The Mavericks’ wing group looks a lot different from the rest of the roster, because this is the one spot that barely moved. Dallas only lost Khris Middleton, who agreed to return to the Washington Wizards in a sign-and-trade, and that leaves a crowded, interesting mix for 2026-27.
At the top of that group sits Cooper Flagg, and the starting small forward job looks as locked in as anything on the team. Even with Kyrie Irving back at point guard, Flagg is the clear anchor on the wing.
His rookie year was the kind of season that makes a franchise lean in. Flagg led Dallas in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, a huge stat-line footprint for a first-year player. Irving’s return could knock him out of the team lead in assists, but that only shifts attention to another question: whether Irving can stay healthy, something that has not always been a given.
For Flagg, the biggest swing skill is still the jumper. He had stretches where the three-pointer was falling, but he finished the season at 29.2% from deep.
The encouraging part is the free-throw number, 82.7%, which points to real upside as a shooter. He also wants more work creating off the dribble, and he got plenty of that last season while handling the ball under Jason Kidd.
Naji Marshall gives Dallas another wing who can fill a bunch of different roles. He can handle, defend, get into the paint, and he may even have a better floater than Flagg.
He does not bring Flagg’s passing or explosiveness, but he’s a dependable role player. Dallas backed that up this offseason with a three-year, $51.8 million extension, a deal that surprised some people.
The price tag is steep, but the declining structure could make it easier to move later.
There are more names in the mix, too. Zaccharie Risacher, who was discussed on Monday, should get run here, and Caleb Martin fits into the wing conversation as well.
P.J. Washington is more naturally a power forward, but he’ll slide to the three in bigger lineups.
Dallas also brought in Jett Howard on a two-way contract, and he can play either the two or the three.
For a team that is about to open training camp and then head to Macau for preseason games against the Houston Rockets, the wing spot is the one that offers the most variety and, maybe, the most intrigue.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Just Took On A Role The Mavericks Desperately Need
Kyrie Irving is already leaning into a different kind of responsibility for Dallas, one that goes beyond shot-making and late-game creation. After hosting a player-led minicamp for the Mavericks, he is stepping into the kind of leadership role the organization has been waiting for, especially with a young roster that could use a steady veteran voice as it tries to grow into a playoff contender.
What makes this especially notable is the timing. Irving is expected to be Dallas primary veteran leader on and off the court in the 2026-27 season, and it will be his first full run in that role after injuries and roster circumstances kept that possibility from fully taking shape before. For a team that needs both direction and accountability, his experience may end up mattering as much as anything he does with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irvings Mavericks Future Still Hangs Over Dallas Entering Camp
The Mavericks have spent the offseason taking stock of the roster under new head coach Dusty May and a fresh voice in the front office, and Kyrie Irving remains one of the central names in every conversation about where the team is headed next. Irving is working back from an ACL injury and, at 34, still carries the kind of gravity that can shape not just the rotation but the bigger direction of the franchise.
For now, Dallas is planning as if Irving will be part of the picture when camp opens, even with the uncertainty that usually follows a season of change. His situation is fluid enough that the team would listen if he wanted a move, and the broader question is how long the current balance holds if the Mavericks stumble early or Irvings view of his future starts to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Roster Crunch Just Made The Klay Thompson Move Harder To Explain
The Mavericks offseason already looked a little unusual after they bought out Klay Thompson and let him land with the Miami Heat, and the roster math around the move has only gotten tighter since then. Dallas is carrying a full roster, which means every addition now comes with a consequence, and that has turned even modest depth decisions into a small puzzle for the front office.
Dwight Powells name is back in the conversation, with Dallas looking at him for training camp as a possible competitor for a spot. The catch is simple: bringing him in would force the Mavericks to clear room by waiving someone else, which is why the Thompson buyout keeps drawing second-guessing. Once a move creates that kind of squeeze, it gets harder to explain why the team chose it in the first place. [Read more 🡒]