There are few in the NBA world who are as on fire right now as Masai Ujiri, the Dallas Mavericks’ new team president.

Right before the 2026 NBA Draft, Ujiri took a massive swing at the Mavericks’ vacant head coach position. He hired Dusty May, who guided the Michigan Wolverines to the national championship. The next day, Ujiri turned around and absolutely nailed Dallas’ two draft picks.

Here is who the Mavericks selected and why they are so good for Dallas currently and for the future.

Dallas Mavericks Addressed Their Wants and Needs

The Dallas Mavericks needed to resolve several question marks regarding their roster coming into this draft. Those were:

• Another point guard, particularly alongside the returning and aging Kyrie Irving
• Effective size, particularly off the bench
• More shooting threats

Dallas managed to take care of all three.

To address the size, Dallas selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall pick. Johnson is 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds with innate defensive ability. In college, Johnson Jr. proved he could guard one through five and flashed an everlasting motor to compete at a high level.

Offensively, he won’t score 30 a night, but he’s got great touch around the rim. Johnson Jr.’s 67.7% true shooting percentage last season ranked second in the Big Ten.

He’s also working to improve his outside shot, something he didn’t do much of in college. At the NBA Combine, he went 17/25 from three-point range. That said, it remains to be seen if that translates. Above anything else, he’ll take little time to get acclimated to May’s system.

Then, the Mavericks took their 30th pick — along with a pair of second-round selections — and packaged it in a deal. In exchange, the team drafted point guard Sergio De Larrea of Spain.

On paper, Sergio fixes the other two issues Dallas was looking to address. He shot over 42% from three last year playing for Spain’s Valencia Basket. He’s also a developmental guard for the Mavericks, whom Irving can mentor. The question remains: although he promptly solves these problems, will he be with the team to solve them promptly?

Dallas still hasn’t confirmed whether to stash De Larrea in Spain for another year or bring him to the team right away. However, when he decides to play, De Larrea will make a huge difference.

In fact, he’ll do so in more ways than one.

Sergio De Larrea: A Promising Wild Card for Dallas Mavericks

Sergio De Larrea was largely unknown in the NBA world before the draft. Since then, he’s become a hot topic.

It’s already understood that he can shoot the lights out of the ball. However, his abilities go beyond that, especially since he’s considered one of the best young players in Spain.

For one, De Larrea is an absolutely brilliant passer and has good court vision and processing.

On top of this, he’s an efficient three-level scorer with great athleticism. He averaged 9.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 45/43/82 splits. His frame is exceptional for a guard at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds. Here’s a video showcasing all these aforementioned abilities in action:

It should be noted that he finished with these stats while playing just under 18 minutes a game. His Per-36 numbers project him as around a 19-point-per-game player, should he start for Dallas at any point. Fans are already giddy about him, even crowning him as “the next Luka.”

It’s too early to put labels like that on him, but Sergio De Larrea certainly has the tools and knows how to use them.

Onwards and Upwards for Dallas Mavericks

Dallas had to address specific needs in the draft. When the dust finally settled, they got those exact things thanks to Ujiri’s great management in his first draft with the Dallas Mavericks.

Now, the attention turns to how May gets the best out of both of them, particularly De Larrea. The standing national champion college coach will be learning the NBA alongside his rookies, but he has more than enough pedigree to take on the challenge.

The journey will have lots of anticipation. That said, there will also be much to look forward to.

The post Masai Ujiri and the Dallas Mavericks Nailed the 2026 Draft appeared first on The Lead.

If someone were to ask who’s had the weirdest 24-month span in the history of the NBA, the answer would likely be the current iteration of the Dallas Mavericks.

At this time in 2024, they were in the process of absolutely dismantling the Minnesota Timberwolves en route to their first NBA Finals appearance in 13 years.

This time last year, they were…in limbo. A large portion of the fanbase was grieving — not the death of a player, thankfully, but what felt like a stripping of the Mavs’ soul.

It had been almost four months since Nico Harrison impulsively traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. On the other hand, Dallas had been blessed with the honor of taking Cooper Flagg at No. 1.

Now, it’s the present day. The Mavericks are still recovering from injury and life without Doncic, but there are some pretty decent signs, even though the team was in the lottery for the second consecutive year. Flagg is the new centerpiece of the team, and the goal now, under new management and a new coach to be named, is to get back to competing.

Mavericks Draft Picks:

• Round 1 — No. 9
• Round 1 — No. 30
• Round 2 — No. 48

Mavericks Draft Needs:

The Mavericks’ needs are evident and simple.

The first is a fresh, young point guard talent. Yes, Kyrie Irving is one of the greatest point guards of the century, up there with the best in NBA history. Kyrie Irving is also 34 years old and coming off an ACL tear. Not only is Irving a massive question, but so is the depth behind him. Outside of Ryan Nembhard, there’s not a true solidified guard option off the bench.

The next is three-point shooting. Dallas was 26th in three-point percentage, 29th in makes, and 27th in attempts this year. For reference, the New York Knicks were 4th, 10th, and 12th in those categories.

Finally, the Mavericks need some center depth. Both Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford sat out for extended periods, with Lively essentially missing the whole year. The production at that position dropped significantly with those two out, so it’s a must that they address it.

