News Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

Three key players endorsed the acquisition of D’Angelo Russell

Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images

D’Lo was the top target for Dallas this offseason and it appears that decision was influenced by players on the Mavericks roster

The Dallas Mavericks have an incredibly deep frontcourt after drafting Cooper Flagg, but addressing their backcourt remained a high priority in the wake of Kyrie Irving’s ACL injury which may keep him out of action most of next season. Dallas not only had to contend with an injured Irving, but also had to consider unrestricted free agents Spencer Dinwiddie and Dante Exum – Jaden Hardy and Brandon Williams were the only two point guards on the roster entering the offseason. The Mavericks chose to bring Exum back, but essentially swapped Dinwiddie for Russell, as they let the former walk and pursued the latter to the tune of a two-year deal.

Picking up Russell was a savvy move. He cost the Mavs nothing in terms of players or draft capital and is a capable point guard who can easily transition to a bench role upon the return of Irving. Was his acquisition the result of a clever front office, or something more than that?

Mavericks Digest cites unnamed sources who claim the acquisition of D’Lo was heavily influenced by some of the biggest names on the Mavericks’ roster, specifically Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis. Not only that, they go on to say the arrangement came to a head a full 10 days prior to Free Agency formally opening.

Per sources; The decision to push for D’Angelo Russell came from Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. Irving expressed a want to play with Russell in the past, as well as Thompson and Davis having played with Russell in the past. The terms were agreed upon 10 days prior… pic.twitter.com/IOUyWC5OYK

— Mavericks Digest (@mavericksdigest) July 7, 2025​

Irving, Thompson and Davis all pushed to get D’Lo to Dallas​

This alone is a ringing endorsement that any player would hope to have. Any time three NBA Champions and future Hall-of-Famers want to play with you, it’s a good thing. Beyond their accolades, all three players have some interesting cross-sections with Russell throughout their careers. Irving previously expressed a desire to play with him, though he missed the chance to do so when he joined the Nets just after Russell was traded from Brooklyn. Russell of course ended up with the Golden State Warriors – then-home to Thompson – as a result of that trade. Like Irving, Thompson also missed his chance to share court time with Russell, as he was injured for the entirety of Russell’s short stint with the Warriors. Davis did play alongside Russell during their shared time with the Los Angeles Lakers, however. Aside from Irving, the other two stars had first-hand experience with Russell and apparently liked what they saw enough to want some more.

The deal was set prior to Free Agency officially kicking off​

At this point, it’s no surprise that the Free Agency moratorium is essentially non-existent. It’s simply too easy for players and teams to speak to each other in advance of the Free Agency window opening. If sources are to be believed, the Mavs and Russell were set to join up a week-and-a-half early. That brings us back to Irving. If these reports are true, it’s easy to conclude that Irving’s contract extension – the one that made acquiring Russell possible – was tailor made to do just that. In other words, Irving put his money where his mouth is and capitalized on a contract extension that paid him a touch less per year, in order to bring Russell in. A complete win/win situation for him.

All in all, it seems like Russell has resounding support from key teammates. If he’s good enough for them, he will hopefully prove to be good enough for the fanbase. While some fans are less than thrilled with Russell’s defensive prowess and overall game, having well-regarded players vouch for him says a lot. D’Lo has every motivation and every opportunity to do big things with a talented team around him this season. We’ll soon find out if the players working a front office role results in a positive outcome on the court.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...e-irving-ad-anthony-davis-dlo-dangelo-russell

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 thoughts after the Dallas Mavericks hold off the Los Angeles Lakers, 87-85

A mixed bag from Cooper Flagg, but Dallas seals the win

The Dallas Mavericks started Las Vegas Summer League with an 87-85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night. Undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard led Dallas with 21 points and five assists. Cole Swider scored 22 for LA in defeat. Rookie Cooper Flagg contributed 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a huge block, but also had a rough shooting night from the floor.

Dallas won the tip but Bronny James knocked down two contested jumpers over Flagg to start the game. Nembhard settled the Dallas offense, hitting two jumpers to keep pace with LA. Following a quiet start for Flagg, he brought the crown to it’s feet with a rim rattling dunk following a steal and a contested baseline jumper. These back-to-back possessions gave the Mavericks their first lead of the game. Flagg’s offensive aggressiveness was on display early, with seven shot attempts in the first seven minutes. But that included three made baskets, including an and-one in transition to extend the Dallas lead to three. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter, with the Mavericks taking a 19-17 lead after one quarter.

An actual basketball game continued into the second with the Lakers retaking the lead on two made baskets. Dallas answered right back with a run of their own. A made three by Gabe McGlothan gave the Mavericks their largest lead of the game and resulted in a Laker timeout. A Flagg steal and dish in transition extended the lead to seven. Los Angeles responded with a 19-6 run over the second half of the quarter to put the Mavericks on their heels. Flagg went coast-to-coast and scored on a tough finish to close the LA lead to four and Nembhard scored on a soft pull up with four seconds left to close it to two. DJ Steward ended the half with a floating bank shot as time expired. LA led Dallas 47-43 after twenty minutes of basketball.

Dalton Knecht got things going early for the Lakers, scoring two tough baskets. Knecht hit a three to give Los Angeles a double-digit lead for the first time all game. Dallas finally managed to take the lead down to six, and a three from Jordan Hall made it a single-possession game with just over four minutes to play. A Miles Kelly three and Jamarion Sharp’s free throw tied the game at 62 all, and a breakaway layup for Kelly gave the Mavericks their first lead since the second quarter. After being down 60-50 with 6:15 in the third, Dallas closed on an 18-2 run and took a 68-62 lead into the final period.

