The Dallas Mavericks, 18 months removed from arguably the most shocking trade in NBA history, are on a path back to postseason contention. And this summer has featured a host of changes that the franchise hopes can achieve that goal sooner rather than later.
The Mavericks made major front office moves this offseason, most notably hiring Masai Ujiri as team president and replacing head coach Jason Kidd with Michigan's Dusty May. All of it has been geared toward maximizing reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who will enter Year 2 with a roster that is better built for his all-around game.
But how quickly can Flagg turn Dallas into a winner?
ESPN's staff of experts is looking back at the offseason and taking an early look at the 2026-27 season for all 30 teams, with 30 pieces -- one for every team -- rolling out each weekday through Sept. 18. We're answering the biggest looming questions, evaluating X factors and much more for all 30 teams.
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Offseason at a glance
Key additions: F Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 pick, 2026), F Zaccharie Risacher (via trade)
Key retentions: Moussa Cisse
Key subtractions: Khris Middleton, Ryan Nembhard
The major changes made by the Mavericks this offseason were in the managerial and coaching ranks. After a seasonlong search, team governor Patrick Dumont hired Masai Ujiri to run the franchise's basketball operations, bringing the architect of the Toronto Raptors' 2019 title team to Dallas. Ujiri decided to part ways with coach Jason Kidd and recruited Dusty May, fresh off an NCAA title with Michigan, to replace him.
Johnson, who played for May at Michigan before the Mavs selected him with the No. 9 pick in the draft, is the headliner of the additions to the roster. Dallas added three potential immediate contributors in a six-team deal, acquiring former Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama, ex-Pistons guard Marcus Sasser and EuroLeague veteran Tarik Biberovic. The franchise also landed former No. 1 pick as part of the trade that sent Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Atlanta Hawks. -- Tim MacMahon
Zach Kram's offseason grade: B-
Dallas loaded up on big forwards this summer. With Flagg and Washington already on the team, the Mavericks traded for Aldama and Risacher and drafted Johnson in the lottery.
The Mavericks now have a glut in the frontcourt, where they kept Gafford and Lively and matched the Knicks' offer sheet for Cisse. But little backcourt depth remains, which makes Kyrie Irving's return from an ACL tear even more important next season. -- Kram
What we learned over the past few months
From Ben Golliver's offseason lessons piece: Ujiri got straight to work
The best part about Ujiri's first wave of moves is that he targeted players who should make life easier for Flagg: Johnson makes plays on both ends thanks to his motor and physicality, Sergio de Larrea creates scoring opportunities with his excellent vision, and Risacher adds complementary spacing. Irving's return from a seasonlong absence should be beneficial, too, even if the 34-year-old guard can't fully recapture his pre-injury form.
Dallas ranked 27th in offense during a 26-win slog last season, and May now has enough options to show meaningful improvement on that front. If Flagg joins the All-Star mix in his second season, the Mavericks could make a run at the West's play-in tournament. -- Golliver
The big question: Can Irving return to form?
For the Mavs to be a real postseason threat, they need nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving to perform like he was before suffering a torn left ACL that has sidelined him since March 2025. At the time, Irving was playing at an All-NBA level, averaging an efficient 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per game.
The Mavs' new management is intrigued by Irving's fit alongside Cooper Flagg, as the veteran will ease the creation burden on the teenage phenom but has also proven to be an elite off-the-ball threat. Irving is 34 and the Mavs are patiently building around Flagg, so there might come a point where it makes sense for all parties to explore the trade market. At the moment, though, there is excitement about Irving's return in Dallas. -- MacMahon
Basketball Power Index rank: No. 21
Here are the predicted Net Points per 100 possessions for the Mavericks' top seven players for the 2026-27 season:
At the start of last year, Irving was supposed to be back around Jan. 1, 2026. But Dallas' record at that point was a meager 12-23, the third worst in the West -- so it let Flagg get his minutes.
As a result, he showed good development, averaging minus-1.0 net points per 48 minutes through November, plus-0.5 the rest of the way, and plus-6.2 against one of the tougher April schedules in the league. That late charge probably won him his Rookie of the Year award. -- Dean Oliver
Read about how Net Points works here.
Biggest X factor
Christie seems ready for a bigger role on a winning team, after scoring a career-high 12.3 PPG last season while making 40% of his 3-pointers. But he isn't yet a proven perimeter stopper, and Dallas will need him to fill that role with Kyrie Irving as his backcourt partner.
More broadly, Christie is arguably the only traditional shooting guard on the Mavericks' frontcourt-heavy roster. If he doesn't take another step forward in his age-23 season, Dallas could be in trouble on the perimeter. -- Kram
Betting insight from our expert
Bet to make ahead of the season: Under 34.5 regular-season wins (-115)
The Mavericks lack reliable shot creation outside of Irving, whose age and ACL recovery create plenty of uncertainty. Flagg should improve, but the reigning Rookie of the Year still has a thin supporting cast, while first-year head coach Dusty May faces a steep learning curve. Dallas should improve on last season's 26 wins, but reaching 36 looks unlikely. -- Eric Moody
Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook 
at time of publication.