National Basketball Association

5 Predictions for the 2016-17 Dallas Mavericks

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Deron Williams (8) shoots the ball in front of Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss (0) in the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

With another roster overhaul taking place in Dallas this summer, here are five predictions for the upcoming 2016-17 Dallas Mavericks.

Last year, Dallas defied odds once again by finishing 6th in the Western Conference after losing Chandler Parsons for the year. Dirk Nowitzki continued his normal ways and the Mavericks were one of the better surprises of the season.

After getting put out early to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas entered the summer with a plethora of questions to be answered.

Now the Mavs have answered those questions and enter the season in a similar spot as last year.

Bringing back the veteran core, the Mavs brought in two former champions, some youngsters and a Curry brother to help keep the Mavs contending in the West. Predictions are all over the place for the new-look Mavs, but I have my own predictions for this coming Mavs season.

Here are five predictions for the 2016-17 Dallas Mavericks.

Oct 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) watches his team take on the Charlotte Hornets during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

5.) Dirk Nowitzki Will Average Under 29 Minutes a Game

Last year, at 37 years old, Dirk averaged over 31 minutes a game as the big fella continued his Hall of Fame career.

The Mavericks probably would have loved to rest Nowitzki more throughout the season, but simply couldn’t due to scoring deficiencies and injuries across the roster. Due to the injuries to Parsons and Williams, along with Matthews recovery, Nowitzki was asked once again to lead the team in scoring.

For the first time since his rookie season, I predict Dirk will average less than 29 minutes.

Nowitzki is 38 years old entering the season and the Mavs can’t afford to ask him to log over 30 minutes a night still. Although his scoring will be needed, the Mavericks will hopefully make a conservative effort to lower his minutes this season.

Harrison Barnes will get minutes at the small ball four spot while Powell and Acy will log minutes at the four off the bench. Dallas has numerous options this year behind Nowitzki at the four.

Sept 11, 2016; Atlantic City, NJ, USA; Mark Cuban smiles as he heads out onto the red carpet before the Miss America 2017 pagent at the Boardwalk Hall. Mandatory credit: Thomas P. Costello/Asbury Park Press via USA TODAY NETWORK

4.) The Dallas Mavericks Will Make a Trade

The Mavericks have arguably the most aggressive owner and front office in the entire league. After the numerous home run swings in free agency and pulling the trigger on the Rajon Rondo trade a few winters ago, the Mavs have proved they are willing to take the risk.

Now the Mavs are trying to be as competitive as they can be in the last couple years of Dirk Nowitzki’s career. With a reloaded roster once again, the Mavs have put together a playoff worthy roster once again, but a roster that isn’t quite championship caliber.

This is why I think the Mavs will pull the trigger and make a trade this season.

They have the veteran, expiring contracts in Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut. They have draft picks. They have the young assets like Dwight Powell, Justin Anderson, and Seth Curry. They have the motive and the guts to make a trade.

If the right star hits the market, preferably a young point guard or center, Dallas could come calling with a nice package. But even if it’s not a big trade, I expect the Mavs to pull off a trade to help strengthen their push for the playoffs.

Oct 3, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots over Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the first half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

3.) The Dallas Mavericks Will Finish Top 5 in 3PA

The Golden State Warriors took the league by storm with their sharpshooting back court and small ball lineups. But what they punched the league in the mouth with was their three-point shooting.

Now, teams across the league are firing up three pointers at an astounding rate. Last year, the Mavericks finished 5th in the league in three-point attempts by attempting 2,342 shots from behind the arc.

To add to their push to shoot more three pointers, the Mavs went out this offseason with that agenda in mind. After adding Barnes, Curry, and even Quincy Acy, the Mavs literally have just a few players on the roster who can’t make an outside shot.

In almost every lineup Dallas will put on the floor, they will have at least four players who can hit the three at a high rate. They even have the flexibility to run Powell and Nowitzki at the five where all five players on the court can hit the outside shot.

With that being said, the Dallas Mavericks will once again finish top 5 in the NBA in three-point attempts.

Oct 14, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry (30) handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns in the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

2.) Seth Curry Will Finish the Season Averaging More Minutes Than Devin Harris

Last year, Devin Harris was 8th on the team in minutes behind guards Deron Williams, Raymond Felton, and J.J. Barea. Harris also missed 18 games in the regular season due to injuries.

Now Harris comes in fully healthy with the older vet in Felton being replaced by the younger Seth Curry in the rotation.

With Williams as the starter and Barea locked in as the first guard off the bench, this has naturally created a debate on who should log more minutes after that between Harris and Curry. Carlisle has to decide between the trusted veteran or the young Seth Curry.

Though it seems Harris has the early lead, I say Curry will finish the season averaging more minutes than Harris.

With Harris’ injury history and the injury history surrounding the other veterans in the backcourt, I think Curry will find his minutes throughout the season. I also believe the Mavericks will want to make an effort in developing their younger pieces as they try to help Curry take the next step in his career.

Curry will set a career high in both minutes averaged and points per game.

Oct 8, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle talks to his bench during the game with the Milwaukee Bucks at the Kohl Center. Milwaukee defeated Dallas 88-74. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

1.) The Dallas Mavericks Will Finish 6th in the Western Conference

After Kevin Durant chose Golden State, the Mavericks suddenly had life again as they capitalized by adding Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes. Dallas went from looking to tank, to building a competitive roster once again.

Now the Mavs have arguably built their best roster since their championship team. With a veteran core surrounding Nowitzki, Dallas filled out the rest of the roster with younger talent and potential.

With that being said, I say the Dallas Mavericks will finish 6th in the Western Conference.

A lot of this is banking on some good luck on the injury front in Dallas, but roster wise, the Mavericks can pull it off. Without going too much into the details, I believe the Mavericks did more than some of the other Western Conference teams over the offseason.

The top three of the conference is the same across the board. Then Utah will make their presumed jump in the standings and Memphis is back healthy. After that, the Mavericks will ride their defense and three-point shooting to the sixth seed.