Dallas Mavericks, undervalued unfairly or a team without direction?

Diego Jiménez Rubio | Fri, 08/01/2025 - 18:30

Dallas Mavericks' Aspirations. Photo: gettyimages

No one trusts them. Dallas Mavericks has fluctuated through so many conflicting feelings lately that it's really unclear what this team is aiming for anymore. The arrival of Cooper Flagg has given new hopes for the future to a team built for the present, but with Kyrie Irving's injury, it seemed like a path to reconstruction. What should they do now?

Everything indicates they won't make any decisions. They'll try to boost Cooper Flagg, seeing him as someone who can be immediately impactful and form an imposing starting five alongside Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively, and D'Angelo Russell. It doesn't sound bad at all, as long as the rookie can adapt quickly and contribute in a competitive environment, shortening their training and maturation timelines.

The second unit is also solid, with Washington, Marshall, Exum, Martin, and Gafford. With these names, it seems impossible to think that Dallas Mavericks won't be a strong championship contender, but forecasts place them far from the top contenders. The Texans stand as one of the big question marks to be resolved in the upcoming NBA season, making it difficult to discern their fate.

The Mavericks' current projected rotation next season:

Starters: D'Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively

Second Unit: Dante Exum, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford

Dallas' over/under win total is 39.5. pic.twitter.com/YJc6RInSzW
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 27, 2025