The Dallas Mavericks were defeated by the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals. The overall record of the Dallas team remains strong, and they do not need to make any major changes to their roster. That being said, there are two players on the verge of becoming free agents, and the Mavericks must consider re-signing them.
One of the players stepped up as a veteran. Another player has made an impact on the Mavericks on both ends of the court, becoming one of the best defensive players in the sport. Without further ado, here are two players the Mavericks need to re-sign on the 2024 NBA free agent market.
Markieff Morris
Morris, 34, averaged just 8.3 minutes per game in the 2023-24 season. This number does not reflect his true value to the team.
Morris' leadership is critical to the Mavericks. The Dallas team as a whole is a young team, while Morris has been playing in the NBA since 2011. He has seen the sport evolve over the years and has played for a number of different organizations. Morris knows what it takes to win at the highest level of basketball.
Does the loss of Morris mean the Mavericks will miss the playoffs next year? The answer is obviously no, but having a veteran like Morris can only help a young team with a lot of potential.
Kyrie Irving is seen as a leader. However, Carey is only 32 years old. In addition, he is focused on leading the Mavericks to play well. Morris doesn't play much, so he can lead the team in a different way.
Derek Jones Jr
The most obvious answer to the question of who the Mavericks must renew their contract with is Derrick Jones Jr. Jones has been at a high level defensively throughout the season and has made positive contributions offensively.
The 27-year-old signed with the Mavericks ahead of the 2023-24 season. Many overlooked the move, but Dallas believed in Jones' potential.
Jones is rumored to want to return to the Mavericks. He made it clear that he loves playing in Dallas. Jones came close to being named to the All-Defensive Team last season. However, he has been defending the opposing team's best players and has been excellent on the defensive end.
Jones has also improved on the offensive end. He averaged a career-high 8.6 points per game. Jones shot 48.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three-point range.
He also earned a starting spot for the Mavericks. Of the 76 games Jones played in the 2023-24 season, 66 were starts. Starting for a team that makes it to the NBA Finals will only help his prospects in the free agent market.
A lot of teams will certainly be interested in signing Jones, but the Mavericks will need to do everything they can to re-sign him.
The Mavericks' offseason outlook
Again, the Mavericks don't need to undergo any major upgrades. They have two superstars, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. The Dallas team has built a quality core of players made up of PJ Washington, Derek Lively II, and Daniel Gafford United. Players such as Jaden Hardy and Olivier-Maxens Prosper could also progress next season.
The future of Dallas is bright. The Mavericks are sure to compete for a playoff spot again, and they may even break into the NBA Finals again in 2025. The re-signing of Derrick Jones Jr. and Markieff Morris would greatly increase their chances.