Dallas Mavericks fans were distraught throughout the spring. At a time that symbolizes new beginnings, they couldn’t wait until the summer. Little did they know that by the end of that season, they would be celebrating the rebirth that they were once dismayed over.
Now, as they prepare for a much anticipated 2025-26 campaign, there are three burning questions that they can’t wait to have answered.
3 Burning Questions For Mavs Heading Into 2025-26 Season
Can Cooper Flagg Fill In His Predecessor’s Shoes?
It isn’t often that a team trades their franchise cornerstone and then drafts his replacement with the first overall pick in the subsequent draft. Yet, that’s the Mavericks’ rather surreal reality. No matter how anyone feels about the Luka Doncic trade or Nico Harrison’s part in it, Dallas has plenty to look forward to, as 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg has entered the league with as much hype as any player in recent memory.
A 6-foot-9 combo forward, Flagg can be the complete package.
At the offensive end, he’s already excelling as a playmaker and play-finisher. Though he has plenty of room to grow as an iso scorer and off-ball shooter, he’s demonstrating the potential to be a featured option. He’s also a plus-defender, in no small part due to his length and tenacity. Those same traits help him be a factor on the boards.
Still, the highly decorated Duke product has huge shoes to fill.
Doncic won Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Over the next five seasons, he earned five All-Star selections and MVP consideration while averaging 30.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game. More importantly, he led the Mavericks to the playoffs in each of those seasons, with an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
How Will Kyrie Irving Look When He Returns?
When Doncic was traded, the Mavericks fan base was incensed, but at least they still had Kyrie Irving.
Until they didn’t.
Just 11 games after Doncic was sent packing, Irving tore his ACL in a game against the Sacramento Kings. Many attributed this to his increased offensive burden. After all, he had played 39.3 minutes per game in the 10 previous contests, taking 21.7 field goal attempts per game with a 29.1 percent usage. Up to that point in the season, he had been taking 18.6 field goal attempts in 35.9 minutes per game with a 26.9 percent usage rate.
Irving considered the idea that his minutes played a role in his injury to be off-base. No matter what the primary factor in his injury was though, Dallas isn’t expecting him back until January.
It remains to be seen how well he can bounce back at 33 years old. However, there’s reason to believe he’ll still be able to play at an All-Star level when he returns. Fortunately, ACL tears aren’t as debilitating as they used to be. Furthermore, his dominance is primarily predicated on guard skills and short area burst rather than speed and vertical explosiveness.
Will They Make The Playoffs?
Due to Flagg’s inexperience and Irving’s injury, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Mavericks missed the playoffs. As scary as it may sound, D’Angelo Russell‘s play in the first half of the regular season will have a significant impact on that outcome.
Russell –who Dallas added as a stop-gap point guard –isn’t on Irving’s level as a ball-handler, finisher or shooter. He’s a highly-skilled guard who has plenty of experience in a featured role. In fact, he’s averaged 18.5 points and 6.3 assists per game over the past seven seasons. However, Irving averaged 25.8 points and 5.8 assists per game in that time. Even Russell’s career-high (23.1 points per game) is a tier below Irving’s (27.4 points per game).
Thus, it’s within the realm of imagination that Russell can play well enough to keep the Mavs in the playoff conversation. Still, between Flagg replacing Doncic and Russell stepping for Irving, Dallas’s offense figures to be less formidable than they were last season. At least, that’s until Anthony Davis is considered.
Trading Doncic didn’t just help the Mavericks draft Flagg, it also netted them a 10-time All-Star. Indeed, while Doncic is among the premier point guards, Davis holds that same status among bigs. There isn’t much overlap in their strengths. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Davis has averaged 25.1 points per game over the past three seasons. By himself, he can’t match Doncic’s numbers in that time (31.8 points per game) but Flagg’s contributions should help balance that out.
On top of that, defense wins championships, right? Thus, replacing Doncic with Davis and Flagg will go a long way in and of itself.
© Candice Ward-Imagn Images
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