Odds Say Mavericks Enter New Cooper Flagg Era with Questions and Potential

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks are heading into this season with a revamped roster that has received tempered expectations from sports betting markets and national media pundits.

A year ago, the idea that superstar point guard Luka Doncic would no longer be on the roster and would be replaced by a core that now includes Anthony Davis and No.1 overall pick Cooper Flagg would’ve seemed impossible.

Yet here we are.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon expects Flagg to be an immediate starter but notes that the Duke phenom won’t have to shoulder the full offensive load typically placed on most No. 1 overall picks.

“Flagg is projected to be an instant starter,” MacMahon wrote. “But he won't be expected to carry the team as a rookie surrounded by accomplished veterans, most prominently former No. 1 pick and 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, who was the headliner in the return package for Luka Doncic.”

As Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL, MacMahon believes the Mavericks’ playoff hopes hinge on the star point guard’s health.

“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,” 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?”

According to ESPN, Dallas has a 73.1% chance of finishing in the Western Conference as a play-in team (seeds 7–10). They have a 23.1% chance of being a 5 or 6 seed, and just a 3.8% chance of missing the postseason completely. Their odds of finishing in the top four are listed at 0%.

The Mavericks enter the season as one of the league’s most polarizing teams ... balancing the promise of a new era with the uncertainty of health and chemistry.