Mavericks Draft Targets

Mikel Brown Jr. — PG — Louisville

The Kyrie Irving understudy.

Brown has all the traits a franchise would want from a potential franchise guard—twitchy, fluid, and great decision-making to elevate the teammates around him. Brown can also score plenty, as he averaged 18.2 PPG this past season, including a 45-point explosion against NC State. He can also hold his own defensively, as he averaged 1.2 steals to lead the Cardinals.

If there is such a thing as a “perfect Kyrie replacement”, Brown is it.

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Henri Veesaar/Alex Karaban — C/PF — Louisville

In this section, there are two prospects, and both are featured because either could be at pick 30 for Dallas, and both solve key need(s).

In the case of Veesaar, the 7-foot center from North Carolina actually solves two issues: not only can he man the five spot, but he’s also a 40% three-point shooter. However, he’s the more likely of the two to be off the board before Dallas’s pick.

Karaban is more likely to be at pick 30, and the 6-foot-8 forward from UConn is a sniper in his own right. He shot 37.4% from three on just over five attempts a game last season.

Both give the Mavericks big spacing options that can improve their offensive output.

Felix Okpara — C — Tennessee

Okpara is projected to wind up near the rear end of the draft, which is just perfect for Dallas. The 6-foot-11 center from Rocky Top is a perfect candidate to secure the Mavericks’ center depth.

Okpara is an excellent rim protector, as evidenced by his 7.0% BLK, which ranks sixth in the SEC this year. He actually led the SEC in that category the year before, as well, at 8%.

Offensively, he serves as a great lob threat, similar to Lively and Gafford. He doesn’t do it often, but if need be, he can jump shoot as well.

The post Dallas Mavericks 2026 NBA Draft Preview appeared first on The Lead.

Just over a week ago, the Dallas Mavericks introduced Masai Ujiri as the franchise’s new team president, and his message to fans is already loud and clear.

In a confident press conference, Ujiri seemed determined to use Mavericks star Cooper Flagg as a point of focus for the way in which he hopes to lead the franchise.

His other sentiment: bringing steadiness back to a team and fanbase that desperately needs it after Nico Harrison’s tenure.

“I hope to bring calm to this place. I want to get to winning. This is a winning organization,” Ujiri told reporters. “We want to get back to that.”

Bringing Calm to the Dallas Mavericks

With the longtime NBA Executive leaving no stone unturned in his time with local and national media a couple of weeks ago, Ujiri did not commit to Jason Kidd returning as head coach next season.

However, he did frame Flagg as the deciding factor in his decision to come to Dallas. The former president of the Toronto Raptors said he would “bring calm” to the Mavericks.

Hoping to bring “calm,” Ujiri led with that word. He pointed directly to the turbulence of the last year, before discussing the on-court goals he wants to help Dallas achieve.

Ujiri also acknowledged the grief some Mavericks fans may still be dealing with from the trade of All-Star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Uriji spoke calmly, but confidently, about how he aims to deal with the transition. 

But how does Uriji bring calm to Dallas?

First of all, Ujiri did a good job of recognizing what the franchise has been through recently. Going forward, the long-time executive can certainly use his vast experience to bring transparency and deliver.

Uriji Brings Much-Needed Experience to Mavs

Uriji’s time in the NBA began over two decades ago. In 2002, he started as an unpaid scout for the Orlando Magic in 2002. From there, the rest is history.

After joining Denver a year later as an official scout, he stayed there for several seasons. Ujiri then served as Toronto’s assistant general manager before becoming the Nuggets’ general manager in 2010.

With that appointment, Uriji became the first African GM for a major American sports franchise. In 2013, he was named NBA Executive of the Year.

Uriji eventually returned to Toronto for over a decade as executive vice president and general manager.

https://twitter.com/dallasmavs/status/2051807031279878225?s=20

During his time there, Uriji guided Toronto to the promised land. He finalized a blockbuster trade to acquire superstar Kawhi Leonard. That move helped lead the Raptors to their first NBA championship.

Combined, that’s a lot of experience across multiple franchises and in various roles. That will be quite an asset for Uriji, who is looking to turn another team’s fortunes around.

The Current State of the Dallas Mavericks

When you look at the Mavs, Flagg remains the franchise’s foundation going forward.

Uriji called the 19-year-old and reigning Rookie of the Year a young prince. He wants to make him a king.

That can be done. But there is a lot of work to do to get him there, not in terms of his talent, but in constructing the roster that complements him.

Dallas will pick ninth in the 2026 NBA Draft. It should be able to select from a deep and exciting class of players. Having recently appointed Mike Schmitz as his general manager, Uriji is already shaping the franchise in a positive way.

Schmitz brings a reputation for being a top NBA talent evaluator. He will have a keen eye on the upcoming draft and help Uriji make an informed selection to best position the franchise for years to come.

It’s a critical draft pick Dallas must make. The Mavs do not directly control their own first-round pick again until 2031.

Finding a solid number-two playmaker next to nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving is a must. It would take the pressure off Flagg. 

There is a lot that can be done with this roster, whether that includes making trades, signing free agents, or drafting the right prospect. Uriji will have a lot to consider.

What’s Next for Dallas Under Uriji’s Stewardship?

Under Uriji, it is pretty accurate to say the Dallas Mavericks will pivot from the chaotic management the fanbase recently endured to long-term team building, with Flagg being the spearhead of that rebuild.

