The Mavericks’ offseason overhaul wasn’t just about the front office. With Masai Ujiri taking over as team president, Mike Schmitz arriving as general manager, and Dusty May stepping in as head coach, Dallas now looks different at the top and on the sideline. That kind of change usually ripples through the rotation, and this roster already has the look of one where roles could shift fast.
Dallas also strengthened the back end of the roster with additions like Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, Tarik Biberovic, and rookies Sergio De Larrea and Morez Johnson Jr. That kind of depth tends to create opportunity for some players and pressure for others, and there are a few names whose usage could look a lot different this season.
Cooper Flagg is the clearest example. With Kyrie Irving sidelined all of last season while recovering from his ACL tear in 2025, former coach Jason Kidd leaned hard on Flagg as a primary ballhandler.
D’Angelo Russell and Jaden Hardy never really gave Dallas enough offense creation, so Flagg spent a lot of time developing on the ball. That should change now that Irving is expected to be 100% for opening night.
Flagg will still handle it plenty, and there will still be nights when he has to run the show if Irving sits, but the balance should tilt a little more toward him working off the ball. That lines up more with how he played at Duke, where he thrived as a secondary playmaker, and it still leaves plenty of room for the big numbers.
P.J. Washington may not see his job description change much, but the minutes could be another story.
Dallas suddenly has a crowded frontcourt, and there are a lot of players who can live at power forward right now. Naji Marshall, Santi Aldama, Caleb Martin, Flagg, and Morez Johnson Jr. all fit into that mix, which makes the fight for playing time much tighter.
The Mavericks are hoping Irving’s return also helps Washington settle into a more consistent offensive rhythm.
Then there’s Moussa Cisse, who went from a two-way contract last season to a standard deal after Dallas matched the offer sheet he signed with the New York Knicks. He got meaningful run last year because injuries hit Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis, and now he sits in a center rotation that also includes Lively and Gafford.
The problem for Cisse is that Lively’s recovery clouds his status to begin the season, which could open the door for extra minutes. The other side of that equation is just as real, though: Morez Johnson Jr. and Santi Aldama both have center flexibility, and Johnson could even be better there early in his career.
If that plays out, Cisse could wind up on the outside looking in, even if his athleticism gives him a chance to make a real impact.
In Other News...
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Kyrie Irving Question They Can't Ignore
The Kyrie Irving conversation in Dallas is no longer the kind of offseason chatter you can just file away and forget. There is still ongoing speculation around a possible trade, and the kind of destination that keeps surfacing is the sort that naturally turns heads because of the fit, the profile and the stakes for a Mavericks team trying to keep its footing while also thinking big-picture.
Miami has been mentioned as one place this could go if Dallas ever decides to explore it, and the Heats recent move to land Giannis Antetokounmpo only adds another layer of intrigue to their roster-building plans. If the Mavericks ever do open the door, the return being discussed would bring back Andrew Wiggins and Nikola Jovic, which at least gives Dallas a starting point for thinking through what a deal like that would mean. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Are Sending A Clear Message About Sergio De Larrea
Sergio De Larreas first few months in Dallas have done more than introduce the Mavericks first-round pick from the 2026 NBA Draft. They have also hinted at how the organization views his path to real minutes. After a Summer League showing that turned heads with his playmaking instincts, De Larrea has already put himself in the conversation as part of the teams immediate guard picture, not just a developmental stash for later.
That matters because the Mavericks do not have much margin for error behind Kyrie Irving, and the way the roster has come together suggests the front office is comfortable leaning on De Larrea sooner rather than later. With Marcus Sasser in the mix as well, the backup point guard room is thin enough that every preseason look and rotation decision carries extra weight. If Irving misses time, Dallas may not have the luxury of easing De Larrea in slowly. [Read more 🡒]
P.J. Washington's Starting Role Suddenly Looks Far Less Safe
Training camp has not even sorted itself out yet, but the Mavericks already have a lineup question worth watching at power forward. A team insider has projected rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas 2024 first-round pick, to open the season in the starting role, a development that would change the shape of the frontcourt and make P.J. Washingtons path to the first unit much less certain. For a team trying to balance size, versatility and lineup fit, it is the kind of early debate that can linger well into preseason.
Washington still has a strong case to stay involved in the starting mix, especially because his defensive versatility gives Dallas a look it values. His ability to handle multiple jobs on that end is part of why the Mavericks may be reluctant to move too quickly, even with a young big pressing for minutes. For now, though, the decision appears fluid, with camp and preseason expected to determine whether Dallas leans into the rookie or keeps Washington in place. [Read more 🡒]