The Dallas Mavericks might’ve just caught an unexpected break in their mission to find a long-term co-star for Cooper Flagg - and they didn’t even have to make a move to get it.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Memphis Grizzlies sent shockwaves through the Western Conference by trading Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz. It’s a bold pivot for Memphis, signaling a full-scale rebuild that likely includes moving on from both Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant.
For Utah, it’s the opposite - a clear push toward winning sooner rather than later. But for Dallas?
This could be the quiet assist they didn’t know they needed.
Let’s unpack why.
The Jazz Just Got Better - and That’s Good News for Dallas
The Jazz have missed the playoffs three straight years, managing just 85 wins during that stretch. But adding a defensive anchor like Jaren Jackson Jr. could flip their trajectory in a hurry.
He’s a former Defensive Player of the Year (2023) and one of the league’s most versatile bigs on that end of the floor. Utah’s defense has been a disaster this season - dead last in the NBA, giving up 122.1 points per 100 possessions.
That’s not just bad, that’s historically bad.
If Jackson Jr. can elevate that unit even a little, Utah could go from lottery-bound to a team that sneaks into the play-in conversation. And if that happens, it could have major implications for the Mavericks' draft outlook.
Why the Mavs Care About the Jazz Winning
Dallas is playing the long game. With Cooper Flagg already in the fold, the next step is finding him a running mate in the 2026 NBA Draft.
That means lottery position matters - a lot. And here’s where Utah’s sudden push could help.
Right now, the Mavericks sit with the eighth-best odds for the No. 1 pick. But they’re only 5.5 games ahead of Brooklyn - the fourth-worst team in the league - and just 4.5 games ahead of the Jazz.
If Utah starts stacking wins with Jackson Jr. in the lineup, they could leapfrog Dallas in the standings. That’s huge for a Mavericks team that’s likely to lean into a rebuild over the next few days.
There’s growing chatter around Dallas potentially selling off veterans like Anthony Davis, and possibly even shutting down Kyrie Irving. If that happens, it’s a clear signal that they’re fully committing to the Flagg era and prioritizing lottery odds over short-term wins.
Schedule Strength Could Tip the Scales
The schedule is another factor working in Dallas’ favor. Utah has the sixth-easiest remaining slate in the league, with multiple games against struggling teams like Washington and Memphis, plus winnable matchups against Sacramento and New Orleans. Meanwhile, Dallas faces the fourth-toughest schedule the rest of the way.
If the Jazz start clicking with a frontcourt of Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen - and eventually Walker Kessler, once he recovers from a torn labrum - they could look like a completely different team down the stretch. And with young talent like Keyonte George and rookie Ace Bailey in the mix, there’s real upside in Utah’s rotation.
The Mavericks’ Deadline Strategy Will Say It All
All eyes are now on Dallas as the trade deadline approaches. If they move off veterans and lean fully into a youth movement, it’ll be clear that the front office is laser-focused on building around Flagg. And in that scenario, any team climbing out of the bottom tier - like the Jazz might - becomes a quiet ally in the Mavericks’ quest for a top draft pick.
It’s a strange twist: a division rival making a win-now move could be exactly what Dallas needs to secure the future they’re building toward. The standings are going to matter more than ever for Mavericks fans in the weeks ahead. Every Jazz win could be a subtle step closer to landing Flagg’s future co-star - and turning Dallas from a rebuilding team into a rising contender.