Uriji made it clear that every move he makes will revolve around the former Duke college player. That means prioritising player development, rebuilding culture, and creating a roster that complements Flagg’s two-way versatility.

It looks like Dallas is set for a full transitional period under Uriji, while still trying to produce a winning product on the floor.

Going forward, the future of Dallas is still unknown. But it certainly isn’t unknown to Uriji, who is one of the best people to be at the forefront of a time like this for the franchise.

The post Masai Ujiri Bringing Stability to Mavs Remains His Top Priority appeared first on The Lead.

When Luka Doncic resided in Dallas, there were several years where it felt he didn’t have enough noise to charge for any awards. The 2023-24 season in particular comes to mind — a 33/9/9 season ending without a top-three finish in MVP voting is shocking, to say the least.

A year out from his unexpected departure, it seems to be happening again. Rookie Cooper Flagg is tearing it up, breaking rookie record after rookie record, and yet voters don’t seem to care. He’s only just now become the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year. There’s no certainty that he’ll even win the award, given what media members had to say:

History may be repeating itself in Dallas.

Planting The Flagg

Usually superstars have to rise to stardom, but as many have learned, not much is usual about Cooper Flagg. The Duke sensation was in that circle from the day he became a Maverick. Seen as a gift from the basketball gods to Dallas, heaps of expectations were put upon him. Flagg’s met the majority of them brilliantly.

He’s averaging 21.1 PPG, which leads all rookies. His 4.6 assists per game are only second to his teammate, Ryan Nembhard. Combining that with his 6.6 rebounds per game, he is one of eight players to put up at least 20/6/4 in their rookie year. Of the other seven, five are already in the Hall of Fame. The aforementioned Doncic is also featured on the list—he will likely be number six. Of the rookies highest scoring games, Flagg is seven of the top 10, including the highest four.

He’s leading his team in PPG and SPG. He also leads Dallas in total rebounds and assists. The label for “youngest player to score 40” and “youngest player to score 50” now both belong to him.

To top it all off, he’s doing all of this at the age of 19 years and three months old—younger than even the youngest prodigies in sports, like current F1 leader Kimi Antonelli (19 years, 7 months old). Simply put, a player this young has never produced the way Cooper Flagg is producing this year.

Yet, it might not matter.

A Flawed Koncept Of Thinking

Yes, Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel is having a fantastic season. He’s set the rookie record for most threes, and he’s a big part of the Hornets surge towards the playoffs. However, within the last part of that last statement lies the issue.

The main argument is that Knueppel has been impacting winning—more so than Flagg. While it’s true that Knueppel helped turned one of the worst teams in the league into a playoff contender, it’s also true that his team hasn’t been massacred by the injury bug. Not the case for Flagg, as notably both Dereck Lively and Kyrie Irving—the Mavs two best players outside of Flagg—have missed significant time, the entire season in the case of Irving, with major injuries.

It’s hard for any player to impact winning when the best players around them don’t play. Awards—ROTY, the MVP, MIP—should not solely be based on team success. Every situation is different, and individual brilliance should matter to a good degree. 

Flagg has Knueppel beat there too.

Flagg’s got more PPG/RPG/APG (21.1/6.6/4.6 to 18.7/5.3/3.4). He averages more steals and blocks a night, at 1.2 and 0.9 respectively (Knueppel averages 0.7 and 0.2). Their FG% are about the same—48.1% for Kon, 47.3% for Cooper. Flagg’s Player Efficiency Rating sits at exactly 18, and Knueppel’s is slightly behind at 17.5. Finally, Flagg’s Defensive Win Shares and Defensive +/- both surpass Knueppel’s.

To put a bow on it all, add in that Flagg is now third in the league in 45+ point games behind SGA and Luka.

Yet, not only is it not a done deal, but Flagg could still straight up lose ROTY. It’s flawed, inconsistently applied logic that Dallas fans are all too familiar with.

Luckily, for those on Flagg’s side of the fight, there’s precedence that favors the man from Maine.

We’ve Been Here Before—We Were Just Here, Actually

This year, the NBA ROTY race has four distinct identifiers:

• Two elite players from a prestigious basketball school
• One is the No.1 overall pick, the other is top five
• One is viewed as a generational prospect, the other as a ridiculously good shooter
• One is the most outstanding player on a bad team, the other helps their team push for a playoff spot

A lot of people have used the ROTY race from 2003 as a direct comparison, with Flagg serving as the Lebron James and Knueppel serving as the Carmelo Anthony of this story. However, there’s another example that’s more recent and feels more comparable, at least play-style and circumstance wise. 

In 2024, the WNBA welcomed two great talents: Paige Bueckers and Sonia Citron. Just like Flagg, Bueckers was the consensus No. 1 pick in her class—she even went to the Wings, the WNBA’s Dallas team. Citron, an elite shooter with great defensive capabilities, went to the Mystics, a bad team with young talent. Sounds a lot like Knueppel’s deal, doesn’t it?

Their colleges, by the way? UConn and Notre Dame, two of the most prestigious basketball colleges, especially on the women’s side.

Bueckers spent her rookie year as the best player on a Wings team that was bottom of the league. Citron and the Mystics rose and made a run towards the postseason. The rhetoric surrounding this duel eerily mimicked the stuff fans are hearing right now:

• “Citron is putting it up for debate”
• “Could Sonia make things interesting?”

