The Mavericks emphasized a focus on improving defensively in the off-season, and a draft-day swap of Seth Curry for Josh Richardson and the 36th pick was the first example of that. On paper, this was a great move for Dallas. Richardson was a big guard who had a reputation as a good defender and a player who could create his own shot off the bounce. This archetype is a perfect fit next to Luka Doncic, but unfortunately Richardson did not fill the mold that he once did.
To say Richardson was a disappointment might be an understatement, especially considering his fall out of the starting lineup and the lineup almost completely in the postseason.