3 Dallas Mavericks who shockingly fell flat last season and must improve ASAP

The Dallas Mavericks' 2024-25 season was one of the weirdest times in franchise history.

Less than a year after reaching the NBA Finals with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the way, Nico Harrison decided to trade Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of the night on February 1. This is a move that shocked everyone, including both players involved, and the Mavericks ended up not making the NBA Playoffs while the Lakers secured the No. 3 seed.

Dallas' season ultimately ended up being defined by injuries and the Doncic trade, as they couldn't get healthy in time to be a true contender in the Western Conference.

3 Mavericks who underperformed last season and must bounce back

Irving tearing his ACL in March destroyed the Mavs' chances of making a deep playoff run, and the rest of the season was grim. Dallas' fall from the peak of the Western Conference to the draft lottery was unbelievably shocking, and they enter this offseason with tons of work to do to return to being the team that they once were.

Harrison must ace the draft and free agency to put the right pieces around Irving and Anthony Davis to succeed, but the current players on the roster also have to carry their weight. Dallas doesn't have many free agents, and multiple players on the roster need to make big improvements from the seasons they had in 2024-25.

3. Olivier-Maxence Prosper

When the Dallas Mavericks traded back into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft after selecting Dereck Lively II earlier that night, it was a move that fans were ecstatic about. Dallas traded for the draft rights of Olivier-Maxence Prosper along with Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings, and the hope surrounding Prosper's potential was high right away.

Prosper showcased all the tools to be an elite 3-and-D wing in the NBA, and after two seasons, he still hasn't panned out to be the player the Mavericks expected. Last season for Dallas, Prosper averaged 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from downtown in 52 games.

He wasn't able to make the second-year jump that Jason Kidd and the Mavericks needed out of him, and the same problems that plagued his rookie year returned to haunt him in his second season in the league.

Prosper's offensive game was still sporadic and a bit out of control, and oftentimes, it seemed like he was uncomfortable when the rock was in his hands. His energy still remained outstanding, as he was the best hustle player on the team, but the offensive tools and shooting have to improve for him to succeed in Kidd's system moving forward.

His season ultimately ended with a wrist injury that required surgery in March, and fans will be hoping for a speedy recovery to see him back on the floor as soon as possible.

2. Jaden Hardy

After Jaden Hardy's performance in the 2024 NBA Western Conference Finals, in which he averaged 7.4 points per game while shooting 60 percent from downtown, Mavs fans thought that he had finally solidified himself as someone who Kidd could rely upon for real minutes in big moments. He had become known as someone who mostly stepped up when the game was already out of hand, but his stretch in the playoffs changed the narrative around his name.

In the 2024-25 season, though, Hardy had plenty of great moments, but also some not-so-great moments, and his role on the team looks to be in question heading into next season.

While Hardy's numbers improved from his second season, as he averaged 8.7 points per game while shooting 38.6 percent from downtown, his on-court performance plateaued. It doesn't seem like he has what it takes to be a lead guard within the offense who can run the show and make decisions, and his shortcomings as a passer and finisher continue to hurt him.

Hardy is typically great as an off-ball player, as he can focus on his specialty, 3-point shooting, and the Mavericks have to sign some other primary creators to allow Hardy to make this natural shift to being an off-ball shooter once again.

Now isn't the time to give up on Hardy, as he still has three more years left on his deal in Dallas, but he has to show some big improvements in year four to show that he belongs.

1. Dereck Lively II

After his rookie season in the NBA, it looked like the Mavs had struck gold with Lively II. Doncic had needed a rim-rolling big who could protect the rim for so long, and he and Lively II immediately formed elite chemistry that turned them into one of the best pick-and-roll duos in the NBA.

Lively II's ability to play above the rim and pass out of the short roll illustrated future-star tendencies, but injuries ended up wrecking his season, as he only played in 36 games. His injuries look like they could end up being a major problem throughout his career if he can't get them in check now, and quite frankly, that's one of the only reasons he's on this list.

He wasn't as available as the Mavericks needed him to be, and even when he returned from the stress fracture in his ankle that kept him out for nearly three months, he wasn't the same player. Lively II was on a minutes restriction in every game after he returned, and not having Doncic next to him clearly hurt his production.

It will be intriguing to watch Lively II play next to Davis for an entire season next season, and Harrison has to sign or draft someone this summer who will help turn Lively II back into the pick-and-roll beast that he is.