Western Conference · Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas · American Airlines Center · Founded in 1980 · 1 title (latest in 2011)

Rebuild Patience, youth and picks Go to another franchise

33.5projected wins
24.4years, core age
4years of window
197.9 Mpayroll, over the cap
-5.8net rating in 2025-26 (23rd)

What would you do with the Dallas Mavericks? Propose a trade, an extension or the team's direction, and test it in its Trade Machine. Have your say →

The franchise

Front office and bench

Ownership: Patrick Dumont (governor) and the Adelson family
President and Alternate Governor: Masai Ujiri since 2026
General Manager: Mike Schmitz since 2026

Head coach

Dusty May since 2026

Arrives straight from winning the NCAA title with Michigan; this is his first NBA job.

Assistants

Willie GreenLead assistant coach (former Pelicans head coach)
Garrett TempleAssistant coach
Joe BoylanAssistant coach
Mody MaorAssistant coach
Drew WilliamsonAssistant coach
Rob FodorAssistant coach / Player development

The direction

What the franchise says and what its moves show

It's a full reset under Masai Ujiri, with Cooper Flagg (Rookie of the Year) as the undisputed centerpiece. The stated plan is a big, long, athletic roster that attacks the rim, dominates the offensive glass and runs, surrounded by shooters, while restoring a winning culture. Irving provides shot creation as Flagg develops, and the club will evaluate which veterans merit a long-term commitment.

Building around

Cooper Flagg Kyrie Irving Dereck Lively II

What they have said

At media day he said they want big, long players who attack the rim and grab offensive rebounds, combined with shooters, and that he wants to bring joy back to basketball in Dallas.
President Masai Ujiri · NBA.com · September 2026
He called Cooper Flagg a generational talent and highlighted Irving's leadership during his recovery.
President Masai Ujiri · NBA.com · September 2026
He explained that he's looking for three-man combinations that fit and wants to use the team's size and energy to run and rebound; the rotation is still open.
Head coach Dusty May · NBA.com · September 2026

What the data points to

Losing pays off Very likely
- It owns its 2027 first-round pick if it lands in the protected range.
- Every loss adds lottery balls.

Moves

Summer 2026

Masai Ujiri is named president (May 4) and Mike Schmitz general manager (May), after Nico Harrison was fired in November 2025.
Jason Kidd and the team part ways by mutual agreement (May 19); Dusty May is hired on June 23.
2026 Draft: Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9), who played for May at Michigan; Sergio De Larrea and Tobi Lawal also arrive.
Zaccharie Risacher arrives from Atlanta in the three-team trade that sends out Ryan Nembhard.
Santi Aldama (from Memphis, for AJ Johnson and picks), Marcus Sasser and EuroLeague veteran Tarik Biberović arrive.
They match the Knicks' offer sheet for Moussa Cissé; Khris Middleton and Ryan Nembhard depart.
Kyrie Irving returns without restrictions from his ACL tear.

Latest

Oct 17 Waived Waived Gs Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas.
Oct 16 Waived Waived Fs Guillermo Diaz-Graham and Jorge Diaz-Graham.
Sep 25 Re-signing Re-signed F Dwight Powell.

The roster

15 NBA contracts · 2026-27 salaries

Player	Age	Salary	Through
Starters
Kyrie Irving G	34	39.5 M	2027-28
Zaccharie Risacher F	21	13.8 M	2027-28
Cooper Flagg F	19	14.5 M	2028-29
P.J. Washington F	28	19.8 M	2029-30
Dereck Lively II C Expiring	22	7.2 M	2026-27
Rotation
Naji Marshall F	28	9.4 M	2029-30
Max Christie G	23	8.3 M	2027-28
Daniel Gafford F	28	17.3 M	2028-29
Marcus Sasser G Expiring · will re-sign	26	5.2 M	2026-27
Morez Johnson Jr. F	20	6.8 M	2029-30
The rest
Santi Aldama F	25	17.0 M	2027-28
Caleb Martin F	31	10.0 M	2027-28
Moussa Cisse C	24	2.2 M	2027-28
Sergio de Larrea F	20	3.2 M	2029-30
Jett Howard G	23	–	–
Tobi Lawal F	23	–	–
Tarik Biberovic F	25	3.0 M	2027-28
Dwight Powell F	35	–	–

The analysis, with data

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

Rim protection 1st with today’s roster
Rebounding 1st with today’s roster

Weaknesses

Three-point shooting 30th with today’s roster
Playmaking 29th with today’s roster
Offensive rating 27th · 111.7 points per 100 possessions
Three-point volume 27th · 35.5 % of its shots are threes
Three-point accuracy 26th · 34.4 % from three
Offensive rebounding 26th · 23.2 % of its misses rebounded

Today's roster, facet by facet (league rank)

Defense 9th
Rim protection 1st
Three-point shooting 30th
Playmaking 29th
Scoring 22nd
Rebounding 1st
Offensive impact 25th

How it played as a team in 2025-26

Offensive ratingpoints per 100 possessions	111.7	27th
Defensive ratingpoints allowed per 100 possessions	117.5	20th
Net ratingper 100 possessions	-5.8	23rd
Pacepossessions per game	101.1	4th
Three-point volumeof its shots are threes	35.5 %	27th
Three-point accuracyfrom three	34.4 %	26th
Offensive reboundingof its misses rebounded	23.2 %	26th
Defensive reboundingof opponent misses rebounded	74.1 %	16th
Ball securityturnovers per 100 possessions	13.7	13th
Ball movementof its baskets are assisted	60.4 %	22nd

Roster holes

Needs a quality bigIts best big ranks below 86% of the league.
Weak in three-point shootingWith today’s rotation it ranks 30th in the league in three-point shooting.
Weak in playmakingWith today’s rotation it ranks 29th in the league in playmaking.
Only 1 center in the rotationOne injury leaves it without a backup in the paint.

Contracts and extensions

Expiring this season

Marcus Sasser 25 years old · paid 5.2 M Restricted free agent Re-signing him would cost about 6.8 M a year
Dereck Lively II 21 years old · paid 7.2 M Salary coming off the books

With an option next summer

Kyrie Irving39.5 M · can leave early

Bargains (produce far above their salary, for several years)

None.

Pricey but short (paid more than they produce, but ending soon)

None.

Money and picks

Payroll 197.9 M Cap 165.0 M Tax 200.4 M 1st apron 209.0 M 2nd apron 221.7 M

Payroll: 197.9 M · over the cap
Distance to each line: tax: 2.6 M below · 1st apron: 11.1 M below · 2nd apron: 23.8 M below
Next summer: 192.2 M committed · no cap space
First-rounders it can trade: 2031 · holds 1 other team’s first and 6 swaps

Radar and possible trades

Who could ask about its players

HOU → Naji Marshallsigned through 2029-30, produces above his salary
DET → Santi Aldamasigned through 2027-28

A trade that works under the CBA

DAL gets

Tobias Harris

SAS gets

Santi Aldama

Try it in the Trade Machine ↓

Trade pieces

Assets: Olivier-Maxence Prosper (worth 5.3 M more than his salary)
Contracts that weigh: P.J. Washington (overpaid by 12.9 M), Zaccharie Risacher (overpaid by 10.7 M)
To match salaries: Klay Thompson (17.5 M)

Your turn

What would you do with the Dallas Mavericks?

Send us your take: a trade, an extension or the team's direction. The best ones make it onto the podcast.

Your trade, in the Trade Machine

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