Dallas Mavericks 2026-2027 guide

After saying goodbye to Luka Doncic and, shortly afterward, to Nico Harrison and Anthony Davis as well, the Dallas Mavericks’ season revolves mainly around two questions: what will Cooper Flagg look like with a year of experience under his belt? And how will Kyrie Irving return from injury?

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Key players

Yes, Cooper Flagg (F, 16.5 cr.) will obviously be the centerpiece of the team. There is not much more to add about his many qualities and his ability to impact virtually every aspect of the game. What is much more intriguing is his development: if the biggest statistical leap for many NBA players comes between their rookie and sophomore seasons, Flagg is already coming off a year in which he averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Not a bad foundation to build on.

The return of Kyrie Irving (G, 12.0 cr.) will be a godsend for this team, which gets a top-level floor general back at the center of the project. After relying on D’Angelo Russell last season, getting Kyrie back at only 12 credits is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. Especially on a roster full of players who love cutting to the basket or are particularly dangerous around the rim, we do not think double-digit assists are unrealistic at all.

Potential surprises

The Mavs have landed some intriguing players through the Draft, and not just in the latest edition. Dallas also acquired Zaccharie Risacher (F, 5.0 cr.), the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 Draft, through a trade with the Hawks.

The Frenchman is coming off two underwhelming seasons in which he showed interesting flashes, but far too briefly given the expectations attached to a No. 1 overall pick. For that very reason, though, a change of scenery and a move to Texas could help him shake off that label, play with less pressure and finally try to show his best.

Sergio de Larrea (G, 5.5 cr.) has to be the surprise of this season. The Mavs made an excellent choice by betting on him, especially considering a roster that is particularly thin on quality players at the position behind Kyrie.

A nearly 6-foot-7 Spanish-trained point guard, he already showed in Summer League that there are players who throw the ball around and others who know how to caress it: 8.8 assists per game and a playmaking ability that could prove very useful for Dallas. And what better future partner to put alongside Flagg? Remember the name.

Players to avoid

The players who could pay the price on this roster, especially because of a potentially significant reduction in minutes compared to previous seasons, are Daniel Gafford (C, 9.0 cr.) and Santi Aldama (F, 8.0 cr.), particularly given their price tags.

Both have previously been at the center of memorable value-gain runs for fantasy basketball players, but this time they risk seeing less playing time for different reasons. Gafford will have to deal with the return of Dereck Lively II, who still appears to be higher in the Mavs’ pecking order, at least until the next injury. Aldama, meanwhile, could suffer from the change of team and a roster that is much more crowded at his position than the one in Memphis, where he had managed to play his best basketball.

Projected starting five

PG: Kyrie Irving (G, 12.0 Credits)

SG: Max Christie (G, 7.5 Credits)

SF: Cooper Flagg (F, 16.5 Credits)

PF: P.J. Washington (F, 9.0 Credits)

C: Dereck Lively II (C, 8.5 Credits)

Power Ranking

The Dallas Mavericks appear to have taken the right path in their rebuild: the roster is young, intriguing and full of talent, but probably still too raw to aim high right away.

A group like this, led by Kyrie Irving, can still try to make a push for the Play-In spots.

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