Mavericks offseason primer: How to bridge the gap to first place (2024)

The Mavericks will only have four free agents this summer, two of whom (Greg Brown and Brandon Williams) are two-way contract players. Of their playing rotation, only Derrick Jones Jr is hitting the market, along with Markieff Morris at the end of the veteran bench.

The upshot of all this is that, with so little salary expiring, the incumbent payroll is expensive. Doncic ($43,031,940) and Irving ($41,000,000) take up $84 million between them, or almost 60 percent of the salary cap, and once the five other eight-figure annual salaries owed to Tim Hardaway Jr ($16.193.183), PJ Washington ($15,500,000), Daniel Gafford ($13,394,160), Josh Green ($12,654,321) and Maxi Kleber ($11,000,000) are included, that is all the salary cap gone.

However, while expensive, this roster is not prohibitively expensive. The apron thresholds, and the punitive impacts that come with surpassing them, are not as imminent of dangers as they are with some other teams – for example, the Phoenix Suns – and the salary of Hardaway in particular is not something they will feel tied to.

Furthermore, although the hefty luxury tax bills of the early days of the Mark Cuban era are a thing of the past, the Mavericks are still one of the largest luxury tax-paying teams of all time. The money is there for when the time is right, and an NBA Finals berth coinciding with the prime years of Doncic should alleviate any doubt that the time is now. The Mavericks can use their exceptions and tweak the roster without having to shed anything of substance, and even have a small amount of draft capital they can still use.

• Unrestricted free agent

Playing last season on a one-year minimum salary contract, Jones was an absolute bargain. He has been one of the best role-playing forwards in the league, averaging 8.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in the regular season, and if the basic stats do not stand out, perhaps the 3.1 win shares speak to his value as an athlete, finisher, slasher, versatile defender and improved shooter.

The perennial problem with bargains, of course, is that they do not last. Jones now enters unrestricted free agency, and, due to having only been with the Mavericks one season after leaving the Chicago Bulls as a free agent, they have only non-Bird rights on him. That will not be enough for a player who has played his way into MLE contention.

That said, already aged 27 and still a below-average shooter in an off-ball role that would normally mandate being an above-average one, anything beyond that would be ambitious for a player available for so cheap just 12 months ago. Jones is good at what he does, but he is not a Bruce Brown-esque role player, and suggestions that he should approach the $20 million per annum salary range – or even surpass it – seem far-fetched. The MLE seems suitably mutually beneficial.

• Unrestricted free agent

The Mavericks brought Morris back on a minimum-salary contract last summer, after initially acquiring him as an ancillary part of the Irving trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Changing their mind on the $12 million JaVale McGee contract after one month and zero games, they instead gave Morris a mere $200,000 guaranteed to play the veteran bench big man depth role, and he was solid enough if unremarkable.

Turning 35 before the start of next season, the twilight of Markieff’s career on the court mostly involves spot-up shooting, hitting 35.7 percent during the regular season on the three-point attempts that now make up two-thirds of his shot profile. But even if it is only for another partially guaranteed minimum, there is some value to be had in that still.

• Extension-eligible in both 2024 and 2025

Despite still being under contract until 2027 – albeit with a player option in his final season – Doncic is eligible next summer for a further extension, as it will be under two years until his previous one expires. At that time, he signed a “supermax” rookie extension. Now, he is eligible for a “supermax” veteran extension as well, which could be the largest deal in history.

Having signed the supermax rookie deal and been named to the All-NBA 1st team in both 2023 and 2024, Doncic becomes eligible for the higher maximum salary offered in a “supermax” deal. Players with between seven and nine years of experience are usually capped in the first year of a maximum salary contract at only 30 percent of the salary cap, but those meeting the “supermax” criteria – which two All-NBA Team appearances satisfies – can start at 35 percent instead.

The fact that this deal cannot be signed until next summer is not really relevant to this summer, as everything will need budgeting for now. If he does not want to wait to sign a supermax extension, Doncic can sign an extension this summer, one that is capped at a 30 percent starting salary. But it seems unnecessary for him to wait.

