RSS Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets — Mavericks vs. Hornets: Rookie Bowl

Dallas gets dropped straight into the deep end after the weather-forced pause, hosting Charlotte on a night where both teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Hornets arrive with a lot of January buzz and a shiny offensive profile, while the Mavericks quietly sit in a familiar role: short home dog, still not fully trusted by the market.

Let’s scan the lines in search of value.

Fixture:
Charlotte Hornets (20–28, 11–15 Away)
@ Dallas Mavericks (19–28, 14–13 Home)
American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX
7:30 PM CST, January 29, 2026
KFAA-TV / NBA App

DraftKings Odds (as of 2:30 AM CST):
Spread: Hornets -4.5 (-102) | Mavericks +4.5 (-118)
Total: 227.5 (O -115 / U -105)
Moneyline: Hornets -166 | Mavericks +140

Game Side Pick: Mavericks +4.5

Charlotte’s been the league’s January darling — hot from deep, elite in net rating, and finally playing with the kind of rhythm that moves markets. On paper, they’ve earned their favorite tag.

But tonight’s context reshuffles things. Dallas had key players sit versus Minnesota, giving them fresher legs than a normal back-to-back team, and they’ve quietly led the league in opponent three-point percentage this season. That strength shows up exactly where Charlotte wants to live — on the perimeter, in rhythm, with space.

Player Props:

Max Christie Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-129)

Charlotte’s defensive attention is likely to tilt toward the primary creators, which keeps Christie in the flow as a release valve on the perimeter. In a matchup that projects toward pace and scoring, this number feels a touch light for a shooter who sports a green light along with Klay Thompson. Coming off a down game, we get a bit of value here.

Moussa Diabate Over 9.5 Points (-108)

Front-court players usually have nice nights facing a decimated Mavs front court. That should hold true here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ericks-vs-hornets-rookie-bowl-and-trade-smoke

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Hornets Preview and Injury Update: Cooper vs Kon

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 11: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets during a pre-season game on October 11, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (19-28) host the Charlotte Hornets (20-28) on Thursday night. Dallas is playing the second night of a back-to-back, falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Hornets have won 4 in a row and look great as they try to surge up the standings. It’s a fun night for the Mavericks as they retire the jersey of 1981 number overall pick Mark Aguirre, a much overdue event.

Heres the main things you need to know before tipoff.

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Charlotte Hornets
• WHAT: Retiring Mark Aguirre’s jersey
• WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
• HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass

Both Cooper Flagg and Klay Thompson are playing tonight after missing the last game with variations on injury management. Brandon Williams is questionable with an ankle injury. Naji Marshall is getting the game off after not missing a game all season. Moussa Cisse is questionable as well. Grant Williams and Mason Plumlee are missing this game for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is listed as probable with a left ankle injury.

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Expect a charged game for the Mavericks. Dirk Nowitzki’s expected to be in the building along with Isaiah Thomas to see Aguirre’s jersey retired. It’s going to be an emotional thing for Aguirre. As for the game itself, I think Flagg and Kon go at it in a major way. The Charlotte Hornets are playing much better ball as of late and Dallas might be heading the opposite direction. Institutionally, the Mavericks are tanking, but do not tell the players that. It should be a much better game than the Wolves game where Dallas loooked nearly listless.

Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!

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

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades: Recapping the Mavericks 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets talk after the game at American Airlines Center on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In a game that was billed as a historic clash between two rookie sensations, Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel both delivered in a back and forth game that Dallas lost 123-121.

Flagg poured in a historic 49 point game, while Knueppel exploded for 34, including the game winning free throws.

To the grades!

Cooper Flagg: A+​

49 PTS / 10 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 38 MIN​

When the Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg, it singlehandedly saved the franchise, and so far he has far exceeded every single lofty expectation.

His defense, passing, and IQ were to be expected, but this kind of scoring output was seen as an eventual ceiling, not an immediate skill. Many draft analysts even questioned if he could ever be a number one option.

Scoring at this level at his age has never been seen before, as he became the first teenager to ever score more than 45 points in a game, something even Lebron could not accomplish.

While this season has been tough to get through, games like this are why we tune in every single night, because you never know when Cooper Flagg will make history.

P.J. Washington: D-​

14 PTS / 9 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 35 MIN​

P.J. Washington has not been good this year, and when the Mavericks have needed him, he has come up short.

While his box score numbers aren’t bad, his efficiency was terrible, and he frequently hijacked possessions with ill-advised drives.

If P.J. continues this kind of play, the Mavericks have to seek out trade suitors for Washington.

Daniel Gafford: C​

5 PTS / 4 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 25 MIN​

It is not a hot take to say that Daniel Gafford is currently the worst center on the Mavericks roster.

Now, whether it due to injury, or a lack of Luka lobs, Gafford has simply been bad for most of this season. His usual effort and energy has not been felt, and his automatic shot making around the rim has abandoned him.

Until he can get fully healthy, the Mavericks should continue to give more minutes to both Moussa Cisse and Dwight Powell.

Caleb Martin: B​

6 PTS / 11 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 27 MIN​

Perhaps the most shocking turnaround this season has been Caleb Martin, who has become a valuable role player for this team.

This game in particular showcased his defensive value, as he contributed 3 STOCKS, and was flying around all game long.

If the Mavericks choose to move off of some of their wing depth at the trade deadline, Martin seems poised to take on a larger role.

Max Christie: C​

13 PTS/ 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 29 MIN​

The Cormac caravan has unfortunately ground to a halt due to Christie’s recent cold stretch.

The Mavericks desperately missed his shooting in this game, as he went only 1-7. This type of shooting from Christie usually spells doom for their chances, as there isn’t going to be shooting from many others on the roster.

Hopefully Christie can break out of his slump, because the Mavericks cannot survive without him.

Klay Thompson: B-​

16 PTS / 3 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 27 MIN​

With the trade deadline 1 week away, we may be approaching the final games for Klay Thompson in a Maverick uniform.

Klay was solid in this game, but his defense on Kon Knueppel left much to be desired, as the rookie sniper had plenty of success generating space.

If Klay does get traded, I have no doubt that he can still provide a spark of scoring off the bench.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...316/player-grades-recapping-mavericks-hornets

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Cooper Flagg just played one of the best basketball games by an NBA rookie, ever

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks makes a move to the basket against Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Only eight NBA rookies have ever scored more points in a game than Cooper Flagg did in the Dallas Mavericks’ (19-29) heartbreaking 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets at American Airlines Center on Thursday.

Wilt Chamberlain scored 52 or more points five times in his rookie season of 1959-60 and owns the single-game rookie scoring record of 58 points, which came against the New York Knicks on Feb. 21, 1960. Five years later, Rick Barry scored 57 points as a rookie, also against the Knicks. Earl “The Pearl” Monroe scored 56 as a rookie in 1968 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Milwaukee Bucks’ rookie Brandon Jennings went out of his mind for 55 against the Golden State Warriors in 2009. Jennings matched Elgin Baylor’s high-scoring game as a rookie 50 years after Baylor scored 55 for the Minneapolis Lakers against the Cincinnati Royals. Elvin Hayes scored 54 against the Detroit Pistons in 1968, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 51 against the Seattle Supersonics in 1970 and Allen Iverson scored 50 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1997.

That is the rarified air that Flagg entered on Thursday with his 49 points on 20-of-29 shooting, to go along with 10 rebounds against his former Duke roommate Kon Knueppel and the Hornets. Flagg’s 49 points also matched the rookie-season-high scoring mark of some guy named Michael Jordan. His Airness poured in 49 in a 136-129 win over the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 12, 1985 in the most prolific scoring outburst of Jordan’s rookie campaign.

Rookies just don’t do the things that Flagg does — and that’s before you take into account the fact that Flagg started doing these things as an 18-year-old. Scoring 49 points in an NBA game at Age 19 is unheard of. Chamberlain was 23 years old when he rewrote the NBA record books as a rookie in 1959-60. Barry was 21 and nine months when he scored 57 points in a game during his rookie season. Jennings was a full year and change older than Flagg when he scored 55 points as a rookie for the Bucks. Iverson was two months shy of 22 when he scored 50 as a rook. Flagg became, with Thursday’s performance, the youngest player in NBA history (19 years, 35 days) to record a 45-point game.

