Dallas Mavericks: What Is Next For the Team?

“What’s next for the Dallas Mavericks?” you ask. Only time will tell, but the Mavericks’ future might involve a rebuild this summer. After all, Dallas shouldn’t rely on Kyrie Irving to carry the team without Luka Doncic and guarantee Irving stays healthy. Irving tore the ACL in his left knee and underwent a successful surgery, both events occurring in March 2025. Read on for further insight into the Mavericks’ current situation.

Dallas Mavericks Can Kickstart a Rebuild

The Dallas Mavericks can kickstart a rebuild with a trade involving the Houston Rockets this summer. If Irving opts out to sign with another team and Dallas decides it’s best to move on, Irving could be traded to the Rockets in a blockbuster trade. If this trade occurs, Houston will receive Irving and Dallas will receive Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Cameron Whitmore, and a 2025 first-round draft pick.

The Mavericks getting rid of Irving’s contract will create significant cap space flexibility. Without Doncic, Dallas shouldn’t be in a rush to become a contender anytime soon. Though Sheppard is the biggest highlight of the trade package, Smith Jr. and Whitmore have the potential to become major contributions, with the 2025 first-round pick likely falling to the bottom.

Dallas Mavericks Can Make a Change

The Dallas Mavericks can make a change by trying to replace Doncic’s backcourt production while striving to keep the new Mavericks arena in Dallas. The Mavericks could expand their payroll, but preferably as a last resort. An expanded payroll could limit the team’s ability to use trade exemptions and sign-and-trade deals. The Mavericks should strive for a rebuild, as long as they consider a trade that will replenish their draft capital.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said on Wednesday, “Dirk [Nowitzki] is completely turned off by this franchise. I’ll have more on that situation coming out once they’re eliminated, probably Thursday morning.” MacMahon appeared to assume the Mavericks’ elimination ahead of Wednesday’s Play-In Tournament game but has a point even though he might’ve dramatized the issue. Nowitzki has shown the public he is not afraid to express his emotions.

MacMahon added, “I asked, ‘Hey, why not seek Dirk’s input? Why not seek [Mark] Cuban’s input? He [Nico Harrison] basically said, ‘If they’re not in the building, they don’t know what’s going on.’ Stay tuned for the reason Dirk’s not in the building and the reason Cuban’s not in the building. Because Nico made sure he got his butt kicked out of basketball operations once that trade went through.”

Nowitzki and Cuban are reportedly distancing themselves from the Mavericks following Harrison’s comments at the invite-only media roundtable on Tuesday. But the Mavericks’ short-term plan, which was kickstarted by the Doncic trade, can succeed before Irving’s expected return in January 2026. If Harrison gets Kevin Durant, Durant can complete a Big 3 alongside Irving and Anthony Davis, and Harrison’s performance soars.

Final Thoughts

Harrison recently addressed the Quentin Grimes trade for Caleb Martin. Harrison traded Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Martin just days after trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Davis. Harrison believes the Grimes trade worked out for both teams, noting Martin is under contract through the 2027-28 NBA season.

Harrison told WFAA, “We had the opportunity to get Caleb [Martin], which the opportunity only afford itself because Anthony Davis, he gave us that ability, because he had a trade clause, a trade kicker, and he opted out of that. And so that gave us the room to be able to do that.”

Harrison held a press conference on Wednesday. According to the NBA on ESPN, ESPN’s Shams Charania said, “Nico Harrison did not want to do this closed-door roundtable. This was not his idea. This was something that was enforced by their owner, Patrick Dumont.” Charania has a point. Harrison has been described as a “fall guy” by former NBA players, such as Gilbert Arenas and Matt Barnes, and Dumont appears to be on a power trip.