The two teams traded baskets in the fourth, with Los Angeles rallying back once again. Twos became threes with Dallas and LA exchanging baskets still and Dallas holding onto a two-possession lead. Flagg’s shooting woes continued into the fourth as he couldn’t buy a basket. A Laker three from Cole Swindler put Los Angeles back on top and forced a Maverick timeout with just over three minutes to play. The Lakers held the lead until a massive block of Steward by Flagg led to a Nembhard three at the one-minute mark. Dallas finished the game sloppy with another rough-looking shot from Flagg, but the Mavericks played good enough defense to force a missed shot on the Lakers final possession. Dallas starts Las Vegas Summer League 1-0 with an 87-85 win over Los Angeles.

Mixed bag for Flagg​

Flagg’s aforementioned 10 points, six boards, four assists, three steals, and a block looks good. The 5-for-21 from the floor looks bad. But I’ll tell you what, watching this guy play live was pretty remarkable. Dallas let him bring the ball up the floor regularly where he was hounded by Los Angeles pressure. He drew multiple fouls far from the basket simply by being under control and strong with the ball. His decisions as a playmaker were fun to watch and he wasn’t bothered by consistent ball pressure. Defensively he navigated screens well and knew where to be. He’s going to be fun in transition with or without the ball.

It wasn’t all great, given his shooting performance from the floor. The threes looked short and his midrange game was off-kilter all night. He seemed out of position at times for defensive rebounds and he’ll have to work harder than he did tonight on the glass in NBA games.

It was a solid, but not spectacular, debut. I’ll take it.

Wild energy from the crowd​

This is a given, considering Flagg was the number one pick. But match that with Lakerland enthusiasm for Bronny James and you have a stew going. The crowds at these events are always fun, full of sicko diehards and you could feel it the entire game. A recommended experience if you can ever get to Vegas.

Ryan Nembhard is stout and effective​

A workman-like performance from the rookie on a team that needs someone to run an offense. Dallas looked out of sorts at some points, usually when Nembard wasn’t on the floor. His play directly led to the Dallas victory and while his size may be of concern, he looked strong and like he belonged on the court. He’ll be really fun to watch this weekend and into next week.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...score-87-85-cooper-flagg-debut-duke-dallas-la

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: Dallas Mavericks free agency and playoff prediction reactions

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Fans respond to questions asked

This week’s Dallas Mavericks fan polling had two easy questions about the progression of the offseason. Since we’re all but wrapped up with the moves that matter, it seemed a good time to take the temperature of the team’s performance.

The first question asked if the Dallas Maverick did enough in free agency.

The voting fanbase is split on this topic, right down the middle. I think that’s apt too because the question was worded vaguely on purpose. If you are concerned about the Dallas guard depth you probably voted no. If you think Dallas didn’t have a lot of options, given the cap situation and free agents, you may have voted yes. Either way, this is the team Dallas has and they’ll have to see how it does this regular season.

The second question asked if the Mavericks would make the playoffs.

Fans overwhelmingly voted yes. I’m a bit surprised! But it’s the time of year where optimism flows freely. That said, I am in the minority. I think Dallas will guard well, but struggle to score. The team lacks dribble penetration and shooting, hallmarks of successful NBA offenses these days.

But! It’s July and I could be swayed to change my mind. Dallas performing better would be a welcome surprise. The team’s over/under right now is at 40.5 at FanDuel and they’re a +102 to make the playoffs (There’s also some ridiculously fun Cooper Flagg bets if that’s your thing). This is why they play the games.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...-free-agency-and-playoff-prediction-reactions

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 thoughts after the Dallas Mavericks fell to the San Antonio Spurs, 76-69

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Flagg plays a well-rounded game, but Dallas can’t pull past the Spurs

The Dallas Mavericks fell to 1-1 in Las Vegas Summer League, losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 76-69. David Garcia-Jones led the Spurs in scoring with 21 while number two overall draft pick Dylan Harper scored 16 with six rebounds, a pair of assists, two steals, and a block. Cooper Flagg scored 31 points and grabbed four rebounds in defeat.

Miles Kelly got things started for Dallas, connecting on a three then getting fouled shooting another and hitting all three free throws. San Antonio struggled with the length of the Mavericks in the opening minutes, with Dallas forcing the Spurs to use the full shot clock on multiple possessions. With the Mavericks effectively packing the paint, the Spurs found and made threes, taking an early lead over Dallas. Cooper Flagg finally got on the board, scoring a driving lay-up on his fourth attempt of the game, but he missed the accompanying free throw. A lack of action from Dallas on offense allowed the Spurs to hound the Mavericks into a poor shooting quarter. Free throws were the only saving grace for Dallas in the period and they trailed 21-11 after 10 minutes of Summer League.

The rookies led the way to start the second quarter with both Flagg and Dylan Harper making highlight-worthy plays. Like Los Angeles on Friday, the Spurs elected to put pressure on Dallas ball handlers in the backcourt whenever possible. Much like the first half there was a lid on the basket for Dallas for most of the second quarter. Free throws and effort kept the Mavericks in the game. Despite just five made field goals in the first 17 minutes of game action, Dallas tied the game at 25 with under three minutes remaining in the half. A sweet Jordan Hall one-footed fadeaway gave the Mavericks their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. Harper retook the lead on a fantastic drive and finish with a foul. The Spurs led 33-32 at the half.

After just eight made field goals in the first half, the Mavericks scored eight field goals in the third quarter. Unfortunately, as their offense picked up, the defense faltered. The Spurs scored early and often and built upon their halftime lead. David Jones-Garcia continued his hot scoring, scoring 18 through three quarters. San Antonio led by as many as 12 in the quarter and two late Cooper Flagg baskets helped keep Dallas within range. The Mavericks trailed by 10 entering the fourth, down 59-49.

