6 Mavericks who likely won't survive final offseason before Cooper Flagg's takeover

The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg era officially begins this summer, and after finishing with a 26-56 record, Dallas has work to do. They can't expect to return to the NBA Playoffs by bringing back the same roster, and players such as Klay Thompson, Dwight Powell, P.J. Washington, Brandon Williams, Daniel Gafford, and Khris Middleton may not be back as they look to build a contender.

6. Brandon Williams

Brandon Williams has had an excellent second full season in Dallas, but unfortunately, it looks like he'll be too expensive to re-sign. The Mavericks could look to use part of their mid-level exception to bring him back, but this seems like a risky proposition given how many talented guards will go near the top of the draft.

In 66 games, Williams averaged 13.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 47.2 percent from the field. His growth as a playmaker, slasher, and mid-range scorer was all evident, but he doesn't have the 3-point shooting to be a long-term fit on a Flagg-centered team.

5. Khris Middleton

Khris Middleton went from a throw-in from the Anthony Davis trade to a valuable role player in Dallas, but his upcoming free agency is trickier than it once appeared.

While the Mavericks have interest in bringing him back, they should probably only do so if it's for the veteran minimum. Dallas has to look to get younger to better build around Flagg, and Middleton turns 35 years old in August.

This is not a recipe for success to build around their new franchise cornerstone, and even though Middleton has had some incredible games as a Maverick, his play as of late shows that he isn't the same All-Star player he once was.

4. Daniel Gafford

It's hard to gauge exactly what Daniel Gafford's future will look like with the Mavericks, but after being in trade rumors for back-to-back seasons, it's safe to say that they're at least open to moving him if the right deal presents itself. He was a revelation for Dallas during their run to the NBA Finals in 2024, but with their need for more backcourt depth and shooting, they may need to move on from Gafford.

He averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting a career-low 65.5 percent from the field. Gafford had a much stronger end to the season than he started, as he scored 20+ points five times in March, but his injuries made him hard to depend on.

He rolled his ankle 10 minutes into the first training camp practice of the year, and he only played 55 games this year after playing 57 games last season.

This isn't enough reliability, especially since he's backing up Dereck Lively II, who also struggles to stay on the floor.

3. Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell has had an incredible Mavericks career over the past 12 seasons, and now might be the most natural time to part ways. His three-year contract with Dallas expires this offseason, and with their need to better balance their roster, this may come at the cost of Powell.

The Mavericks have two first-round picks to use in the draft, meaning that they'll both be signed to standard contracts (assuming Dallas doesn't trade either pick), and there won't be much room on the roster for Powell.

His leadership, energy, and effort are all unmatched, but it's hard to justify a roster spot for a player who can't provide the same on-court impact he once did.

2. Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson signed with the Mavericks in the summer of 2024 to play with Luka Doncic and chase his fifth ring, and nearly two years later, he isn't doing any of those things in Dallas. He clearly didn't like how they finished the season, and his future with the team is far from guaranteed.

Rumors emerged at the trade deadline that he wanted to play for a contender, and while the Mavs are poised to return to the playoffs next season, this isn't a guarantee. Thompson's best fit at this point in his career would be to come off the bench for a top team, and Dallas should do right by him and send him wherever he likes this summer.

He went from the Mavericks' starting wing last season to playing a career-low 21.9 minutes per game this season, and Dallas could explore trades for him if he prefers to get moved. His future with the team may all come down to what he prefers, and they should grant him his wish, given how sideways this season has gone.

1. P.J. Washington

P.J. Washington's fit with Flagg has not been as strong as expected, and he seems like a probable trade candidate as one of the most crucial offseasons in recent memory approaches.

He had a strong season, as he averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 45 percent from the field, but his 3-point shooting declined significantly. Washington shot 32.5 percent from long range on 4.2 attempts per game, and this is why fans are concerned about his fit long-term alongside Flagg.

Flagg isn't the best shooter himself, and while he has plenty of room to grow and turn this weakness into a strength, Dallas needs to pair him with strong shooters. They need to do whatever they can to open up the floor for him, and finding more floor spacing elsewhere would do this.

Washington's four-year contract extension kicks in next season, and with his proven playoff success combined with his versatility, defense, and energy, the Mavericks should be able to get a pretty penny for him if they trade him.