The Mavericks got a hard reminder Monday night in Sacramento: when the 3-point shot goes missing, the whole offense starts to shrink.
Dallas went just 7-of-33 from deep against the Kings without Kyrie Irving. Strip out breakout guard Walter Clayton Jr., and that number falls to 3-of-28. That kind of perimeter output simply won’t cut it for a team trying to look dangerous on offense, and it gave Sacramento exactly what it wanted - a chance to crowd the paint, load up on Cooper Flagg, and dare Dallas to beat them from the outside.
That’s why Santi Aldama’s return looms so large.
The Mavericks need his shooting, and they need it badly. Every game he misses only makes the problem more obvious.
Right now, Dallas doesn’t have a center rotation that can stretch the floor with any consistency. Daniel Gafford did knock down the first 3-pointer of his career earlier this season, but he and Morez Johnson Jr. are still much more known for what they do around the rim than for anything beyond it.
That leaves the frontcourt offense looking cramped and predictable. Even with increased volume, the results haven’t followed.
Outside of Kyrie, Dallas’ top six 3-point shooters by volume are all under 30 percent from beyond the arc. The shots are going up, but the spacing still isn’t where it needs to be.
Aldama changes that equation.
Last season, he shot 35 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game. He had nine games with at least three made triples, and he even buried seven threes against the Utah Jazz last December. That kind of range matters because it forces defenses to make a choice, and Aldama gives Dallas a real answer on the perimeter.
His presence would open the floor for both Flagg and Irving. If defenders have to stay honest with Aldama, rim protectors can’t just sit in the paint and wait. That should mean cleaner driving lanes and better looks inside the arc for Dallas’ best shot creators.
And Aldama brings more than just shooting. He can play power forward or center, move the ball, attack closeouts, finish around the basket, and rebound on both ends. He plays with energy, something the Mavericks could have used after how flat they looked against the Kings.
Dallas is trying to build on the offensive rhythm that helped it win three straight last week, but the Kings game showed how fragile that can be without enough spacing. Aldama’s return is listed as questionable for Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs as he continues working back from knee surgery in March, and Dusty May has said multiple times that his return is on the horizon.
The Mavericks have been waiting for him, and the need only grows with each loss. Quietly, he may have been their biggest offseason addition. Now the shooting, spacing, and fluidity he can bring back to the lineup feel more important than ever.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Trade Noise Is Colliding With Dallas Bigger Decision
With the Mavericks off to a strong start, the chatter around Kyrie Irving has only grown louder, but the teams stance has stayed firm. NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Dallas has no intention of moving Irving this season and is not entertaining trade inquiries, even as outside speculation continues to swirl around his future.
Irving is in the final guaranteed year of his contract, which naturally invites questions about what comes next, especially with other teams keeping an eye on the situation. But the Mavericks have been clear that he is not available, and Irving has also expressed a desire to stay in Dallas, leaving the bigger decision to play out without any sign the front office is ready to budge. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Just Got A Harsh Look At Life Without Kyrie
The Mavericks got a blunt reminder of how much their offense leans on Kyrie Irving in a 115-100 loss to Sacramento, a game that turned quickly once Dallas was forced to play without its lead guard. The Kings were still searching for their first win of the season and found it behind rookie Darius Acuff, who put together a lively all-around showing with 25 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Dallas had some resistance from Daniel Gafford and Walter Clayton Jr., who finished with 20 points apiece, but the night became even more difficult when Max Christie was hurt and could not return. With the Mavericks already short-handed, the injury only added to the sense that this was a game they never quite had the pieces to steady, and it leaves another layer to sort through as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Just Got Another Backcourt Concern They Could Not Afford
The Mavericks backcourt took another hit Monday night when Max Christie exited the game against the Sacramento Kings with a right hip injury and did not return. Christie was on the floor for about eight minutes before leaving, and Dallas had to shuffle its rotation again in response to the injury situation already hanging over the roster.
Christie missed all of his shots in the brief outing, finishing with two rebounds, one steal and one turnover before Walter Clayton Jr. stepped in for him. For a team already trying to piece together guard minutes around other injured players, any added concern in the backcourt is one Dallas could hardly afford. [Read more 🡒]