The Dallas Mavericks’ regular season raises questions about the state of the team. The Mavericks enter the 2026-27 NBA season with optimism under a new-look front office, head coach, and roster. The Mavs also enter the season with the much-anticipated return of Kyrie Irving, who can help unlock Cooper Flagg’s potential.
The Mavs recently exercised the third-year rookie scale option on Flagg, 19, guaranteeing his contract through the 2027-28 NBA season. Flagg’s dominant debut season attributed to the Mavs’ decision. However, Dallas still has questions to answer in the near future. Read on for further insight to make an informed decision.
Dallas Mavericks’ Regular Season Raises Questions
The Dallas Mavericks enter the regular season with comeback hopes, along with lingering issues. New head coach Dusty May previously stressed the importance of establishing a defensive identity, but the Mavericks struggled to consistently defend to the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks in the preseason.
The Mavs continue to lack in reliable floor-spacing and guard depth, leading to the waiving of two-way guards, John Poulakidas and Seth Lundy, as the team searches for roster balance. In addition, Dallas’ offensive and half-court efficiency contributes to scoring slumps and rough shooting stretches, as seen in the preseason.
NBA legend Shawn Marion, also known as “The Matrix,” recently acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Kyrie Irving’s comeback, especially as Irving prepares to compete in a roster — and a league — full of younger talent, in a recent interview with The Action Network’s Kyle Odegard.
Marion, 48, said, “I would like to see him back to that top level. You just don’t know, man. The league is so young, and everyone is so talented. I want to see what happens, and how he helps the team.”
Marion then offered a rather positive assessment of Irving’s physical condition and preparation throughout his recovery from a torn ACL suffered against the Sacramento Kings in March 2025.
Marion said, “He’s been working out like crazy with his teammates and doing his little circuit. He looks good, looks healthy. He could have come back last year but they waited the full year.”
Marion’s unbiased acknowledgement of Irving can make one wonder if the 34-year-old can successfully return to form after a 19-month absence? In addition, one may wonder if the veteran guard can finish his NBA career with the Mavs or even the season, should the team trade him before the February 2027 trade deadline.
Mavericks Face Lingering Issues
The Mavericks face several lingering issues, such as defensive vulnerability, a lack of reliable depth behind their top stars, and ongoing frontcourt injuries. Dereck Lively II continues to recover from right foot surgery, while Santi Aldama is recovering from right knee surgery. Morez Johnson Jr. and Tarik Biberovic have dealt with health and conditioning issues in the past.
The Mavs’ woes include high turnover counts and rather persistent rebounding lapses, which negatively impacts the team as they transition out of the preseason with a 1-3 record. If the Mavs don’t address their structural issues, they probably won’t succeed in maximizing their star pairing of Irving and Flagg. But they can start by fixing their shot profile en route to a better offensive rating than last season’s 27th ranking.
The roster deadline ended on Monday at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. The Mavs waived veteran Dwight Powell to meet the NBA’s 15-standard-contract roster, ending Powell’s 12-year run with the team — the second-longest tenure in franchise history. Powell first arrived in Dallas, Texas, alongside Rajon Rondo, in 2014 in exchange for Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, a 2015 first-round pick, and a 2016 first-round pick.
The Mavs’ roster is now finalized, but the Mavs lost an experienced big man. Daniel Gafford would help with the rebounding and interior defense, while Moussa Cisse would provide spacing and floor-spacing potential. The team would also lean on veterans to fill in the void Powell left regarding leadership, professionalism, and community involvement.
Playoff Bound or Not?
The Mavericks have a tough road ahead in a competitive Western Conference, so there’s a chance that they’ll make the NBA Play-In Tournament. If the Mavs secure a Play-In berth, the public will likely see this as a huge accomplishment for a rebuilding team.
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