In the end, Bueckers ran away with the award, which will be music to the ears of Flagg fans everywhere. The Flagg of this story got her award and recognition.

Now it remains to be seen if The Maine Event has the same happy ending.

The post Cooper Flagg Is Newest Dallas Star to Have Their Award Toyed With appeared first on The Lead.

Few events in sports capture the attention of fans quite like the NCAA Tournament.

March Madness delivers everything: Buzzer-beaters, Cinderella stories, and the kind of unpredictability that keeps viewers glued to their screens for weeks. As a result, it turns casual viewers into die-hard fans every spring.

For many fans in Dallas, that excitement has come at the perfect time. With postseason hopes gone, fans are now studying prospects. They are also imagining which college stars could soon be wearing a Mavericks uniform.

With this in mind, here are the five best fits for the Mavs in this upcoming draft

No. 5: Cameron Boozer, F, Duke 

This is not a dig at Boozer’s skillset. Averaging 22.4 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game, Boozer is just one of 14 players in all of college basketball to average a double-double this season. He’s also the only player in the nation to average a double-double with 20 points a game.

This is merely about Boozer’s fit on the Mavs, as they already have another ball-dominant forward from Duke in Cooper Flagg. In addition, Boozer’s slow foot speed would hurt a Mavericks team that plays best in transition. 

Boozer didn’t disappoint in the tournament, as he averaged 22.5 points per game in four games. However, Duke largely underperformed in the tournament and struggled in their first three games against Siena, TCU, and St. John’s. In addition, in their Elite Eight matchup against UConn, Boozer’s Blue Devils blew a 19-point lead, losing on a game-winner.

The team that drafts Boozer will be getting an amazing talent. There is no denying that. But Boozer would not be a great fit on the Mavericks.

No. 4: Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina

If drafted by the Mavericks, Caleb Wilson would be the player Nico Harrison thought he was trading for in Anthony Davis. A true two-way forward, Wilson averaged 20 points per game, 9 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game for the Tar Heels this season.

While Wilson plays the same position as Boozer, they are very different players. As such, Wilson’s style of play complements the Mavericks better than Boozer’s.

Wilson’s athleticism makes him a natural fit in transition. He runs the floor comfortably and can finish above the rim. Boozer, by contrast, does most of his damage in the half-court. Wilson also doesn’t need the offense to run through him. Additionally, he can rebound, hustle, defend, and finish. 

Unlike some prospects in this class, Wilson could contribute immediately without forcing Dallas to adjust its style of play.

Unfortunately, Wilson was out of the tournament with a thumb injury. Thus, Mavs fans were robbed of getting to watch him in March. However, those who saw him throughout the season in Chapel Hill know what he’s capable of and how high his ceiling is.

No. 3 Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Possibly the most polarizing prospect in this year’s class, Peterson averaged 20.2 points per game in his lone season in Lawrence.

On Peterson’s best day, he’s arguably the best prospect in the class. He was one of the best shot-making guards this season, and a 1-2 punch of Kyrie Irving and Darryn Peterson in the back court would be lethal.

However, there is a reason Peterson is polarizing. Peterson missed 11 games this season with what he and the Jayhawks called “traumatic full-body cramping.” Furthermore, Peterson took himself out of games against BYU, Iowa State, and Oklahoma State. Some scouts question if these are lingering issues that will hinder his NBA career. Others questioned Peterson’s effort and called into question whether Peterson was load managing his injuries.

Peterson played two games in this year’s tournament, scoring 28 and 21 respectively. His season, like Boozer’s, also ended on a game-winner, this one at the hands of St. John’s. 

If Peterson reaches his full potential, he could become the most talented player on this list. But availability will ultimately determine his value.

No. 2: Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas

Darius Acuff Jr. put the basketball world on notice after his game against Alabama on Feb. 18. Playing in all 50 minutes of a double overtime game, he shot 60% from three and scored 49 points. That game showed what Acuff can do. He can be the driver of the offense and register double-digit assists. But when he needs to, he can take the ball and take over the game.

Acuff finished the season with 23.5 points per game and 6.4 assists per game, both ranked top 15 in the nation.

If drafted by Dallas, Acuff would be able to share the floor and learn under one of the NBA’s best point guards in Kyrie Irving. That situation would allow him to develop at a comfortable pace. Meanwhile, he could still contribute immediately as a second or third playmaker along with Cooper Flagg.

Acuff continued his amazing play in the tournament, averaging almost 30 PPG in three games for the Razorbacks, including 36 against a sneakily dangerous High Point Panthers squad. 

Though he may not have the highest ceiling in this class, Acuff’s fit, reliability, and playmaking make him one of the safest selections on the board.

No. 1: AJ Dybantsa, G/F, BYU

AJ Dybantsa is the perfect complement to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.

Dybantsa was the nation’s leading scorer at 25.5 points per game. He also averaged eight rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

At 6-foot-9 with elite athleticism, Dybantsa has the tools to become a true two-way star at the next level. He can score in transition, create his own shot in the half-court, and defend multiple positions. His versatility allows him to impact the game whether he has the ball or not. This trait separates great players from simply productive ones.