It went from bad to worse for Dallas in the fourth, with the Spurs scoring eight easy points and forcing a Dallas timeout. The lax ball handling for the Mavericks continued and the San Antonio lead grew to as high as 17 before Dallas found some offfensive footing. The Mavericks worked the San Antonio lead down to 10 points with just under four minutes remaining, forcing a Spurs timeout. The Mavericks made a few last-gasp runs trying to make it a clutch game, but the team didn’t have enough baskets and defense in them. Dallas fell 76-69. Dallas plays the Hornets Monday afternoon for their next Vegas contest.

Can’t win if you can’t score​

The Mavericks were pressed from pillar to post against the Spurs. Rare was a possession where a given ball handler bringing the ball up the court didn’t see a defender eagerly attempting to disrupt the possession, even 60 feet away from the basket.

While this happened against Los Angeles as well, something about the nature of the physicality of the Spurs defense got Dallas off track for the entirety of the first half. Dallas hung around through free throws and grit, but the Mavericks had a hard time finding good shot attempts against a swarming Spurs defense.

The Mavericks ended the game with 24 made field goals with 16 of those coming in the second half. They shot just 37% as a team and it was much lower than that for most of the contest. Dallas connected on just six of their 26 threes and those misses doomed Dallas against a tough Spurs squad.

Flagg rising​

If you missed this game, the Flagg box score should excite you. 31 points on 20 shots along with 13 trips to the free throw line. He didn’t have many rebounds or assists, but Dallas couldn’t hit a shot on offense and sometimes the ball just doesn’t bounce your way to get boards.

I’m still not in love with how much Dallas is isolating Flagg, but he’s got the one-on-one skills and strength to bull his way to the basket or get separation for a jumper. He’s got the kind of game that silences skeptics. It simply takes watching an entire Flagg game. A few more random Flagg thoughts:

• Watching Flagg play with an ineffective center like Jamarion Sharp is frustrating, but it leads to day dreams about seeing Flagg with Anthony Davis, Derrick Lively, and Daniel Gafford.
• Flagg is going to need to take fewer long Kevin Garnett jumpers just inside the three-point line. He seems to like stepping into shots versus a catch-and-shoot. Maybe he could work on a side-step three?
• Don’t take that the wrong way, he shot eight threes, making three of them, so he’s shooting plenty. I just don’t like long twos if you can make a three.
• Flagg’s defensive awareness and side-to-side movement is really fun to watch. He seems to appear in the right place on defense sometimes.
• Having Cooper Flagg is awesome.

Dylan Harper is ridiculous​

He’s going to be a bear to play against four times a year for the foreseeable future. He’s NBA ready right now and is really fun to watch.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...-final-score-76-69-cooper-flagg-ryan-nembhard

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Wings Things: Dallas gets a brutal welcome to the WNBA’s Paige Bueckers vs. Caitlin Clark Era

Getty Images

The Indiana Fever beat the Wings for the second time this season, 102-83, in Indianapolis.

The spectacle of Game 1 of the WNBA’s Caitlin Clark vs. Paige Bueckers Era, fueled by the emergence of the game’s two youngest budding superstars, turned into an old-fashioned whoopin’ as the game got away from Bueckers’ Dallas Wings (6-16) in the second quarter on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Turnovers mounted for the Wings in the third quarter after the Fever (11-10) raced to a huge lead with an immaculate offensive display in the second. Clark became just the second player in WNBA history to pile up 10 or more points, 10 or more assists and five or more steals multiple times in her career in the Fever’s 102-83 win.

Both Clark and Bueckers showed off their proficiency from way beyond the arc in the first quarter. Bueckers hit a 29-footer with 5:40 left in the frame to give the Wings an early 16-11 lead after Clark sunk a 27-footer on the Fever’s second possession of the game.

Clark, still on a minutes restriction (28 minutes, according to the national broadcast) in her third game back from a recent groin injury, wowed the Indianapolis crowd with a touchdown pass to a streaking Sophie Cunningham in transition after blocking a driving attempt from Dallas guard JJ Quinerly. She dropped the dime, her fourth of the game, with 6:54 left in the first half for the basket that put the Fever up 37-31 and forced a Wings timeout. Clark dished seven assists in the first half and finished with a game-high 13.

That touchdown pass was part of a 25-4 run through the middle of the second that saw Indiana’s lead grow to as big as 23 points, up 58-35 on Cunningham’s 3-pointer from the wing with 2:04 left in the first half, which came on a savvy find from Clark for her sixth assist of the game.

Bueckers’ second 3-ball (another deep one, from 31 feet away) of the game halted the run that saw Indiana shooting 15-for-18 in the first eight minutes of the second quarter, but only temporarily. Clark responded with her second from the left wing with 48 seconds to play before halftime and shouted to pump up the home crowd on her way back up the floor. At full strength, that’s just the kind of team the Fever are. You’re running with them, then you look up, and all of a sudden, they’re up 20 on you. They wield lethal firepower up and down the roster and the big shots come from every direction, inside and out.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever shoots the ball against Paige Bueckers #5 of the Dallas Wings during the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Clark went down in a heap after Bueckers forced a miss with a rallying contest on Clark’s drive in transition with 5:45 left in the second quarter. Clark grimaced in discomfort on the Fever’s next offensive possession and exited the game midway through the second, still on schedule with her minutes restriction. She came back in late in the second.

Clark filled the stat sheet with 10 points, seven assists and three steals in the first half, while Bueckers tallied 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting for Dallas. Kelsey Mitchell and Natasha Howard quietly led all scorers in the first half with 13 points apiece on 12-of-14 shooting between them as the Fever sprinted to a 64-42 lead at the break. The Fever outscored the Wings 36-15 in the second, and their 64 points were the most scored by any team in any half this season.

