The Dallas Mavericks came into the 2026-27 season with plenty of questions, but the biggest one up front is starting to look like an advantage. What once seemed like a crowded frontcourt has turned into one of the team’s clearest strengths through nine games.
That shift matters because Dallas had real concerns before the season even tipped off. The backup point guard spot behind Kyrie Irving was one of the first headaches, but Walter Clayton Jr. and Naji Marshall have answered that problem with strong play off the bench.
The bigger debate centered on the forwards and bigs, where the roster looked overloaded and out of balance on paper. Instead, that depth has given the Mavericks a different kind of edge.
Defensively, the payoff has been obvious. Dallas is contesting shots at the rim with size and length, and the group inside has helped reshape the team’s identity under Dusty May.
Last season, the Mavericks ranked 19th in defensive rating, 10th in blocks per game, and last in opponents’ points inside the paint. This year, they’ve climbed to 11th in defensive rating, sit in the top five in blocks, and have moved up seven spots in opponents’ points inside the paint.
Daniel Gafford has been a big part of that jump. He ranks in the top five in blocks per game, and his presence fits right into the way Dallas wants to play now: aggressive, physical, and active on the boards.
The size isn’t just a problem for opponents on defense, either. Dallas can throw out lineups that are hard to deal with on the other end, too.
On Friday against the Utah Jazz, the Mavericks used a group of Flagg, P.J. Washington, Zaccharie Risacher, and Morez Johnson Jr., with all four standing 6-foot-7 or taller.
That kind of length creates matchup issues right away.
Washington and Flagg did the damage offensively, combining for 37 points. Washington knocked down 60 percent of his 3-point attempts, while Flagg scored in a variety of ways around the lane. Together, they were tough to handle from just about anywhere on the floor.
Risacher and Johnson made their presence felt on the glass. The former No. 1 overall pick finished with four rebounds and two blocks, while Rez posted a double-double with 13 points and 17 rebounds. Their work inside helped hold Utah to 36 points in the paint.
That kind of depth also gives Dallas something every team wants: a real next-man-up setup. If foul trouble hits or someone misses time, the Mavericks can turn to another forward or center without losing size or energy. Johnson or Santi Aldama can step in for Gafford, and the rim protection doesn’t disappear.
Aldama’s debut on Friday showed exactly why that matters. He made a strong first impression with eight points and nine rebounds in 13 minutes, bringing the same hard-nosed approach Dallas has leaned on from its bigs. He helped control the glass and kept the offense moving.
What looked like a roster issue before the season has become a strength. Dallas has enough depth inside to mix and match lineups, keep pressure on the rim, and stay aggressive for 48 minutes.
In Other News...
Jeremy Sochans Dallas Decision Could Shape What Comes Next
The Mavericks developmental pipeline got a little more interesting this week as Jeremy Sochan weighed his next step and, in the process, highlighted how much front-office relationships can matter when a player is deciding between staying in the U.S. or heading overseas. For Dallas, the choice is about more than one players immediate landing spot. It speaks to how the organization is trying to position its G League affiliate as a real option for talent that might otherwise look to Europe for a clearer path and a bigger role.
The timing also matters because the broader market for available players keeps shifting. Cedi Osman is facing a lengthy recovery after surgery on his right meniscus, Greg Brown III is set for surgery on a ruptured right Achilles tendon, and Dalano Banton was waived after a brief stint in China, while Ed Davis is dealing with allegations tied to a sports bribery scheme involving Malik Beasley. Against that backdrop, Dallas has a chance to keep building a development network that feels stable and appealing, even if the full payoff from Sochans decision is still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Finally Look Healthier But One Rotation Question Still Looms
The Mavericks are starting to get some bodies back at a useful time, with a back-to-back looming against the Nets and Pacers. Kyrie Irving is not listed on the injury report for the upcoming game, and Dallas is finally getting closer to something resembling its regular rotation after a stretch in which availability has been a moving target.
Even so, the injury report still leaves a few questions hanging over Sunday. Dallas has four players listed, with three already ruled out because of various injuries, so the staff may still have to juggle minutes and roles even as the roster gets healthier. Brooklyn has not submitted its report yet, but the Nets are expected to be without guards Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., which only adds another layer to a game where the Mavericks are trying to stabilize their lineup without overextending anyone. [Read more 🡒]
Naji Marshall Is Giving The Mavericks Exactly What They Needed
Naji Marshalls start with the Mavericks has been uneven, with illness costing him three games and his shot not falling the way Dallas hoped early on. Even so, the fit is starting to make more sense as he settles into a role that asks less of him as a scorer and more of him as a connector, defender and all-around stabilizer.
Marshall has looked more comfortable leaning into the parts of his game that can help the Mavericks right away, especially when it comes to creating for others and disrupting plays on the defensive end. Through nine contests, the broader numbers reflect that shift, and Dallas has reason to keep leaning into a version of Marshall that can impact winning even when the offense is not fully there. [Read more 🡒]