I am writing this under assumptions that Mavs won't win the series against Phoenix. I hope I am wrong.
Looking at the basic goal of winning a first round series, the team was successful. Other than that I was not impressed. Another two team building windows went by with Mavs standing pat or not improving the team other than improving around the edges. Max cap space and result was a big contract for THJ who doesn't fit well with Luka, Brown which was a total miss and a good signing in Bullock. Sure they moved on from KP at TDL, but on court value of players received doesn't look good in the playoffs. So we will have to see if their increased flexibility that was highlighted so strongly will actually bring something or will we be looking at basically same team in October after a 7th consecutive window.
I don't agree they figured out Green. He brought some energy in the regular season, but totally dissapeared in playoffs. He has zero attempts in 22 minutes against Phoenix. He plays defense and provides big energy, but he is awful on the offensive end. Are we really sure Mavs found a secondary creator next to Luka. Sure Mavs don't have much choice but resign Brunson, but are we really sure Luka-Brunson can ever be good enough to seriously contend. I am pretty sure Mavs will need to overpay to keep Brunson in the bird rights trap they are in. Unless of course he will improve a lot in next years.
Defense has improved a lot, but has been not successful against Phoenix. A small sample to figure out reasons for me, but things to consider could be overload due to heavy minutes in the first round, inexperience, Phoenix better coached or just not strong enough roster.
The management divorces were not pretty. Carlisle is more or less blamed for most of the problems from past season, which is not a nice thing to do to a coach you had employed for 117 years. Creating myths like KP and Brunson were held back by him against Clippers last year and similar. Donnie divorce is horrible big time. Something which is really difficult to understand how this people worked so closely for 222 years to be able to sunk so low after the divorce. Something is seriously wrong with the organization culture and I am far from convinced that anything has really changed.
Personally I want the team to be ambitious. Mavs act like they are, which I like. Problem is, they never seem to execute. Not even once in 6 consecutive windows. I am sure Wright was nowhere near plan A in 2019 and Bullock was nowhere near plan A in 2021. In a player driven league the key is not only in executing the opportunity but also in creating one. I didn't have a feeling Mavs were actually taken serious at any point by the players Mavs more or less openly targeted and planned for in last three years (Giannis, Kemba, Lowry,...).
Mavs owe only one pick in next 8 years, have a large spectre of different contracts so I would never be satisfied with an offseason where career reserve like Hartenstein is the main improvement. Btw - time to get Hartenstein was last two seasons, not now. Now he will be paid. Smart team signed him for this season and got great value from him, imho.
I think Mavs have a short window. Looking at current roster, Brunson, Luka and Green are the only three rotation players that wont be 30 or older next season. So you have about 2-3 seasons to add to this core and make them a contender. Since days of cap space are gone for several years to come and since draft picks will likely have low probability to add significant talent, trades are the only realistic way to make that happen.
Speaking of assets, Mavs owe only 1 pick in next 8 years, which means they can offer even 4 picks on draft night if right opportunity comes. They lack a high upside youngster on a rookie deal (I doubt Green has much of a value), but have a wide portfolio of contracts to offer. They have THJ and Dinwiddie who could be considered starters in right situations and have around neutral contracts. Powell and Maxi are on expiring deals and I would look hard for players that would improve what they bring. Bullock is also expiring if one wants (or cost controlled for two years) and he has very nice playoffs. So Mavs have plenty of ammo to construct an offer for good players. Perhaps not best superstars, but a tier or two below that is totally feasible.
I expect Mavs to remain ambitious, but the jury is out if the new FO will actually be able to first create (convince player he wants to be in Dallas) and later execute a deal. Are we finally going to see some serious upgrade of the talent level? Doesn't have to be top tier player, just a solid two way player capable of playing defense and creating for himself. Or will we just be entitled to read how Mavs want to bring (for example) Lillard who will be traded to team X of his choosing a week or two later? Again...
Looking at the basic goal of winning a first round series, the team was successful. Other than that I was not impressed. Another two team building windows went by with Mavs standing pat or not improving the team other than improving around the edges. Max cap space and result was a big contract for THJ who doesn't fit well with Luka, Brown which was a total miss and a good signing in Bullock. Sure they moved on from KP at TDL, but on court value of players received doesn't look good in the playoffs. So we will have to see if their increased flexibility that was highlighted so strongly will actually bring something or will we be looking at basically same team in October after a 7th consecutive window.
I don't agree they figured out Green. He brought some energy in the regular season, but totally dissapeared in playoffs. He has zero attempts in 22 minutes against Phoenix. He plays defense and provides big energy, but he is awful on the offensive end. Are we really sure Mavs found a secondary creator next to Luka. Sure Mavs don't have much choice but resign Brunson, but are we really sure Luka-Brunson can ever be good enough to seriously contend. I am pretty sure Mavs will need to overpay to keep Brunson in the bird rights trap they are in. Unless of course he will improve a lot in next years.
Defense has improved a lot, but has been not successful against Phoenix. A small sample to figure out reasons for me, but things to consider could be overload due to heavy minutes in the first round, inexperience, Phoenix better coached or just not strong enough roster.
The management divorces were not pretty. Carlisle is more or less blamed for most of the problems from past season, which is not a nice thing to do to a coach you had employed for 117 years. Creating myths like KP and Brunson were held back by him against Clippers last year and similar. Donnie divorce is horrible big time. Something which is really difficult to understand how this people worked so closely for 222 years to be able to sunk so low after the divorce. Something is seriously wrong with the organization culture and I am far from convinced that anything has really changed.
Personally I want the team to be ambitious. Mavs act like they are, which I like. Problem is, they never seem to execute. Not even once in 6 consecutive windows. I am sure Wright was nowhere near plan A in 2019 and Bullock was nowhere near plan A in 2021. In a player driven league the key is not only in executing the opportunity but also in creating one. I didn't have a feeling Mavs were actually taken serious at any point by the players Mavs more or less openly targeted and planned for in last three years (Giannis, Kemba, Lowry,...).
Mavs owe only one pick in next 8 years, have a large spectre of different contracts so I would never be satisfied with an offseason where career reserve like Hartenstein is the main improvement. Btw - time to get Hartenstein was last two seasons, not now. Now he will be paid. Smart team signed him for this season and got great value from him, imho.
I think Mavs have a short window. Looking at current roster, Brunson, Luka and Green are the only three rotation players that wont be 30 or older next season. So you have about 2-3 seasons to add to this core and make them a contender. Since days of cap space are gone for several years to come and since draft picks will likely have low probability to add significant talent, trades are the only realistic way to make that happen.
Speaking of assets, Mavs owe only 1 pick in next 8 years, which means they can offer even 4 picks on draft night if right opportunity comes. They lack a high upside youngster on a rookie deal (I doubt Green has much of a value), but have a wide portfolio of contracts to offer. They have THJ and Dinwiddie who could be considered starters in right situations and have around neutral contracts. Powell and Maxi are on expiring deals and I would look hard for players that would improve what they bring. Bullock is also expiring if one wants (or cost controlled for two years) and he has very nice playoffs. So Mavs have plenty of ammo to construct an offer for good players. Perhaps not best superstars, but a tier or two below that is totally feasible.
I expect Mavs to remain ambitious, but the jury is out if the new FO will actually be able to first create (convince player he wants to be in Dallas) and later execute a deal. Are we finally going to see some serious upgrade of the talent level? Doesn't have to be top tier player, just a solid two way player capable of playing defense and creating for himself. Or will we just be entitled to read how Mavs want to bring (for example) Lillard who will be traded to team X of his choosing a week or two later? Again...