Post-NBA Free Agency power rankings

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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Dennis Smith Jr. walks on stage with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted ninth overall by the Dallas Mavericks during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks

West, Southwest

The Dallas Mavericks have been very quiet in free agency this summer. They did bring back future Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki for what will be his 20th season with the team. Dallas also seems to have made a wise selection in the 2017 NBA Draft by taking point guard Dennis Smith No. 9 overall out of North Carolina State.

However, Dallas is in rebuilding mode and that’s a terrible competitive life cycle to be in the Wild, Wild West. The conferences have never been more lopsided with most of the game’s best players and teams residing west of the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, Dallas is not one of them.

The Mavericks are one of a few teams in the West that would be a total shocker to reach the NBA Playoffs. Their years of getting that sixth through eighth seed and losing in the first round are long gone.

That being said, it’s not all lost for the Mavericks. Smith could be a great pick for them at No. 9. Point guard Yogi Ferrell showed great promise as a rookie. Assuming the Mavericks re-sign center Nerlens Noel in his restricted free agency, that wouldn’t be a bad move for the Mavericks. They also have Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews out on the wing. In the Eastern Conference, this might be a playoff team, but certainly not in the West, that’s for sure.

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