The Clark-Bueckers 1-on-1 matchup never really materialized on the floor, as Clark worked over the defensive efforts of Quinerly and Aziaha James and got the ball out of her hands quickly when open teammates presented themselves. Sophie Cunningham and Lexie Hull hounded Bueckers as primary defenders on the other end.

Bueckers and Clark exchanged tough jumpers in the third quarter, but Indiana was already up by 25 points at that point. Clark scored 14 points, dished 13 assists and took away a career-high tying five steals in the rout, while Bueckers finished her 35 minutes with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting for the Wings in the loss. Bueckers also turned the ball over four times on Sunday, after going off for 27 points in the teams’ first meeting of the season on June 27.

The objective spectator would have to score Round 1 of Clark-Bueckers in Clark’s favor, but another thing Sunday’s game underscored was that the Fever have a much more complete team around their superstar than the Wings have at this point. Aliyah Boston (17 points, 7-of-11 shooting) is a force to be reckoned with on the interior, Mitchell (20 points, 8-of-12 shooting) and Howard (18 points, 8-of-9 shooting) attacked the Dallas defense to shoot 16-of-21 from the field in the win, and sharpshooters Cunningham (13 points, five rebounds, 2-of-3 3-point shooting) and Hull (3 points) are always waiting along the wing for their open looks that come as a result of an offense that just doesn’t quit.

Wings’ guard Arike Ogunbowale went 0-for-10 from the field in her first game back from a thumb injury. Quinerly, who has recently emerged as the team’s starting point guard, was looked at for a potential rib injury in the third quarter but ultimately checked back into the game late in the frame. Li Yueru chipped in 16 points and five rebounds for the Wings, one game after piling up 18 points and 10 boards in Wednesday’s 87-76 loss at the Chicago Sky.

Bueckers, Clark, the Wings and the Fever will meet once more this season, on Aug. 1, in a game that was recently moved to American Airlines Center. The two teams’ first meeting of the year drew a Wings franchise record 20,409 attendance, though Clark sat out the matchup with her groin injury. Dallas returns home to face former Wing NaLyssa Smith and the Las Vegas Aces (10-11) on Wednesday at Arlington’s College Park Center.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...indiana-fever-paige-bueckers-vs-caitlin-clark

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs Preview: An old rivalry with new faces

Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images

Another national tv Dallas NBA Summer League game

The Dallas Mavericks play their second Las Vegas Summer League game, this time against the San Antonio Spurs. It’s on ESPN again and features the number one and number two picks from June’s NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. The first game was shockingly good from Dallas against the Lakers, we’ll see if they can find a way to pull through again.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs
• WHAT: The first game of Las Vegas Summer League for the Dallas Mavericks
• WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
• WHEN: 3:00 p.m. CST
• HOW: ESPN

The injury report isn’t a thing again but Dylan Harper is on a minutes restriction. Cooper Flagg did play a lot on Friday, 31+ minutes, so we’lll see how many he plays today. It’s unclear if this is his last game in Vegas or if we’ll get to see one more.

It’s worth paying close attention to Miles Kelly and Ryan Nembhard again, each were stand outs in the Friday game. Flagg’s shot volume and ball handling will also be something to keep an eye out for. But remember not to overreact too much and try to enjoy the game. Flagg is only going to get better.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...art-time-tv-stream-injury-report-how-to-watch

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

2025 NBA Cup set, Mavericks grouped with Lakers

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks will face Luka Doncic among others, in the league’s third iteration of the in-season tournament.

The NBA released groupings for the 2025 NBA Cup this week, the in-season tournament that takes place in the fall and culminates in a semifinal and final Dec. 13 and 16 in Las Vegas. The Dallas Mavericks will participate in West Group B alongside the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans, facing each team in a round robin format. Group stage games kick-off Oct. 31, and lasts until Nov. 28.

The NBA Cup in its third year sees the 30 league teams split into six groups (three groups per conference). Each team will play four games, two home and two away, with eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals — the six group winners with an added wildcard winner from each conference based on cup record. In addition to group play, the quarterfinals and semifinals will count toward regular season record. For those that don’t advance to the knockout stages, substitute games will be added to fill out regular season schedules.

While it’s a stated random draw, the league put their randomizer to work and paired Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks with Luka Doncic and the Lakers. Expect the spotlight to lean in on that game. All things considered Dallas has a lighter group compared to West Group C which features: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, and San Antonio Spurs.

The Mavericks improved from the inaugural cup, where they were eliminated in group play, by advancing to the quarterfinals. That round saw them face the eventual cup runner-up Oklahoma City Thunder, losing 118-104. Last year’s eventual winner was the Milwaukee Bucks.

Full schedules, which games will be home or road, and set dates will be announced in the future. Cooper Flagg can set his sights first on a summer league trophy before turning his attention to trophies elsewhere.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...cooper-flagg-luka-doncic-in-season-tournament

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks center Dereck Lively II has foot surgery

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The young center is expected to be healthy for the start of next season

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II underwent a successful foot surgery this week, according to reports by ESPN’s Shams Charania and NBA insider Marc Stein, to remove bone spurs from his foot. The 21-year old big man entering his third season with the Mavericks is expected to be healthy and recovered in time for training camp in a couple months.

After a productive rookie season that saw him play an impactful role in the team’s run to the NBA Finals, Lively battled injury in hi sophomore campaign. Limited to just 36 games last season, Lively was still a key player in the roller-coaster ride of last season while averaging 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks in 23 minutes per game.

His season was derailed by an injury the Mavericks reported as a right ankle stress fracture that forced him to miss over two months. With the season already lost Lively returned in April to appear in four games where he posted averages of just 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 15 minutes per game.

Lively’s injury was one in an avalanche of injuries the team sustained in 2025, all in the midst of turmoil related to the team’s strength and conditioning and athletic training staff. The team has already made moves this offseason to change some of that personnel and will certainly be under the microscope heading into next season while fans eagerly await the return of Kyrie Irving in the back half of the regular season.