He complements Flagg by being another frontcourt presence that defenses must account for, which would allow both players to attack offensively. He also creates opportunities for Irving by giving him another scoring forward to play off of.

In his lone March Madness game, BYU was upset in the first round by Texas despite his 35-point effort.

Simply put, with his size, athleticism, and scoring ability, Dybantsa has a chance to be a generational player in the NBA.

Draft Day Decision

Ultimately, the Mavericks’ decision may come down to which of the stars is available at their pick. However, with Cooper Flagg at the helm, Dallas is starting to establish a new core and a new identity. This draft gives them the opportunity to build upon their new culture.

Whether they choose to prioritize fit, upside, or reliability, this draft could shape their future for years to come.

The post Which March Madness Stars will Fit Best on the Mavericks? appeared first on The Lead.

A season that opened with promise derailed quickly for the Dallas Mavericks. A team that ESPN said had a 50.6% chance to make the playoffs with a projected 42 wins in the preseason now sits 12th in the Western Conference, 8.5 games out of a Play-In spot with 21 games left.

The standings may not favor Dallas, but the final weeks of the season still carry significant implications for the Mavericks. With the playoffs likely out of reach, the focus shifts to player success, evaluation, and the team’s draft position.

With that in mind, here are three things to watch for the rest of the season in Dallas.

Can Cooper Flagg retake the lead in the Rookie of the Year race?

There’s a reason the Mavericks took Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. Drawing comparisons to NBA legends all throughout high school and college, an argument could be made that he was the most hyped NBA prospect since LeBron James.

So far in his rookie campaign, he has not disappointed. On Jan. 30, in a game against the Charlotte Hornets, Flagg scored 49 points, a record for the most points by a teenager. He also holds the records for youngest player to score 40+, the youngest player with four straight 30-point games, and the second-youngest player to reach 1,000 career points, behind only LeBron James. 

All the while, Flagg is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, all of which are top three in each category for rookies this season. 

Unfortunately for Flagg, he was out for 22 days in February with an injury. This gave fellow Duke rookie, Kon Knueppel, time to take the lead for the rookie of the year chase.

Knueppel broke the rookie record with over 207 three-pointers and became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 made threes.

For Flagg to retake the lead, he just needs to get back to playing his game. His scoring ability has already produced historic moments, but finishing the season with a strong stretch of performances could shift the narrative back in his favor.

If he can return to the form that he’s played at thus far, the media may once again view him as the frontrunner.

Will the Mavericks Give AJ Johnson the Minutes to Develop?

Even when viewed without the context of the deal that brought him to Dallas, the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards was not a great one for the Mavericks.

The Wizards game the Mavericks two unfavorable first-round picks, an aging Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, and Malakai Branham (who they later traded away for Tyus Jones, who Dallas would end up waiving)

The most intriguing part of the deal was the final player acquired by the Mavericks: a 6-foot-5 guard from Fresno, California, AJ Johnson.

Previously playing for the Illawarra Hawks of the NBL, Johnson came into the NBA with major intrigue. Milwaukee saw him as a long-term project player when the Bucks selected him 23rd in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Unfortunately, Johnson’s first two seasons in the NBA have been rough. He’s averaging around five points per game, while shooting under 30% from three. 

However, Johnson has only played 65 games in his career so far, not even a full NBA season yet. With Dallas focused on the future, the final weeks of the season may be the perfect time to evaluate what Johnson can become. Increased minutes would allow him to work through mistakes while giving the coaching staff a clearer picture of his long-term role.

If Johnson can show improvement, he could begin to carve out a place in Dallas’ rotation heading into next season. But that improvement won’t come from the bench.

Where Will Dallas End Up in the Lottery Standings?

The good news in this lost season for the Mavericks is that the upcoming draft class is stacked with talent. With Dallas in line to land a lottery pick, they are sure to obtain a star rookie to pair with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.

The bad news is that the Mavericks are not the only ones in the lottery chase. Not by a long shot.

Despite being 21 games under .500, the Mavericks currently sit seventh in lottery odds. The Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, and New Orleans Pelicans all have a worse record than the Mavs.

With several teams clustered near the bottom of the standings, the final weeks of the season could dramatically alter where Dallas finishes in the lottery order.

A brief winning streak could push the Mavericks further down the odds, while a stretch of losses might only incrementally move them closer to the top of the draft board. But every position is a great chance at an exceptional talent.

That makes every remaining game matter, even if the postseason is no longer within reach. Where Dallas ultimately lands in the standings could determine whether the Mavericks are selecting from the very top tier of the draft class or slightly further down the board.

The post What Should Mavericks Fans Watch For to End 2026 NBA Season? appeared first on The Lead.

In 2013, English singer-songwriter Tom Odell released his hit song “Another Love.” Oddly enough, the lyrics and meaning match the current feeling Dallas Mavericks fans are feeling now about one former star in Luka Dončić and its current one in Cooper Flagg.

Odell sings about having almost no love left to give to his new partner, after being so deeply in love with his previous one. The most powerful part of the song is the bridge.

“I wanna sing a song that’ll be just ours, but I sang ‘em all to another heart. And I want to cry, I want to fall in love, but all my tears have been used up, on another love.”

For Mavs fans, most would be singing these lyrics about Flagg, and their other love, Dončić. No matter how unfair, it’s almost impossible to talk about one without the other.

