As a lot because the Dallas Mavericks would love to offer Luka Doncic an All-Star teammate this summer season, any potential strikes made will possible be smaller ones that enhance the workforce’s depth because of wage cap restrictions. This does not imply the Mavs cannot be artistic and make issues work if a star participant says they need to play in Dallas, however why make issues sophisticated till you completely must?
After all, a workforce does not simply luck into going 36-12 since New Year’s Eve, then defeating the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns en path to a Western Conference finals look. The Mavs did all that regardless of not having arguably their third-best participant in Tim Hardaway Jr. because of a foot fracture he suffered in January. Star expertise is all the time needed, however it won’t be a urgent concern on this explicit state of affairs.
One of the principle areas of concern for the Mavs going ahead is their beginning heart place. Dwight Powell has confirmed that he may be an efficient starter in regular-season play, however he was primarily unplayable in Dallas’ latest playoff run to the Western Conference finals. The Mavs want extra offensive versatility, shot-blocking and rebounding from their beginning heart, and Indiana Pacers heart Myles Turner might very nicely be the reply.
Turner is a Dallas native and has been linked to the Mavs in a handful of commerce rumors over time, together with this yr. The 26-year-old versatile massive man checks practically each field with regards to what the Mavs are searching for in a beginning heart, however the principle one is rim safety – one thing Dallas was in a position to get by not having till it bumped into the Golden State Warriors within the convention finals.
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Turner averaged 12.9 factors and seven.1 rebounds per sport for the Pacers this season. Despite averaging simply 29.4 minutes, he led the league with 2.8 blocks per sport. The second-closest participant to Turner in that class was Memphis Grizzlies massive man Jaren Jackson Jr. with 2.3 blocks per sport. Turner additionally shot 50.9 p.c from the sector, together with 33.3 p.c from deep.
One factor to take into accounts when evaluating Turner’s potential match with the Mavs is the truth that he is by no means performed a distributor of Doncic’s caliber. There are a handful of video games the place Doncic is ready to make Powell appear like prime Blake Griffin, so the concept of plugging a expertise like Turner into that spot ought to be thrilling for Dallas.
Given that Turner is about to be on an $18 million expiring contract – assuming he does not signal an extension with Indiana – the Pacers may’ve waited too late to get most worth for him in a commerce. Potentially being an unrestricted free agent subsequent yr, paired with the truth that he is coming off a foot harm that ended his 2021-22 season, means the Mavs may be capable to snag Turner regardless of not having the best of commerce property.
The Mavs have a listing of offseason priorities, beginning with re-signing Jalen Brunson, who was key to their convention finals run. But except for that, buying and selling for Turner ought to be subsequent on the checklist. Rumors are inclined to warmth up as we get nearer to the draft, and that is lower than three weeks away. Let’s see what the Mavs resolve to do.