Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux), Rob Mahoney of The Ringer (@RobMahoney) and Matt Moore of The Action Network (@HPBasketball) go in-depth on the NBA’s Southwest Division.

They discuss how the Rockets, Pelicans, Spurs, Mavericks and Grizzlies fared in the off-season, including which teams improved and what moves stood out. The three also predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

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Dallas Mavericks' lead athletic trainer Casey Smith will have a change of roles this season, sources told Tim Cato of The Athletic.

Smith will take on a broader role, reducing his involvement in the team's day-to-day activities.

Smith will no longer sit on the team bench or be in the locker room after games.

The change in roles also adds uncertainty to Smith's position with the team after his contract runs up at the end of this season. 

Rookie Dereck Lively II will be given an opportunity to start at center for the Dallas Mavericks, Jason Kidd told Marc Stein.

Christian Wood and JaVale McGee left the team this offseason, with Dwight Powell and Richaun Holmes the other centers on the roster.

Kidd added that Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Grant Williams are projected to start, with Olivier-Maxence Prosper competing with Josh Green for a starting spot. 

The Dallas Mavericks have signed wing Dexter Dennis to a training camp deal. It's likely Dennis will join the Texas Legends of the G League after the preseason.

Dennis was a four-year starter for Wichita State, before completing his collegiate career at Texas A&M. The 6-foot-5 guard/forward scored 9.5 points and grabbed 5.8 rebounds per game as a senior.

The Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks are among teams that have registered recent interest in Buddy Hield, according to Shams Charania.

"The Lakers were long rumored for Buddy Hield. You look at teams like Dallas, Philly, Milwaukee. Those are the types of teams that could definitely use a shooter like Buddy Hield, and they've had a level of interest in him over the last several months," said Charania on The Rally.

The Pacers started trade talks on Hield after the two sides failed to reach a contract extension. 

The Lakers and Pacers reportedly discussed a trade involving Hield last August. 

With Giannis Antetokounmpo openly questioning his future with the Milwaukee Bucks, teams have begun to plan for the possibility he becomes available via trade. The futures of Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers and Luka Doncic with the Dallas Mavericks have created a situation where multiple MVP candidates become available in a trade over the next year.

This situation is one of the factors that has also diminished the trade market for Damian Lillard. 

"What the trade market, the NBA portal, is going to look like next summer," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "There could be some massive talents available for trades next season. Maybe at the trade deadline. Maybe next year. You have teams weighing the assets they might use to trade for Damian Lillard versus who could be available that 'we don't want to be out of the game for some players younger.' First-team All-NBA type of players who may be in that marketplace."

Host Danny Leroux (@DannyLeroux) and Arturo Galletti (@AmericanNumbers) continue their annual tradition of breaking down the over/under lines for the Western Conference.

They go through over/unders and other relevant odds for the Spurs (11:45), Rockets (21:55), Trail Blazers (33:02), Jazz (47:26), Thunder (56:40), Kings (1:09:27), Lakers (1:16:52), Mavericks (1:27:11), Clippers (1:36:53), Pelicans (1:42:40), Timberwolves (1:51:29), Grizzlies (1:57:40), Suns (2:04:01), Nuggets (2:11:29) and Warriors (2:19:58).

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Markieff Morris' one-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks is partially guaranteed for $3.2 million, reported Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Morris will receive a guaranteed $200,000. 

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed Markieff Morris.

The Mavericks acquired Morris as part of the Kyrie Irving trade with the Brooklyn Nets in February. Morris played in just nine minutes per game with the Mavericks. 

The Mavericks also acquired Grant Williams and Richaun Holmes for more depth in the frontcourt this offseason, while drafting Dereck Lively II and Olivier Maxence-Prosper. 

In early-November of 2021, when he was a member of the Miami Heat, Markieff Morris delivered a hard foul to Nikola Jokic in transition. Jokic responded by hitting Morris in the back. Morris then missed roughly four months of the season due to whiplash suffered from Jokic's shove.

Morris hasn't forgotten the incident, despite it being nearly two years old.

"Sucker shot. That's what we call it in my hood," Morris said of the shove from Jokic. "Took a sucker shot. They call it snuck. He snuck me. It was a sucker shot. He's gonna get his though. Don't trip."

Morris is currently unsigned, but reportedly will sign a deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the upcoming season. Morris was traded to Dallas in the deal that sent Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks ahead of last season's trade deadline.

Dallas and the Denver Nuggets are scheduled to play their first game on November 3.