The Dallas Mavericks had a quick turnaround from their NBA Finals run in June, yet they managed to execute one of the most successful offseasons in the franchise’s history.
The Mavericks excelled in all three major areas of the NBA’s transactional landscape—drafting, free agency, and trades. Their front office has shown it can now compete with the best, building a team that’s ready to contend.
Though there are still a few uncertainties as the season approaches, most of these questions will be answered once the Mavericks hit the court in October. The team addressed nearly all of their offseason needs, setting them up for success in the coming season.
10 Reasons the Dallas Mavericks Mastered the 2024 Offseason
Thanks to their offseason moves, the Mavericks are positioned for another deep playoff run. However, they’ll face stiff competition from other Western Conference teams that also made significant improvements.
While many teams in the West got better, the Mavericks did enough to solidify themselves as one of the league’s top contenders heading into the 2024-25 season.
10. Mavericks Stayed Under the First Tax Apron
Navigating the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the Mavericks smartly managed to stay under the first tax apron this offseason. Despite making several moves, including a sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson and signing Spencer Dinwiddie to a minimum contract, Dallas improved significantly while remaining under the tax threshold—a notable achievement.
Had the Mavericks exceeded the $171 million tax line, they would have faced restrictions on signing players from the buyout market and limitations on trade flexibility. With limited draft capital available, staying under the first apron allows Dallas to retain some flexibility for potential trades during the season if needed.
Coming off their NBA Finals appearance, the Mavericks are clearly in win-now mode, especially with Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić both entering the final years of their contracts within the next two seasons. The new CBA heavily penalizes tax-paying teams, so Dallas made a strategic decision to enhance their roster while maintaining financial flexibility, preserving their long-term options as a relatively young team.
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