18. Dallas Mavericks
The Dirk Nowitzki era has officially come to a close in Dallas, but luckily for Mavs fans, a wonderful new era is beginning – the Luka Doncic era.
Doncic is already one of the best players in the league, and he’s only 20 years old. I know Trae Young is good, but it’s absolutely absurd that the Hawks passed up a chance to build around Doncic. My guess: Atlanta will regret that decision in a few years when Doncic is hoisting the MVP trophy.
Thanks to a blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks, the Mavs have now paired up Doncic with one of the best young big men in the league, Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis is coming off a major injury, so health is a legitimate concern. 7’3″ dudes don’t always have the healthiest of bodies. If Porzingis can stay healthy, though, the Mavs will have one of the best teams in the league for the next five years or so.
You need at least two stars to be competitive in today’s NBA, and the Mavs have their two stars.