DALLAS –Based on what they were able to accomplish during last Thursday’s NBA Draft, the excitement level among those associated with the Dallas Mavericks is through the roof.

With the influx of rookies the Mavs were able to secure, fans are already thinking a return trip to the playoffs for the 2018-’19 season. Especially since Luka Doncic is a member of the Mavs.

The most decorated European player this past season, Doncic was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks, then quickly traded to the Mavs for Trae Young and a protected 2019 first-round draft choice. This past season Doncic captured the Most Valuable Player award for the EuroLeague regular season and the EuroLeague Final 4 while clearly establishing himself as a prime-time player.

The Mavs also drafted point guard Jalen Brunson, who led the Villanova Wildcats to NCAA titles in 2016 and this past season. Brunson averaged 18.9 points and 4.6 assists this past season while winning the Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the nation’s top point guard.

In addition, the Mavs traded second-round picks to acquire Louisville forward Ray Spalding and Dayton forward Kostas Antetokounmpo.

Those players will begin workouts with the Mavs on Monday as they gear up for the start of the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2018, which will be held July 6-17 in Las Vegas.

Here are some key dates for Mavs fans to look forward to over the summer.

Friday: This is the deadline for team, player and early contract termination options.

Saturday: This is the deadline for teams to make qualifying offers to players eligible to become a restricted free agent.

Sunday: The free agency moratorium period begins. This is the day free agents can start reaching a verbal agreement with a perspective team. Also, restricted free agents can start signing offer sheets today.

Monday: The Mavs’ summer league team starts practicing at the team’s practice facility.

July 5: The Mavs fly to Las Vegas to prepare for the start of the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League.

July 6: The free agency moratorium period ends and teams can start signing players and making trades. In addition, the two-day period begins for matching restricted free agent offer sheets signed during the moratorium.

July 6-17: MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2018. The Mavs’ first summer league game is July 6 at 8:30 p.m. CT against Phoenix at the Thomas & Mack Center. That game will be televised on ESPN.

July 8: The Mavs will play a summer league game against Milwaukee at 6 p.m. CT at the Cox Pavilion. The game will be televised on NBA TV.

July 9: The Mavs will play a summer league game against Golden State at 6:30 p.m. CT at the Thomas & Mack Center. That game will be televised on NBA TV.

July 11-12: The Mavs are guaranteed to play at least two more summer league games starting on one of these days.

July 13: This is the deadline for teams to withdraw qualifying offers.

July 15: This is the deadline to sign players chosen on the first round of last Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Aug. 4: NBA Africa Game 2018. Mavs forward Harrison Barnes is slated to play in a game pitting Team Africa — NBA players either born in Africa or with family ties to Africa – against Team World, which is composed of NBA players from the rest of the world.

Aug. 31: This is the deadline for teams to waive players and apply stretch provision for the 2018-’19 season.

Sept. 5: This is the deadline to sign players selected on the second-round of last Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Sept. 7: This is the day former Mavs guards Jason Kidd and Steve Nash – and others – will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.

Oct. 5: The Mavs and Philadelphia 76ers will play a preseason game in Shanghai, China, as part of the NBA China Games 2018.

Oct. 8: The Mavs and Sixers will play a second preseason game in Shenzhen, China, as part of the NBA China Games 2018.

The 2018-19 NBA schedule will be released sometimes in the middle of August.

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