NBA: 5 teams that could make a big jump in 2018-19

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DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 29: Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on November 29, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks

2017-18: Record: 24-58

Key offseason acquisitions: DeAndre Jordan, Luka Doncic

Losses from 2017-18: Seth Curry, Nerlens Noel

After two years of tanking, the Dallas Mavericks look to return to winning ways in 2018-19. Having the Mavs on this list might be a reach but after only winning 24 games last season, I expect that number to jump way up this upcoming season. This doesn’t mean that the Mavs are a bonafide Western Conference playoff team, but my guess is that the Mavs have the talent and coaching to make a run at approaching 40 wins this year.

What the Mavericks did this offseason was add at positions where they lost players, but in doing so made themselves a lot better. Inserting a former all-star and Olympic Gold Medalist in Deandre Jordan at center, replacing Dwight Powell, Nerlens Noel and Salah Mejri is a huge win. Adding Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson via the draft and letting Seth Curry go was also very smart.

What Doncic and Jordan bring to the Mavs are two players, one veteran and one young playmaker, that the Mavericks desperately needed. The Mavericks needed another good shooting, playmaking guard next to starting point guard Dennis Smith Jr.

Smith Jr., in his rookie year, showed that he is a star in the making last season averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game. Next to Smith Jr., Doncic will have the ability to adapt to the NBA game and be able to make plays both on and off the ball. Getting these two young guards back-to-back years in the draft has got to make the Mavericks excited about the upcoming year.

After the hilarious 2015 “Emoji kidnapping” performed by the Los Angeles Clippers to keep Deandre Jordan in a clips uniform, and out of a Mavs one, owner Mark Cuban finally got his guy. Deandre is still only 29 years old and is coming off a year in which he averaged 12 points and 15.3 rebounds per game on 64.5 percent shooting. He will be a great addition in the middle for a Mavs team that has been devoid of a true center since losing Tyson Chandler.

Along with incumbent leading scorer in Harrison Barnes and legend Dirk Nowitzki, who still averaged 12 points a game last year in 24.7 minutes, the Mavs have good scoring all around and a coach in Rick Carlisle who knows how to win. I expect the Mavs to make a big leap next year and potentially contend for a playoff spot in a crowded western conference.

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