Dallas Mavericks predicted to have disappointing 2025-26 season

"The biggest factor in the Mavs' playoff positioning, or lack thereof, could be the impact made by another former No. 1 pick and future Hall of Famer," ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote. "When will Kyrie Irving return from his torn left ACL? If it's this season, can he return to All-Star form for a team that needs his offensive creation?"

Cooper Flagg is in a rare situation for a first overall pick, flanked by Hall of Famers and All-Stars, but it's still a weird roster with not a lot of shooting or playmaking until Irving returns. Flagg will be asked to do more on-ball creation than he did at Duke, and whether that'll work for a team with hopes of contention will arguably be the biggest question of the NBA season.

Expectations for Mavericks Upcoming Season

Under normal circumstances, and considering the roster without context, surviving until Kyrie Irving returns and making the Play-In Tournament would be a realistic goal for the season. But these aren't normal circumstances.

Nico Harrison placed an incredible amount of pressure on the team and himself when he made the Doncic-Davis swap, as Irving and Davis are aging players. He gave himself a three-year window, in his own words, and two of those years could be erased due to Kyrie Irving's injury. He was already out for the postseason last year, and he may not return in time to make Dallas a true contender next season.

That sets them up for an incredibly pressurized 2026-27 season. Irving and Davis have player options after that season and could opt out and leave, or if they start to decline, opt in and hold the Mavs hostage without moves to make with their larger salaries (Davis would make nearly $63 million in the 2027-28 season at 34 years old).

Missing the playoffs again this season, whether that's outright or getting into the Play-In Tournament and losing, would have to be a failure given Nico Harrison's championship expectations, even if that's a somewhat likely result.