The Dallas Mavericks’ rebuild has begun as they enter the end of the Dirk Nowitzki era. The Mavs acquired Nerlens Noel from the Sixers at the trade deadline and can bring him back in restricted free agency. With only Nowitzki — a $25 million team option — Harrison Barnes, and Wesley Matthews making eight figures a year, Dallas enters this offseason with plenty of ammunition to try and accelerate their rebuild by acquiring top free agents.
Dallas won’t be the most enticing destination for players looking to win now, but they can offer plenty of money and have one of the league’s best coaches in Rick Carlisle. The Mavs will pick ninth in the NBA Draft and can likely find a quality player in what is considered a deep draft for the top 10 picks, and will also be able to make moves to open up even more cap space than they already have if there are multiple big money targets they want to go after.
Point guard is the position of most pressing need for the Mavs, and most mock drafts have had them focusing their efforts with the ninth pick on getting a one guard. However, Dallas will also be a contender for some of the top point guards on the free agency market, and, according to Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated, they might look to sign both of the Holiday brothers to bolster their backcourt.
The Dallas Mavericks have emerged as serious contenders to sign Jrue Holiday and his brother Justin, according to league sources.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 14, 2017
The Holiday brothers have strong interest to play together, per sources, and Justin played w/ Harrison Barnes on Warriors' 2015 title team.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 14, 2017
Jrue Holiday is, along with Kyle Lowry, George Hill, and Jeff Teague, one of the top point guards available on the market that most expect to seriously consider leaving their current situation. Holiday could re-sign with the Pelicans to continue playing with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but he will get serious offers from teams outside of New Orleans. Bringing in the Holiday boys as a package deal might be a good way to sweeten the pot for Jrue.
Justin Holiday has bounced around the NBA who has intrigued numerous teams — he’s been on five teams in four seasons — but last year with the Knicks was the first time he’s gotten consistent minutes. The younger Holiday brother averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 20 minutes per game with the Knicks, with a 43.3/35.5/82.5 shooting split. Holiday would come into Dallas as the third two-guard for the Mavs, behind Matthews and Seth Curry, but if this rumor is serious, it likely means DeAndre Liggins won’t be getting his team option picked up.
The real prize in a Holiday brothers combo signing is Jrue, who is one of the league’s best defensive point guards who is also an above average three-point shooter, with a career 36.6 percent shooting mark from distance. Jrue would give the Mavs an immediate and significant upgrade at point. The biggest concern with Holiday is his health, as he’s struggled with injuries since joining the Pelicans, never appearing in more than 67 games in a season. However, if he can stay healthy, Holiday would push forward the Mavs’ timeline to compete and would once again make them a potential contender for the bottom of the Western Conference Playoff race.