The hope would be this procedure clears up any remaining hindrances for Lively — though it is worth noting that back in April team general manager Nico Harrison stated he did not believe Lively would need any future surgeries related to the ankle injury. We now find ourselves a few months later with this report.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2025/...-ii-has-foot-surgery-kyrie-irving-injury-news

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview and Game Thread: So it begins

Cooper Flagg’s first game as a Dallas Maverick

Basketball is finally back for fans of the Dallas Mavericks as the team faces off in a primetime game Thursday evening against the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s the debut of Cooper Flagg, the recent number one overall draft pick. Dallas last saw the court as part of the NBA Play-In where they were waxed by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers last saw the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Though the players are different, this matchup should provide fireworks for all involved.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers
• WHAT: The first game of Las Vegas Summer League for the Dallas Mavericks
• WHERE: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
• WHEN: 7:00 p.m. CST
• HOW: ESPN

The injury report... well, there isn’t one. It’s Summer League. But, as far as we know, everyone we’re interested in playing should suit up and get minutes. As far as what we’re looking for, you can read Tyler Edsel’s power ranking of Dallas players. David Trink also has this post here about three players he wants to see this weekend.

Having Ryan Nembhard as point is going to make a big difference in the quality of the game, but seeing Flagg as the play initiator is worth paying close attention to. I’m pretty excited about seeing Dallas basketball again; anything resembling good play will be a bonus.

Josh and I will have a live show shortly after the game and I’ll be writing a recap. We’re bound to have other content too, so check back with Mavs Moneyball tonight and tomorrow. Thanks for hanging out, let’s go Mavericks. hanks for hangin

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...art-time-tv-stream-injury-report-how-to-watch

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

NBA Draft 2026: Players to watch in the ACC

The once proud basketball conference that is the ACC has taken a bit of a nosedive in recent years. It was just a few short years ago that saw Final Four’s filled with the likes of North Carolina, Miami, Virginia and Louisville. Now, only the Duke Blue Devils have been the constant for this conference. 2025-26 on the surface seems better for this league, as the overall talent level has gone up with the additions of some quality coaches and transfer portal classes. But who are the players to watch in this conference?

Ten players to watch​

10. Nikolas Khamenia​

6’8” Forward, Duke​

One thing about Duke is that they are not afraid to sign and rely on freshmen, even in this portal era. Khamenia is the first of two Devils that you’ll see here, as the true freshman was the number 15 prospect in the country, per 247 sports. Expect him to contribute right away.

9. Markus Burton​

5’11” Guard, Notre Dame​

Do you like buckets? If so, I have the player for you to watch. Burton is a bucket getter, scoring 21 points per game on nearly 38% shooting from deep as a sophomore last year. The thing that will hold him back in NBA conversations is his size, as he is very undersized. However, I would highly recommend watching him play at least once.

8. J’Vonne Hadley​

6’6” Guard, Louisville​

Louisville coach Pat Kelsey did a nice job keeping Hadley around for a fifth year in college. Hadley is a bruising guard, who at 6’6” and nearly 220 pounds, is built more like a wide receiver than a guard. He plays that way as well, with over seven boards per game last year and a field goal percentage of 52%. It’s reminiscent of Jalen Pickett from Penn State, which was good enough to get him to the league. It should be good enough for Hadley, too.

7. Isaac McKneely​

6’4” Guard, Louisville​

Yet another Cardinal, and it won’t be the last either. Louisville hit the portal to bring in McKneely, who was one of the best three-point shooters in the ACC last season at Virginia. Whether he comes off the bench or lands in the starting five, expect a heavy dose of McKneely to help Louisville space the floor. He projects to have NBA-ready shooting.

6. Naithan George​

6’3” Guard, Syracuse​

George is potentially the best true point guard in the country, having led the ACC in assists last year at Georgia Tech. George is an all-around player, averaging over 12 points per contest to go along with his assist total. With highly touted freshmen Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White (more on them later) flanking him, expect those numbers to increase in 2025-26.

5. Darrion Williams​

6’6” Forward, North Carolina State​

Former LSU Head Coach Will Wade has successfully cleaned his image while down at McNeese State, and his return to the big leagues brought with it a major investment into the basketball program at NC State. Williams, the headliner of the portal additions, excelled at Texas Tech, to the point where many thought he’d be in the 2025 Draft. By going back to school, NC State will look to feature him in route to making it back to March Madness.

4. Sadiq White​

6’8” Forward, Syracuse​

The first of the two highly touted freshmen that Cuse brought in is Sadiq White, a forward out of IMG Academy. White decided to go to Syracuse over the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois and Tennessee, among others. White will immediately provide vertical spacing for the Orange, as his bounce and explosiveness is near the top of his class.

3. Kiyan Anthony​

6’5” Guard, Syracuse​

I mean, come on, who isn’t excited to watch Carmelo’s kid play at Carmelo’s alma mater in a year that will define where this storied program is in this new era? Kiyan is a tough shot taker and maker, much like Carmelo. However, Kiyan has developed a nice floor game that should continue to develop I college. You can tell when watching him that he learned how to play from a pro. I can’t wait to see him play.

2. Mikel Brown​

6’3” Guard, Louisville​

Mikel Brown might already be the most skilled guard in the ACC and he hasn’t played a minute of ball yet. With Team USA over the summer, Brown averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game in route to winning Gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup. There’s no ceiling here for Brown, especially if he can grow into his frame while in college. He could be the number one pick in the Draft if things go right.

