Stephen A. Smith Makes Unexpected Mavericks Prediction Ahead of NBA Season

The Dallas Mavericks Have a Lot to Overcome to Be NBA Champions This Season

There is a lot to like about Dallas' roster, and Smith is not entirely wrong about what he is saying.

The Mavericks eliminated the Thunder, who were the No. 1 seed, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Additionally, they were 3-1 against Oklahoma City last season, despite the team's dominant run.

However, even if fully healthy, the Mavericks still need a lot to go their way.

They have a deep team with a great mix of young stars and veterans. Most notably, Dallas drafted Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick back in June, and he will look to make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball as a do-it-all player.

The Duke alum averaged 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in four preseason games. While these stats are not jaw-dropping, Flagg still showed a lot of promise, particularly while playing some point guard minutes, which should open up a lot of possibilities for Dallas.

Additionally, the Mavericks still have Klay Thompson, who shot 39.1% from deep on 7.7 attempts per game last season and has championship experience. The team is also expecting a big leap from third-year big man Dereck Lively II, who should be a fantastic fit alongside Anthony Davis due to his height and paint presence.

Regardless, the team still has its problems.

Kyrie Irving, who suffered an ACL injury in March, has no estimated return date. Plus, even if he does return this season, he is going to turn 34 years old before the start of the playoffs. It may be difficult for him to immediately return to form.

Furthermore, even if fully healthy, the Mavericks still have a lot of teams that most would consider better. This includes Oklahoma City, Houston, Denver, and potentially both Los Angeles teams, as well as the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Mavericks should still be a good team in the West, and a playoff appearance is a fair expectation for them. However, a championship looks to be a little too far, even if everything works out in their favor.