What Can Chicago Bulls Management Learn from the Dallas Mavericks?

The Dallas Mavericks clinched the 2024 Western Conference Championship with a 4-1 series victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. How the Mavericks managed their organization dating back to last season en route to their latest conference championship should serve as a case study for Chicago Bulls' ownership and front-office leadership on how to lead an NBA franchise to competitive success.

As a preface, it should be noted that the Mavericks established the foundation of this season's success in 2018 by drafting All-NBA superstar Luka Doncic . Here's a recap of the Mavericks' organizational moves dating back to the 2022-23 campaign that set them up for NBA championship contention.

Attitude Toward the NBA Play-in Tournament

In retrospect, the Dallas Mavericks' journey to the 2024 NBA Finals started (ironically) against the Chicago Bulls in a late-regular season game on April 7, 2023. In that contest, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd executed an " organizational decision " to not play Luka Doncic beyond the first quarter of the game while benching four regular rotational players.

This organizational decision in the short term cost the Mavericks a $750,000 fine for conduct detrimental to the league. However, in the long-term, the Mavs won big by losing a season-ending game against the Bulls, which maximized the organization's odds of retaining its top-10 lottery pick status in the 2023 NBA Draft.

NBA Draft Moves

On May 16, 2023, the Mavericks' journey to the 2024 NBA Finals took a step forward as they retained their top-10 status with the announcement of the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery pick order. The Mavericks would've surrendered their 2023 first-round draft pick to the New York Knicks if their selection fell below the 10th pick.

The Mavericks then flipped their 2023 first-round pick (Cason Wallace) and Davis Bertans to obtain Dereck Lively II (selected 12th by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2023 NBA Draft). Lively's impact in the 2024 NBA Playoffs undeniably contributed to the Mavericks' run to this year's NBA Finals as a lob-finisher in Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving pick-and-roll actions. Lively's 2024 playoffs performance is highlighted by a 67.3% true shooting percentage and a 5% block rate, per Basketball Reference .

NBA Free Agency Moves

The Mavericks had an active 2023 NBA free agency period as they re-signed Kyrie Irving to a three-year, $120 million contract . Additionally, the Mavericks completed key free agent acquisitions in a three-team sign-and-trade deal that delivered restricted-free agent Grant Williams. They also signed former Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. to a one-year veteran minimum contract .

NBA Trade Deadline Moves

Going into the 2024 NBA trade deadline, the Mavericks didn't relent in their organizational activity to improve their roster. The acquisition of Grant Williams reportedly backfired in the Mavericks face and the organization swiftly traded Williams, plus assets, to the Charlotte Hornets for P.J. Washington. Washington's acquisition was a hit for the Mavericks as he became a core rotational player for the team as a 3&D wing who played the third-most minutes behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Furthermore, the Mavericks traded Richaun Holmes, a player obtained in the 2023 offseason via cash considerations, and a first-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards for 2018 Bulls' second-round pick Daniel Gafford.

Organizational Takeaways for the Chicago Bulls

The Dallas Mavericks are the 2024 NBA Western Conference Champions in part because their ownership and front office effectively chose to bypass participating in the 2023 NBA Play-In Tournament, a direct contrast to the attitude of their Chicago Bulls counterparts.

The Mavericks valued their 2023 draft position and leveraged it to obtain an NBA-ready player in Dereck Lively II. Mavericks' leadership stayed engaged and aggressive in free agency and at the trade deadline to improve the roster — a process that included pivoting from a transactional failure in Grant Williams.

The Reinsdorf ownership group and Arturas Karnisovas should study the Mavericks' 2023-24 season and hopefully learn that in order to build a competitive NBA roster, you must consistently engage in short- and long-term organizational decision-making . You need to value your draft assets and you absolutely must continue to make aggressive roster moves — even if they fail — if you are to truly compete for an NBA championship.

Related: 3 Observations from Arturas Karnisovas' Postseason Remarks: Will the Bulls Actually Pivot from Continuity?

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