Mavericks receive positive offseason evaluation with Cooper Flagg-led revamp

Mavericks receive positive offseason evaluation with Cooper Flagg-led revamp originally appeared on The Sporting News

After trading Luka Doncic in one of the most shocking moves in NBA history, the Dallas Mavericks are entering a new era with added star power. 

Dallas finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 39-43 record before falling in the Play-In Tournament, with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis both missing significant time in the latter half of the season due to injury. Now, the Mavericks have retooled for their post-Doncic era, starting with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and selecting Duke standout Cooper Flagg. 

The Mavericks also made several other notable moves this offseason, signing De’Angelo Russell, adding rookie Ryan Nembhard on a two-way deal and extending Irving through the 2027-28 season, when he holds a player option.

Mavericks earn top-10 offseason ranking

David Aldridge of The Athletic recently ranked each team’s offseason, with Dallas coming in at No. 7 after its disappointing 2024-25 campaign. 

“A sizable portion of Dallas’ fan base will chant ‘Fire Nico!’ at home games forever, because some people can’t move on past anything,” Aldridge said. “But, hopefully, more will get back on board watching Flagg and his prodigious talents, and how Jason Kidd uses him alongside Anthony Davis and [Daniel] Gafford and [Dereck] Lively II. … Health willing, this could be a really good team.” 

MORE: NBA reveals Cooper Flagg, Mavericks' marquee matchups with Celtics

Russell gives the Mavericks a reliable short-term replacement for Irving, who is expected to be sidelined until at least January due to a torn ACL. When Irving returns, Russell should provide valuable backcourt depth for a Dallas team aiming to make a deep playoff run. 

Flagg, meanwhile, joins a roster loaded with talent. Although, to Aldridge's point, Davis’ durability remains a concern — he has surpassed 60 regular-season games just once in the past five years. Still, a healthy Mavericks team could be a contender in a star-studded Western Conference, especially if Flagg's game translates quickly to the next level. 

While the Mavericks lucked out winning the lottery and getting Flagg, their offseason moves have positioned them well for life after Doncic. 

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