One of the clearest ways the Mavericks can stress defenses this season is in the open floor, where Cooper Flagg already showed he can turn a rebound or a sprint lane into easy points. As a rookie, Flagg made transition basketball look natural, piling up a rookie-high 5.4 transition points per game. That ranked 13th in the NBA, and the scary part for Dallas is that there’s still more there to unlock in 2026-27.
Now the Mavericks have added another fast, explosive piece in Zaccharie Risacher, and that pairing could make Dallas a problem every time the pace picks up. The former No. 1 overall pick came over in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, and his open-court speed gives the Mavs another weapon to pair with Flagg.
After practice on Saturday, Dusty May called Risacher "one of the faster guys in the NBA." That wasn’t exactly the first thing most Mavericks fans were saying after the trade, but it’s a detail that suddenly matters a lot.
Risacher later said the team wants to play fast, adding that playing fast is one of the stronger parts of his game. May has also been pushing him to run in transition during training camp, which only strengthens the fit with Flagg.
May hasn’t announced Dallas’ starting five for the regular season, but Risacher has a real chance to open games next to Flagg on the wing. The Mavericks have made it clear they believe in him, and if he delivers, he could become a major part of their young core.
Even if he doesn’t start, the minutes with Flagg should come. That’s where the real trouble starts for opponents.
Both players can grab a defensive board and push the ball themselves, turning a stop into a coast-to-coast chance before the defense is set. Both can finish above the rim, too, which gives Dallas a pair of fast forwards who can attack in space instead of waiting for the action to come to them.
With Kyrie Irving handling the ball in the open floor, the Mavericks can now spread the lane with two athletic finishers on either side. Flagg and Risacher bring length, speed, and bounce to a transition game that already had teeth.
For Risacher, the move to Dallas looks like a fresh start after a rough ending with the Hawks. For the Mavericks, it could be one of the most dangerous parts of the season.
In Other News...
Mavericks May Be Sitting On An Unexpected Luka Trade Asset
The Mavericks may have more leverage than they expected from the Luka Doncic deal, and it could come in the form of Max Christie. The guard landed in Dallas as part of the blockbuster with the Lakers, and his early work with the Mavericks has been enough to keep him in the conversation as a useful rotation piece rather than a throw-in from a larger swap.
Los Angeles is already in training camp for the 2026 season and still looking at ways to shore up its wing group, which is why Christie has surfaced as a name to watch. If the Lakers decide their current wing production is not enough, they could circle back before the Feb. 11 trade deadline, and Dallas would have to weigh whether its latest Luka-era asset is becoming too valuable to move. [Read more 🡒]
Former Mavericks Guard Just Landed A Real NBA Opportunity Elsewhere
Ryan Nembhard has found a real NBA foothold in Denver, where the Nuggets are looking for inexpensive ways to deepen a roster that already has established star power. The former Mavericks guard went undrafted, but his path has kept moving, and the Nuggets appear willing to bet on under-the-radar talent as they try to squeeze value out of limited salary cap space.
For Nembhard, the appeal goes beyond simply landing on an NBA roster. Denver has spent time identifying players who can fit into meaningful roles without costing much, and that gives him a chance to develop around proven veterans such as Jamal Murray while competing for minutes in a situation that could reward steady growth. [Read more 🡒]
Mavs Fans Have A Fair Concern About Morez Johnson Jr. Right Now
Morez Johnson Jr. has spent much of the early days of Mavericks training camp on a careful plan, with the No. 9 overall pick limited while the team eases him through lower leg soreness. Head coach Dusty May said Johnson is taking part in most live sessions, but Dallas is clearly watching the rookie closely after he also missed time at the end of Summer League with calf soreness.
For a team hoping to lean on its young talent sooner rather than later, that naturally raises some concern, even if the Mavericks are not treating it like a setback. P.J. Washington has already come away impressed by Johnsons strength and work ethic in practice, so the ability is there, but the bigger question now is how quickly Dallas can build him up without pushing too fast. [Read more 🡒]