Mavericks fans have seen some things, man. The 2011 NBA championship was a basketball fairy tale written by a team that zigged when the entire league was mid-zag, with the unlikeliest of protagonists at center stage. The rise of basketball savant Luka Dončić in our own backyard was the stuff of legend, made all the more quizzical by his untimely ouster. When it’s all said and done, though, the Legend of Flagg has the potential to move all that to one side if his career continues on the trajectory his rookie season has taken off on.

COOPER up to 44pts! New career high and new Mavs rookie all time scoring high! pic.twitter.com/ByEV3e8JOp

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) January 30, 2026

When people tell you who they are, it’s wise to believe them. When people show you who they are and what they’re about, you’re left with no choice in the matter. Flagg’s ability to take over a game is no mere flash in the pan. He shows us the fundamentals that gird his game-changing, high-flying explosiveness on a night-in, night-out basis. His game isn’t perfect, but he’s already shown a unique aptitude for learning on the fly and improving the weak spots in his game on the job as the youngest player in the league. Just wait until he’s had a full NBA offseason or two under his belt.

This kid is already a certified monster. He’s an omega-level mutant in a world of superheroes — there appears to be no upper limit to the development of the powers he possesses. Flagg defends better than any rookie we’ve seen take a swim through Dallas, both in passing lanes and on the ball. He can get to the rim against basically anyone. His mid-range game could fool a casual fan into believing they’re watching the savviest vet in the game. If Flagg ever becomes a true 3-point shooter and if he can cut his turnovers by a third, he’s going to be the best player in the NBA one day.

All that is to say nothing of Flagg’s most impressive skill — the ability to elevate his game in the final five minutes of a close game. He’s a killer. His game-tying 3-pointer on Thursday over the outstretched arm of 6’10” forward Moussa Diabate with 33 seconds showing on the clock is just the latest evidence of Flagg’s latent greatness, magnified when the lights are at their brightest.

The lumps he’s taking with a ragged roster around him in his rookie season will serve Flagg well, as long as the Mavericks’ front office can get its shit together behind whoever is inserted into the captain’s chair as the team’s next general manager. As exciting as Flagg’s rapid on-the-job development has been to watch in his rookie season, his demeanor is the glue that will eventually hold a winning team together.

“It’s tough,” Flagg said in his postgame press conference on Thursday. “We fight the whole game, play really heard, stick together, give ourselves a chance to win. It’s tough, but there [are] a lot of positives we can take from this. … With the turnover, I’ve just got to be better. I haven’t seen a ton of double-teams closing out games, so I just have to be a lot better.”

This is not a young man getting in over his skis or drunk on his own power. This is a kid who knows only winning and has a thirst to get back to his regularly scheduled dominance as soon as the roster around him allows for it.

“Ten-plus years down the road, we’ll both be looking back on this as a pretty special thing,” Flagg said on Thursday. He was referring specifically to his in-game battle with his friend Knueppel, who piled up 34 points on eight made 3-pointers for the Hornets in the win, but Mavs fans are no doubt envisioning another “pretty special thing” when they peer 10 years into Flagg’s potential career arc.

It’s hard not to, even as we recover from a deep burn less than a year old, because we’re bearing witness to things already in Flagg’s rookie season that few fans are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of. Let’s not take this for granted. The history books suggest not to.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...e-best-basketball-games-by-an-nba-rookie-ever

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Should the Mavericks Trade Naji Marshall?

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 24: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at American Airlines Center on January 24, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The trade deadline is less than a week away, and the Mavericks are expected to be active. Following Anthony Davis’s injury that derailed any trade talks for the 10-time All-Star, the focus has shifted to other key rotational pieces for the Mavericks. Naji Marshall, in particular, has been a player teams have reportedly been making calls on. Should the Mavericks consider dealing him? Should they hang onto him as a building piece around Cooper Flagg? Let’s take a look at both sides.

The Case for Trading Marshall​

Naji Marshall is a fan-favorite, and it’s easy to see why. The six-year veteran forward is averaging career highs this season in points per game (14.7), rebounds (4.9), and assists (3.0). Marshall also ranks 16th in the NBA in field goal percentage at 54.4%. In his last seven games, he’s averaging 20.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Half of his production this season is coming off the bench, all the more impressive, which makes him an attractive piece to many teams.

The NBA doesn’t have many Naji Marshalls anymore—gritty, grindy, competitive guys who can do it all. Many fringe contenders are thirsty for wings, especially those that can create and defend. Marshall is a versatile wing who can guard one through four and can also be the catalyst for running an offense, especially coming off the bench. The playoffs rely heavily on bench depth, and Marshall is the perfect missing piece many teams could talk themselves into pursuing.

The Mavericks have been adamant in the asking price for Marshall – at least one future first round pick, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein. It’s widely believed some teams would be willing to meet Dallas’s demands.

Naji Marshall just turned 28. Cooper Flagg just turned 19. Every roster building decision the Mavericks make moving forward should be based on Flagg’s timeline. Although Marshall is a fun watch and a great locker room guy, Dallas has to prioritize accumulating future assets to build around Flagg. If a team calls offering a decent first round pick selection, the Mavs should consider taking it.

The Nico Harrison timeline and vision of competing now is done and out the window. The focus should be on building a championship team around Flagg’s timeline. Naji Marshall doesn’t fit that. The second part of this is the money. Marshall is on the second year of his team-friendly deal of $27 million over three years. After next season, He’ll be due a much larger pay day. As of now, Dallas doesn’t have the financial flexibility for a Marshall pay raise. And even if they did, giving a larger contract to a player that would be about to turn 30 doesn’t make much sense.

Dallas has an opportunity to surround Flagg with younger talent that fits with his timeline. Teams are calling, and the Mavs should be listening.

The Case for Keeping Marshall​

The other side of the coin is keeping him and hoping the Mavericks can flip other players like Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis. Doing so would give Dallas opportunities to accumulate future picks while finding financial flexibility. Dallas can’t be bad and be a second-apron team. That’s a nightmare scenario.

Keeping a guy like Naji Marshall could be beneficial for Dallas’s hopes in getting back into the playoff picture for next year. As of now, Dallas does not control its own pick from 2027 through 2030. Meaning the Mavs have no motivation to be bad and hope for more draft luck. Going into next season, the organization will likely want to refocus on competing in the West once again.

Naji Marshall would be a key player in a deep (and hopefully healthier) roster next season. Kyrie Irving coming back would fix many of the point guard woes the Mavs have endured this season. Plug in a healthy (again – hopefully) Dereck Lively II, plus Max Christie, P.J Washington, and year two of Cooper Flagg, you have some real pieces that could make Dallas at minimum a .500 team next season. Dallas would also have a top 10 pick from the 2026 draft to add to this mix. And what if the Mavericks don’t trade Anthony Davis? All of a sudden, you could talk yourself into this team being a top six team in the West next season. Naji Marshall would be an important piece of that roster.

Marshall is also a durable player. He’s only missed one game this season and is the definition of reliable when it comes to health in Dallas (and boy, have the Mavs needed it). He shows up, plays hard every night, competes, and hits floaters in his sleep. Naji Marshalls don’t just grow on trees and having his energy on both ends is crucial if the Mavs want to take a big leap forward in the win column next year.

If you look at the roster and think a healthy Mavericks team could contend next year, it’s easy to see Naji Marshall being a part of that. Dallas will still have to make moves to create more financial flexibility, but that doesn’t necessarily have to involve Naji Marshall. It would get more complicated at the end of next season once his contract is set to expire, but that’s a bridge that could be crossed at that time. For now, he’s been a silver lining in a largely disappointing season for Dallas.

Trade Deadline is February 5th​

The trade deadline is next Thursday, February 5th, at 3 PM EST. The Mavericks have some important decisions to make. Perhaps the most important is should Dallas keep Marshall and try to run it back next year with a healthier roster? Or reshape the timeline around Cooper Flagg and focus on the future?

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/mavericks-rumors/55300/should-the-mavericks-trade-naji-marshall

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Rockets Final Score: Houston escapes Dallas, 111-107

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: Max Christie #00 of the Dallas Mavericks plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night in a grindy, back-and-forth affair, losing 111-107. Amen Thompson led Houston with 21 points eight rebounds, and nine assists. Cooper Flagg was stellar in defeat, scoring 34 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing five assists.