Their performances in their first few seasons in Dallas will always be compared. But Cooper Flagg is not here to be Luka Dončić — he’s here to be Cooper Flagg.

Feb. 1, 2025 Lives in Infamy

The course of the Dallas Mavericks and NBA history was changed on that night. With zero warning, the Mavericks traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for just Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a singular first-round pick.

The reaction was immediate. Mavericks fans flooded social media, ranging from claims that NBA insider Shams Charania’s X account was hacked, to declaring that they would never watch the Mavericks, or the NBA again. 

The season that followed unraveled quickly, leaving Dallas outside the playoffs and searching for a new direction one year after winning the Western Conference. Their lost season earned them the 10th-best lottery odds in the 2025 NBA lottery. Against all odds, the Mavericks, who held just a 1.8% chance, won the NBA lottery. A 1.8% chance was the fourth-lowest odds to win the NBA lottery.

This was the first time the Mavericks had ever won the lottery. With that pick, Dallas found its next headliner: Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg Is “The Maine Event”

Hailing from Newport, Maine, the basketball world was made aware in 2022, when he won the Maine Player Of The Year, and averaged 25.4 points for the Nike EYBL team. After this, Flagg thought back to words from his mother: “If you’re the best player in the gym, you need to find a new gym.”

He reclassified, entering college one year early, signing with the Duke Blue Devils. At Duke, Flagg nearly averaged 20 points per game, leading the Blue Devils all the way to the Final Four, all the while, drawing comparisons to NBA greats like Kevin Garnett and Kawhi Leonard for his dominating two-way style of play.

This is where Flagg is wildly different from Dončić. On the Mavericks, Luka could almost bend the speed of the game when the ball was in his hands, dominating tempo with hesitations and step-back threes that forced defenders to play on his terms.

Flagg doesn’t need to manipulate the game. His offense is generated by raw athleticism and instinct — cutting to the basket, attacking closeouts, and finishing above the rim. Where Dončić slowed defenses down, Flagg overwhelms them, turning movement and energy into points before opponents have time to react.

Cooper Flagg is not Luka Dončić, and he never will be Luka Dončić. Where Dončić punished defenses with step-backs and deep threes, Flagg does his damage on the other end of the floor. His length, anticipation, and willingness to take on the toughest defensive assignment allow Dallas to play faster.

Former GM Nico Harrison was famous for saying that “defense wins championships,” as the reason for why he traded Luka. The defense that Flagg provides is something that Dončić was never capable of.

The Hard Part

But the differences are why the comparison feels unavoidable, and why it feels unfair. Luka didn’t just define how the Mavericks played. He defined an entire city for seven years.

Flagg doesn’t offer what Luka did, and he’s not supposed to. His impact reveals itself over the course of a game, not in a single moment. Learning to appreciate that requires a different kind of patience from a fanbase still grieving what it lost.

In “Another Love,” Odell never offers a solution for emotional loss, and that feels intentional. Some things don’t have clean endings. The heartbreak of Luka Dončić being traded will always linger for Mavericks fans, and it should.

There is no rewriting what Dončić meant to the city. But moving forward doesn’t require forgetting, it requires understanding.

Cooper Flagg was never meant to replace Luka Dončić. He was drafted to be something different.

Appreciating that difference is how Dallas finds another love.

The post Cooper Flagg Is Not Luka Dončić, and That’s Okay for Mavericks appeared first on The Lead.

Many prolific scorers have played in the NBA throughout the league’s history. These include era-defining players as well as their best teammates and scariest enemies. Narrowing down thousands of players into the 10 purest scorers is no easy task.

Differences in era, position, playstyle, usage and more must be taken into account. However, through thorough analysis, a determination of the top 10 can be made.

Some of the rankings will definitely be controversial. A player may have been better or worse had they played for a different coach. Maybe they would have been more dominant had they played 20 years before they did. No one knows. But this is the best possible list given the information we have.

And speaking of controversial, let’s start with the honorable mention:

Honorable Mention: Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain did once score 100 points in a game, the most ever. He was a giant athletic freak who was ahead of his time. But he falls outside the top 10 primarily because of the era he played in.

In the 1960s, the decade where Wilt played the majority of his career, players were nowhere near as fluid with the ball as they are in the modern era. Players were nowhere near as athletic and were not as quick laterally. People back then would’ve accused Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry of witchcraft if those two teleported back 60 years.

So, Wilt was comparatively better than many of the other names in this article, but easier competition made Wilt look like a better scorer than he really was.

10. Shaquille O’Neal

Arguably the most dominant big man ever, Shaquille O’Neal terrorized the NBA with a combination of size, athleticism and aggression. Kobe Bryant said himself that Shaq was never afraid to “be big” and impose his will and abilities on opponents.

Shaq averaged 20 points per game for the first 14 seasons of his career. He played against many of the best scorers and best players ever, making this feat even more impressive. While Shaq never had a good jump shot or good ball-handling skills, his post game, footwork, put-backs and alley-oop finishes meant he never needed those skills to be a stat sheet stuffer.

9. Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving is the best dribbler planet Earth has ever seen. He also has the most diverse bag of tricks the NBA has ever seen. As a three-level scorer, Kyrie can attack defenders just about any way he wants.

