It has been a roller-coaster year for the Dallas Mavericks since summer 2024. After reaching the 2024 NBA Finals and falling to the Boston Celtics in five games, the Mavericks looked ahead of schedule.
Following their Finals run, the Mavericks had a challenging first half of the 2024-2025 season. Midway through that season, they traded star guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal that brought back big man Anthony Davis. Despite the trade, the Mavericks’ struggles continued, culminating in a loss in the play-in tournament and missing the playoffs.
In the subsequent offseason, the Mavericks unexpectedly earned the No. 1 pick in the draft lottery, despite having just a 1.8% chance, and selected Duke star Cooper Flagg.
Entering the 2025-2026 season, the Mavericks hoped to pair Flagg and Davis with veterans Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. However, injuries have thus far prevented the team from seeing that vision come to fruition.
With Anthony Davis Fighting Injuries, Cooper Flagg Stat Goes Viral
Irving teamed with Dončić to lead the Mavericks to the 2024 Finals. However, last season, Irving suffered a torn ACL. Although he is expected to play at some point this season, there is no time frame for his return.
Thompson has struggled mightily. The 35-year-old is averaging just 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. He’s shooting 34.0% from the field and 30.3% from beyond the arc. He looks like a far cry from his Splash Brothers days with the Golden State Warriors.
Davis, another former top pick, has played just five games due to a left calf strain.
Most recently, Davis missed Friday night’s 118-115 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite his absence, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd had a very positive update, saying Davis’ rehab is going “great.”
“Davis is out with illness,” Kidd said. “And also, he is rehabbing the calf so everything is great there.”
Flagg had his best game in the victory, scoring a game-high 29 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists. That marked the 16th game Flagg has played for the Mavericks. Davis has appeared in only 14 games for the club despite being dealt there back on February 2.
With the Mavericks injuries and assumed plans to build around Flagg, there has been speculation that Davis could be traded. That move would help make room for Flagg on the floor and give Mavericks assets to put a young core around the top pick of the 2025 draft.
Fortunately for the Mavericks, there is still plenty of time to address these roster questions, as the NBA’s trade deadline is Feb. 5.
