3 players the Mavs can add not named Kyrie Irving or Draymond Green

No. 1 player Dallas Mavericks can add: Dillon Brooks

The 2023 NBA playoffs were not great for Dillon Brooks’ reputation, but at this point public opinion has probably shifted too far in the wrong direction. Brooks is not perfect by any stretch, but he made the All-Defensive team for a reason and he can absolutely help a team win games.

Dallas was one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last season, especially after trading Dorian Finney-Smith at the deadline. Adding Brooks’ kinetic energy and relentless effort to the wing rotation would help immensely. Brooks is capable of digging in and stopping the league’s best players at the point of attack. He shouldn’t have smack-talked LeBron, but Brooks walks the walk on defense more often than not. His strength and anticipation skills are next level.

The offensive fit is murkier. Brooks loves to dribble into contested jumpers he has no business taking, but there were times where Memphis really needed him to operate as a secondary shot-creator and source of halfcourt offense. That won’t really be the case in Dallas with Doncic and Irving running the show. Brooks can focus on spot-up 3s and backdoor cuts.

Brooks is generally a below-average 3-point shooter but he averaged 6.0 attempts per game last season, so the volume is there. He could increase that volume even more with smarter shot selection in Dallas. His 49.4 TS% is ghastly, but the Mavs are better positioned than most teams to get the most out of Brooks’ strengths while mitigating his weaknesses. Plus, Dallas just needs some fighters. Brooks fights.