Are the New-Look Mavs Title Contenders?
The Mavs have given themselves a new look that could make them dark-horse contenders, but they’ll need a lot to go right. The acquisition of Anthony Davis in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade gives them a proven all-star big man who, when healthy, can dominate both ends of the court. With stacked frontcourt pieces like Davis, Cooper Flagg, and Derek Lively II, the Mavs received a major upgrade in length, shot-blocking, and defensive potential. A lack of healthy bigs and rim protection cost the Mavs their chance at winning the 2024 NBA Finals. However, with defense becoming their focal point, they can compete with top-level offenses throughout the league.
The Mavericks’ offensive potential relies on their ability to transition from the Luka era. While that may seem like an uphill battle, Kyrie Irving, once fully back from his ACL rehab, is still one of the best shot-creators and late-clock scorers in the NBA. If his return is true to form, he’ll give the Mavs the scoring punch they’ll need to contend for a title. The second and third punches in the combination will come from Davis and Flagg. Davis provides a reliable interior option. He may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he is sharp, and he is in the drawer. Davis can punish mismatches and force double-teams. The Mavs will likely run Davis at the high post to open up lanes for the rookie. Flagg is already a promising, versatile scorer without a ceiling: attacking closeouts, finishing around the rim, and hitting spot-up jumpers. If his shot is consistent early, he stretches the floor and gives them a two-way weapon.
Though even with a juggernaut offense and defense, the new-look Mavs have a small margin of error. The Mavs will need their stars to stay healthy, Irving to return to form, and Flagg to adapt quickly to the NBA’s strength and pace to be title contenders. That’s a lot of “ifs.” Additionally, the West remains extremely competitive with multiple teams expected to be in title contention, Denver, OKC, Lakers, etc. Therefore, even with a high-end upside, expecting a full championship might be aggressive, but not out of reach.
