Just 838 days ago, the Dallas Mavericks were battling in the NBA Finals. Remember those wild playoff moments you’re already telling your grandkids about? Like when Luka Dončić absolutely cooked Rudy Gobert on an isolation three-pointer to win a playoff game? Epic. Then the Celtics came in and kinda made the Mavs look a lot like Rudy Gobert trying to guard on the perimeter. Talk about a gut punch.
The whole thing felt like a wild rollercoaster, right? Mavs fans were absolutely devastated by the Luka trade. Then, for two quarters, Anthony Davis gave us pure perfection, and suddenly, hope was blasting like a Beyoncé concert at the American Airlines Center. And then, bam, a new addition to everyone’s sports-injury vocabulary hit. Just when all that hope looked completely lost, the Mavs pulled off a miracle, winning the NBA lottery with a 1.8 percent chance and landing a generational stud at the top of the draft class. Enter Cooper Flagg.
From Turmoil to a New Regime
Flagg landed on a team that, at least in theory, was supposed to be in the hunt for a playoff spot. But last year was a mess. Anthony Davis couldn’t stay healthy, there was non-stop turmoil, and eventually Nico Harrison was fired. Casualties were everywhere. It felt like walking through a minefield. Hope was all fans had left, and all Nico had in his roster construction plans.
But now? We’ve got a new regime in charge, bringing in some serious fresh energy. That dangerous, little feeling is starting to creep back in for Mavs fans, even after everything they’ve been through. It’s hope. And if Ted Lasso taught us anything, it’s that the lack of hope is what actually kills you, not the hope itself.
This Is a Building Year, Not a Trophy Year
Listen, this isn’t the year to be dreaming about hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, or even the NBA Cup. That’s just not what this season is about. The Mavericks are building something special. The team’s average age is under 25, and there are so many players still figuring out just how good they can become. This squad can be incredibly fun to watch without being a contender right now. It’s all about finding reasons to believe that the next great Mavericks team is taking shape right in front of our eyes.
The number one reason to believe? Cooper Flagg.
Cooper Flagg Is Ready for a Massive Leap
Seriously, Cooper Flagg is a Dallas Mav. For a franchise that had fans questioning the basketball gods for years, that feels like a pretty sweet place to start. We get to watch this 19-year-old, carrying extraordinary expectations, figure out exactly what kind of NBA player he’s going to become. The big question is: can he make that massive second-year jump? For this hope to become real, Flagg needs to become an above-average three-point shooter and really assert himself as the floor general. If he does, this team is going to be electric.
The upcoming 2026-27 season is all about watching this young squad gel, seeing Flagg develop, and finding those moments that make you truly believe the future is bright. It’s not about the hardware yet, it’s about the foundation being laid. And man, that’s something worth getting hyped for.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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