Mavericks are a Kyrie Irving injury away from another disaster

The Dallas Mavericks haven't been shy about their plan to ramp up their frontcourt, as they have added plenty of forwards through the draft and trades. The same, though, can't be said about the backcourt, a position Dallas deeply struggled with last season. The Mavs haven't added enough guard depth at the point guard position this offseason, and this could spell bad news for next season if Kyrie Irving gets hurt again.

Irving missed all of last season after recovering from an ACL injury from the season prior, and the team suffered for it. They lost 56 games, and a once-hyped season quickly turned into a disaster.

His absence forced Dallas to rely on young, inexperienced guards such as Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams; both players proved unready for the challenge. D'Angelo Russell even got a crack at the starting job, but that was a failed experiment. Dallas traded him at the trade deadline.

It's an issue the Mavericks again failed to address properly through free agency, the draft, and the trade market. The team hasn't focused its attention on upgrading its point guard depth, and it could hurt them in the long run if Irving were to go down again.

Dallas' backup point guard situation is shaky — again

The biggest issue heading into the 2026-27 season is the Dallas Mavericks' lack of ball handlers. Aside from Kyrie Irving, the team lacks a true guard who can run the offense. Currently, Marcus Sasser and Sergio De Larrea are the only true point guards on the roster. This is an issue itself, as both players don't seem ready to be a spot starter.

Every team needs a backup guard who can be a spot starter when injuries happen. As things stand, the Mavericks are putting a lot of pressure on Sasser, who played a career-low 12.0 minutes per game last year, and a rookie, De Larrea, to hold down the backcourt if something happens to Irving.

Sasser isn't a primary guard who is going to make those around him better. He relies heavily on creating his own shot. This is problematic because if he backs up Irving, Dallas would be putting him in an uncomfortable spot. He fits more of a shooting guard role, as Sasser is a pure shooter. It's likely one of the reasons Dallas went after him.

This leaves the Mavs relying heavily on 20-year-old rookie De Larrea. The young Spanish guard showed flashes of his guard skills in Summer League. De Larrea excelled in pick-and-roll opportunities, found his teammate cutting in the lane, and dished out a couple of lobs.

While the young Mav has the tools to excel in the future, if something were to happen to Irving, it would be a lot to ask of a young, unproven rookie. Dallas saw what happened last season when Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams tried to take over the starting roles. This is why Dallas needs to add a veteran point guard in case Irving goes down again.

They can't afford to have poor guard play for another season.

Kyrie Irving's injury risk is too difficult to ignore

Irving is entering his 15th season in the NBA, as the Mavs' All-Star will turn 35 this upcoming March. This is something the Mavericks must keep in mind when he makes his awaited return to the hardwood.

His past injury history and age mean there is a chance Irving might not return to his old form. It's one of the many reasons Dallas must proceed with caution this coming season.

This is why the Mavs desperately need to add a true backup point guard before next season. If things were to go south again, then the team would have no clear solution to Irving's absence. The Mavericks can't repeat their mistake from last season and should solve this weakness heading into the season.

Dallas still has a few months to fill out their roster around Cooper Flagg and Irving. But with free agents flying off the board, the draft long past, and teams agreeing to trades, time is running out for Masai Ujiri to get Irving a backup point guard who can run the show if the unthinkable happens again.

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