Mavericks' new Cooper Flagg era already exposes a harsh truth

Who is going to be the Top Gun Maverick in Dallas this year? It can’t be Tom Cruise or Glen Powell. Their skills in the cockpit don’t translate to the NBA hardwood.

The Dallas Mavericks will have to adopt a more realistic approach in order for their season to really take flight. The pecking order needs to be set. But the NBA isn’t Hollywood. At least not yet.

The Mavericks are entering the new NBA season with a sense of optimism that they have not had since their electrifying NBA Finals run in 2024. To say the team has undergone a makeover would be the basketball understatement of the year.

Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison instantly became a villain in Dallas when he traded franchise player and fan favorite Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for the talented but often-injured Anthony Davis.

Mavericks must figure out who the real alpha is

At first glance, such a move seemed preposterous. Sacrilegious even. The Maverick faithful wanted blood. And Harrison was booed at subsequent Maverick games to follow. It wasn’t pretty. But the only constant in this life is change. And the winds of change have blown through Dallas.

The Dallas organization sought to infuse the Mavericks with a more defensive-minded approach, and Anthony Davis is the head of the snake that can make that happen, if he can stay healthy. The arrival of rookie sensation Cooper Flagg has fans salivating about what Dallas can achieve this season if all the pieces fall into place. But Kyrie Irving’s long-term health will be a big part of that equation.

The need for effective leadership is paramount. Who will be the Top Gun? Can one lead from the sidelines if they are not playing meaningful minutes on the floor? How much pressure and responsibility should be placed on Cooper Flagg in his first year? Can the Mavericks’ guard committee hold down the fort until Kyrie Irving returns to full form? Can Kyrie Irving fully return to his old self at his advanced age?

The variables are many. But the possibilities are endless. 

Anthony Davis, aka “AD,” makes the most sense as the top guy on paper. He’s a two-way maestro with an MVP-caliber skillset and still in the prime of his career. But can Davis stay healthy and regain his form as a top 5 player in the NBA? Davis is a walking double-double and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate every time he steps on the floor. But ever since he won the bubble championship with LeBron James and the Lakers in 2020, his commitment has been questioned in and outside of the locker room. Along with his well-documented distaste for playing center.

The best ability is availability, and Davis will need that in spades if he wants to set the tone for the Mavericks' 2025-2026 season, and to be able to reach Cooper Flagg mentally in terms of what it takes to be an elite player in this league. Davis only played in nine games for the Mavericks last season after straining his left adductor.

This caused him to miss 18 games down the stretch, which resulted in the Mavericks missing the playoffs entirely after making the NBA Finals the year prior. He played 51 games in total last season. A repeat of this performance would be a disaster for a team trying to build its culture and team chemistry.

Kyrie Irving could also be a viable candidate. He was often the lone bright spot in an otherwise tumultuous year last season. Box Office. Ball Handler Extraordinaire. Uncle Drew. And one of only nine players to achieve a 50/40/90 statistical NBA season. Kyrie’s attributes need no introduction. No stranger to controversy, Kyrie became the voice of reason and helped to calm the waters after the Luka trade rocked the boat. He was on his way to another All-NBA campaign before he tore his ACL in his left knee. But his mercurial nature has raised questions about him being the true alpha leader of any team he is on.

By all accounts, his rehab is going well, and he is expected to come back this season, potentially ahead of schedule. But how much of a load will he be able to shoulder? Will he be the same player? How long will it take him to blend in with his teammates? Only time will tell.

Cooper Flagg is a dark horse for top billing on the team in just his rookie season. But it may just happen out of necessity with Irving’s absence on the court for the first half of the season.  It would be nice to allow Flagg time to acclimate to the NBA rigors incrementally. Unfortunately, the Mavs can’t afford to give up too much ground in the standings in an ultra-competitive Western Conference. So it may be a necessity to hand him the keys on the court and follow his lead. Coach Jason Kidd has experimented with an array of lineups to see how to best utilize Flagg. And Flagg has already stated in press conferences that it will take some time for him and Davis to mesh. But time is of the essence, and the time is now.

The signing of guard D'Angelo Russell gives the Mavs needed depth at the point guard position. As well as the re-signing of Dante Exum. The Mavs are also experimenting with giving Cooper Flagg minutes at the point guard spot as well.

Re-signing Daniel Gafford to a three-year deal gives the Mavs much-needed insurance in the front court, along with the still-growing Derek Lively, to help improve their rim protection and provide the necessary screens to help Klay Thompson do what he does best.

The ingredients are there. However, Anthony Davis must set the tone on both sides of the ball for the Mavericks to be competitive in the very challenging Western Conference while giving Cooper Flagg time to grow into his greatness, and holding down the fort until Kyrie’s return. 

Can everyone stay healthy? Will their new big three gel in time?  Only time will tell.