With preseason only two days away, the Mavericks’ starting five is still taking shape, but one name is starting to separate himself from the pack: Zaccharie Risacher.
Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg are set in stone, but the other spots remain up for grabs, especially at two-guard. Max Christie held that role for much of last season, yet Dallas’ growing trust in Risacher points to a different direction. If the Mavericks are serious about the way they’re building this roster, the case for the trade acquisition to open the year with the starters is getting stronger by the day.
That belief showed up clearly on Media Day, when Risacher spoke about being moved to Dallas. The 6-foot-8 wing said the Mavericks "want me to be here."
That line says plenty about how the team views him after dealing Ryan Nembhard and leaning further into a youth movement. Risacher doesn’t look like a short-term fix.
He looks like someone Dallas wants to grow with.
That matters for the lineup conversation. Starting him in 2026-2027 would be a direct sign that the Mavericks trust him to make an immediate impact and see him as part of the long-term plan. Christie is still in the mix, but if Dallas wants to maximize what it has invested in Risacher, giving him the starting job makes a lot of sense.
There’s also the pressure factor, or rather the lack of it. Risacher isn’t arriving in Dallas as the face of the franchise.
He’s not carrying the burden that comes with being the No. 1 overall pick anymore. His job is simpler: produce consistently and fit into the team’s vision.
That kind of setup could be exactly what gets him rolling again and turns this into a career-defining season.
The on-court fit is just as appealing. Risacher brings length, can guard multiple positions, shoots threes at a solid clip, and has shown in training camp that he can get out and run in transition.
With Dusty May pushing a faster offense, those traits fit neatly alongside Irving and Flagg. He can move, space the floor and keep the pace up.
Defensively, the argument gets even cleaner. Christie had a somewhat underwhelming season on that end, and the Mavericks are already starting a smaller guard in Irving. Adding Risacher’s size and length would help them cover more ground and make the lineup tougher to attack.
That’s why Risacher feels like such an important piece of the puzzle. The Mavericks made plenty of changes this offseason, but landing a player who was the first overall pick just two years ago is the move that will draw the most attention. Irving’s return and Flagg’s second-year jump will get plenty of headlines, but if Risacher clicks in Dallas, he could be the one who helps push this group to another level and, ideally, into the playoffs.
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Dereck Lively II Just Became A Bigger Long-Term Mavs Question
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That creates an awkward but understandable pause for a player the Mavericks still view as part of their future, but one whose health and role need more clarity before any multiyear commitment. Recent reporting has also pointed to other players from the 2023 draft class being more likely to land extensions first, which only sharpens the question hanging over Lively as Dallas weighs recovery, fit and timing. [Read more 🡒]