Fans say things are looking up for the Mavericks
This week’s internal poll here at Mavs Moneyball focused on the start of free agency and NBA Summer League. The National poll looked at free agency around the NBA.
Our first question had to do with new Dallas Maverick D’Angelo Russell.
The vast majority of fans are happy with the signing and I think I am as well, even if I really don’t care for him as a player. Given the options, I’d rather have him than be forced to root for Chris Paul. Hating Chris Paul has been a 20 year experience I have no desire to change now.
The second question revolved around NBA Summer League.
Two in three fans said yes, they’d be watching. To the other third: WHY AREN’T YOU WATCHING?! You can get an early look at the FanDuel favorite to win NBA Rookie of the Year in Cooper Flagg (currently -180).
The national poll looked at two things. The first was which player signed would have the biggest impact.
New Milwaukee Buck Myles Turner won the plurality of votes, at 39%. Kind of surprising to me given how weird the Bucks are and how bad Turner was in the NBA Finals. Russell took second place.
The second question had to do with which team had the best start to free agency.
Dallas eeked out the Atlanta Hawks and there must be more Mavs fans participating in this poll than I thought. Dallas has had a fine start, I guess, but the Hawks changed their team in a ton of key ways.
If anything, these polls are a reminder that the best teams aren’t built through free agency at all. It’s through draft and development. Free agency can help close some gaps, but for the most part, the moves made at the start of the NBA’s business year do not move the needle for teams.