Dallas Mavericks Are at a Crossroads - Compete Now or Prioritize the Future?
It’s been a rough ride for the Dallas Mavericks this season - and that’s putting it lightly. With injuries piling up and inconsistency defining their play, the Mavs find themselves staring down a tough question: fight for a play-in spot now, or hit reset and focus on the 2026 NBA Draft?
Here’s the reality: Dallas won’t fully control another first-round pick until 2031. That puts an enormous amount of pressure on the front office to make this one count.
And if they don’t? The long-term implications could be brutal.
Let’s be honest - even with Kyrie Irving expected back in 2026, this season feels like a lost cause. The Mavs are barely hanging around the play-in conversation, and the idea of making a deep playoff run is more dream than reality.
That’s why there’s growing buzz among fans and analysts alike that the team should consider pivoting toward the lottery. Tanking isn’t a word teams love to use publicly, but in this case, it might be the smartest move.
The Spurs Comparison: A Glimpse Into What Could Be
NBA analyst Sam Quinn recently weighed in on the Mavs’ situation, and he didn’t mince words. He argued that if Dallas chooses to push for wins now instead of maximizing their lottery odds, they could be paying for it for years to come.
Quinn painted a vivid picture of what the future could look like: the Mavericks walking into San Antonio for a playoff series in 2029, facing a Spurs team stacked with three or four All-Stars, and realizing they’re completely outgunned. That’s the kind of long-term consequence that comes from short-term thinking.
And it’s not just hypothetical. The Spurs have already built a promising young core around Victor Wembanyama, and they’ve added pieces like Dylan Harper, De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle.
That group isn’t just built to win now - it’s built to win for the next decade. Meanwhile, the Mavericks are still trying to find their footing, and the clock is ticking.
The Flagg Factor
If there’s one bright spot in Dallas right now, it’s Cooper Flagg. The 18-year-old phenom has already shown flashes of brilliance, including a jaw-dropping 42-point performance against the Utah Jazz - the kind of game that makes you sit up and realize you might be watching the next face of the franchise.
Flagg’s ceiling is sky-high, and the Mavericks need to do everything in their power to build around him. That starts with securing a top-tier talent in the 2026 draft. Missing out on that pick - or using it poorly - could stunt Flagg’s growth and waste the early years of what looks like a special career.
What Happens With Davis?
Anthony Davis has been in and out of the lineup all season, and his name continues to swirl in trade rumors. If Dallas does decide to move him, they need to make sure they get draft capital in return. Trading a player of Davis’ caliber midseason is rare, but not unheard of - Luka Doncic was moved midseason, after all - and in a year like this, nothing should be off the table.
The key is making sure any deal helps the Mavericks long-term. That means picks, young talent, or both. Dallas can’t afford to let Davis walk without getting something meaningful in return.
The Front Office’s Defining Moment
This is where Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi earn their keep. The front office has to make a clear decision: are they building for today, or tomorrow? Because trying to do both - pushing for wins while protecting the future - rarely works in the NBA.
With Irving and Davis both on the wrong side of 30, the Mavericks can’t afford to waste time. They need to surround Flagg with the right pieces, and that starts with making the most of this year’s draft. If they miss, they’ll be looking up at teams like the Spurs and Thunder for a long time.
The Western Conference isn’t getting any easier. Oklahoma City is loaded with young talent and draft assets.
San Antonio is already ahead of schedule. If Dallas wants to stay relevant - not just this year, but for the next five to ten - they need to play the long game.
That means making tough decisions now, even if it means sacrificing short-term wins.
Because if they don’t? That playoff series in San Antonio a few years from now might not just be a mismatch - it might be a warning of what could’ve been.