October is finally here, and with it comes the first real look at what the Dallas Mavericks might roll out when the 2026-27 season opens on the road against the Houston Rockets on October 21. The new era is already taking shape around a fresh coaching staff and front office, but the starting five is still very much up for discussion.
Dusty May didn’t tip his hand when asked about a starting unit after a recent training camp practice, and that silence only adds to the intrigue. After a 26-win season, Dallas needs a cleaner, faster product - and if the Mavs are going to play the up-tempo style they’ve talked about, the lineup decisions matter even more.
At point guard, Kyrie Irving looks like the one lock. As long as he’s healthy, he’s the obvious choice to run the offense.
Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season after tearing his ACL, but he’s fully healthy now, and the reports on his summer recovery have been strong. In his last full season, the 34-year-old averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 40.1 percent from 3-point range.
Dallas missed his shot-making, his gravity, and his voice.
The most interesting debate may be at shooting guard, where Zaccharie Risacher is a real name to watch. At 6-foot-8, he brings rare size to the position, along with shooting, speed, defense, and length.
Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick in 2024, is only 21, and the idea here is simple: get him on the floor and let the development take root. Max Christie is also in the mix, but Risacher’s ceiling and versatility make him the more compelling option.
Cooper Flagg appears set on the wing no matter what else changes. The teenage star is coming off a Rookie of the Year season in which he averaged 21.0 points per game, and he enters year two with a lot of momentum.
He’s spent the offseason working on his shooting and shot creation, and while he hit under 30 percent from three as a rookie, that’s not the kind of number that should set off alarms. Flagg’s work rate is the story here, and his pairing with Irving is one of the most intriguing parts of Dallas’ season.
P.J. Washington is another piece who could benefit from the cleaner environment around him.
His fit with Flagg was uneven last season, but Irving’s return should help settle things down. Washington’s best value comes as a play finisher, and a smaller offensive load could suit him well.
The Mavericks will still need his rebounding, versatility, and physicality, and that combination makes him a real X factor if he starts at power forward.
At center, Daniel Gafford looks like the safest bet with Dereck Lively II sidelined indefinitely while recovering from foot surgery he had at the end of last year. Gafford has already started 96 games for Dallas in his first two and a half seasons with the team, and that number is likely to keep climbing.
He gives the Mavericks rim protection and easy baskets around the rim, and his 2025-26 numbers - 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 65.5 percent - show why he remains the likeliest option. Morez Johnson Jr. is a possibility if May wants more versatility and defense, but Gafford is the steadier choice.
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 🡒]