whether to address the guard shortage through free agency or by packaging some of the newly acquired assets in a trade. Adding a dependable backup point guard would allow Dončić to conserve energy and maintain the team’s offensive rhythm, while a defensive specialist could shore up perimeter protection that the current lineup lacks. If the Mavericks fail to secure a backcourt upgrade before training camp, the burden on Dončić will intensify, potentially limiting his effectiveness in high-stakes games and influencing the team’s chances in the postseason.