Both the Mavericks and the Rockets started the game with many, many bricks. When Dallas called a timeout down 13-8 at the six-minute mark, the two teams had shot a combined 8 of 26 from the field. Flagg and Durant come out of the stoppage dualing, with the former driving the lane with authority and the latter connecting on beautiful jumpers. Dallas managed to hang with Houston early as Alperin Sengun seemed to forget how to play basketball, missing all six of his attempts in the quarter. Brandon Williams’ efforts helped keep Dallas in the mix late into the frame with his paint probing, but Houston would end the quarter up 31-28.

The second frame saw the Rockets continue to take Dallas lightly. The Mavericks went shot-for-shot in the first six minutes of the quarter. Following a Houston timeout, the Rockets finally managed to string together a few defensive possessions while converting on the other end. Sengun finally broke the seal on the basket at 5:05 to give the Rockets a five-point lead, forcing a Jason Kidd timeout. The lead grew to as large as eight, with Dallas managing to chop into it in the closing the lead to three with 30 seconds to go. But a Jabari Smith ally-oop and Durant three gave the Rockets an eight point lead heading into the half.

After outworking Houston on the boards on both ends in the first half, Dallas got hammered on the glass in the opening minutes of the third quarter. The Rockets grew their lead to 13 twice before Kidd called a timeout to settle the troops. The Mavericks just kept coming and had a chance to cut it to four on a Caleb Martin lay in, only he was blocked by two Rockets which led to a Houston three on the fast break. Martin later atoned with a made three and a free throw to cut the lead to five. Dallas entered the fourth down 87-82.

The final frame was more of the same: good basketball from both teams, with Houston being just a bit better. The Rockets managed to hold a double-digit lead for a significant portion of the period, but the Mavericks kept firing away. Klay Thompson’s back-to-back threes around the six minute mark gave the Mavericks some momentum and a Flagg bucket with a foul gave Dallas a chance to make it a clutch game with under four minutes remaining. But he missed the free throw and Durant answered the possession to give Houston an eight point lead. Daniel Gafford made free throws actually did make this a clutch game with 2:30 to go and followed that up with a loose ball dunk to pull Dallas within two. The Mavericks and Rockets traded baskets only for Marshall to tie the game at 107 with 50 seconds left. Sengun answered the next possession with a post bucket and Dallas called a timeout wth 29 seconds to go. Flagg drove to the basket on the ensuing possession and pushed it too hard (there may have been uncalled contact). Dallas failed to foul and gave up an open court dunk. Houston escaped Dallas, 111-107.

Have to make your free throws, guys​

In a four point loss, the Mavericks missed 11 free throws. That can’t happen. The margins for the Mavericks are too tight most games, they’re *right there* in many contests so these self inflicted wounds really hurt. Flagg and Naji in particular missed seven and that will gnaw at them following this one.

Amen Thompson, everywhere all at once​

Thompson’s the kind of player I struggle to explain to casuals. Everyone sees the top tier athleticism, but they also see the really bad three point shooting percentage. Here’s what I see: a guy who appears all over the basketball court. I don’t know how many deflections he had in this game, but his two steals don’t tell the tale. He pestered every passing lane he was near. Offensively, he grabbed five offensive rebounds. As a forward, that’s ridiculous. His nearly 80% free throw shooting tells me there’s some hope yet to his shot, so this is a guy NBA watchers should keep a close eye on.

Extra Rockets possessions doomed Dallas​

Dallas took 16 fewer shots than the Rockets. While they did reasonably well on the defensive glass in spurts against Houston, they didn’t do good enough, surrendering 18 (Dallas didn’t do bad themselves, grabbing 11). But if you get beat on the boards and turn the ball over more (11 to 6 in favor of Houston with fewer), then it’s really hard to win the game.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...l-score-xx-xx-recap-cooper-flagg-kevin-durant

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericks loss to the Rockets

Jan 31, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson (1) and Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) shake hands after the game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks lost 111-107 to the Houston Rockets Saturday night, the Mavericks fourth loss in a row. Cooper Flagg had another outstanding game, but it wasn’t enough as other Mavericks struggled to support the superstar rookie.

Flagg had 34 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. The Rockets had a much more balanced attack, with all their starters in double-figures, with Amen Thompson leading them with 21 points.

This was a back-and-forth game, with the Rockets extending to double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, only for the Mavericks to make a furious rally to tie the game in the final minute, before Alperen Sengun made the game-winning layup with 28.6 seconds left.

Dallas still sits outside the play-in picture at 11th and is now four games back of 10th. Onto the stats we noticed.

1: Teenagers with consecutive 30-point double-doubles​

Cooper Flagg is ridiculous. He scored a historic 49 points against the Hornets on Thursday, the highest points scored in a single game by a teenager in NBA history, and the Mavericks record for points by a rookie. His encore was a delicious 34-point, 12 rebounds, five assist performance against a great Rockets defense — on the road no less.

Flagg started off a bit slow (for his rising standards), but exploded in the fourth quarter. According to the box score, Flagg was 9-of-13 in the paint. He continually went straight at the Rockets best perimeter defenders like Thompson and Tari Eason. Flagg stumbled a bit in the final possessions, and his final attempt to tie the game was wild drive at the rim right at Thompson, but Flagg will learn. It’s just crazy how polished he is as a scorer, without his jumper being consistent.

27.3: Naji Marshall’s field-goal percentage​

Marshall had an absolutely killer January shooting nearly 60 percent from the field entering tonight, but this was a rough one. Marshall was 3-of-11 from the floor and scored only eight points. It’s his lowest point total of the month.

Dallas desperately needed someone else to join Flagg in his scoring barrage, and Marshall has usually been the guy. It was an off night for Marshall, and Dallas couldn’t recover.

18: Houston offensive rebounds​

Houston leads the league in offensive rebounding, and they dominated the Mavericks on the glass tonight, even without injured Steven Adams.

The Rockets had 18 offensive rebounds, and combining that with only six total turnovers, they won the possession game decisively. Houston had 108 shot attempts compared to 92 for Dallas.

Flagg and Marshall were Dallas’ leading defensive rebounders, with 11 and seven respectively. Starting center Daniel Gafford had another poor defensive rebounding game. He had 11 overall, but only six of those were defensive boards. The Mavericks simply needed more from their starting center in this one.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...o-know-from-the-mavericks-loss-to-the-rockets

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

The Dallas Mavericks must reevaluate their path forward

DALLAS, TX - JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on January 29, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

As the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches, it’s time for the Dallas Mavericks to reevaluate their path forward in building around Cooper Flagg. Dallas is at a crossroads, left with limited assets and aging, injury-prone sidekicks following Hurricane Nico. Following Anthony Davis’ hand injury and Kyrie Irving potentially nearing a return to play, the Mavericks brass need to shift their priorities to put their young and budding superstar in Flagg in a position to succeed. Success is fragile, and we have all seen how quickly it can be thrown away. It’s key that the Mavericks finally build around their young star the right way. They only have one opportunity to build around Flagg, and here are some key points Patrick Dumont and company need to consider in doing so.

Get serious about your General Manager search​

Following Nico Harrison’s dismissal, the Mavericks have opted to run their front office by committee, naming Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi as co-interim general managers. According to The Athletic, the pairing will remain in that position until springtime. This will allow the Mavericks to have access to potential candidates who are currently employed. Dallas clearly prefers having a candidate with prior front office experience after Harrison tore apart the franchise. Harrison took over the reins when the Detroit Pistons hired Dennis Lindsey, previously an advisor to Harrison. Many attribute the success that resulted in the Mavericks 2024 Finals Run to the brains of Dennis Lindsey, and Dallas will have the opportunity to poach him or another executive in the offseason.

When the Adelson family bought the Mavericks, we were told they were the type of people willing to spend money on the team. While we are yet to see that come to fruition, they need to heavily pursue a competent executive to pick up the pieces of Hurricane Nico. Dumont has seemingly committed to getting the Mavericks on the right track to build around Flagg, but deciding who is responsible for getting the job done can be the difference between contention and mediocrity.

A Davis/Flagg/Irving core is nothing more than a concept that will never work​

The concept of a Davis/Flagg/Irving core is nothing more than an “on paper” idea that will never pan out. Davis has a history of getting injured about every five games he plays in Dallas. He’s played 20 total games this year, and history is not in his favor for staying on the floor. Add that to Irving’s situation; he’s nearing 33 years old, returning from a year-long absence due to an ACL tear. When he comes back, there is no guarantee that he will be the same player he was last season before the injury. According to reports, Dumont wants to see the trio of Flagg/Irving/Davis play together before making any “premature” decisions on Dallas’ future. This is a losing bet that only hurts Flagg’s growth as a player and the Mavericks ability to build a competent roster around him.

