How many wins will the Mavs have next season?
Coming off a 26-56 record in Cooper Flagg's rookie season, the Dallas Mavericks remodeled the front office, loaded up the roster with an interesting blend of forwards, and hired top college coach Dusty May to truly begin the Flagg Era.
How will it all pan out?
Dallas' offseason business has largely been met with a good approval rating with fans (though, Nico Harrison's actions couldn't have been lower in the court of public opinion).
New president Masai Ujiri is a seasoned NBA exec who has won at the highest level, even early in his tenure with a franchise. He brought an experienced scout to take over as general manager, and Mike Schmitz has fed Ujiri's signature roster construction plan, which features athletic forwards who are versatile on both ends of the court.
May will be tasked with determining how these pieces fit together, with returners Max Christie, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford retaining their roles, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II returning from injury, and newcomers Santi Aldama, Zaccharie Risacher and Marcus Sasser, among others, seeing where they belong.
As the Mavs' schedule is released later this week, early betting markets are projecting an increase in wins for Dallas this season, which is likely determined through better health and quality additions netted over those who left.
ESPN references DraftKings' over/under line of 34.5 wins in 2026-27. While that number suggests a slight improvement from the previous year, the publication picks under 34.5 (-115) as the best bet.
"The Mavericks lack reliable shot creation outside of Irving, whose age and ACL recovery create plenty of uncertainty," said analyst Eric Moody. "Flagg should improve, but the reigning Rookie of the Year still has a thin supporting cast, while first-year head coach Dusty May faces a steep learning curve. Dallas should improve on last season's 26 wins, but reaching 36 looks unlikely."
In total, the Mavericks' offseason is graded at a B-. No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. joins trade gets Aldama and Risacher in a crowded front court situation for May to manage.
With Gafford, Lively and Moussa Cisse (whose offer sheet from the New York Knicks was matched by Dallas in free agency) holding down the middle, the clear void in the lineup is guard play behind Irving. This is where May could give rookie Spaniard Sergio De Larrea a big opportunity to contribute after a fine summer league showing.
While it's clunky on paper, Ujiri is the trusted voice in charge and has put the Mavs in a better position to compete than it has seen since the disastrous trade of Luka Doncic now a year and a half ago.
Ujiri's "patient approach" lands Dallas at No. 23 in ESPN's first NBA power rankings.
Flagg, who turns 20 in December, officially takes over a roster and franchise that has reasons to believe a turnaround - albeit a slight one - is possible this season.
