The Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for an offseason that could redefine their future, with a focus on building a formidable squad around their emerging star, Cooper Flagg. They've already made a significant move by bringing in Dusty May as their new head coach, following the departure of Jason Kidd. Additionally, they've bolstered their roster by drafting forward Morez Johnson Jr. from Michigan, adding fresh talent to their lineup.
Before the NBA Draft, there was chatter around the league that the Mavericks were open to trading Daniel Gafford to secure another high draft pick within the top 20. However, as of now, it's uncertain whether Dallas will pull the trigger on a Gafford trade this summer or hold off until the trade deadline.
It seems that other NBA teams don't quite share the Mavericks' valuation of Gafford, as no enticing offers have materialized. Reports from Marc Stein and Jake Fischer on Stein's Substack revealed that Atlanta had expressed interest in Gafford before the February trade deadline. However, they were only willing to part with second-round draft picks for the 27-year-old center.
Gafford's prowess as an offensive rebounder and his presence in the paint are undeniable, but his offensive limitations and lack of elite rim protection have made teams cautious about offering substantial trade packages. The Mavericks brought Gafford on board two years ago as they geared up for their 2024 NBA Finals run. However, with Luka Doncic no longer in the mix, it seems Dallas is looking to the future, potentially handing the keys over to the promising young talent, Dereck Lively II.
The Mavericks' decisions this offseason could set the tone for their trajectory in the coming years, as they aim to build a team that can compete at the highest level.
In Other News...
Mavericks Make Early Free Agency Move Cooper Flagg Fans Will Love
Ryan Nembhard gave the Mavericks enough as a rookie to make himself part of the conversation going forward, and Dallas moved early to make sure he stays in the picture. The guard appeared in 60 games and made 27 starts, averaging 6.6 points and 5.3 assists while showing enough steadiness for the front office to keep him in the fold.
For a team that still has work to do around its young core, securing Nembhard now lets Dallas move on to the rest of free agency without worrying about another rotation piece drifting away. It also keeps a backcourt option on the board through the 2026-27 season, which matters for a roster trying to build some continuity as it adds more talent around Cooper Flagg. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Have A Bigger Frontcourt Decision Than Fans Realize
With free agency set to open June 30 and contracts officially starting July 6, the Mavericks are sorting through a frontcourt picture that looks a little more complicated than it did a few weeks ago. Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg and has four unrestricted free agents to consider, but Marvin Bagley III is the name that could force the toughest conversation among them.
Bagley gave the Mavericks a usable stretch after coming over from Washington, and that kind of frontcourt depth matters when a team is trying to stabilize its roster heading into a pivotal summer. The problem is that Dallas may not be eager to chase the kind of contract Bagley can find on the open market, especially with other center priorities already on the books and several teams likely to take a look. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Kawhi Leonard Buzz Comes With Two Massive Red Flags
The Mavericks have been floated as a possible landing spot if the Clippers ever decided to listen on Kawhi Leonard, with some chatter around a package built from P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson and draft capital. It is the sort of star-chasing speculation that naturally follows Dallas around, especially when a player of Leonards caliber enters the conversation and the front office has to be mentioned by default.
For now, though, the buzz comes with plenty of caution tape. NBA insider Jake Fischer has said Dallas is not viewed as a plausible destination at this stage, and he added that the league has not yet indicated it would stop a Leonard deal outright. Even so, the combination of the trade cost and the questions surrounding Leonards long-term future makes this feel more like background noise than a real path forward, at least until the market tells a different story. [Read more 🡒]