1. Cam Boozer​

6’9” Forward, Duke​

Remember what I said about Duke’s propensity to start and rely on freshmen? On this side of Cooper Flagg, there might not be a bigger lock in this class than Cam Boozer. Already 235 pounds, he’s got the frame to play any type of game that Duke needs him to. He’s an elite passer for his position, and he rebounds the ball at a high level. If the shot translates, he’s going to be beyond special.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...in-the-acc-basketball-duke-boozer-mikel-kiyan

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Dallas Mavericks waive Olivier Maxence-Prosper

According to multiple media sources, the Dallas Mavericks have opted to waive and stretch third year forward Olivier Maxence-Prosper.

The Mavericks are waiving-and-stretching the contract of Olivier-Maxence Prosper after a lengthy search for a trade, league sources say.

Dallas took it to the 5 PM ET deadline today for teams to use the provision. It can now re-sign Dante Exum.

More: https://t.co/PoqCNkWjXt pic.twitter.com/a5sBVjXiWq

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 29, 2025

The Mavericks were on the hunt for a trade partner, as reported by DLLS’s Marc Stein, for either Prosper or Jaden Hardy, each of whom were under reasonably priced contracts. Dallas needed to make room to bring on guard Dante Exum to bolster depth in the ball handling area. The move was also needed to help keep the Mavericks under the dreaded second apron.

Unfortunately, those trade discussions never went anywhere. Teams were only interested if Dallas was willing to include one of their few remaining second round picks with O-Max. The remainder of his salary (one year) will be stretched over a multi-year period across the Dallas Mavericks salary cap.

Prosper was acquired as part o a draft night trade in 2023 with the Sacramento Kings. He, along with Richaun Holmes, were sent to the Mavericks for cash considerations. O-Max joined a team starved for size and at 6’8” and 230 pounds, the hope was that he develop into a multi-position forward, similar to the mold of former Dallas player Dorian Finney -Smith. He played 92 games over the past two seasons with Dallas, averaging 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds.

While it’s rare to see first-round picks waived before the end of their first contract, Prosper was stuck at the very end of a deep logjam at forward. Dallas needs Exum and his skillset more than Prosper and if a trade wasn’t possible on the market, this decision was all that remained to the team.

Given his age and size, he’s likely to get at least one more NBA shot, but he also did not show much development in his two seasons in the NBA. Despite not working out, Dallas made a reasonable gamble in 2023 with the selection. Large, skilled forwards are hard to acquire without spending (look at the Dallas salary sheet for further proof) and the low risk, high reward option in the latter part of the first round of the draft was a worthwhile gamble, even if it will cost Dallas in the literal sense(he will remain on the salary cap) for several years. Now the Mavericks can proceed with re-signing Exum.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/mavericks-news/49904/dallas-mavericks-waive-olivier-maxence-prosper

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

The EuroBasket Corner: For Mavs fans who still want to follow international ball

For 30 years, Maverick fans have had to follow international basketball to not miss out on Dallas Mavericks players competing over the summer. Even though the Dallas front office may be done with Europeans in Dallas and traded them all away, doesn’t mean that Mavs fans are. You may still want to follow along, and if that’s the case, this is the place for you.

This week, Eurobasket officially began, and that means entertaining basketball and superstar clashes every day on the court – and friction between nations and players – off the court. Every day for three weeks.

This EuroBasket Corner will give you the big stories, as well as the small rumors, beef and drama of the tournament.

Let’s start with Slovenia, a team well known to Mavs fans, with a superstar trying to hold it all together, as per the usual. It’s a story as old as time, Luka Doncic once again having to carry and lead a roster of mediocre players. But the new part is that during the prep phase some internal drama, usually kept private, saw the light of day, involving the Dragic’s and the team’s leadership. This is a much more complicated story, and its beginnings go back years, but if you’re interested in the newest developments, you can read more about that story here.

Luka Doncic was also reportedly more disappointed in his team and their effort than ever after the substantial loss to Serbia in the last prep game. According to coach Sekulic, Doncic had a lot to say to the group after the game. Edo Muric said afterwards that the team never felt so bad before as they did after that game. Muric described it as a “reality check” and emphasized that now the team is extra motivated to prove themselves, because they don’t want that to happen again.

Unfortunately, Doncic’s disappointment has plenty of reason to linger, as Slovenia took a hit with a loss in their first game Thursday against Poland 95-105. Like the ghosts of quarterfinals past (Eurobasket 2022), Poland didn’t let Slovenia get close more than once and their modest depth was too much for the Slovenian roster. As Alen Omic, their newly returned big man, hesitated to be an offensive threat, Slovenia went small with Edo Muric on the five. This was where Slovenia was best, but the lack of depth is a challenge not even Luka Doncic can overcome by himself.

Doncic showed a significant improvement in his quickness on defense from the perimeter, as well as his first step, however, and was extremely focused both on offense and defense. A summer well-spent is clearly showing off.

LUKA STUFF

What a defensive sequence for the Slovenian star. pic.twitter.com/uYodhits30

— NBA (@NBA) August 28, 2025

Nikola Jokic and Serbia keep looking like the best team in the world, yes I said it and stand by it, and in their first 98-64 win over Estonia, they lived up to all the hype. And of course Jokic keeps looking like the best player in the world.

This angle
pic.twitter.com/ifIcZgacGy

— Dan (@the_d_reed) August 27, 2025

Türkiye also looked impressive in their first game, the size of this team is extraordinary and Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets) just keeps dominating. With a roster full of EuroLeague stars next to Sengun, like Shane Larkin and Cedi Osman, the question is now: could they be a real contender? A team to watch and a player to watch.

