Are the Mavericks Really Vegas-Bound? Let’s Cut Through the Noise
The Dallas Mavericks have had a rough stretch, no question about it. Since pulling the plug on the Luka Dončić era and trading him to the Lakers in a blockbuster deal centered around Anthony Davis, the franchise has been in a state of constant reset.
That continued recently, with Davis now shipped off to the Washington Wizards. The result?
A team searching for identity - again.
Now, the Mavericks are banking on a new core built around Kyrie Irving, rising star Cooper Flagg, a pair of future first-round picks, and some cap flexibility heading into the 2026-27 season. On paper, it’s a foundation with potential.
But in practice? It’s still very much a work in progress.
And just as the basketball side is trying to find its footing, the noise off the court is getting louder - especially after ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith floated the idea that the Mavericks might be headed to Las Vegas.
Let’s be clear: there’s no official indication from the league, the team, or ownership that a move is in the works. But Smith’s comments - made during a recent appearance on SiriusXM - were enough to stir up a storm of speculation.
“Is it possible that the owner for the Dallas Mavericks is looking to relocate the team to Vegas?” Smith asked. “It would be easier to do that if you acquired a team and they suck and you want to move on, rather than have a team that’s winning and you trying to skip town.”
He went on to cite the Mavs’ 31-49 record since acquiring Davis, and questioned whether the team’s struggles were part of a bigger plan to make relocation more palatable. He didn’t cite sources.
He didn’t offer reporting. Just gut feeling - or, as he put it, “Spidey senses.”
That’s a bold accusation to make without evidence, especially considering what we do know.
The Real Estate Play
When Miriam Adelson and her family purchased a majority stake in the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in 2023, they didn’t just buy a team - they bought land. A lot of it.
One of the key acquisitions? The former site of Texas Stadium in Irving, a prime piece of real estate with deep sports roots in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The plan for that land isn’t exactly a secret: it’s a potential site for a new arena, one that would anchor a larger entertainment and commercial district. And while basketball is a part of that vision, it’s not the centerpiece.
The real goal? Positioning themselves for a massive economic windfall if and when gambling is legalized in Texas. Adelson’s late husband built a casino empire, and the family’s play here is clear - they’re trying to bring a taste of Las Vegas to Dallas, not the other way around.
Power, Politics, and Possibilities
This is where the story gets more layered. Miriam Adelson has deep political connections - she’s donated over $100 million to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and $1 million to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s 2026 campaign. That’s not just generosity - that’s strategic investment.
The aim? Influence.
Specifically, influence over the pace and direction of gambling legislation in Texas. If the state opens the door to casinos and sports betting, the Adelsons are poised to be at the front of the line, ready to cash in.
So while the NBA does have its eyes on Las Vegas for future expansion - and that’s been well-documented - the idea that the Mavericks are being gutted in preparation for a stealth relocation doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
For one, the NBA isn’t likely to sacrifice a team in the No. 4 media market in the country just to plant a flag in Vegas. They want both. And they’ll get both - eventually - through expansion, not subtraction.
The Basketball Side of It
Let’s not lose sight of the on-court product. The Mavericks are clearly in transition.
Trading away a generational talent like Dončić was a seismic move, and the return - while headline-worthy - hasn’t yielded immediate results. Davis didn’t pan out in Dallas, and now the team is pivoting again, hoping that Flagg’s upside and Kyrie’s playmaking can stabilize the franchise.
It’s a gamble, no doubt. But it’s a basketball gamble - not a relocation conspiracy.
And yes, the ownership group is new to the NBA game. They may not be hoops lifers, but they understand business, leverage, and long-term plays. Trading Dončić may have been a misstep, but it wasn’t part of some master plan to tank the team into irrelevance for the sake of moving zip codes.
Bottom Line
The Mavericks are in a rebuild. The ownership group is playing the long game, with eyes on real estate, gambling legislation, and economic development in North Texas. The NBA wants to be in Vegas - but not at the cost of leaving Dallas.
So while it’s easy to get caught up in the noise, especially when it’s delivered with volume and flair, the facts paint a different picture. The Mavericks aren’t packing their bags for the desert. They’re trying to build something - both on the court and off - right where they are.
And if that vision comes together? Dallas might just find itself with a new arena, a new identity, and maybe even a new contender.