It’s time to size up the NBA’s Western Conference.
We’ve reached that point in the offseason when most teams, if not all, have reshaped their roster through the draft, free agency, trades and other means.
Not all the dust has settled. But it appears most of the heavy lifting for teams is done, including for the Mavericks. Rosters are mostly set.
So we’re starting our three-part series to update fans on exactly what has happened in a nonstop summer of transactions. First, we’ll dive into the Mavericks and what their many moves mean. Installment No. 2 will focus on the other Southwest Division teams. And in the finale, we’ll look at the rest of the Western Conference.
Let’s start with the Mavericks, who had one of the best offseasons anyone could hope for from a team that made the NBA Finals.
The big splash was Klay Thompson. They needed an all-galaxy shooter and he qualifies in every way.
But there were lots of important moves. So we’ll break them down one-by one with how the move was made and how much the Mavericks had to give up, whether the move is a replacement or an add-on and what it means in the big picture. We included only players signed to full contracts (no two-ways or Exhibit 10 players).
Klay Thompson, 6-6 guard.
How it happened: The Mavericks technically traded for him, but he was their No. 1 free-agent target from the start. It cost them Josh Green in the sign-and-trade that involved six teams. It was a monumental trade in that regard, the most teams ever involved in one transaction. But for the Mavericks, it was pretty simple to pull off once Thompson was agreeable to the three-year, $50-million contract that the Mavericks could offer with their salary cap restraints.
Replacement or add-on? Very much an add-on. He will step into the lineup alongside Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. Given the depth the Mavericks now have in the backcourt (see below), there’s no need to have him as a sixth man, although that’s a role in which he’d be awesome. Getting Thompson was like adding a turbocharger to an engine that already revs to the red line.
What it means: The Mavericks now have perhaps the NBA’s best ball-handler in Irving and the best shooter in Thompson and the best combination of scoring, rebounding and playmaking in Dončić. No trio in the league rates higher on the buzz-meter. Firepower won’t be a problem once they get their chemistry together. And trust Jason Kidd and his staff to figure things out on the defensive end. It’s going to be a treat to watch these three together.
Naji Marshall, 6-7 forward.
How it happened: The Mavericks had their mid-level exception to work with, thanks to some other roster maneuvering, including saying adieu to Tim Hardaway Jr. So Marshall was a perfect fit for a team that knew it would have to shore up the defense that was pretty salty by the end of the season, but lost some key contributors on that end of the floor. They used a substantial amount of their $12.9-million exception on Marshall (three years, $27-million).
Replacement or add-on? Marshall clearly is part of the replacement team to pick up the slack for the loss of Derrick Jones Jr., who consistently was the Mavericks’ best wing defender, and Josh Green, whose hustle and athleticism were bigger assets than a lot of observers think.
What it means: Marshall probably won’t supplant P.J. Washington in the starting lineup, but he’s capable of handling any role the Mavericks throw at him. He was a hit in New Orleans as the dirty-work demon who had the back of stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Quentin Grimes, 6-5 guard.
How it happened: The Mavericks needed to jettison Hardaway’s contract to ensure they could sign Marshall. They found a willing taker in the Detroit Pistons and the Mavericks even 
got a young player with potential and some vital playoff experience in return.
Replacement or add-on? He’s a big part of the DJJ replacement team. Grimes is a strong defender and also can knock down three-pointers when defenders drift away from him, which they may have to do when Grimes is on the floor with Thompson and Irving.
What it means: Grimes is a quality floor-stretcher as his career 37 percent three-point shooting would suggest. But he’s also a hard-nosed defender who will give the Mavericks a different look off the bench. His value will be noticeable at both ends of the floor.
Spencer Dinwiddie, 6-5 guard.
How it happened: After signing Marshall, the Mavericks were down to only veteran-minimum salaries, but that was enough to lure Dinwiddie, who finished last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. His signing became official over the weekend.
Replacement or add-on? He’s an add-on as he gives the Mavericks another ballhandler to
augment Luka and Kyrie. Dinwiddie enjoyed some of his best NBA moments in his brief previous, 76-game tenure with the Mavericks, which bridged two seasons. He was a key component on the 2022 Western Conference finals team.
What it means: Dinwiddie was a plus for the Mavericks in 2022, when he was arguably their third-best player. Now he’s a bit lower in that ranking and that’s OK. It’s a comment on the stout roster the Mavericks’ brass has put together. Dinwiddie finished last season with the Lakers and was a limited contributor, but this could be a perfect fit for him.
Coming Wednesday: The rest of the Southwest Division.
X: @ESefko
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