Dallas Mavericks' Top 3 Priorities During 2026 NBA Offseason
The Dallas Mavericks' season is officially over. Now, the real work begins.
This summer marks the first true offseason of Dallas' rebuild. It turns out trading Luka Dončić didn't improve their proximity to a title. Who'd have thunk it?
Then again, can we even assume the Mavs are fully rebuilding? They are clearly on the Cooper Flagg timeline, but they must juggle that with the "We don't control our own first-round pick again until 2031" timeline.
These seemingly warring circumstances make for a complicated, high-stakes, and, in turn, fascinating offseason. Let's take a look at how Dallas should prioritize navigating it.
3. Get More Shooting...STAT
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The average team this season shot around 36 percent from long distance. Dallas' roster next season has just two players who met that benchmark on at least five attempts per 36 minutes: Klay Thompson and Max Christie.
Just as Cooper Flagg will benefit from another lead ball-handler, he and the Mavs' frontline at large will be in much better shape with more floor-spacers around them. Kyrie Irving's return helps here as well, but again, he's not enough.
Also: Who's to say the next lead exec doesn't move him and/or Thompson? Also, Dallas shouldn't be the least bit comfortable relying heavily on an aging Kyrie or Klay.
Free-agent options who may fall in MLE territory include Norman Powell, Coby White (again), Rui Hachimura, Landry Shamet, Anfernee Simons, Keon Ellis and Luke Kennard. The Mavs also shouldn't hesitate to add stretch at the 5 so long as it's relatively cheap. Someone like Sandro Mamukaleshvili (player option) fits the bill.
2. Add Another Lead Ball-Handler
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Whether it's with one of their two first-round picks, via trade or in free agency, the Mavs have to add someone who can lighten Cooper Flagg's offensive workload. He spent way more time on-ball than expected, and while his self-creation around the basket is impressive, he'll be best served on a roster that can tap into more of his play-finishing.
Counting on Kyrie Irving isn't good enough. He is 34 and working his way back from an ACL injury. Dallas needs a short- and long-term alternative.
Addressing the issue in the draft would be ideal, if only because an inbound rookie fits the Flagg window. But that route depends on where the Mavs land in the lottery. They could jump up to AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson territory, end up in range of Darius Acuff Jr. or Kingston Flemings or miss out on all four.
Free agency probably doesn't hold the answer. Dallas will most likely wind up operating over the cap and have the non-taxpayer's mid-level exception ($15 million). That doesn't get you in the door for Austin Reaves, while contingencies like Collin Sexton and Ayo Dosunmu aren't Plan A material.
Coby White could be interesting if he leaves Charlotte. Otherwise, trade targets who won't fetch the moon should be the Mavs' jam: Cam Spencer, Tre Jones, T.J. McConnell, Ty Jerome, Dejounte Murray, etc. If the new front office wants to swing higher, but not too high, Ryan Rollins and Tyler Herro are worth keeping on the radar.
1. Hire a Lead Front Office Executive
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Co-interim general managers Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley have been running the show since the Mavs dismissed Nico Harrison. The team needs a more definitive hierarchy posthaste.
It'd be one thing if Riccardi or Finley had the inside track on keeping the gig. They don't. Dallas is expected to sniff around all the heavy hitters. This pursuit includes Bob Myers, Tim Connelly (currently with the Minnesota Timberwolves) and Masai Ujiri, according to The Athletic's Christian Clark.
Whomever the Mavs settle on, they'd better lock 'em up soon. The next front office regime should be in place well before the draft and free agency. They should be given ample time to decide whether they want to continue rolling with head coach Jason Kidd before all the best coaching candidates get scooped up.
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes.
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