The Mavericks are heading into their first regular-season game tomorrow against the Houston Rockets still searching for answers from deep. Their preseason numbers told the story: Dallas hit just 32.4 percent of its 3-pointers, which ranked 26th in the NBA, even while hoisting 43.3 attempts per game, fifth-most in the league.
That kind of volume is a big shift from last season, but the results still leave the roster looking thin on reliable shooting. With that in mind, the timing of Dalton Knecht’s exit from the Lakers stands out.
Los Angeles moved on from Knecht after only two seasons, and Dallas should have a hard look at him as a possible fit for its final roster spot. The Mavericks already opened up a two-way spot over the weekend when they waived John Poulakidas, one of the better volume shooters on the team, so there is room to make a move.
Knecht’s time with the Lakers showed enough to believe there’s real value there. In Los Angeles, he averaged 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 36.8 percent from three on 3.4 attempts per game. As a rookie, he was even more productive, putting up 9.1 points per game and hitting 37.6 percent from deep on 4.4 attempts per game.
He also carved out a real role in JJ Redick’s rotation, appearing in 78 games and starting 16. That kind of consistency matters, because it gave him a foundation as a bench scorer who can stretch the floor and punish teams when they lose track of him.
His ceiling showed up in a huge way during that rookie season. Knecht dropped 37 points and went 9-for-12 from three in his fourth career start, and that burst came right after a 27-point game against the New Orleans Pelicans. That’s the kind of shot-making that makes him more than just another name on a list.
The larger case for Dallas is obvious. The team needs more shooting around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, and Knecht fits that need as a proven perimeter threat who can move without the ball. Over 16 starts as a rookie, he averaged 16.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 39.5 percent from three on 7.8 attempts per game.
He’s also shown he can get hot in a hurry. Across his first two seasons, he has made 5-plus 3-pointers nine different times, which is exactly the kind of floor-spacing punch Dallas could use.
The Mavericks have already taken multiple low-risk swings on slept-on former first-round picks this offseason, including Zaccharie Risacher, Jett Howard, and Marcus Sasser. Adding Knecht on a two-way deal would fit that same approach, giving him a chance to rebuild confidence in the G League while competing for a more permanent spot.
For Dallas, it comes back to one thing: getting enough shooting on the floor to help the offense breathe. Knecht has the shot-making, the range, and the movement to make that happen, and he also brings experience playing alongside star talent from his time with Luka Doncic and LeBron James. That kind of background could matter in a lineup built around Irving and Flagg, where off-ball work and quick decisions will matter every night.
In Other News...
Dwight Powells Mavericks Run Is Over And Fans Want Answers
Dwight Powells long Mavericks run has come to an end, and for a player who spent years as one of the more familiar faces on the roster, the timing made the news land with a little extra weight. Dallas waived Powell along with guards Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, closing the book on a tenure that saw Powell become one of the franchises steadiest presences and a part of multiple playoff pushes.
Dusty May praised Powells professionalism and the way he contributed to the team, which only sharpened the sense that this was a meaningful move rather than a routine roster shuffle. Powell ranks fifth in team history in games played, so any exit like this naturally invites questions about what comes next for the frontcourt and how the Mavericks are shaping their depth chart as they keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Make A Surprising Guard Move Right Before Opening Night
Just before opening night, the Mavericks added another young guard to a roster that is still taking shape around rookie Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. Walter Clayton Jr., a former first-round NBA draft pick and the 2025-26 NCAA mens basketball national champion, is heading to Dallas on a two-way deal after his time with the Memphis Grizzlies ended.
The fit also comes with a familiar face. Clayton is reuniting with coach Dusty May, who once recruited him in college, giving the Mavericks a connection point as they keep sorting out the back end of a rebuilding roster. For a team looking for upside and flexibility, Clayton arrives with a fresh opportunity and a chance to make the most of a late move before the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Take A Needed Backcourt Flier Behind Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks added another name to the backcourt mix by bringing in Walter Clayton Jr. on a two-way deal, a move that gives them a little more insulation behind Kyrie Irving. Clayton arrives with a reputation for playmaking and enough promise from his college run to make him an intriguing depth piece, especially for a roster that can never really have too many ball-handlers when the games tighten up.
For Dallas, the appeal is in the possibility, not the certainty. Clayton is still in the early part of his pro career, but the Mavericks clearly see a chance to develop a guard who can handle some point-guard duties and give the team another option when Irving needs help or rest. To clear the way, the front office made a corresponding roster move, underscoring how small margins can be when a team is trying to shore up its bench. [Read more 🡒]