NBA Free Agency: Mavs Top Target Bruce Brown Signs with Pacers

JUNE 30 MAVS STRIKEOUT; BRUCE BROWN SIGNS WITH PACERS — First reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews, free agent wing Bruce Brown has agreed to a two-year, $45 million deal with the Indiana Pacers. 

Brown, who was reported to be Dallas' top target and was scheduled to meet with the Mavericks on Friday, got a deal from Indiana that surpassed the $12.4 million dollar Mid-Level Exception that the Mavs could offer. 

Dallas must now pivot to Plan B to utilize their MLE to provide a starting-level defensive minded player such as Grant Williams or Donte DiVencenzo to put alongside Luka Doncic. 

JUNE 30 MAVS SHOWING ‘RESTRAINT’ WITH KYRIE NEGOTIATIONS? — According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Kyrie Irving is attempting to create a free agency market for himself ahead of the official opening, but the Dallas Mavericks are going to "show some restraint" and "discipline" when making an offer to him.

Although it makes sense for the Mavs to avoid bidding against themselves, they must also be careful not to offend Irving with a lowball offer that will make him want to go elsewhere. Dallas trades Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick for Irving, so it would probably be in the team’s best interest to keep him around longer than just 20 games at the end of the 2022-23 season.

JUNE 29 SIXERS TRADING HARDEN; MAVS FIT? — Will the news on James Harden's offseason plan to exit the Philadelphia 76ers create a domino effect that might lead to the Dallas Mavs losing Kyrie Irving?

We know about Harden picking up his $35.6 million player option with the Philadelphia, with the two sides already mapping out a trade. (The Clippers and New York Knicks are getting mentioned as likely suitors.) We also know that Irving is a free agent who the Mavs have full intent of retaining ... even as there are some wonky rumors about him making visits. (Example: It seems the Kyrie-to-Suns thing is bogus.)

The idea of Harden finding his way to Dallas seems unrealistic, given his preferences, but the idea of Irving making his way to another Eastern Conference contender with the reigning MVP Joel Embiid? That could make some sense, and the Mavs could benefit from some three or four-team trade scenarios if Irving decides that he likes Philly.

JUNE 29 MAVS A TOP SUITOR FOR BRUCE BROWN? — When free agency opens on Friday evening, the Dallas Mavericks are one of the first teams that will meet with Denver Nuggets ‘glue guy’ Bruce Brown.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Brown intends to meet with several teams in free agency after free agency opens on June 30, with the Mavs being among the teams that will meet with him.

"Bruce Brown intends to meet with the Mavs soon after the opening of free agency," MacMahon wrote. "Brown is expected to have several suitors and has not ruled out a return to Denver despite the financial constraints. His market is $12.4M midlevel but Nuggets are limited to $7.8M."

Given that the Mavs lost their own glue guy in Dorian Finney-Smith during the Kyrie Irving trade, adding Brown into the mix could make a big difference next season as they attempt to get back to the playoffs.

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