At this point, Davis will at least remain a Maverick through the offseason. It is hard to imagine that there will be a list of teams lining up out the door to acquire his services because of his contract and inability to stay on the floor for more than five games at a time. If the Hawks or Raptors are willing to rekindle trade discussions, Dallas needs to move past the concept of the trio and shift its priorities to building around Flagg’s future.

Recuperate lost assets​

The Mavericks flushed all of their future draft assets down the drain after spending the last seven seasons building a competitive team around Luka Doncic. Following the 2026 Draft, they don’t own another pick of their own until 2031. They need to be in the market for dealing guys like Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson, who have both driven interest among the league, for first-round picks, and not settle for a deal with a second, or two, thrown in. Dallas would be mistaken to not at least try to call up teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Hornets to see if there is any interest in sending Dallas one of their picks back. The CBA emphasizes building through the draft, and we have seen how that can lead to success in Oklahoma City. Dallas struggled to draft players to fit around Doncic, and they have to get it right this go-around with Flagg.

Flagg has continued to show over the course of the season that he is a budding superstar, and his 49-point performance Thursday night against the Hornets was another reminder that the sky is his limit. Dallas needs to reprioritize their future to build a competitive team around Flagg, and if the time to realign its focus wasn’t yesterday, it’s now.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ks-reevaluate-path-forward-flagg-davis-irving

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Jason Kidd didn’t just go off. He might be letting go.

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 14: Head coach Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks stands prior to a game against the Denver Nuggets at American Airlines Center on January 14, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jason Kidd’s F-bomb tirade drew national attention for obvious reasons. NBA coaches rarely go full scorched earth on the media, even when they clearly want to. The presser clip circulated widely, elevated by the sheer novelty of the language. And in a league wired for viral reaction, most commentary stopped there: the outburst itself, the profanity, the volume knob turned up.

But the real story isn’t what Kidd said.

It’s when he said it.

Because if you watch the clip closely, this wasn’t bravado. It wasn’t a man flexing over having “been right” about Cooper Flagg. It sounded like a man who doesn’t expect to be in Dallas much longer—and may not want to be.

The Kidd era has been a rollercoaster. In Year One, Kidd guided the Mavericks to a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals. In Year Two, they tanked the final games of the season (earning a league fine) but held onto a pick that became Dereck Lively II. In Year Three, they shocked the basketball world and reached the NBA Finals. In Year Four, Luka Dončić was traded, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis both suffered injuries, and Kidd found himself coaching a team with a dearth of draft capital beyond 2026—and then…the lottery gods dropped Cooper Flagg into Maverick blue.

And now, with the end of Year Five on the horizon, with a GM search underway, Kidd sat at a podium and declared:

“I’ve played this game. I played it at a very high level. I know what the f*** I’m doing. But I don’t give a f*** what you guys write.”

Except… that’s not true. He does care—at least enough to know who’s poking holes and what he thinks is ‘bull****. You don’t swing at ghosts unless you see them.

So let’s ask the question that really matters: if Jason Kidd wants to remain the head coach of this team, especially as they enter the second year of the Cooper Flagg era… why crash out like this? Why now?

Some possibilities deserve consideration. None of this is sourced—this is speculation, but not reckless.

1. Maybe Kidd knows he won’t be retained. With Nico Harrison out, an outside general manager is possible, if not expected. Dennis Lindsey remains a likely candidate. Most incoming GMs want to hire their own coach, especially when the team is young, asset-strapped, and facing a multi-year reboot.
2. Maybe Kidd was gunning for the GM role and knows the door has closed. Publicly framing himself as a “builder of players” in that presser wasn’t just self-defense. It may have been the résumé line he hoped would carry weight internally. But if the job’s going elsewhere, and he senses it, the rant begins to read not as confidence—but resignation.
3. Or maybe Kidd simply doesn’t want to be here anymore. If your vision was to win with Luka and Kyrie, and now you’re coaching a teenager while narratives pick at your every decision, maybe the expiration date has already passed in your mind—even if the contract hasn’t.

The truth probably lives at the intersection of all three. What we can say with clarity is this: Kidd’s feelings about the media aren’t new. He’s never seemed fond of the beat corps. But contempt alone doesn’t explain this level of rupture. That kind of language doesn’t erupt unless the pressure valve is failing—or unless the speaker no longer cares about managing perception.

There are still reasons to like Jason Kidd as a coach. The locker room has never publicly fractured, and his guys play hard even when a deep playoff run is off the table. But this is not a referendum on his résumé. The new GM will face a question of fit.

As the Mavericks orbit around Cooper Flagg’s development, what this franchise needs most is steady calm. Alignment. A coach who can grow with the team, not grow irritated with the coming rebuild.

Kidd’s presser felt like anything but that sort of stability. It came off as emotional offloading. It felt like someone saying things he’s been holding back—because there’s no longer a reason not to say them.

If he truly desired to be the coach of the Flagg era—if he believed he’d be here for the long haul—you don’t get this kind of outburst. You get composure. You get positioning. You get the quiet political discipline of someone playing the long game.

Instead, we got:

“I know what the f*** I’m doing.”

And maybe he does. But if that’s true, then this outburst wasn’t a misstep. It was a message.

And the message might just be: I’m already out the door. I’m just saying goodbye in my language.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...kidd-didnt-just-go-off-he-might-be-letting-go

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Wagler, Peterson and this 2026 NBA Draft class continue to shine

Feb 1, 2026; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) dribbles during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

It’s been a banner week for college basketball, as seemingly each of the country’s brightest stars are shining bright. The headliner of last week’s action was, of course, AJ Dybantsa facing off with Darryn Peterson. However, that battle only lasted for a half, as Peterson was once again held out for “cramping”. We’ll always have this dunk though.

DARRYN PETERSON ON HIS HEAD pic.twitter.com/v0nIhotHLP

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) January 31, 2026

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Prospect of the week: There’s too many to count!​

Keaton Wagler earns the first mention here. Wagler scored 28 on Sunday to hand Nebraska just their second loss of the season, all but securing his place in the mid-to-high lottery in the 2026 NBA Draft. He’s been skyrocketing up draft boards as of late, for good reason! When you’re doing things that no one else has done before, you’re doing something right.

Keaton Wagler just scored a combined 74 points and shot 65% in two Top 5 road wins in 8 days

He's the first D1 player over the last 20 years to have multiple 25+ point games in road wins over AP Top 5 teams (per @JaredBerson) pic.twitter.com/PT70rRmMFv

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) February 1, 2026

Darryn Peterson scored 18 first half points against BYU, but only played three minutes in the second half. Cam Boozer continues to be sensational for Duke, as does Caleb Wilson for UNC. Mikel Brown Jr. came alive in the second half as his Cardinal beat SMU. In the non-freshman category, Dailyn Swain continues to carry Texas through SEC play, garnering some first-round love.

The bar is really high for this class, and week in and week out they continue to push it higher. The show rolls on, and this week features yet another electric slate. Let’s dive in.

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Games of the week​

February 2nd​

Syracuse at North Carolina – 6:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)​

Kansas at Texas Tech – 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN).​

North Carolina has won a few in a row after bungaling their west coast ACC road trip. They’ve been led by Caleb Wilson, their outstanding true freshman. This is their last tune up before Saturday (more on that later).

As for the late game, perhaps there is no better conference for Big Monday than the Big 12. This matchup will feature Darryn Peterson (we think) facing off against the formidable Texas Tech duo of JT Toppin and Christian Anderson. After taking an unexpected loss at UCF on Saturday, expect the Red Raiders to come out hot on their home floor. If Peterson can go the distance, we’re set for a great one.

February 4th​

Texas A&M at Alabama – 6:00 p.m. CT (SECN)​

UCF at Houston – 6:00 p.m. CT (FS1)​

For two of the top guards in the upcoming draft, these games represent different opportunities. For Labaron Philon and the Tide, facing off with a red hot Texas A&M group will be a great test. The Aggies play a fun brand of ball to watch, but opposing guards will be challenged with the consistent full court press and tempo at which they run. If Philon can handle this, it’ll be a test passed. As for Flemings and his Cougars, this UCF team just upset the same Texas Tech team Houston lost to last week. Can Flemings continue to play well? I like his chances in this matchup.

