The Mavericks Are Facing a Harsh Truth - And It Might Be Time to Embrace It Again
We’ve reached the halfway point of the NBA season, and the Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a familiar and uncomfortable position - stuck between the desire to compete and the reality that their best path forward might be through losing. It’s not a glamorous route, and it certainly won’t win over casual fans in the short term. But if the Mavericks want to build something sustainable, something real, tanking might once again be their clearest lane to contention.
Let’s rewind to the 2022-23 season. Dallas made the calculated decision to pull the plug late in the year, prioritizing a top-10 protected pick over a fruitless playoff push.
That move raised eyebrows across the league, but in the end, it worked. The Mavericks held onto their pick and used it to draft Dereck Lively II - a young big man with upside and a piece that could be part of their long-term puzzle.
That moment wasn’t just about one draft pick; it was a lesson in how strategic losing, as unpalatable as it may be, can lead to meaningful gains.
Now, here we are again. The Mavericks are 41 games in, and the writing is already on the wall.
A recent loss to the Denver Nuggets - a game where the team clearly missed Anthony Davis - only highlighted the fragility of the current roster. Davis’ injury, once feared to be season-ending, now looks far less severe.
He could return in a month and a half, which opens up a narrow but intriguing window before the February 5 trade deadline.
If the Mavericks want to maximize Davis’ value, this might be the moment. His market may never be stronger, and for a team that’s not in a position to make a serious playoff run, moving him for assets could be a smart long-term play. Even if Davis stays, the Mavericks need to be honest about where this season is heading - and start making moves that reflect that reality.
The goal? Simple: pair Cooper Flagg - the franchise’s prized prospect - with another young star from this summer’s draft.
That kind of duo could reshape the trajectory of the franchise. But to get there, Dallas needs to lose.
Not by accident. On purpose.
That means shutting down veterans, prioritizing development, and leaning into the idea that short-term pain can lead to long-term gain.
It’s not just about Davis either. Kyrie Irving, while still a dynamic offensive force, comes with long-term risk.
If the Mavericks are serious about protecting their future, they’ll need to consider shutting him down for the rest of the season as well. That’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s the kind of forward-thinking move that separates teams stuck in mediocrity from those building toward something bigger.
And let’s not forget the other pieces on the roster. Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford - all names that could draw interest from contenders looking to bolster their depth. If Dallas plays its cards right, there’s a real opportunity to stockpile draft capital and clear the runway for a new era.
This isn’t about waving the white flag. It’s about being strategic, disciplined, and honest about where things stand.
The Mavericks aren’t built to win right now - not with this roster, not in this Western Conference. But they can build a team that wins down the line.
That starts with embracing the uncomfortable and leaning into a process that’s already proven to work.
Fans may not love it in the moment. But if Dallas ends up pairing Flagg with a top-seven pick in the 2026 draft?
If they come out of this stretch with a young, exciting core ready to grow together? Those same fans will be the first to fill the arena when the wins start rolling in.
Sometimes, the hardest decisions are the ones that set you up for the biggest rewards. And for the Mavericks, that time might be now.