Sengun showed out in Türkiye's opening @EuroBasket win

16 points
8 boards
7 dimes
1 insane block pic.twitter.com/3pbiaqq07u

— NBA (@NBA) August 27, 2025

Giannis Antetokounmpo looked like NBA MVP Giannis in Greece’s first win against Italy, where he completely dominated in the paint and showed just how much of a force he can be. Greece may be one to watch, as well, if he keeps this up, because not many teams in this tournament have players who can stop him downhill or in the paint – and Greece has more depth than most teams. Giannis had 31 points in the 75-66 win over Italy.

points for an unstoppable Giannis tonight #EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/p3jTwyyKjZ

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 28, 2025

Upset of the day: Tiny country and huge underdog Georgia upset the reigning champions Spain in their first game 83-69. Impressive start for Georgia led by NBA players Mamu (Sandro Mamukelashvili, Toronto Raptors) and Goga Bitadze (Orlando Magic).

UPSET ALERT

Mamu and Bitadze combine for 34PTS to help Georgia take down the reigning champs Spain!#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/TVWOtCTWk3

— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) August 28, 2025

Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz) is famous for his FIBA dominance by now and seems to take a leap with every competition in Finland’s blue and white colors. He averaged 40 points in three prep games and almost 54 percent from three. Markkanen and Finland got their first win in the Nordic matchup against Sweden 90-93.

Jonas Valanciunas of Lithuania (and the Denver Nuggets) put up a great performance in their win against Great Britain and he managed to rise to fourth in the FIBA EuroBasket rebounding charts, overtaking Spain’s Marc Gasol on the opening day.

Beef of the day – or kerfuffle may be a better word here – goes to the old emotions-on-hissleeve Luka Doncic, who is not a fan of losing to Poland and was upset at the officiating most of the second half.

Things are getting heated between Luka Doncic and the Polish national team #EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/yHyvC5UV87

— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) August 28, 2025

FIBA Eurobasket takes place from 27. August to 14. September. You can subscribe to access all games here: Courtside 1891.

Find more Beyond Basketball pieces here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/beyond-basketball/49885/eurobasket-for-dallas-mavericks-fans

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Can Kyrie Irving return to peak form?

At almost six months to the week since he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, clips are beginning to surface of Kyrie Irving getting some work in on the basketball court. Mind you, he has a long way to go, but seeing Irving shooting and nailing shots from behind the arch (in the below clip) does provide some modicum of comfort that his return to form could come sooner than later. But how close to full form will that be? Obviously, as with any major injury, you don’t want him to rush back or return before it’s fully healed (i.e. Anthony Davis in his first Dallas Mavericks game, SMH…). But it does appear as if he’s been doing everything within his power these last 6 months to get himself on track for a full (and hopefully speedy) recovery. While being able to hit a jump shot doesn’t translate to lateral quickness, it is nevertheless a good sign to see him this far along in mobility work.

Kyrie was seen getting shots up at the NBPA facility in New York

( @CountOnVic) pic.twitter.com/s6v8wnxlJz

— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) August 30, 2025

The impact of last season’s blockbuster trade can be seen in equal measures within the team’s stacked front court as well as its depleted back court. Irving’s injury not only spelled doom for the Maverick’s playoff chances last year, it also created a huge question mark for their expectations this coming season. Without a reliable (to say nothing of elite) facilitator/deep threat/drive threat (etc.) to keep the defenses honest, teams will no doubt cheat towards help in the paint in an effort to quell the Mav’s hugely talented (and just plain huge) front court.

The addition of D’Angelo Russell this offseason will serve as something of a stopgap. He can give you 25 minutes and 12 points on the regular, but there’s a reason he’s been moved seven times in ten years. He’s not in the upper echelon of guards. Bringing back Dante Exum will help from a defensive standpoint, but it’s hard to imagine him willing himself into becoming the standout guard that ties everything together for Dallas next season. While I could’ve imagined Jaden Hardy eventually being that player immediately after witnessing his rookie season, it’s not even worth considering at this point. Max Christie? Brandon Williams? TBD. They have enough talent to get by, but with the absence of Irving so soon after Doncic’s departure, the team’s available guard talent has quickly gone from elite to middling.

Be that as it may, if the defense-first roster and mindset Dallas has been working on can be successful enough to get into the playoffs, Irving’s return – if he’s at anywhere near his 100% from the last couple of years – could well be the spark that gets them over the hump. With many assuming that there’s little chance he can return to his previous peak condition at his age after such a serious injury, it’s worth wondering what the chances are that he actually can. I think the real question is, assuming that he doesn’t, how close does he have to get to that peak form to lead them to a championship? His on-court IQ and the overall leadership he’s demonstrated since becoming a Maverick are intangibles that can make up for some small loss of performance speed. Only time will tell whose expectations are the most accurate.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/mavericks-roster/49903/can-kyrie-irving-return-to-peak-form

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Three tips to help Cowboys fans get over the worst trade in your franchise’s history

For the second time in seven months, a Dallas franchise has traded their cornerstone player. One week before their season opener, the Dallas Cowboys traded all world EDGE rusher Micah Parsons to a longtime rival of the Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers. The Cowboys netted two first-round picks (which is one more than the Mavs got for Luka, but who’s counting?) and a quality starter, but it is still seen as a below market return.

The city of Dallas has now seen both Micah Parsons and Luka Dončić — each currently just 26 years old — traded away in 2025. pic.twitter.com/oAVBOUVFGJ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 28, 2025

As survivors of the even worse Luka Doncic trade, we here at Mavs Moneyball would like to offer some advice to our good friends at Blogging the Boys and Cowboys fans everywhere.

Anger and apathy​

“Fire Nico” took on a life of its own over the course of the last seven months, with fiery renditions of the chant being heard everywhere from the American Airlines Center to your local grocery store. We here at Mavs Moneyball wrote countless articles voicing our displeasure. To be honest, it felt good to get that off of our chests! Nothing is stopping you from this as well. Cowboy fans have been mad at Jerry for 25 years now, so surely you’ve got plenty of ammunition.

