NBA general managers aren’t exactly rushing to stamp the Dallas Mavericks as a team on the rise.
That became clear in the annual NBA GM survey, which gave Cooper Flagg a little love but not much else. Flagg picked up one vote as a player to start a franchise with, two votes for most likely to have a breakout season, and one vote for most versatile player in the NBA. That was about the extent of Dallas’ presence.
The Mavericks’ newest addition to that conversation, Zaccharie Risacher, also landed a vote for most underrated acquisition. Dallas was able to get him by parting with only a second-round pick and Ryan Nembhard, whom the Atlanta Hawks sent to the Charlotte Hornets before he was waived.
As a team, the Mavericks got one vote for most improved. The Indiana Pacers ran away with that category, which lines up with Tyrese Haliburton returning from injury and the trade for Ivica Zubac.
Outside of that, Dallas was nowhere to be found in the survey.
For Mavericks fans, that’s a little surprising considering how much attention Flagg could have drawn and how much change the franchise has already gone through. The last two seasons have been rough, but this group does look different now with Kyrie Irving coming back from injury, Flagg entering his second season, plus a new coaching staff and a new front office.
The team may not be viewed as a title threat, but it still has two of probably the 30 best players in the NBA. That alone should make Dallas far more competitive than it was a year ago.
There’s still the lingering question of whether veterans such as Irving, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington will be moved. Until that happens, though, the Mavericks have to be judged as they are.
Sportsbooks have set Dallas around 33 wins, a number that would mean a seven-win jump from last season. Given how many close games they dropped a year ago, that target feels reachable if a few more breaks swing their way.
In Other News...
Mavericks Just Got A Tougher Shooting Decision Than Fans Expected
John Poulakidas missing the Mavericks second preseason game naturally stirred some questions about where he stands in Dallas plans, especially with roster decisions still taking shape. The team has been looking for ways to sharpen its three-point shooting, and that has put a spotlight on players who can help stretch the floor without needing a heavy offensive load.
Poulakidas offered a reminder of why he remains part of that conversation in the latest look against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he scored 16 points and knocked down four three-pointers. For a roster still weighing moves involving him and others, that kind of bench shooting is exactly the sort of skill set that can make a decision more complicated than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Dusty May Just Spotlighted Why Risacher Could Matter For Dallas
The Mavericks 101-97 preseason loss to the Pelicans didnt change much in the standings, but it did offer another look at why Zaccharie Risacher keeps drawing attention. Dallas fell to 1-2, and even in a game where his shot wasnt falling cleanly, Risacher still found ways to impact the action with his activity around the glass, his work in transition and the movement that kept him involved without needing the ball in his hands.
Dusty May made sure to point out those details after the game, and they matter for Dallas because they speak to a player who can help in more than one phase. Risacher finished with six points, four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block in 23 minutes, a stat line that showed both his versatility and the rough edges that come with preseason evaluation. The shooting efficiency was uneven, but the larger takeaway for the Mavericks is that there is already evidence of the kind of connective play that can make him useful once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Could Face A Roster Squeeze Lakers Fans Should Watch
The Lakers search for more help behind their front line has pulled the Mavericks into the conversation, with one trade framework sending center Moussa Cisse to Los Angeles and bringing guard Jaden Hardy back to Dallas. It is the kind of swap that speaks to both teams needs: the Lakers would be looking to shore up backup big man depth, while Dallas would be betting on a young scorer who could add some punch off the bench.
For the Mavericks, the wrinkle is less about the name value of the deal than the roster math it could trigger. Dwight Powells return would require room, which means Dallas may have to make a decision somewhere else on the bench, and that is where the squeeze starts to matter. Hardys fit is easy enough to imagine in a second unit that could use more scoring, but the question is whether the Mavericks are ready to reshuffle bodies to make the move work. [Read more 🡒]