His finishing package is electric, featuring English finishes, in-air acrobatics, double-clutch reverse layups and more. He can create shots for himself through changes of speed and height or a simple step-back. He can even create opportunities out of the post, an ability not many point guards have.

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Kyrie has been a scoring sensation since he was in college, and not long after, he was putting on shows in USA Basketball practices. Kyrie’s main battle over the years has been his health. He will miss this entire season with a torn ACL. His injuries have prevented him from scoring even more points throughout his career, but he’s still a menace on the court at all times.

8. Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady was one of the first truly elite scoring wings that could do everything. Like Kyrie, he could shoot at both the three-point and mid-range levels. While he didn’t have Kyrie’s handles, he made up for it with sheer athleticism and the height and wingspan to shoot over defenders.

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T-Mac threw down some of the nastiest dunks the world has ever seen and led the NBA in scoring twice. He was elite at finishing around the rim. In 2002-03, he averaged 32.1 points per game. Unfortunately, like Kyrie, his health became a struggle, and injuries shortened his career.

7. Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic may be young, but he’s earned his place as the seventh-best scorer of all time. His scoring has highlighted his meteoric rise. He averaged 21.2 points per game in his first season, and has averaged at least 27.7 in every season after that. He is currently on pace to average over 32 points per game for the third season in his career.

Let’s not gloss over Luka’s efficiency either. He led the league in field goals attempted for three seasons as the first scoring option in Dallas and still holds a career 46.8 field goal percentage. Luka doesn’t have the athleticism of the aforementioned players, but he’s crafty and reads defenses at such a high level that it doesn’t matter. The ball is going in the hoop.

6. James Harden

James Harden played eight full seasons in Houston. He led the NBA in both free throws made and attempted for seven of them. While many see “foul-baiting” as unethical, it’s one way to score more points, and Harden was its founding father.

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Harden wreaked so much havoc that teams began guarding him from the side. Some players have even defended him with their hands behind their backs. But that wasn’t his only way of striking fear into opponents.

Harden is one of, if not the best, at lulling people to sleep before making a quick move, either resulting in a drilled three or a blow-by. He made a living off of it, leading the league in scoring not once, not twice, but three times in a row! He averaged 30.4, 36.1 and 34.3 points per game in those three seasons. Of the 15 highest-scoring seasons of all time, he’s one of three players with more than one. The other two? Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

And if you thought foul-baiting was the only way Harden was going to find rulebook loopholes, you’re wrong. He found a way to condense his steps to create more distance on his step-backs, leading to ridiculous but legal moves that many thought were travels.

While Harden is out of his prime, he’s still going strong. His style is unique and one of the few that have pioneered parts of today’s game. If he can go on a tear, he just might add a ring to his resume this season.

The post Who Are the Top 10 Purest Scorers the NBA Has Ever Seen? Part 1 appeared first on The Lead.

The Christmas Day clash between the Mavericks and Warriors was Klay Thompson’s first return game to the Bay this season. In what was slated to be a special reunion among Hall of Famers bonded for life, the evening turned into an awkward occasion. 

Thompson’s split from Golden State wasn’t the most amicable due to his feeling minimized on the team towards the end. While there was no reason to believe he wouldn’t remain a Warrior his whole career, things changed.

Thompson felt like an afterthought and left for a fresh start and renewed sense of belonging. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, however, always hoped his forever home was with the Warriors.  

One thing was evident following the Christmas matchup: Thompson has moved on, but the Warriors haven’t. 

Love Lost?

Before tipoff against the Mavericks, Curry made the intentional decision to pay homage to his former splash brother. Curry, a sneaker free agent after parting ways with Under Armour, has spent the last month and a half testing out various players’ shoes. For the first time competing against Thompson this season, the choice was obvious to Curry as to what kicks he would rock. 

Curry went with the Anta KT11 shoes as a nod to Thompson and their 13 years as backcourt-mates.  

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But Thompson undermined Curry’s sentimental gesture in his postgame comments and in his interaction with Curry after the game. 

Thompson conspicuously avoided delving into the reunion with his ex-teammates. He responded tersely when pried about what it meant seeing Curry wear his shoes.

“It was great; really cool. Wish he didn’t get a win in them, but it was awesome. Respect,” he said. 

Though he at least recognized the gesture, Thompson’s disinterest in walking down memory lane was an indication of how he felt about his departure. He was then asked if he got to catch up more with former teammates or noticed the fan cheers when he practiced pregame.  

“Not really,” he answered in a laconic manner before shaking his head and going for another sip of his smoothie. “I was just locked in on getting loose.”

For someone who experienced everything imaginable with the franchise that drafted him, a lack of acknowledgement to the fans rubbed Dub Nation the wrong way. 

Cameras also caught Curry and Thompson briefly dapping up postgame, with Curry appearing to talk to Thompson as he moved away.

A jovial catch-up isn’t always the case for the player on the losing side. But the moment seemed too callous, given the unbreakable decade-plus history shared among the two parties.

One-Sided Hurt

Thompson may not have been in a chatty mood due to his team’s loss. Or he may still be holding on to bitterness about how things ended, even if it wasn’t Curry’s fault.

But the noticeable juxtaposition between his brevity and his former teammates’ wistfulness is a sign of how differently they have handled the split.

