In the history of the team, the Dallas Mavericks are aiming for their second championship. In order to show their appreciation for Dirk Nowitzki’s devotion, they assembled a championship team around him in 2011. With Luka Doncic, the team hopes to repeat that achievement. Even though things haven’t always gone well, the Mavs are determined to overcome their present global superstar.

The Mavericks often changed their roster and had trouble finding players in free agency throughout Dirk’s prime. Although there were many mistakes and missteps made along the way—such as allowing a future Hall of Famer to enter free agency—it ended with a title.

The Dallas Mavericks have not always practiced patience and trust in their talent, and it often comes back to bite them. It just happened again with the departure of Jalen Brunson to New York, but who are the team’s other biggest blunders?

Players Dallas Mavericks gave up on way too soon:

16. Harrison Barnes

Barnes left the Mavs in February 2019 due to their salary-only policy. Luka Doncic was in his first season, while Kristaps Porzingis had recently been acquired by the team. Dallas let go of the 6’8 forward after two and a half years because they were concerned that Barnes would exercise his $25.1 million player option for the 2019–2020 campaign, which would restrict the team’s ability to develop around its two young stars.

The issue was that Dallas was able to reacquire Zach Randolph and Justin Jackson, who together played 1,576 minutes for the Mavericks, and Barnes turned into the precise 3-and-D option that the Mavericks had been looking for in Sacramento. To his credit, in his 11-year career, Barnes has never had a season with fewer than 2,000 minutes played.

Barnes left the Mavs in February 2019 due to their salary-only policy. Luka Doncic was in his first season, while Kristaps Porzingis had recently been acquired by the team. Dallas let go of the 6’8 forward after two and a half years because they were concerned that Barnes would exercise his $25.1 million player option for the 2019–2020 campaign, which would restrict the team’s ability to develop around its two young stars.

The issue was that Dallas was able to reacquire Zach Randolph and Justin Jackson, who together played 1,576 minutes for the Mavericks, and Barnes turned into the precise 3-and-D option that the Mavericks had been looking for in Sacramento. To his credit, in his 11-year career, Barnes has never had a season with fewer than 2,000 minutes played.