The Mavericks are getting Kyrie Irving back, and that alone changes the shape of their point guard room. But the deeper you look behind him, the clearer it gets that Dallas still has work to do.
Irving missed last season while recovering from the ACL injury he suffered in March of 2025, and he should be back in the mix by the time the season opens. By then, he’ll be 18 months removed from the injury. The offseason signs have been encouraging, too, with workout and camp videos circulating all summer that suggest he’s on track for a bounceback.
What Dallas does not have right now is the same supporting cast it leaned on last year. That group is gone almost in full. D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, Brandon Williams, Ryan Nembhard, and Tyus Jones all spent time in that room a year ago, and none of them are there now.
Hardy and Russell were both sent to the Washington Wizards in the Anthony Davis trade in February, and each has since landed elsewhere - Hardy with the LA Lakers and Russell with the Grizzlies, for now. Williams signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Golden State Warriors.
Jones was bought out and signed with the Denver Nuggets last season. Nembhard was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for Zaccharie Risacher.
So the Mavericks adjusted, but they didn’t go after a major secondary creator. With Irving returning, they didn’t feel the need to add a dynamic playmaker behind him just yet.
Instead, Dallas brought in Marcus Sasser, acquiring him from the Detroit Pistons after they needed to move him to make room to sign John Collins. The Mavericks were willing to use one of their exceptions on him because he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Sasser has shown he can shoot and defend, but in Detroit he never consistently broke through in a crowded backcourt. He averaged 5.2 PPG last season.
They also added another guard through the draft, moving up from 30 to 25 in the 2026 NBA Draft to select Spain’s Sergio De Larrea. At 6'6", he brings intriguing playmaking tools, and he flashed that in Summer League with 26 total assists over his final two games. The scoring, though, is still a work in progress, and he’s not quite ready to deal with NBA physicality.
That leaves Dallas thin enough that the ball could still end up in the hands of Cooper Flagg or Naji Marshall in some lineups, just as it did at times last season when point guard play was a problem.
And with the room looking this shallow, another move still feels possible. The Mavericks could trade one of their frontcourt players for another guard if they want to raise the floor of the rotation.
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Kokoskov also pointed to the awkward dynamics around his earlier relationship with Luka Doncic, saying it complicated things during his stint in Dallas. Afterward, he said Steve Nash called him to join Brooklyn, a change that only underscored how differently those professional relationships played out. For the Mavericks, it is another reminder that the post-Doncic-support staff era in Dallas has not always been as tidy as the on-court product might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
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Kyrie Irving Could Force An Early Mavericks Decision
As the new season gets closer, the Mavericks are still weighing how Kyrie Irving fits into their longer-term plans, and the conversation around their roster has started to turn toward whether they will keep him in place or eventually pivot. The idea has gained traction because Dallas is looking at every angle before opening night, and Irvings status sits near the center of that review.
San Antonio has surfaced in the speculation because the Spurs could use a veteran point guard, but nothing has been confirmed by either side. For Dallas, the bigger issue may be timing, since the front office appears ready to let the first stretch of the season help shape the decision it makes next. [Read more 🡒]