February 6th​

UConn at St. John’s – 7:00 p.m. CT (FOX)​

Friday night at Madison Square Garden with these two teams will be fantastic viewing. UConn has been coasting as of late, until a 24-point shellacking of Creighton on Saturday night. The St. John’s team they’ll be facing is riding high now themselves. This is a game that, as a basketball purist, you will want to see.

February 7th​

Duke at North Carolina – 5:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)​

Illinois at Michigan State – 7:00 p.m. CT (FOX)​

Tennessee at Kentucky – 7:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)​

Houston at BYU – 9:30 p.m. CT (ESPN)​

It’s a backloaded slate on Saturday, as all of the day’s best tip after 5:00. Duke and UNC is one of the best rivalries in the country due to its long, storied history. While the legends of Coach K and Roy Williams are no longer roaming the sidelines, the passion and energy for these games remains. For the young freshmen in this matchup, it’s time to become legends. Performances in this game go down in the school’s lore forever. Who’s going to step up?

Elsewhere that night, Keaton Wagler looks to remain hot at Michigan State in what should be a slugfest. Tennessee is riding high with a revitalized Nate Ament, and they’ll be tested at Rupp Arena against Kentucky. Finally, the Big 12 features yet another banger, as Houston and BYU face off in the nightcap. Kingston Flemings and AJ Dybantsa won’t go 1-on-1 very often, but it’ll be great to see them each orchestrate. For Dybantsa particularly, can he find some level of efficiency against a Houston defense that will be swarming?

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...d-this-2026-nba-draft-class-continue-to-shine

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs Celtics Game Preview: 3 things to know as Dallas hosts surging Boston

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 06: Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks defends Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at the TD Garden on February 06, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It feels like a lifetime since the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks met on the NBA’s biggest stage in the 2024 Finals. Much has changed since then as the red-hot Celtics (31-18) visit the Mavericks (19-30), who are looking to end a four-game skid. Here are three things to watch ahead of Dallas’s matchup with the East’s second-best team.

The Celtics shoot threes, lots of threes​

The Celtics and Mavericks play two completely different styles. Boston is second in the NBA this season in threes attempted per game at 42.9, and second in made threes per game at 15.6. As a team, they shoot 36.7% from three, ninth in the NBA. In comparison, Dallas is 26th in the NBA in three-point shot attempts per game at 32.0, 28th in makes at 11.0, and 26th in percentage at 34.3%.

One thing that has not changed since the 2024 NBA Finals is Boston’s ability to shoot volume threes, which can demoralize opponents when the threes are falling. In today’s NBA, the math of three being worth more than two is a big part of Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s strategy. In the absence of perennial All-Star Jayson Tatum, the Celtics lean on the three-point shot even more than before. Boston has six players who shoot above 39% from three this season — Anfernee Simons, Sam Houser, Josh Minnott, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. This doesn’t include veteran sharpshooter Derrick White, who has struggled from three this season at 32.4%. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have one player who shoots north of 39% from three — Max Christie.

Dallas’s style of bully-ball and relentless attacking in the paint can work on teams that aren’t efficient from three, but three is still worth more than two, and the math favors the Celtics.

The Celtics are deep​

Even without Jayson Tatum, this Celtics team has been finding its groove lately, and a lot of that success stems from its depth. Boston is 7-3 in its past 10 games with a plus-nine point differential. After a 5-7 start, the Celtics are 26-11 since and sit in a second-place tie with the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. Boston has five players who score in double digits per game: Jaylen Brown (29.4), Derrick White (17.2), Payton Pritchard (16.8), Anfernee Simons (14.2), and Neemias Queta (10.1).

The depth of the Celtics is also a big reason why they have the league’s second-best offense at 121.3 points per game. One particular player that could cause problems for the Mavs is Queta, who has shown real promise in his fifth year. The seven-footer is averaging 10.1 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks on 63.5% shooting. Dallas’s lack of men in the middle could give the Celtics second and third opportunities to hoist from three.

Another player to watch is reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard. A lot of focus on the court tends to shift to Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and for good reason. But Pritchard has quietly had another fantastic year for the Celtics, averaging 16.8 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. His ability to attack off the dribble and shoot from three is a big reason why the Celtics’ offense has remained efficient without Tatum.

And of course, there’s Jaylen Brown, who’s statistically having his best season at 29.4 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Brown usually takes on the form of Robin, with Tatum being Batman, but Robin has done a pretty good job at keeping the ship afloat without the captain.

Cooper Flagg is the new Jayson Tatum?​

One of the most common player comparisons Cooper Flagg has drawn is Jayson Tatum. And it makes sense. Both went to Duke. Both were one-and-done. Both are widely viewed as elite two-way players. Flagg is listed at 6’9, 205 pounds. Tatum is listed at 6’8, 210 pounds. Both have the size and length to guard one through four on defense. Both have great court vision and passing ability to lead an offense. They do feel all too similar. So how are Flagg’s rookie numbers comparing to Tatum’s?

The situation Tatum was drafted into had some similarities to Cooper Flagg’s. The 2016-2017 Celtics were 53-29 and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2017 NBA Draft, the Celtics took Jayson Tatum third overall. Tatum was thrust onto a good roster right away and was able to fit into his role. In his rookie year, he averaged 13.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. In comparison, Cooper Flagg is averaging 19.8 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in his rookie campaign.

Tatum’s team success in his first year was far greater than Flagg’s, with the Celtics going 55-27 and coming one game shy of the NBA Finals, losing once again to LeBron James’s Cavaliers. As of now, the Mavericks sit at 19-30, 11th in the Western Conference. But Tatum was surrounded early by veterans who helped him figure things out – Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, Al Horford, to name a few. Flagg has that in Dallas — Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson. Veteran leadership matters, it’s just that most of the Mavericks veterans are hurt. Tatum has now grown himself to a top five to 10 player in the NBA. That may not even be the ceiling with Flagg. His ceiling may be top one.

Flagg will have his hands full on Tuesday night, being guarded by some of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Let’s see how the next Jayson Tatum fairs against the team that grew the original one.

How to watch​

The two teams, going in seemingly opposite directions, will take the court on Tuesday night. But if there’s one thing we know, Dallas tends to beat the good teams. Go figure. The Mavs and Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. Central time on NBC and Peacock.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...things-to-know-as-dallas-hosts-surging-boston

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Grading the Mavericks: Cooper Flagg’s timeline requires movement at this year’s deadline

DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets talk after the game at American Airlines Center on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Mavericks were 0-3 this past week but remain in 12th place in the West. They lost to Minnesota (118-105) and Charlotte (123-121) at home, then traveled to Houston, where they lost to the Rockets (111-107). Cooper Flagg led the team in scoring with 33 points per game. P.J. Washington suffered a concussion in Houston and will miss tonight’s game against Boston. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Anthony Davis (finger) remain out.

Grade: B-​

An 0-3 week may not usually warrant a solid grade, but Dallas played hard and had two incredible performances from Cooper Flagg in their last two losses. They were perfect games for the current state of the Mavericks: lose without lying down and get something inspiring from their top pick.

The battle between Flagg and his college roommate, Kon Knueppel, was a sight to behold. Flagg was just one point shy of a 50-point game, while Knueppel hit eight threes and the game-winning free throws. It was a display of two young players poised beyond their years, dueling it out until the final seconds. Truly, the highlights from this game are worth the 15-minute watch:

The Mavericks showed similar fight against Houston and nearly pulled off a 3-1 series win against them this year. But, as was their downfall against Charlotte, they could not execute in the last few possessions. The loss to Minnesota is not even worth discussing; it was one of the more boring games Dallas has played this season. They have an exciting week upcoming, however, where they play in Boston tonight on NBC and have a home-and-home with the Spurs this weekend. If they can play as they have over the last few days, there should be a lot of fun basketball to be had.

Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg​

It is remarkable how much Flagg has improved in such a short period of time. In his first 15 games, he averaged 15.5 points on 45.5 percent shooting. He started the season at point guard and, because of that, had a steep learning curve before he got his feet under him. Since he adjusted (i.e., the last 30 games), he has put up 21.9 points on 49.5 percent shooting. The game has slowed down for him in real time, and this culminated in back-to-back masterpieces this week, where he had 49 points and 10 rebounds on Thursday and 34 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday. The kid has got serious game.

