Some would say it’s too soon to call two days in, but I’m calling it–free agency was a bust for the Mavs. Sure, players like Lebron, Kevin Durant, and Dwayne Wade (not that we would want him) are still technically uncommitted, but there’s a pretty good idea of where they’ll wind up; and it’s not in Dallas. After deciding early on to not give Chandler Parsons a max contract, knowing it meant he would likely be with another team next year, Dallas set its sights on three guys: Hassan Whiteside, Mike Conley, and DeMar DeRozan.
All three will command max money on the market. DeRozan is probably the best individual player, but Conley and Whiteside play premium positions, point guard and center, respectively, which typically require inflated contracts, or “overpaying.” As of today, both DeRozan and Whiteside agreed in principle to resign with their current teams (nothing can be official until July 8), and that should surprise no one. NBA free agency rules are structured in a way that prefer the incumbent club. A player’s current team can offer a 5 year max deal, while other teams can only offer 4. With the projected salary cap over the next 5 years, that’s a difference of around $40M. That’s some serious coin–not sure I could turn it down either. As I write this, I just received notification that Conley received a 5 year max deal from Memphis. For realz.
You know who else went to Memphis? Chandler Parsons on a 4 year max. I’m sure that acquisition by the Griz weighed heavily into Conley’s decision. So yeah, it’s a bust.
The Mavs have a history of not being able to land the “big fish” in the Cuban era. I would define that individual as an elite free agent in the prime of his career. All the big names in Mavs’ recent history were drafted (Dirk and Nash) or acquired by trade (Finley, Terry, Marion, Kidd). Dallas has made pitches to free agents like Lebron, Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams, only to come up empty-handed each time. They were then forced to fill out their roster with the Darren Collisons, OJ Mayos, and Monta Ellises of the world. Good players, but not elite.
Three years ago, they landed their biggest catch to date in Chandler Parsons. Parsons wasn’t an elite player, but he was in his prime. And with the right coaching and some tutelage from Dirk, who knows… Unfortunately, Parsons didn’t live up to expectations here, mostly due to injury problems, which is why he wasn’t offered a max deal this year. In 2015, however, one of Chandler’s greatest off-the-court skills, recruiting, did play a significant role in securing a commitment from “the one who got away.”
After a lengthy courtship, filled with late night sushi, conference calls, Twitter mentions, and emoji-filled texts (mostly from Parsons), DeAndre Jordan agreed in principle to sign a max deal with the Mavs on July 3rd. They did it! They had finally convinced an elite FA to be a Maverick. After letting Tyson Chandler walk following the 2011 championship, they found the next franchise big man. There was much revelry in Big D. The future looked bright. But there was one problem: like I said earlier, signings don’t become official until July 8th. Over the next 5 days, the Clippers systematically turned Jordan’s heart back to LA, culminating in a July 7 quarantine of DJ in his own home by the Clips. Apparently, the night was filled with card games, music, cigars, drinks, and blocking any and all communication from Cuban and the Mavs. Parsons made one last ditch effort, flying out to Houston to try and see Jordan. He announced it with an emoji plane tweet, of course. Alas, it was all in vain, as Jordan signed a max deal with the Clippers on July 8. Once again, Cuban and Co. had failed to close the deal.
So what is it about this franchise that keeps the best players in the league from signing on? A franchise that hasn’t had a losing record in 16 years and missed the playoffs only once in that span. It obviously isn’t the lack of a winning culture or a proven track of success. It must be something intangible, a mental roadblock they can’t seem to get past. I have some ideas as to what it may be.
Them and Dirk isn’t enough.
He’s a sure fire hall-of-famer. The greatest European to play the game, and a revolutionary, archetyping the stretch 4. Despite winning an MVP, championship, and a finals MVP, free agents have seemingly decided that a team built around them and Dirk isn’t enough for a shot at a ring. One of those free agents, Chris Bosh, found out he was wrong in the most painful of ways–beaten by Nowitzki in the finals his first year with the Heat. Bosh had made the decision that joining Lebron and Wade in Miami gave him the best shot at a title. Anyone who is being honest with themselves would have done the same. I’m not sure this rationale held water for most of the last decade, but it’s hard to argue with now. Sadly, Dirk is still the best player on his team, while putting up some of the lowest numbers of his career. The front office has done very little, aside from whiff on free agents, to put a competitive team around the aging superstar.
Mark Cuban is perceived to be a jerk.
It’s hard to refute Mark’s claim that he’s the team’s #1 MFFL. Even if he weren’t the owner, you get the notion that he would be court side for every home game, decked out in Mavs merch and high-fiving fellow patrons. He is fiercely loyal to his own, and passionate about his team; but if you’re on the outside looking in, or God forbid a rival, he can be petty, insulting, and immature. Whether he’s bad-mouthing the refs after a loss, dumping on the city of San Antonio, mocking Jordan for the way things went down, or saying that Durant is the only “All-Star” on the Thunder (a slight to Westbrook), Cuban comes across as a jerk to many outside of Dallas, and even some within. And who wants to work for a jerk?
Leadership lacks diversity.
You can tell how much an organization values diversity by the makeup of its leadership. In basketball, that means the faces of the franchise. By default, the coach and star player are representatives of the team. In some cases, like in Dallas, the owner is also a very public figure. In a league that has been largely white owners and coaches and black players for the last 30 years, diversity in the front office is crucial to luring free agents. It shows the black players that they’re seen as more than just athletes, and have the opportunity to ascend to positions of influence in the organization, should they want that. In the Mavs’ organization, you have to get to the level of assistant coach before you find a non-white member in visible leadership. I’m not commenting on whether this measure is right or wrong, just or unjust. I’m simply saying it may be a factor in a league that’s looking to become more diverse at the highest levels.
Whatever the reason is: partnering with Dirk isn’t enough to contend, not wanting to work for Cuban, a lack of diversity in leadership, or any other hangup they’re trying to get past, one thing is obvious–elite free agents aren’t feeling the Mavs. And with the important role free agency plays in roster building today, they better figure out what the problem is, and change their vibe.
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