Cooper Flagg Mavericks Era Begins Under Masai Ujiri and Coach Dusty May

Reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg leads a Dallas roster featuring new additions Morez Johnson Jr. and Zaccharie Risacher for the 2026-27 season.

The Dallas Mavericks enter the 2026-27 season ranked No. 21 in the Basketball Power Index following a 26-win campaign that saw them finish 27th in offensive efficiency. Reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg anchors the roster after a debut season where he averaged plus-6.2 net points against a difficult April schedule. Flagg showed significant growth throughout his first year, improving from minus-1.0 net points per 48 minutes through November to plus-0.5 for the remainder of the season. The franchise is currently 18 months removed from what has been described as the most shocking trade in NBA history and holds a No. 23 spot in the post-free agency Power Rankings.

Team governor Patrick Dumont overhauled the leadership structure this summer by hiring Masai Ujiri as team president to oversee basketball operations. Ujiri subsequently replaced head coach Jason Kidd with Dusty May, who recently led Michigan to an NCAA title. The Mavericks utilized the No. 9 pick in the 2026 draft to select forward Morez Johnson Jr., who previously played under May at the collegiate level. To bolster the frontcourt, Dallas also acquired forward Zaccharie Risacher via trade and matched an offer sheet from the New York Knicks to retain Moussa Cisse.

Roster Reconstruction and Trade Details

Dallas executed a six-team trade to secure three immediate contributors: forward Santi Aldama from the Grizzlies, guard Marcus Sasser from the Pistons, and EuroLeague veteran Tarik Biberovic. As part of a separate transaction involving Luguentz Dort moving from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks, the Mavericks landed a former No. 1 overall pick. These additions follow the departures of Khris Middleton and Ryan Nembhard during the offseason period. The current roster construction has created a depth imbalance, as the team loaded up on big forwards while losing backcourt options.

Max Christie emerges as a primary X factor for the upcoming season after recording a career-high 12.3 points per game and shooting 40% from 3-point range last year. At age 23, Christie is the only traditional shooting guard on a frontcourt-heavy depth chart. The team’s perimeter defense will rely heavily on his development as he joins a backcourt rotation that includes Sergio de Larrea, a playmaker noted for his vision and scoring creation. The front office also prioritized adding spacing through Risacher and physicality via Johnson to complement Flagg’s all-around game.

Kyrie Irving’s Return from Injury

A critical component of the 2026-27 season is the return of nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, who has been sidelined since March 2025 with a torn left ACL. Before the injury, the 34-year-old guard was producing at an All-NBA level, averaging 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game. Although Dallas initially expected him to return around January 1, 2026, the team’s 12-23 record at that time led management to prioritize Flagg’s development instead. Irving’s presence is expected to reduce the creation burden on Flagg, though his age and recovery timeline have led to speculation regarding his long-term future on the trade market.

Statistical Outlook and Betting Projections

Expert projections for the Mavericks' top seven players utilize Net Points per 100 possessions to evaluate impact. Despite the roster changes, betting insights from DraftKings Sportsbook set the regular-season win total at 34.5, with the under favored at -115 odds. This cautious outlook stems from a lack of reliable shot creation outside of Irving and the steep learning curve facing a first-year NBA head coach. The team currently sits near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, having finished last season with the third-worst record in the West by early January.

Management continues to build around Flagg, whose 1-of-1 prized card was recently located in Rhode Island. The franchise retained Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford to maintain interior depth alongside Cisse. While the Mavericks are aiming for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, they must first address the lack of backcourt depth that resulted from the summer's focus on acquiring versatile forwards like Aldama and Johnson.