Out of high school, he was a defensive prospect. Now, it’s his offense that wows crowds and gives fans a reason to dream about what he can be. He has lived up to the hype on the defensive end as well. The Mavericks, as bad as they have been, still hold a top-10 spot in defensive rating, and Flagg is the anchor of that. He is an awesome, fun rookie, but he is also a unicorn of an asset. Having a player this good on a rookie deal (which lasts four seasons) speeds up the timeline quite a bit and makes it imperative that they build a solid core around him as quickly as they can.

Currently Failing: Trade Value​

The trade deadline is this Thursday, February 5. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Dallas’ phone lines are “wide open”. This reeks of desperation from the Mavericks, which is disappointing but not surprising. Dallas’ main trade pieces (Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson) have all had lackluster to mediocre seasons at best, and their best trade asset, Naji Marshall, seems to have a market value lower than the Mavericks’ asking price of a first-round pick.

It is not a good situation to be in. Dallas is a non-contender and a second apron team, an impossible combination of death sentences. As previously stated, with how good Flagg is already, increasing financial flexibility as soon as they can manage it is paramount. This starts with trading away their older players for expiring contracts and/or draft capital. If Dallas is unable to do this by Thursday’s deadline, it will be the second consecutive February of incompetence by the organization and could set them back more than they already are.

Extra Credit: Jason Kidd​

Coach Kidd is not known for his demonstrative nature. In fact, he is notorious for his lack of emotion during games and in post-game press conferences. That’s why the internet went berserk when he lashed out after being asked about national criticism for playing Cooper Flagg at point guard:

Jason Kidd fined $35K for public criticism of officiating and using profane language during a media interview.pic.twitter.com/rR2e0xuHUa

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) February 2, 2026

This was refreshing to watch. I want my coach to stand up for himself and the players. I want Kidd to yell at referees. I want him to show that he cares. To this point, we have gotten virtually nothing of the sort. Whether you agree with fellow Mavs Moneyball staffer Brent Brooks and think Kidd has nothing to lose, or you have your tin foil hat on about the timing of the incident, this is a net good. I do not want the version of Kidd that says he’s “watching just like the rest” of us. I want this version who is passionate and fiery and defends his decisions, rather than leaving them up for interpretation. Plus, “I know what the f*** I’m doing” is great on a quote card.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...line-requires-movement-at-this-years-deadline

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades – Recapping the Mavericks vs. the Celtics

DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 03: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at American Airlines Center on February 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks hosted the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. With no one curiously resting less than 48-hours before the trade deadline, Dallas was unable to get the win, dropping a 110-100 contest to push their losing streak to a season high five games.

Let’s get to the grades!

Naji Marshall: C​

9 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 31 MIN​

Marshall shooting less than 60% from the field is almost shocking, but he’s strung together a couple of stinkers recently. Tonight just wasn’t pretty, with poor shooting being the biggest blemish. Solid rebounding buoyed him slightly, but there wasn’t much else to write home about.

Max Christie: C​

10 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 30 MIN​

Christie’s shot has not been falling quite as consistently of late. Sometimes they just aren’t going to drop, but it would be great to see him camp out at the three-point line a bit less. His best stretch of the season came when he was doing a bit of everything, so he will hopefully get back to slashing and shooting some mid-range shots.

Cooper Flagg: A​

36 PTS / 9 REB / 6 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 37 MIN​

Flagg did it all Tuesday night, pouring in a ton of points, drawing fouls, shooting a high percentage and taking care of the ball. With the absence of Anthony Davis, Flagg is the clear cut number one and is making the most of the opportunity. Excellent all-around game.

Caleb Martin: B​

13 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 29 MIN​

Martin had a quietly good game, hitting 50% on 10 shots and chipping in some boards and assists. While not spectacular, he was efficient and didn’t turn the ball over.

Daniel Gafford: A-​

10 PTS / 12 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 25 MIN​

Gafford missed a chunk of gametime after sustaining an ankle injury in the second quarter, but managed a solid game in somewhat truncated minutes. I have to remind myself that Gafford is an ideal backup playing as a starter. With that in mind, a double-double and returning from an injury he gets a boost on his grade.

Klay Thompson: C-​

4 PTS / 0 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN​

Thompson was largely absent from this one, and landing in the Grades-basement would not have been off the mark, but perhaps I’m irrationally generous? He couldn’t hit his shots and really just couldn’t stay on the floor.

Final Thoughts​

Dallas looked like they were going to give us a show, but after the first quarter, were largely outplayed. Falling down by more than 20 points, they eventually made a bit of a run to keep things interesting, but you never quite felt like they’d make a real run given the poor shooting of too many starter.

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/dalla...ltics-recap-110-100-cooper-flagg-jaylen-brown

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to consider as the Mavericks take on the San Antonio Spurs

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 31: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots a free throw during the game against the Houston Rockets on January 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Thursday is not just for deals for your Dallas Mavericks. No, these Mavericks (19-31) are set for a home and home series with the southern foes on Interstate 35, the San Antonio Spurs (34-16). The Mavericks are losers of five straight games, while the Spurs are coming in off of a win over the short handed Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.

Before this trade deadline day game tips off, here’s what you should be thinking about.

Can I get a show of hands… Who is still here?​

The Mavericks could be without a large number of players in this contest, depending on the actions that happen between now and 2:00 p.m. CT on Thursday. Depending on who you trust for your trade sourcing, any of Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and Naji Marshall could be on the move. Due to the Anthony Davis trade of Wednesday, the Mavericks will be down at least two in the active department, as Jaden Hardy and D’Angelo Russell were part of the move. If any of the trio above are set to find more competitive pastures, Dallas could be running a skeleton crew similar to that of when the Cavaliers beat them by about 100 in Cleveland after Luka Doncic was stolen from us traded. Now, I don’t expect a similar result on Thursday as we saw in that game last year for a variety of reasons. Mainly, Anthony Davis is not Luka Doncic to anyone on the team.

However, it’s important to remember that these are real life humans who are going through a lot of real life human emotion during this deadline. Regardless of whether or not any of them actually get moved, there’s a toll to it. We’ll see what happens, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see at least one or two more trades before it’s all said and done.

Who exactly plays for the Spurs, either?​

As previously mentioned, the Spurs are on the butt end of a travel back to back, albeit this one being very short travel. But, given the Mavs roster situation, what incentive do the Spurs have to run out their full group for? They might feel safe that they can get by with resting a few starters and just having the basketball version of a bullpen game. So, take the Dallas roster situation, combine it with the Spurs potentially resting a lot of pieces, and you’ve got yourself one steaming pile of basketball. There is one saving grace, however, because…

The Mavericks did the right thing​

Cooper Flagg is already phenomenal, and with the moves of this deadline, they are starting to do the thing I’ve called on them to do since May: Build the damn plane around Cooper Flagg. The 368 days between the Luka deal and now have been nothing short of a catastrophe. Hell, we shouldn’t be here at all right now. The 1.8% chance of landing the kid from Maine is what saved this franchise from becoming a basketball wasteland. And while it took firing Nico, the Finley-Riccardi duo at general manager have set this franchise up to be successful around Cooper Flagg after just three months at the helm. A tip of the cap to those guys.

How to watch​

Probably with a bottle of tequila if it were up to me. Oh, the TV part! It’ll be on KFAA Channel 29, as well as Mavs TV. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the American Airlines Center.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...review-anthony-davis-trade-nba-trade-deadline

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Anthony Davis should be remembered fondly by Mavericks fans

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 8: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks adjusts his Oakley glasses during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the dust settles and we look back on this era of Dallas Mavericks basketball, it will be easy to view Anthony Davis’ tenure with the Mavericks as a failure. After all, he appeared in just 29 games in a little over a year’s time and left multiple games with injuries that would sideline him for weeks.

It’s easy to take the last year out on Davis, all the pain from the trade and having to accept that we’re not going to be contending for championships anytime soon. He is the face of the worst trade in modern sports history, his return was marginal at best, and it will be easy to hold that against him.

I don’t think we should.

Davis didn’t ask to be traded to Dallas, and he certainly didn’t ask to be brought in via the trade that angered a fanbase so much that its architect was fired just nine months after he made it. Davis came to Dallas to play basketball and try to earn the fans’ love in any way he could. His injury history was frustrating at times, but it’s not like he asked to sit out games.

Davis wants to play, and he wants to play hard. He can be a valuable part of a championship team, and he’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he hangs it up in a few years. I hope that with time, we can accept that he was put into an unwinnable situation by an egotistical man who thought he knew better than everyone around him. Davis is not the man who should get your ire; Nico Harrison is.