Curry, Green, and Steve Kerr all echoed the oddity of seeing the beloved Warrior on the opposing side. They are also holding out hope that Thompson will someday return to put on a Warriors jersey again. 

Curry recently expressed that he wishes Thompson were still a part of the Warriors. Walking into the locker room and seeing Thompson’s name gone will never feel normal. Even being on different teams, Curry is still protective of Thompson when players (specifically young ones) try to mess with him. There have been numerous examples of opponents attempting to get under his skin, calling him “washed” or reminding him he isn’t the same player he used to be.

It still hurts Curry knowing that his old shooting partner has to fend for himself without the support of the guys who’ve always had his back.

What the four of them built together is everlasting. That is what makes the distant pleasantries from Thompson sting so much. He didn’t just avoid emotionality; he buried the deep history with the franchise that watched him grow up — that took a chance on him. 

Never Say Never

The Mavericks have struggled with Anthony Davis being perpetually hurt and Kyrie Irving still rehabbing his torn ACL. The new-look Mavs team likely isn’t what Thompson envisioned when he signed there. 

For now, the relationship between him and the Warriors is the tale of one devastated partner struggling to get over a painful breakup, clinging to the remnants of what once was, while the other has moved on. In the Warriors’ case, it is as if latching on to the years of memories will somehow alter the present reality or reverse the past.

A potential return to Golden State is not out of the question for Thompson. He will hit unrestricted free agency at the end of next season, as will Curry and Green. The new Mav deserves to make whatever decision he wants for himself. He has earned that right, no matter how much it stings his old team.

If the Warriors love him, it was best they set him free if that is what he truly wanted. But Klay Thompson will always be a Warrior — whether or not he comes back. 

The post Warriors Are Still Hung Up On Klay Thompson Breakup appeared first on The Lead.

Ryan Nembhard‘s surname may ring a bell to many people, but it is often associated with Andrew, the Pacers’ shifty guard. Now, there’s a new kid on the block, and he’s lighting up the Dallas skyline.

Many are still unfamiliar with the outstanding rookie, but that will change very soon.

Before Ryan Reached The Big Leagues

On March 10, 2003, Canada was given their next basketball star. Ryan and his brother, Andrew, picked up basketball at a young age and got hooked on it. Their father helped them immensely along the way, and they pushed each other to the limit on the basketball court… and sometimes over it.

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Nembhard’s first major stop on his basketball journey took him to high school at Montverde Academy, well known for producing NBA talent like clockwork. He was a part of the historic, undefeated 2020 team that won a national title. In his senior year, he led Montverde to another title, winning the MVP of the game in the process.

The star guard also represented Team Canada at several international tourneys. Nembhard had many offers to go play college ball, Ohio State and Florida, to name a notable few, but eventually chose to go to Creighton.

He starred immediately. Nembhard’s first game was a 15-point, 10-assist double-double against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. He had a few more outstanding performances before breaking his wrist, an injury that would end his season. It didn’t stop him, however, from winning Big East Freshman of the Year, and he carried that momentum into a sophomore year where he played a big part in the Bluejays’ Elite Eight appearance. After that, Nembhard explored his options in the transfer portal.

He chose to move to an emerging blue blood in Gonzaga, where his name got even bigger. He led the nation in assists per game at 9.8 his senior year, and led the Bulldogs to another West Coast Conference title. Nembhard had the stats and makeup of a future NBA draft pick, and he turned even more heads in pre-draft scrimmages. Nembhard seemed like a lock to get drafted.

Right?

Mavericks Find A Diamond Off The Street

The 2025 NBA Draft came and went, but Ryan Nembhard’s name was not called. 30 teams had passed on him several times over, but they all had a chance to take on the kid once the draft concluded.

Only one jumped at the chance.

The Dallas Mavericks, fully aware of their dire point guard situation, signed him to their squad on a two-way contract in June. In the Summer League, he showed out consistently, averaging 11.5 points and 6.7 assists per game.

His best performance in that time might’ve been his first one, a 21-point, 5-assist game against the Lakers. He consistently showed a performance level that warranted being on the roster.

Indeed, Nembhard would be on the roster for Opening Night, but as a bench player. The Mavs sputtered out of the gate, and their offense looked woeful through the first few months of the year. A clear issue emerged. Dallas didn’t have a true point guard to run the show and orchestrate the offense.

Except… they did. 

On Nov. 28, Nembhard got his first start at the one for the Mavericks, against the Lakers, who employed the last great Dallas point guard.

Nembhard went for 17 points on 7-11 shooting, tacking on 4 assists. Two nights later against the Denver Nuggets, he went nuclear, etching 28 points, 10 assists and zero turnovers.  That night in Denver was his last night as an unknown name in the NBA space.

Nembhard hasn’t let go of the starting PG role since, and it’s not just him that’s performing either. Before he started, the Mavericks were 29th in PPG and 27th in FG%.

In Nembhard’s seven starts, they’re 11th and 5th in those categories. They’re not playing the bottom of the league either. They’ve played several Western titans, including the defending champion Thunder, the Rockets (who they beat!) and the Lakers in that time.

This offense has been looking for a hero, and Nembhard has promptly been that and more. It’d be best to get to know Ryan, because he’s gonna be around for a very long time.

The post Ryan Nembhard is the Dallas Mavericks’ Newest Savior appeared first on The Lead.