The Dallas Mavericks commitment to the future includes Yogi Ferrell
By Jordan Maly
The Dallas Mavericks made moves in the past few weeks that indicate a future rebuild. The Mavericks are including Yogi Ferrell in that plan.
It’s one of the best stories in the NBA this season, one that comes with hard work and dedication. Yogi Ferrell has gone from undersized and undrafted to an essential part of the Dallas Mavericks future in a matter of a month.
The Mavericks signed Harrison Barnes in the off-season to a four-year $95 million dollar contract. This was the first of an assortment of moves that the Mavericks have made to focus on the future. A flurry of injuries to their guards gave Yogi Ferrell the perfect opportunity to showcase his worth as an NBA player.
No one would have thought that the four-year Indiana basketball product would be at the forefront of a rebuild in Texas. It seems like all too perfect of a story, with the owner of the Mavericks (Mark Cuban) having significant ties to the Hoosiers. Cuban even admits after being approached about the options the Mavericks had to sign:
"‘Tie goes to the IU guy.’ Honest to God, that’s what I did. That’s the honest answer. Tie goes to the IU guy.” – Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks"
Yogi Ferrell did not disappoint, posting four straight wins with the Mavericks on his 10-day contract. The games included a combined 28 points in two games in January and the 32-point game against the Portland Trailblazers. Yogi was the talk of the NBA with his storm of three-point shooting barrage (9-11 from three vs. Portland). The Mavericks followed Ferrell’s 10-day contract with a 2-year deal.
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What should excite fans the most about Yogi Ferrell’s success this season is his real opportunity to become an essential part of a rebuilding team. The Mavericks waived Derron Williams and were clear that Yogi Ferrell would take over the role of the starter in Dallas. The Mavericks were busy at the deadline adding more young talent to their roster. Dallas traded Andrew Bogut, Justin Anderson, and a heavily protected first round pick for Nerlens Noel.
The move for the Mavericks to go and get Nerlens Noel could be the perfect receipt for future success. Yogi Ferrell has been surrounded by a consistent stream of quality big men in college including Cody Zeller, Noah Vonleh, and Thomas Bryant. Yogi Ferrell is the all-time assists leader at Indiana and adding Nerlens Noel (if healthy) to this lineup could benefit both players.
Mark Cuban had his praise for the undrafted rookie out of Indiana. He has even gone as far as saying that he wants more guys from Indiana’s program on the Dallas Mavericks. Maybe Cuban can give one of Yogi’s former teammates at Indiana, Troy Williams, a call.
If you cannot bear watching any more Indiana basketball this season, I don’t blame you. I encourage you to turn your basketball attention to the Dallas Mavericks and Yogi Ferrell for the rest of the season. The team is young, entertaining, and trying to find a way into the NBA Playoffs (three games back of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference). Yogi Ferrell in the NBA Playoffs? That’s something I can advocate for.