I enjoyed watching Davis play as a Maverick, and I also think it was time for him to go, but not because of him or anything he’s done. He just doesn’t fit the timeline of this team anymore. The infamous trade sent us from a contender to a rebuilding team, and you just can’t have a guy making over sixty million dollars a year on a rebuilding team.

I hope he succeeds in Washington, whatever that may look like, and I hope he has an entertaining and fulfilling end to his career. I wish he could’ve come to Dallas under better circumstances, but we don’t always get what we want in life.

With time, I hope Mavericks fans will see this situation the same way I do: with appreciation that he treated his time in Dallas as a professional and tried to gain the support of a fanbase that was — understandably — scarred by his presence. He was a good mentor to Cooper Flagg in their limited time together and he bought into a team that was heading for a rebuild despite nearing the end of his prime.

In total, his time in Dallas spanned just 367 days, and I think it’s best for everyone that his Maverick career is over. I just also hope we remember he never asked to be put under the microscope he got placed underneath and he never turned his back on this team.

Anthony Davis will always be good in my book.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...should-be-remembered-fondly-by-mavericks-fans

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavs YouTube Roundup: Dallas Mavericks shake the Etch A Sketch Edition

Jan 27, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (4) takes a shot before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

When my original Nintendo console came home with me from the grocery store in the late 80s, I was on cloud nine. Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, and the possibility of new games and memories made with family and friends. I quickly learned that when the system was not functioning correctly after extended use, the best thing to do was power off, blow on the teeth of the game cartridge, and somehow that made things better for a while. Sure, it took a bit of time to power up, and you had better save your progress—but at least the game felt balanced again, and the controller would respond.

That is what the Dallas Mavericks did on Wednesday. In another reference from that bygone era, they shook the Etch A Sketch. Sure, they sent out more talent than they received back. That is the price of the reset button on this particular gaming console of Naismith’s game.

Peruse social media, and you might hear some folks complain that owners will do anything to avoid a high payroll. While that is sometimes the motivating factor in trades, there is more to it than sheer frugality. The current collective bargaining agreement forced the Mavericks’ hand, and the cap relief outshines the draft capital and young prospects that were included in this deal.

Those voices who said that those of us continuing to lament the boneheaded nature of Nico Harrison’s vision loved Luka more than the Mavericks missed the point. It is possible to be emotionally wrecked by a blunder and have a clear-eyed read on why it clearly set the franchise back years, even if you leave out the sentimentality. You can be invested in a franchise and still believe the former General Manager failed spectacularly – and he did. This move today was the first step, not in correcting the mistake but in opening up the best possible scenario to try again in the Cooper Flagg era. They paid a high price, hit the reset button… shook the Etch A Sketch, and now it is time for a true rebuild. One that is coming 8-10 years sooner than it should have.

Luka Dončić was asked who he had best chemistry with in his whole life



YT/VinceAndTmac pic.twitter.com/YglYIc0ITK

— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) February 4, 2026

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...las-mavericks-shake-the-etch-a-sketch-edition

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

The two things Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi said on Thursday that should give you confidence in the future

Following the NBA’s trade deadline on Thursday, co-general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were able to speak with the media about the deadline. Unlike last year, when Nico Harrison spewed “defense wins championships” at the media for 15 minutes, the duo was able to provide an interesting perspective on where they see the organization as being after the Anthony Davis trade. Beyond that, I think there’s an interesting tidbit about how the Mavericks will approach this upcoming draft. To the quotes!

Opening statement​

Michael Finley: Well first, I want to thank Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum and D’Angelo Russell for their professionalism while they were with the Mavericks. Both on and off the court, in the community, those guys were great. So, kudos to those guys and good luck to them in their future endeavors.

We decided as an organization, front office and management, that we needed to something to bring back the winning culture here in Dallas. We thought doing the move that we did puts us back in that conversation, and gives the fans something to be excited about. And I think we’re moving in the right direction by doing the move we did, it puts us in the mindset of having a championship atmosphere around here. That’s what it’s all about, and I think we’ve achieved that with the move we just did. And we will continue to do that, and do what we think is best for the organization this day, and going forward as well.

Matt Riccardi: I echo a lot of Fin’s thoughts. But most importantly, thank you to the players, and we’re excited for the new guys coming in. Just to expand on one of Fin’s points, I think we had to take an honest look at ourselves in the mirror and realize where we were and where we wanted to be. Sometimes, the path is not straightforward, and you’ve got to go a roundabout way to get where we want to go. But our goal here remains the same. We want to win championships, we want to build a championship roster, and we want to do everything we can to provide the players with the proper resources and the staff to make that happen.

Not a ton here to digest, although I think Riccardi’s quotes are telling about how the organization looked in the mirror and didn’t like what they saw. Admitting that they’re going in a “roundabout way” to get where they want to go is as close as anyone will get to saying they’re eyeing a higher draft pick. That’s a good thing! This is the most hopeful statement they could’ve given after this deadline.

On the Mavericks offense (27th in the NBA) and how it correlates with the lack of guard play​

Finley: If you look around the league, the teams that are most successful have great guard play. Someone who can lead the offense, get the guys in the right position to make easier shots. And for us, I think guard play is as important, because it’s less pressure and stress that we can put on Cooper offensively. So, if we can get him with a guy that makes his job just a little bit easier, I think it does wonders for him, hopefully for his whole career.

If you’re looking for potential easter eggs about how this front office would build the roster out if they were given the keys full time, this statement is very telling. Finley talking about pairing Cooper Flagg with a guard “for his whole career” is something that I’m going to file away when June comes around. It’s clear this front office understands the NBA in ways that Nico Harrison didn’t, which was ultimately his demise. You must have great guard play to be a contender in today’s NBA. It’s a non-starter when building a team out, and this front office gets that.

These two quotes should inspire confidence that the Mavericks would be just fine with these two at the helm. Finley and Riccardi are widely respected around the NBA, and their understanding of doing what is best for the long-term future of the team should make you feel hopeful for the future.

The full press conference can be seen below.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...leymatt-riccardi-trade-deadline-anthony-davis

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Mavericks vs. Spurs Preview: 3 storylines as a rematch looms between in-state rivals

DALLAS, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 5: Naji Marshall #13 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots over Harrison Barnes #40 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second half at American Airlines Center on February 5, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The second of two straight matchups with the San Antonio Spurs (35-16) on Saturday will be the unveiling of the new-look Dallas Mavericks (19-32), for as long as this looks lasts, anyway.

Naji Marshall and Cooper Flagg had matching 32-point, six-rebound nights in Thursday’s 135-123 loss to the Spurs at American Airlines Center, and now the venue changes to the Frost Bank Center, where tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CDT.

The Mavericks slowed Victor Wembanyama down in the second half of Thursday’s loss, after he scored 20 points in the first half on his way to a team-high 29. Seven Spurs scored in double figures in Thursday’s game. San Antonio is second in the West and features one of the most potent defenses in the NBA, but the Mavericks were still able to force them into a close game at home, shooting better than 48% from the field and 38% from 2-point range in the loss.

Here are three storylines to watch for as the two-game home-and-home series shifts to San Antonio.

Gafford turns a corner​

Daniel Gafford has quietly turned a corner in his last three games, posting double-doubles in each of the Mavericks’ last three losses. He had 16 points and 11 boards in Saturday’s 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets, 10 and 12 in Tuesday’s 110-100 loss to the Boston Celtics and 16 and 10 on Thursday against the Spurs. He averaged just over seven points per game in January and just six in December, so its a promising stretch as Gafford tried to find his stride amid a tough 2025-26 season thus far.

Gafford was a candidate for trade before Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline, when Dallas was reportedly offered four second-round draft picks by the Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. The Mavs didn’t budge from their demand for a first-round pick in exchange for Gafford, and now he’s here to stay at least through the end of this season.

His new three-year contract kicks in next season, but his $17-million-per-year price tag is not prohibitive if the Mavericks still see Gafford as a fit for this team going forward. The last 30 games of this season will go a long way to figuring that out, and his recent stretch of positive impact

The new guys​

Three of the four new Mavericks acquired in trade deadline deals are listed as probable to play against the Spurs the second time around. Tyus Jones, AJ Johnson and Marvin Bagley III could all make their first appearances in Mavericks uniforms at San Antonio on Saturday, while Khris Middleton, who was rumored to be a buyout candidate after the trade was first reported, is listed as doubtful.

