Mavericks Eyeing Undrafted Shooter to Boost Perimeter Attack

Dallas looks to add three-point specialist John Poulakidas to bolster their struggling offense.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:56pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball player shooting a three-pointer, the player's form broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.A cubist interpretation of an NBA player's three-point shot, capturing the dynamic energy and fractured perspectives of the modern game.Chicago Today

The Dallas Mavericks are hoping to find a three-point shooting boost by signing undrafted guard John Poulakidas to their roster. Poulakidas showed flashes of high-level shooting in limited NBA action last season, including a 28-point game where he hit 8 three-pointers. With the Mavericks finishing near the bottom of the league in three-point shooting, adding a specialist like Poulakidas could help improve their perimeter attack.

Why it matters

The Mavericks struggled mightily on offense last season, ranking near the bottom of the NBA in three-point shooting. Adding a proven three-point shooter like Poulakidas could provide a much-needed boost to their perimeter game and help them return to the playoffs after missing out the last two years.

The details

After waiving Tyus Jones and Miles Kelly, the Mavericks signed Poulakidas to a standard NBA contract. In 13 NBA appearances last season, Poulakidas averaged 8.8 points per game while shooting 40.3% from three-point range. He had several strong shooting performances, including a 28-point game where he hit 8 three-pointers against the Chicago Bulls.

  • Poulakidas signed with the Mavericks after the trade deadline in March 2026.
  • In the Mavericks' final game of the 2025-26 season, Poulakidas scored 28 points and hit 8 three-pointers against the Chicago Bulls.

The players

John Poulakidas

An undrafted guard who showed strong three-point shooting ability in limited NBA action last season.

Tyus Jones

A point guard who was waived by the Mavericks to free up a roster spot.

Miles Kelly

A two-way player who was waived by the Mavericks to open up two-way contract spots.

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What they’re saying

“You can never have enough shooting in the NBA, and Poulakidas has shown flashes of doing it at a high level.”

— Austin Veazey, Author

What’s next

The Mavericks will look to sign Poulakidas to a contract for the 2026-27 season, hoping he can provide a consistent three-point shooting threat off the bench.

The takeaway

The Mavericks' struggles with three-point shooting last season were a major factor in their disappointing campaign. By adding an undrafted shooter like Poulakidas, they are looking to address this weakness and improve their perimeter offense to get back to the playoffs.