Mavericks' make-or-break season just turned brutal thanks to Kevin Durant

The 2024-25 Dallas Mavericks season was a memorable one for the wrong reasons. From being rattled by injuries all season, to the Luka Doncic trade, and then closing out the season with being eliminated by the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament.

As the season concluded, Mavs fans wondered if the basketball gods would smile on the franchise. Then, it happened in May. Despite a 1.8 percent chance, the Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery to earn the rights to draft Duke stud Cooper Flagg.

Drafting Flagg has brought excitement back into the city of Dallas, and fans will be excited to watch the 18-year-old make his NBA debut. Flagg has undeniable potential to dominate the NBA once he begins playing. However, there was one blockbuster trade from this offseason that quietly will make the Mavericks' 2025-26 season more difficult.

Kevin Durant's Rockets now stand in Dallas' way

On July 6, a seven-team deal was completed in which Kevin Durant was traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. With Durant coming into the Southwest Division, the Mavericks' schedule will get difficult with playing in a division that only got tougher with Durant being traded to Houston, especially considering how great the Rockets were last season.

The Rockets are in a win-now phase, and trading for Durant, who will turn 37 years old on September 29, proves that. Durant is a 15-time All-Star and is now part of a rising Rockets team that is filled with young talent that needs leadership. Last season, the Rockets finished second in the Western Conference with 52 wins. Now, the Rockets are eager to win with Durant before he retires.

The Grizzlies will be a team to watch for from the Southwest Division as well. Memphis eliminated the Mavericks to clinch the Western Conference's eighth seed in 2025; the Grizzlies will always be a competitive team that is tough to beat as long as Ja Morant is on the squad. Jaren Jackson Jr. had a solid year last season, averaging over 22 points per game last season, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was an offseason addition that gives them some needed wing depth.

An old rival will also be in the hunt for a playoff spot from the Southwest Division, the San Antonio Spurs. With Victor Wembanyama, who is destined for NBA greatness as a first overall pick like Flagg, the Spurs are due to be play-in worthy.

The Spurs won 34 games last season. With De'Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, and Devin Vassell, along with their youngsters, the Spurs have solid depth on the roster for next season.

The one team in the Southwest Division that will be the weakest team entering next season is the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference with a 21-61 record. However, a new season offers new hope for any team.

A tough division will make it hard for Dallas to climb the mountaintop in 2025-26, but there is reason to be optimistic as a Mavs fan. Along with having Flagg, Anthony Davis will be on board for a full season in Dallas after being banged up last season following the trade. Klay Thompson will also be eager for another solid season, especially since his minutes could go down.

Dallas also has depth down low with Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington. Having depth down low can help the Mavericks defend Durant's elite scoring abilities, and the Mavs and Rockets are primed for some great matchups.

One major thing the Mavericks will miss, which can hurt them early into this upcoming season, is not having Kyrie Irving. This past March, Irving tore his ACL and won't be ready for the start of the season. Not having Irving can make the four teams take advantage of the Mavericks not having a dynamic player on the court. However, if the Mavericks are in a steady position by the time Irving comes back, the rest of the Southwest Division will be more competitive to take the division championship.