Preseason NBA Power Rankings: Philadelphia 76ers look like Eastern Elite

21. Dallas Mavericks

If the Phoenix Suns have the best opportunity to double their wins total in 2018-2019, the Dallas Mavericks have to be considered a close second.

After adding a pair of top-tier talents this offseason in DeAndre Jordan and Luka Doncic, the Mavericks are clearly a team on the rise, but will that lead to a spot in the NBA playoffs in 2019?

Probably not, but they may be a whole lot closer than one would assume.

With Doncic and 2017 first round pick Dennis Smith Jr. set to run the show in a dynamic one-two backcourt punch, and everyone’s favorite former Wildcat Jalen Brunson coming off the bench, Dirk Nowitzki‘s (probably) final season in the NBA will certainly be fun to watch, even if it doesn’t result in a return to the NBA finals, or his second NBA championship trophy.

But hey, 12 All-NBA appearances and 13 All-Star appearances all on the same team is a pretty impressive resume for a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Fame. That’s virtually unheard of in the modern NBA, especially with Manu Ginobili now retired.

At least Dirk’s farewell tour will be a whole lot more fun to watch than Kobe Bryant‘s back in 2016.