NBA Season Preview 2018-19: The Dallas Mavericks transition to a new era

Twenty years ago, Don Nelson and the Mavericks had an incredible offseason. With the No. 8 pick in the draft, they selected Dirk Nowitzki, a 7-foot tall prospect from Germany, while trading for the No. 15 pick in the 1996 draft, Steve Nash. Those two moves would establish a foundation for a franchise that would eventually make two Finals appearances, winning one, over the next two decades.

While Steve Nash was inducted into the Hall of Fame this offseason, the Mavericks had another incredible offseason. With the No. 5 pick, there was little chance for the Mavericks to acquire the player they wanted, Luka Dončić, a talented 18-year-old wing from Slovenia. However, they were able to negotiate a trade with the Hawks, sending Atlanta Trae Young, whom they selected with their first-round pick and the Mavericks 2019 first round pick. Once the offseason began, they were able to sign DeAndre Jordan, a veteran center with a reputation as a valuable defender and physical interior presence on offense.

While their 1998 draft pick is still on the active roster and remains the face of the franchise, the Nowitzki era is coming to a close in Dallas, while the Dončić era is beginning. There is a new energy around the franchise as the season begins, with some analysts picking them to make the playoffs. While the odds of them making the playoffs are incredibly difficult, they do seem poised to reverse the downhill slide they have been on for the last few seasons.

What lies ahead for the Mavericks this season? Their priority should be transitioning to the new era of Mavericks basketball. With Dennis Smith Jr. and Dončić on board, they can take regain an advantage over teams with the small-ball lineups that their head coach Rick Carlisle has been using against the league for years. J.J. Barea is still capable of getting buckets, Devin Harris is a veteran presence off the bench, and Wes Matthews Jr is a veteran that is going to grind every single day. Harrison Barnes can help teach the young players what a championship squad does, and help ease some of the offensive burden they may be expected to carry.

With Dončić, the Mavericks have one of the most promising young players to join the NBA in years. He has racked up tons of awards before arriving in the NBA, having started for Real Madrid before entering the NBA Draft. His passing vision, shooting, size, ballhandling, and leadership are head and shoulders above his peers, and his addition to the roster likely makes him a higher priority to have the ball in their hands than their 2017 first round pick, Smith Jr.

The Mavericks added Jordan in the offseason, which gives Smith Jr and Dončić an elite lob threat for the pick and roll offense Carlisle likes to run. While Nowitzki is playing at the age of 40, he’s still able to shoot over 38 percent from behind the arc, and there may not be a better player to learn from on how to play with a big that can stretch the floor.

Dončić may not be able to deliver a playoff berth for the Mavericks this season, but the skills and habits he learns this season could prove valuable for the next 20 years for the team.

Who knows, perhaps in 20 years, Dončić will be able to help introduce the Mavericks to their next superstar.