League executives are set to meet next week about the idea of expanding the NBA by two teams, with exclusively Las Vegas and Seattle discussed and the cities receiving a franchise.
The NBA's Board of Governors will meet on March 24-25 to discuss the league possibly expanding to 32 teams, with Las Vegas and Seattle being the exclusive cities that would receive franchises, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania.
This idea has grown in speculation throughout this season, especially as it relates to those two front-running bidders. If talks go their way, a target season could been set for 2028-29.
Charania adds: "There is momentum for stakeholders to approve surveying what industry executives project will be bids in the $7-to-$10 billion range for each team."
Following the Dallas Mavericks' transition of ownership and questionable roster decisions (to say the least) in recent years, fans worried that Dallas would be victim to relocation to the booming market of Las Vegas that's been an obvious choice for an NBA team ... and the ties with Patrick Dumont, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., were obvious.
That's simply not happening. This is yet another example of that.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver will in no way choose to remove one of the United State's largest television markets in the DFW area from the league's map.
But with an expansion, the Mavs we currently know would look a lot different by the time the new teams are added.
Upon approval, each NBA team would keep only eight (8) players on their current roster, with the rest to be added into a draft that the Las Vegas and Seattle franchises pick from to fill out their rosters.
So, if the current (and upcoming) roster were up to chance with an expansion, which Mavericks would be protected?
Would there be an "untouchable"? Is there even such a thing that fits that definition when discussing these Dallas Mavericks?
I digress, but here are my picks for the players Dallas should retain with their eight-ish roster spots.
Untouchables
Cooper Flagg
2026 first-round draftee
Yes, that's the list. By the time 2029 rolls around, Flagg could easily be one of the best players in the world and will be even more of the franchise cornerstone than he already is as a rookie.
And when Dallas furthers its scouting process for this summer's NBA Draft, there better be a lot of focus on who the pick should be.
The Mavs do not have the rights to a first-rounder for the foreseeable future after this year, so this is one of the final opportunities to bring on cheap and rising talent to build a foundation around Flagg.
And for that significant of a commitment, that pick has to be a hit and worthy of being kept as Flagg's running mate.
Easy Keeps
Kyrie Irving
Dereck Lively II
Max Christie
P.J. Washington
Irving will be near the end of his career by this time, but as long as he continues to play, I imagine the Mavericks will want to be the team that sends him off on his own terms. Kyrie and Dallas have a strong bond that the future Hall of Famer hopes to carry into his retirement.
Lively, Christie and Washington are the crucial pillars of a core around Flagg due to their youth and proven pedigree. Christie's offensive game will continue to expand, but his shooting (at least for much of this season) has shown potential to be elite. Lively's health will be a concern, but big men are a premium and the Mavs have a great one on both ends of the floor if he's out there. Lastly, Washington has become a folk hero with his clutch playoff showings in the 2024 Finals run, but he'll still need to turn things around after what's been a mediocre season this year.
Close Calls
Naji Marshall
Ryan Nembhard
Daniel Gafford
If we include the 2026-27 first-round rookie, one of these players would get the boot, but granted, there is so much roster turnover year after year anyway that it'd be unfair to group this roster into consideration with the rookie without affirmation that it'd be a possibility anyway.
With that being said, Marshall, Nembhard and Gafford each bring their own traits that are vital to team success - they won't be the go-to players each game, but they execute their job as well as anyone and pick up the slack that often dictates outcomes. That deserves consideration if it's possible.
Due to his age and injury history, I'd imagine Gafford would be the odd man out, but he's also extremely worthy of being kept as one of only a few front court players on the team.
Those on the pure outside of this consideration are players who already have lesser roles, like Moussa Cisse, Caleb Martin, and Brandon Williams, or will be aging out of a rotation, such as Klay Thompson, Dwight Powell, Khris Middleton and Marvin Bagley III.
