3 defensive-minded free agents Dallas should be watching closely in the playoffs

It was a tough year for the Dallas Mavericks, and one of the primary reasons for that was the lack of personnel on the defensive end.

They struggled to defend all year long and need to address that this offseason by adding pieces on that side of things. Though they won’t have the most spending money and have some decisions to make elsewhere with players like Kyrie Irving, they have to prioritize getting stronger defensively to get back on the right track next season. With that said, let us look at three possible soon-to-be free agents they should monitor in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

1. Donte DiVincenzo, Golden State Warriors

After dealing with injuries over the prior two seasons, Donte DiVincenzo signed a “prove it deal” with the Golden State Warriors. The guard quickly proved to be a great fit due to his intensity on the defensive end and sweet 3-point shooting. Once this season concludes, DiVincenzo will have a player option worth $4.7 million, which he could surely decline. If so, the Mavericks must make an extremely hard run at him to shore up their defensive personnel in the backcourt.

DiVincenzo would be a seamless fit in Dallas, giving the team a two-guard who can play alongside Luka Doncic with ease. DiVincenzo would bring some energy to the defensive end and would take pressure off of Doncic and potentially Kyrie Irving on that side of things. Offensively, the guard has turned into a solid shooter over the past few years and would thrive off of the open looks created by the Mavericks’ backcourt. In short, his two-way play would be a big boost.

DiVincenzo and the reigning champions are set to take on the Sacramento Kings in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, and the Mavericks should keep an eye on DiVincenzo in that series closely.