I expect fireworks at home games, especially when the Packers come to town September 28th. After that, why not focus all of your football love into Saturday’s? The college game is boatloads of total chaos. Indifference and apathy are key here. Go hit that no good Cowboy organization where it hurts: Their wallet.

“Give the new guy a chance!” is nice, but not reality​

I don’t mean this in a cold hearted way, but more as just a realist. The majority of fans you’ll come across hold no ill will towards Anthony Davis or Max Christie. But you can ask that same majority of fans whether or not they root for or like those players, and you’ll hear a wider variety of answers. The same will go here for the Cowboys. Kenny Clark is a very good player and likeable guy. But much like Davis, he’s walking into a situation that he can’t win. No matter what, he is not Micah Parsons and that is okay to admit. The best way forward is to totally flip the page.

It’s okay to follow the old guy, too​

Cowboy fans spent four years watching Micah Parsons grow into one of the very best players in the NFL. That journey is amazing, just like watching Doncic develop into the killer that he is, too. When that is very suddenly ripped away, it’s hard to compartmentalize. There’s nothing wrong with rooting for your guy as well as your team. Sports are supposed to be galvanizing, passionate, and inherently joyful. When your team chooses to make them none of those things, it’s okay to follow the player who did make you feel that.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/site-...er-the-worst-trade-in-your-franchises-history

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: Coming off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks

Earlier this week, we ran a poll asking which of three Dallas Mavericks players would be the odd man out of the starting line up and would have to come off the bench. The results were definitive, but still worth discussing.

I think we can make the assumption that Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, and a healthy Derrick Lively are locked in as starters (but okay toss in Daniel Gafford instead of you want him as the center, it’s fine either way). That’s three guys, which leaves two spots between the guys in the poll: Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, and PJ Washington.

Washington getting 50% of the vote of who is coming off the bench makes the most sense. I think I wouldn’t mind Flagg starting the season that way, but PJ is primed to be like Antawn Jameson was for the Mavericks 20 years ago. He hopefully signs an extension soon, so we can worry about his role a little less.

Klay Thompson coming in at second with 34% the vote is interesting. I wonder if the fans who think he should be the guy off the bench forget who else is good at actually dribbling. It’s not a strong suit of PJ, but he’s fine in a pinch. Klay can actually handle the rock and the Mavericks need that.

Cooper Flagg got just 16% of the vote. To me, that means fans want him to start, and second, there’s a growing appreciation for what his ball handling brings to a team that lacks it. Thereare still lots of fun Flagg bets at FanDuel that you should totally check out here. Flagg off the bench provides a real punch, but I doubt it happens, Flagg’s just that good.

It’s going to be interesting to see what does and doesn’t work when the Mavericks season starts. They have a lot of options and a somewhat soft schedule to try different combinations.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...coming-off-the-bench-for-the-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Five Mavericks made the list of the top 25 players since 2000

CBS Sports recently released a list of the 25 best players from the last 25 years:

CBS Sports’ Top 25 NBA players of the 21st century:

1. LeBron James
2. Stephen Curry
3. Tim Duncan
4. Nikola Jokic
5. Shaquille O'Neal
6. Kobe Bryant
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo
8. Kevin Durant
9. Kevin Garnett
10. Dirk Nowitzki
11. Dwyane Wade
12. Chris Paul
13. Kawhi…

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 25, 2025

LeBron James clocks in at number one, and Russell Westbrook sneaks on at 25. In between them, five Mavericks players appear, with Dirk Nowitzki leading the pack at number 10. Head coach Jason Kidd and Anthony Davis both cracked the top 20, ranked 17th and 19th, respectively. Luka Doncic is ahead of Kidd at 17, and Steve Nash is just in front of him at 14. In a lot of ways, these five players have been the defining quintet when you talk about the biggest storylines for Dallas over the last quarter-century. It makes sense that they are all among the best guys to have played since the turn of the century.

Nowitzki resides just above Dwyane Wade (11) and below Kevin Garnett (9). It is a bit of a give-and-take to have Nowitzki there; on one hand, it is sweet to see him above Wade, who is on a short list of Mavericks villains. On the other hand, having him below Garnett is offensive to the career Nowitzki had and the legacy he left, especially when you factor in Nowitzki’s 33 points and 16 rebounds a night in his three-game sweep of Garnett in 2002.

Steve Nash is sandwiched between Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Having him ahead of Harden is interesting, as they both do not have a ring, and The Beard is one of the most prolific scorers to ever play the game. Of course, Nash affected the game in a way that statistics don’t totally capture, and he has two MVP awards. Having them back-to-back on this list is quite the nod to Mike D’Antoni.

Luka Doncic and Jason Kidd are behind them, making three Mavericks point guards in four spots. Doncic’s talent certainly would warrant a higher ranking, but it is hard to place him above any of the 15 guys ahead of him, who all have tenure that he doesn’t. Kidd‘s ranking is probably correct, and just like Nash, his statistics didn’t fully quantify his impact.

Anthony Davis rounds out the collection of Mavericks as he sneaks in the top 20 behind Dwight Howard and in front of Allen Iverson. This is another solid position, but I have to imagine that if Davis had more than one ring, or perhaps even won his championship under different circumstances, he would be much higher on this list. He was in “future face of the league” talks early in his career, but he just never elevated to the top like a lot of people thought he would. Either way, he is an elite talent and deserves his rank on the list.

There will be plenty of lists released in the future like this one. Although these aren’t the gospel, they do show a consensus that the Mavericks and their players have been key pieces of the league for a long time. Now Dallas has a young rookie in Cooper Flagg who projects to be a great player. Maybe when the next one of these all-encompassing lists is released, the Mavericks will have six guys on it, or more.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ade-the-list-of-the-top-25-players-since-2000