NBA ‘Most Underrated’ Move: Dallas Mavs Preview - Can Richaun Holmes Reboot Career?

The Dallas Mavericks made it a priority to add to their frontcourt this offseason, including acquiring veteran center Richaun Holmes. Can he reboot his career here?

One of the several additions to the Dallas Mavericks' frontcourt this offseason was the acquisition of veteran center Richaun Holmes. 

The Mavs traded for Holmes in a draft day deal that also sent the No. 24 pick to Dallas, which became O-Max Prosper, in return for cash considerations.

After a down year last season in Sacramento, Holmes seemed happy to be in a new situation in Dallas, which he spoke on at Mavs Media Day.

“I was excited when I got traded to Dallas,” Holmes said. “A lot of Dallas fans have been showing me love on social media for a couple years now.”

Center Richaun Holmes poses for the camera at Mavs Media Day / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Last season in 42 games, Holmes averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in just eight minutes per game. But from 2019-22, Holmes played a much bigger role for the Kings, averaging 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 64.6 percent from the field in 27 minutes per game.

Heading into the 2023-24 season, Holmes' role seems to be unknown as the Mavs work to figure out their center rotation. By the looks of it as of now, the starting center spot is between Dwight Powell and rookie Dereck Lively II. But, if given the opportunity, Mavs owner Mark Cuban is confident in Holmes.

“I think Richaun Holmes is going to be the most underrated pickup of the summer," Cuban said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. "People forget what he could do with Sacramento before he got hurt, and then they get Sabonis and he takes his place.”

With the uncertainty that Jason Kidd faces with the Mavs' center rotation, Holmes has the chance to earn himself minutes and could indeed become that underrated, fierce rebounder and pick-and-roll threat that Cuban remembers.

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