Dallas may need more shooters and a secondary playmaker to unlock Cooper Flagg's potential. Discover the crucial offseason moves to build a contender.
The Dallas Mavericks are heading into the 2026 offseason at a critical point in their rebuild. With Cooper Flagg now established as the franchise centerpiece, the organization’s focus has shifted toward building a roster that properly supports his skill set and accelerates the team’s timeline.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Dan Favale, he outlines what he thinks should be the team's three biggest priorities this offseason. Two of them are related to the team's play on the court, and one of them is that Dallas needs more shooting.
And they need to find it fast.
The Mavericks lack consistent, high-volume threats from beyond the arc, which limits spacing and allows defenses to collapse more easily. For a player like Flagg, who thrives when he has room to operate, that’s a major issue.
All you have to do is look at the team's three-point percentage of 34.4 percent, which was the fifth-worst mark in the entire league.
Adding reliable shooters would open up the floor and make the offense far more dynamic. It’s not just about hitting threes—it’s about forcing defenses to respect every spot on the court.
Another major need for the Mavericks is the fact that they need a secondary playmaker.
Flagg took on a heavy offensive burden as a rookie, often acting as the primary initiator. While he handled it well, relying on him to do everything isn’t a sustainable formula. The Mavericks need another guard or wing who can run the offense, create opportunities for others, and ease the pressure in key moments.
Kyrie Irving can still provide that, but his ability to do so might not be what it once was after he has been rehabbing for so long from the torn ACL that he suffered last season.
The priorities are clear: improve shooting, add another playmaker, and create a more balanced roster. None of these are luxury upgrades; they’re essential steps toward becoming competitive in a loaded Western Conference.
The good news is the Mavericks have their foundation in place. Now it’s on the front office to build something functional around it.