The Dallas Mavericks just barely made it to the All-Star break in one piece.

Following a 20-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Mavs return home without any participant in this weekend's All-Star festivities, allowing the team to get some much-needed rest before turning toward the back half of the schedule.

One of the brightest spots of the year thus far, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, was elected to compete in Friday's Castrol Rising Stars showcase, but the star rookie has sustained a midfoot sprain - all but encapsulating what this recent stretch has felt like for Dallas.

The loss in LA marks the Mavs' ninth consecutive defeat - the longest streak since losing 15 straight in the 1997-98 season. Dallas is 19-35 and 5-19 away from the American Airlines Center, nestling into 12th in the Western Conference standings with the NBA's eighth-worst record.

With the Mavericks' next game just under a week away - Friday, Feb. 20 at the Minnesota Timberwolves - there are two massive things to focus on before finishing the season.

There has been buzz circulating over the last week that pertain to the Mavs' front office. Part-owner and team governor Patrick Dumont struck down rumors of the team potentially being for sale, saying that the current ownership remains committed to the Mavericks and the city of Dallas.

To prove that commitment? Dumont must make progress in hiring a general manager to replace the battered Nico Harrison.

I don't expect any official signing to come until the end of the season, giving the casino tycoon as much options as possible, including those who may be at other positions across the league at this moment. Dumont has said that he is casting a wide net of both internal and external candidates.

Whomever is hired can officially get to work on building the roster around the new centerpiece Flagg now that Dumont executed one of the smartest future-thinking moves of the trade deadline and moving on from Anthony Davis.

The Mavs need direction - both on the court and in the executive suite. We aren't likely to see them get back on those tracks during this season, but as soon as the offseason hits, hiring a new general manager is crucial in starting the next phase of the franchise's history.

Again, with how things are going, we probably will not see the current Mavericks roster at its full strength this season.

Regardless, this team needs to stay out of harms way if they want to make the next stretch of games at least a little bit competitive.

Flagg is hobbled with a foot sprain, as is Daniel Gafford with his lingering ankle issue, Naji Marshall with his foot and Caleb Martin with his ankle. Marshall and Gafford's injuries sidelined them for the second half of the Lakers game while Martin and Flagg were ruled out for its entirety.

Kyrie Irving continues to see his expected return pushed back as the Mavs remain out of postseason contention, and as that happens, him sitting out the entire season following his ACL tear last March looks more and more like the best possible route.

Irving recently said in an interview that he isn't coming back until he's "150 percent back" physically and close to his pre-injury form, and while that is a tall task for a 35-year-old to begin with, it's the nicest way he could say what we're all already thinking.

Lastly, Dereck Lively II is certain not to return after undergoing surgery nearly two months ago on his foot, but his rehab remains vital for the future of the franchise. At just 22 years of age, Lively is looked at inside the organization as Flagg's big-man running mate to build around, but since he's entered the league, he's struggled putting together a full season of health.

Considering all of these factors, the Mavericks are expected to land a top-10 pick in the reportedly loaded 2026 NBA Draft.

While they won't be counting on a ping-pong ball striking gold again like last year, any selection from this crop of talent is sure to make an impact on the roster construction around Flagg, where young pieces like Lively, P.J. Washington and Max Christie already fill out a promising core.

The scouting process can begin right now. Whether the Mavs will "tank" as well as other teams currently are shouldn't be the worry. Dallas can find a solid prospect from wherever it lands in the lottery, but in order to do so, they must keep tabs on what fits best.

It all cycles back up to the top with the need for a general manager to steer the ship.