The NBA’s market for free-agent point guards is about to get weird.
Exhibit A: The Dallas Mavericks.
Long considered a primary destination for the bigger names like Jrue Holiday, George Hill, Kyle Lowry and Jeff Teague, Dallas is officially out of the running for an expensive floor general after drafting NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr. on Thursday night. And this isn’t speculation. Donnie Nelson, the general manager, said as much, per ESPN.com’s Tim MacMahon:
Donnie Nelson says Dennis Smith Jr. pick eliminates need for Mavs to target PG in free agency.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 23, 2017
This totally tracks. The Mavericks aren’t exactly rebuilding, but it would be foolish to spend $20-plus million per year on a player who is best suited at your top prospect’s best position. Rolling forward with Yogi Ferrell, Seth Curry and J.J. Barea is fine, particularly when Dirk Nowitzki and Harrison Barnes can both create their own shot.
On the macro front, the Mavericks aren’t alone in removing themselves from the hunt for point guards in free agency. The Philadelphia 76ers are no longer expected to use their cap space on a floor general after getting Markelle Fultz at No. 1, and the Sacramento Kings now have their guy after landing De’Aaron Fox at No. 5.
There will still be more than a few teams willing to pay the likes of Holiday, Lowry, Teague, Hill, etc. But their leverage in negotiations isn’t what it was a couple of weeks ago.
Or even 48 hours ago.
