2025-2026 NBA Western Conference Tour: Dallas Mavericks - Rebuilding the core framework to the championship bet

If you use two words to describe the 2024-2025 season, it must be: Crazy! The Mavericks sent out the leading players such as Luca Doncic, Maxi Claiber through a tripartite transaction in February 2025, and obtained Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the first round pick in 2029 from the Lakers, completely rebuilding the core framework. This deal is seen as a landmark operation of the Mavericks' shift from the "Doncic era" to the "multi-giant model".

You should know that Doncic is regarded as the future face player of the NBA league, and Doncic led the Mavericks all the way in the 2023-2024 season, helping the Mavericks return to the Finals after 13 years after winning the championship in 2011. Although the Mavericks failed to return in the finals, the Mavericks' future is bright. As long as the team is well managed, they will have certain competitiveness in the next few seasons. What we didn't expect was that General Manager Collison would actually trade the young Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for thick eyebrows with great health risks in recent years.

At the end of the season, Thany Brow's injury failed to recover. The stop-and-off Kidd could only increase Irving's playing time, which eventually led to core guard Kyrie Irving's season reimbursement due to injury. Although the Mavericks were still tenth in the West and defeated the Kings in the first round of the playoffs, in the last playoffs, the Mavericks lost to the Grizzlies and missed the playoffs.

Missed the playoffs and Irving was reimbursed for the season, but the Mavericks did not give up on Irving. During the offseason, the Mavericks renewed their contract with Irving for $119 million for three years, showing the Mavericks' trust in Irving's long-term core position. Although his injury recovery period may affect his performance at the beginning of the season, a healthy Irving will be an important reliance for the team to conquer cities.

Lost in the East and the Wind, the Mavericks won the No. 1 pick with a very low probability of 1.8% at the 2025 draft lottery. The Mavericks used this No. 1 pick to select Duke forward Flag, known as the "Son of America" at the draft without any suspense. The arrival of Flag has allowed the Mavericks to have three top picks, Irving, Davis and Flag, and the Mavericks' strength has been improved by a higher level next season. Due to Irving's torn ACL, he will be out until at least January next year, so the Mavericks signed Russell for 12 million in the offseason. Although Russell is a certain gap with Irving, Russell is not bad on the offensive end. From the long run, even if Irving returns, the Mavericks still need a substitute point guard. Introducing Russell is undoubtedly the right choice for the Mavericks' back line.

For Flag, how to integrate into the Mavericks system is the primary issue, and it is necessary to quickly adapt to the NBA defensive intensity. There is no doubt that Flag will appear on the Mavericks' starting lineup next season. Flag, as the organizer and opportunity creator, will be the team's first choice for small forwards. Judging from his performance in the summer league, Flag does not have obvious adaptability problems, but after Irving returns, the Mavericks will enter a new running-in period, and some potential problems still need to be considered.

Flagg's joining will be Clay's biggest beneficiary. As an NBA historical pitcher, Clay has passed his peak, but he is still at the top shooting level in the league. During his college years, Flag had a successful collaboration with the pitcher Knippel, so he could draw on his successful experience during college to create fixed-point three-point opportunities for Clay in the offensive conversion. The only thing to consider is Clay's health. Since Clay is 35 years old and has suffered a major Achilles tendon injury in his career, his competitive state and maintaining health are serious challenges.

In the new season, it is not difficult to guess the Mavericks' starting lineup, that Irving, Clay, Flag, Davis and Levley will be the main lineup. The substitutes are mainly players such as Russell, PJ Washington, Garford, Christie, and Marshall, and the overall balance is significantly improved. Nowadays, the Mavericks are full of talents in the front line, which is a sweet worry for Kidd. How to match the best team combination will become the top priority of head coach Kidd.

In the offseason, the Mavericks optimized the coaching staff, and the team introduced former Lakers champion coach Vogel. His arrival can further improve the Mavericks' defensive system; on the offensive end, Phil Handy and Pembersey can build an offensive system based on the actual situation of the team and players. The Mavericks' offensive system next season is also worthy of our focus.

The Mavericks have the chance to reach the top six in the Western Conference in the new season. If Flag can quickly adapt to the NBA rhythm and grow rapidly, core players Irving and Davis can stay healthy, and the Mavericks are expected to become "dark horses". Now, all Western teams have made targeted reinforcements during the offseason, with strong aids joining the Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers and Clippers joining, and the defending champion Thunder are eyeing them. Therefore, the Mavericks should avoid falling into the playoffs at the end of the regular season. The top six in the Western Conference are the most ideal results for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks completed a radical reorganization through trading, draft and signing in the summer of 2025, transforming from a single-core team to a multi-giant lineup. Next season, the Mavericks will completely enter the "post-Doncic era". Success depends on health management and the growth rate of young players, but the upgrade of the coaching staff and lineup thickness has made it a force that the West cannot ignore. The 2025-2026 season journey of the Dallas Mavericks is destined to be a gamble from rebuilding the core framework to winning the championship. This team has experienced ups and downs from the finals stage to the edge of the playoffs in the past two seasons. If the run-in goes well, this team may become the most unpredictable championship-winning force in the West.