• Extension-eligible after July 6

In his two years since being drafted 37th overall, Hardy has played his way into a regular spot in the Mavericks’ rotation. He averaged 7.3 points per game in that role in the 2023-24 regular season, and although his production and efficiency all underwent a slight sophom*ore slump. the 21-year-old guard showed a package of NBA skills and physical tools that the Mavericks might want to commit to.

Upon the second anniversary of him signing his original deal, Hardy will be eligible for another, a benefit of being an early second-round pick instead of a late first-rounder. Before that, though, they will have to make a decision as to whether to guarantee his minimum salary contract, currently only $400,000 guaranteed until June 30.

Players rostered: 14

Two-way players: One (Alex Fudge)

Guaranteed salaries: $169,527,436

Non-guaranteed salaries: $4,769,699

Total salary: $174,297,135

Projected 2024/25 salary cap amount:$141,000,000

• Salary cap space: None

Projected 2024/25 luxury tax threshold:$171,345,000

• Luxury tax space: Next to none

Projected 2024/25 first apron threshold:$178,655,000

• First apron space: Approximately $3 million

Projected 2024/25 second apron threshold:$189,486,000

• Second apron space: Approximately $14 million

Spending options:

• Taxpayer mid-level exception, second apron permitting: $5,183,000 (projected)
• Davis Bertans trade exception: $4,953,980 (expires July 8 2024)
• Seth Curry trade exception: $4,000,000 (expires February 10 2025)

2024-25 salary: $43,031,940

Remaining salary guaranteed: $137,998,980 through 2025-26

• Has a $48,967,380 player option season for 2025-26.
• Has a 15% trade kicker

2024-25 salary: $41,000,000

Remaining salary guaranteed: $84,962,963 through 2025-26

Additional notes:

• Has a $43,962,963 player option season for 2025-26.

2024-25 salary: $16,193,183

Remaining salary guaranteed: $16,193,183 through 2024-25

Additional notes:

• Extension-eligible immediately.

2024-25 salary: $15,500,000

Remaining salary guaranteed: $29,652,174 through 2025-26

2024-25 salary: $13,394,160

Remaining salary guaranteed: $27,780,480 through 2025-26

Additional notes:

• Extension-eligible immediately.

2024-25 salary: $12,654,321

Remaining salary guaranteed: $41,000,000 through 2026-27

2024-25 salary: $11,000,000

Remaining salary guaranteed: $22,000,000 through 2025-26

Additional notes:

• Extension-eligible after September 8.

2024-25 salary: $5,014,560

Remaining salary guaranteed: $5,014,560 through 2024-25

Additional notes:

• Has a $5,253,360 team option year for 2025-26.
• Has a $7,239,131 team option year for 2026-27.

2024-25 salary: $4,000,000

Remaining salary guaranteed: $8,000,000 through 2025-26

Additional notes:

• Has a $4,000,000 player option year for 2025-26

2024-25 salary: $3,150,000

Remaining salary guaranteed: None

Additional notes:

• Contract is only $400,000 guaranteed, becoming fully guaranteed if not waived on or before June 28.

2024-25 salary: $2,870,400

Remaining salary guaranteed: $2,870,400 through 2024-25

Additional notes:

• Has a $3,007,080 team option year for 2025-26.
• Has a $5,259,383 team option year for 2026-27.

2024-25 salary: $2,120,683

Remaining salary guaranteed:None

Additional notes:

• Has a $2,301,587 minimum salary contract for 2025-26.
• Has a $2,489,752 minimum salary contract for 2026-27.
• All three seasons are fully unguaranteed with no guarantee dates.

2024-25 salary: $2,019,699

Remaining salary guaranteed: $400,000 through 2024-25

Additional notes:

• Contract is only $400,000 guaranteed, becoming fully guaranteed if not waived on or before June 30.
• Is extension-eligible after July 6.

2024-25 salary:Signed to a two-way contract

Remaining salary guaranteed:None

Cap hold:$2,093,637

Type of free agent: Non-Bird (unrestricted)

Cap hold:$2,093,637

Type of free agent: Early Bird (unrestricted)

Cap hold:$1,867,722

Type of free agent: Non-Bird (restricted)

Cap hold:$1,867,722

Type of free agent: Non-Bird (restricted)

Additional notes:

• Gilbert Arenas clause is applicable.