Tarik Biberovic didn’t make the jump to the NBA on a whim. He had options before this, and more than one path to leave Europe for the league was sitting there over the last few years. Even with the Memphis Grizzlies holding his draft rights, getting to Dallas was the cleaner move once the Mavericks got involved.
The Mavericks landed those rights in the trade that also brought in Santi Aldama, then signed Biberovic to a two-year, $6 million deal with a team option on the second season. For a player who ended up paying more than $1 million for his buyout, the timing mattered.
“Well, I feel myself marinated. I had the opportunity also last year, but I actually gave up a lot to be here," Biberovic said after practice on Friday.
He said the chance to come over had been there before, and so had interest from other NBA teams, but he believed this was the right moment to take the leap.
"I had very good opportunities, like back over there, also from different NBA teams. But me personally... I feel I’m ready for this challenge, because mentally I’m way more mature, and I know how to be on the court, and I’ll give my best to earn every single minute of it.”
The shot is still the calling card. That’s the label that follows him, and he knows it. But Biberovic also understands that being known as a shooter only gets you so far once the games start counting.
“Everybody knows I came here as a shooter, but to stay on the court you have to do multiple things. Obviously, it’s an everyday fight,” Biberovic also said.
“We’re here together to make each other better, but still you’re competing every single day, and that’s the beauty of it. Me personally, I have a good size, and I’m trying to bring the physicality, defense, rebounding, high energy, and also basketball IQ.”
That part has already caught the attention of Dusty May. The Mavericks’ new head coach said Biberovic’s work on that end has stood out early.
“I think his defense has been probably a little bit further along than I anticipated. Just getting him more acclimated, playing off of his teammates, we’re much less structured, per se, than his past team," May said.
Dallas brought him in with a clear need in mind. Last season, the Mavericks were one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the NBA, and Biberovic’s reputation as a shooter fits that problem neatly. Still, if he can add passing and hold up defensively, he could make the battle at shooting guard interesting.
Max Christie is still the favorite to start there, but Biberovic’s overseas experience and the spacing of an NBA offense could work in his favor. Zaccharie Risacher is also part of that mix, and Biberovic has a real chance to push for minutes if he brings more than just the jumper.
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Daniel Gafford Could Change The Mavericks Offense In One Unexpected Way
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For the Mavericks, the appeal is obvious. If Gafford can become even a occasional threat from deep, it would open up more room for Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving to work with in the halfcourt, stretching defenses in a way Dallas has not been able to count on from its front line. The idea is still in the early stages, but it is the kind of small tactical shift that can change how an offense feels, especially when it comes from a player who has rarely been asked to do it before. [Read more 🡒]
Santi Aldama Could Be More Important To Dallas Than Fans Realize
Santi Aldamas arrival in Dallas has already carried a little extra meaning beyond the transaction itself. The Mavericks picked him up in the six-team deal with Memphis, and for a player who recently became a father, the move also put him in position to start a new chapter with a team that has welcomed him into a familiar Spanish connection through Sergio de Larrea. Aldama has sounded genuinely pleased to be in Dallas, and the Mavericks have taken a patient approach as he settles in.
What makes his early days with the team worth watching is the balance between what Dallas hopes he can eventually add and the fact that he is still working back into rhythm. The Mavericks are managing his recovery carefully in camp, and his availability will remain a talking point as they figure out how quickly he can become part of their rotation plans. For a team that values versatility, Aldama is one of those additions whose impact may not show up right away, but could matter more once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Get An Early Test Against A Rockets Team Loaded With Options
The preseason trip to Macao gives Dallas an early look at a Houston roster built around options, uncertainty and a few key names working their way back. The NBA China Games will pair the Mavericks and Rockets in a setting that is more about evaluation than the standings, with Houston expected to use the games to sort through lineup possibilities and rotation pieces while welcoming back players from ACL injuries.
For Dallas, the bigger value may come in the information it collects than the result itself. Dusty May framed the matchup as a chance to learn, which fits a preseason environment where the focus is on fit, health and combinations rather than the final score, especially against a Rockets group with plenty to sort through before the games begin to matter. [Read more 🡒]