Dallas Mavericks: Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg hold the keys to the season

The sweeping changes to the Dallas Mavericks’ coaching staff and front office have defined the outlook for next season: a true Year Zero for a team that, despite its reset, doesn’t resemble a traditional rebuilding franchise headed for the bottom of the NBA standings.

There are at least four factors that could reshape the outlook and competitiveness of the Texas franchise depending on how they develop throughout the season.

Kyrie Irving’s impact upon his return

After spending an entire season on the sidelines, Kyrie Irving will rejoin a team that looks very different from the one he last played with. His one-on-one scoring ability will be a crucial asset for a team that finished 27th in the league in Offensive Rating last regular season.

However, it’s difficult to predict what level he’ll return at physically. At 34 years old and with his injury history, Irving will have to manage his comeback carefully. While his offensive contributions could prove invaluable, it’s just as likely that opponents will target him defensively.

The frontcourt balance

Selecting NCAA champion Morez Johnson Jr. in the NBA Draft revealed two clear intentions from the Mavericks’ front office.

The first is the possibility of including Daniel Gafford in a trade, as the center remains the player most frequently mentioned in rumors surrounding the franchise. The second is to send a clear message to Dereck Lively II, a player Dallas has long believed in but also the most injury-prone member of its frontcourt.

Over the past two seasons, Lively has appeared in just 43 games, prompting the Mavericks to add insurance. Johnson Jr. appears capable of providing the durability and athletic consistency that has so far been missing, along with elite explosiveness even by NBA standards.

The key will be establishing a clear hierarchy, potentially by moving Gafford. Otherwise, there’s a risk that none of the team’s big men will find the ideal environment to maximize their development and production.

Roster needs still to address

The Mavericks ranked 26th in three-point percentage last season at 34.4%, exposing one of the roster’s biggest weaknesses despite the presence of Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington.

The addition of Santi Aldama represents a concrete first step toward solving that issue. If trade discussions involving Gafford gain traction, Dallas could also have the opportunity to add another perimeter shooter – an option the front office should seriously consider, as creating space for Cooper Flagg will be essential to maximizing the team’s offensive efficiency.

The one true certainty: Cooper Flagg

For NBA fans, Cooper Flagg is already one of the league’s most anticipated young stars. For the Dallas Mavericks, he represents the foundation on which the franchise hopes to build its future. Flagg already projects as a potential All-Star, but he still needs to improve, particularly as a three-point shooter and in late-game execution during close contests.

If he can make that final leap, optimism in Dallas will only continue to grow.