Training camp is nearly here for the Dallas Mavericks, and one of the first things worth watching is a power forward group that suddenly looks crowded.
Media day is tomorrow, camp is expected to begin over the weekend, and the Mavericks enter the 2026-27 season with a roster that has real depth at the position. The question isn’t whether they have options. It’s how they’ll sort out the minutes after adding another first-round power forward with the 9th overall pick.
Dallas has churned through the group to get here. The team traded Anthony Davis at the trade deadline, moved on from Tyler Smith’s two-way deal, dealt for Santi Aldama this season, and came out of the draft with Morez Johnson Jr. and Tobi Lawal.
P.J. Washington is the lone holdover from last year.
That means there’s a real chance all three power forwards could end up starting at some point.
Washington still looks like the headliner. He’s the best of the group right now, but his last few seasons have also come with injuries and streaky shooting. He averaged 14.2 PPG and 7.0 RPG last season, but he hit only 32.5% from three and played in just 56 games.
For Dallas to reach its ceiling, Washington’s outside shot has to be steadier. If he’s knocking down at least 36% from deep, it opens the floor for Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving to do their work.
Aldama gives the Mavericks another path to spacing. Acquired in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, he’s the best shooter in this group, sitting around 36% from three for his career. He also brings center versatility, which could create some interesting lineup combinations, while still having enough strength defensively on the perimeter to play power forward.
Then there’s Johnson, the 9th overall pick and the best defender of the bunch. He arrives fresh off a national championship at Michigan, and his defensive upside is obvious. The issue is whether his offensive game away from the basket is ready enough for heavy minutes at power forward, or whether he spends more time as a small-ball center.
There’s also a familiar connection working in his favor: Dusty May, now his NBA head coach, was also his coach at Michigan. That could matter when the Mavericks are deciding who gets on the floor.
And if they need a stop, Dallas could roll out a front line of Cooper Flagg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Dereck Lively II once Lively is healthy. That group would be a nightmare to score on.
Flagg and Naji Marshall are also options at the four, just as they were last season.
Lawal, a second-round pick on a two-way contract, looks like more of a development piece for now. He’s an explosive athlete, but his perimeter game still needs work, and he’s not quite big enough to play center in the NBA the way he often did at Virginia Tech. Unless injuries hit, his minutes may be limited.
In Other News...
Cooper Flagg Mania Is Already Reaching Another Level In Dallas
Cooper Flaggs arrival in Dallas is already spilling far beyond the court, with his one-of-one Topps Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card drawing jaw-dropping attention before he has even settled into an NBA routine. The card, which features a patch from the jersey he wore in his debut, sold for $8.04 million in Fanatics Collects September Premier Auction and set five records, including the highest price ever for a basketball card featuring a single player and for a Mavericks card.
It was graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA and became the latest symbol of how quickly Flagg has turned into a national obsession. The sale also topped every previous Rookie Debut Patch card price, a reminder that the hype around Dallas newest centerpiece is now extending well beyond ticket sales and into the high-end collectibles world. [Read more 🡒]
Dwight Powell Is Back But Dallas Has A Real Roster Question
Dwight Powell is back with the Mavericks and is set to report to training camp, keeping one of the franchises most familiar faces in the building as Dallas sorts through the final edges of its roster. Powell remains the teams longest-tenured player, and even with the roster already filling out around the 15 standard contracts and two-way spots, he still has a place in camp as his career with the Mavericks continues.
What makes the situation worth watching is that Powell arrives in camp without a contract slot currently attached to him, a reminder that Dallas is carrying more than just basketball decisions into October. The Mavs know what Powell has meant to the organization over the years, and his presence gives them another experienced veteran in the room, but it also leaves a real roster question hanging over how the team wants to handle the last part of its build. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irvings Return Puts A New Mavericks Reality Into Focus
Kyrie Irving is set to return to NBA action after an 18-month absence, and his comeback arrives at a moment when the Mavericks are trying to settle into a new shape around him. After tearing his left ACL, Irving spent the last stretch working his way back with the expectation that Dallas will keep an eye on his workload, but the bigger takeaway is that he now looks ready to rejoin the team as more than just a scorer. He has talked through the recovery process as something that tested him and left him determined to make an impact again.
For Dallas, the timing matters because Irvings return restores one of the leagues most skilled guards to a roster that has been waiting a long time to see what this version of the team can become. Irving has said he is prepared to contribute as a player and as a leader, and the Mavericks will now have to sort out how quickly he can slide back into rhythm while the seasons bigger questions keep moving around him. The health part is only the start - what comes next is how the team adapts to having him back in the picture. [Read more 🡒]