Flagg, Marshall and Max Christie all played 38 minutes or more in Thursday’s loss as the Mavericks played with just 10 available on the roster. None of the new guys are likely to be a long-term solution for the Mavericks, but who knows, one or two may surprise us in the last 30 games of the year.

The Mavericks expressed interest in Jones in the off-season before settling for D’Angelo Russell when Jones got a better offer from the Orlando Magic. It will be interesting to see if he’s at least able to make a bigger impact on the roster than Russell did in his short tenure with the team.

Ride or die​

The Flagg-Marshall one-two punch has been at least refreshing and at times sensational in recent games. Marshall went from trade candidate as the deadline approached to indispensable in the first game after the deadline. He has scored 30 or more points in a game five times in his six-year NBA career, all with the Mavericks. Two of those five have come in the last two weeks as Marshall has cemented himself into a core position riding shotgun with Flagg.

Marshall has spoken about Flagg’s recent scoring surge “inspiring” him to pick his game up. Co-GM Matt Riccardi told the media ahead of Thursday’s game that Marshall’s is a “perfect” fit alongside Flagg as the rookie takes his place at center stage for the Mavericks for the foreseeable future.

Whether any of this translates into a win at one of the NBA’s best teams on Saturday seems immaterial at this point. The vibes are at a high for 2025-26 with Marshall as Flagg’s wingman, even as Dallas seeks to break its current six-game losing streak.

How to watch​

The Mavericks and the Spurs tip off at 5 p.m. CDT on Saturday from San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ viewing area. It will also be streamed on Prime Video.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...r-flagg-naji-marshall-victor-wembanyama-wemby

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

NBA Power Rankings Watch: Cooper Flagg is on a tear

(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks may be losing games, but the vibes feel suddenly lighter after a trade deadline that hit the reset button on the franchise. No, it isn’t Anthony Davis’ fault that he stood at the center of the worst trade in sports history. But once the Mavericks were gifted Cooper Flagg last summer the organization needed to look themselves in the mirror and clean house of the remnants of the most tumultuous and embarrassing time in the team’s history.

So now, we move. And in the midst of this week’s moves which settles the future cap sheet of the team and likely invests all energy in securing a top draft pick this summer, Cooper Flagg is playing jaw-dropping basketball. That is the focus of this week’s Power Rankings Watch, as he puts together a rookie season few have accomplished.

ESPN​

Rank: 22​

Last week: 23​

Player under the most pressure: Cooper Flagg

Flagg arrived in the league under the pressure of living up to the hype of being billed as a generational prospect. He has carried that burden quite well. Flagg, 19, is on pace to become only the fifth rookie since the ABA-NBA merger to average at least 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The others: Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Grant Hill and Luka Doncic. — MacMahon

The Athletic​

Rank: 23 (Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear)​

Last week: 24​

Trade deadline Photoshop: PF Giannis Antetokounmpo

Jason Kidd winds up calmly crashing out once a season because of the ridiculous circumstances his teams wind up in during his tenure. While Cooper Flagg is figuring things out individually, it is clear that the rest of Dallas’ roster makes no sense. So sure, let’s just do a Giannis Antetokounmpo-Anthony Davis straight-up trade and call it a deadline.

NBA​

Rank: 22​

Last week: 22​

Three takeaways

• Flagg missed the Mavs’ loss to the Wolves on Wednesday, but came back to total 83 points against Charlotte and Houston, with his 49 against Kon Knueppel and the Hornets being the most in NBA history for a teenager. He shot 25-for-34 (74%) in the paint over the two games and is now averaging 10.8 points in the paint per game, which would be the most for a rookie under 6-foot-10 in the last 15 years.
• The Mavs’ defense has held up OK, allowing 114.1 points per 100 possessions over the losing streak, with all four opponents ranking in the top 10 offensively. But beyond Flagg, offense has been a struggle. They’ve scored just 97.7 points per 100 possessions in his 81 minutes off the floor during the losing streak, and the loss to the Wolves without him was the sixth time this season that they’ve made five or fewer 3-pointers.
• The Mavs had a stretch where they went 8-5 against the 16 teams that currently have winning records. But they’ve lost three straight and are now 9-17 against that group overall. Their loss in Houston on Saturday was their first in seven straight games against winning teams.

Coming up: The Mavs are just 1-7 in rest-advantage games and will play their ninth on Thursday, the first game of a home-and-home set with the Spurs. The first meeting (on opening night) was the Mavs’ second-worst offensive game of the season (91 points on 101 possessions).

Bleacher Report​

Rank: 22​

Last week: 23​

This week, the Dallas Mavericks went winless and traded Anthony Davis for a package of players who aren’t likely to make a difference this season and picks that could prove awfully light on value.

But things are undoubtedly looking up for this organization, because it did the right thing in shedding AD and fully calibrating the future around Flagg.

His superstar potential has been evident since before his lone season at Duke, but it’s really surfacing in the NBA now. Over his last four games, Flagg is averaging 37.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 threes and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 44.4 percent from deep.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...g-anthony-davis-espn-athletic-bleacher-report

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

The Mavericks used the trade to build around Cooper Flagg, view Kyrie Irving as long-term complement

Oct 6, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) look on during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie's Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

According to league sources and first reported by Grant Afseth of the DallasHoopsJournal.com, the Dallas Mavericks continue to see strong long-term potential in pairing Kyrie Irving with Cooper Flagg as soon as Irving returns from injury.

The trade of Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-rounders on Wednesday, however, was clearly driven by flexibility and the desire to clear long-term salary.

But according to this report, the Mavericks also believe it will help clear the way for a roster more cleanly oriented around Flagg. And they see Irving as a natural complement, rather than a conflicting presence.

As an experienced 14-year veteran point guard, Kyrie Irving would be expected to regain the reins of the Mavericks offense as soon as he returns from injury. The Mavericks will without a doubt breathe a sigh of relief that their table setter will soon be back on the court – some reports say after the All-Star break, but most realistically, we won’t see Irving in a Dallas Mavericks uniform until next season.

But interestingly, as the organization moves to build a roster around Cooper Flagg, they look to have other plans in mind for Kyrie Irving:

“The Mavericks believe Flagg’s comfort handling the ball and making early reads has validated internal projections made before the draft. Some within the organization now view him as the team’s best passer, even as his scoring responsibility continues to grow,” league sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com.

“Irving is regarded internally as a score-first guard who is at his best when he doesn’t have to expend energy running the offense. Flagg’s ability to initiate offense, dictate pace, and absorb playmaking duties is seen as a way to create those advantages.”

That sentiment was echoed in co-interim general managers Matt Ricardi and Michael Finley’s press conference Thursday.

When Michael Finley was asked how much Kyrie Irving is part of the future vision for the Dallas Mavericks, he was adamant:

“Kyrie has the ultimate respect for Cooper, he loves the kid’s work ethic, he loves the kid’s love for the game, and I think Kyrie is embracing the role of a mentor to Cooper…I think Cooper can learn a lot from Kyrie.”

As Grant Afseth reports:

“Rather than asking Irving to function as a full-time organizer, the Mavericks envision Flagg handling much of the early offense while Irving attacks gaps, punishes rotations, and takes over late in possessions. Sources described the pairing as complementary, with each player amplifying the other’s strengths.”

That sounds a lot like how the Mavs used Irving next to Luka Doncic, which was a great strategy that allowed the team and both players to get the best out of each other, while using their energy more efficiently.

The difference, however, is that Luka Doncic was a legitimate point guard. But playing Irving next to Flagg in this position could be very interesting to follow, because it would allow Irving to rest and use his skills for reading the game and elite finishing ability as efficiently as possible. In turn, Irving could provide leadership and a calm presence next to Flagg as the ball handler, which he has needed at times.

Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg have yet to play a minute together, however. But their chemistry and relationship have had ample time to develop throughout the season, as Irving has been very active in both mentoring and coaching the younger guys, like Brandon Williams and Cooper Flagg here. And that has the potential to make this combination very interesting.

Im so happy Kyrie Irving took Cooper Flagg under his wing. He’s going to make Cooper Flagg the most skilled player at 6’9 pic.twitter.com/lwB2H36M89

— Batman’s Almost Here (@NevaMiss24) January 24, 2026

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Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...agg-view-kyrie-irving-as-long-term-complement