Mavericks are quietly showing their belief in Sergio De Larrea by their lack of moves

Sergio De Larrea hasn't played a game yet for the Dallas Mavericks, but the team's trust in him is already clear.

Dallas' point guard depth behind Kyrie Irving is thin. De Larrea and Marcus Sasser are the only two point guards behind him, and Cooper Flagg will obviously take reps as the lead initiator as well. The fact that the Mavericks haven't added another guard through a trade or free agency shows their belief in De Larrea, and the rookie point guard could have a big role right away.

Why Sergio De Larrea is ready for the NBA

Dallas traded up to draft De Larrea in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, and his play in Summer League provided fans with a reason for optimism. His playmaking is already way ahead of schedule, as he looked extremely comfortable in the pick and roll and when handling the ball in transition.

De Larrea's self-creation and shooting still need work, as he doesn't have the burst to blow by defenders. While both areas seemed concerning during Summer League, Dusty May doesn't need him to be a star. They just need him to provide spot minutes behind Irving, take care of the ball, and get his teammates involved.

If he plays anywhere close to how he played during Summer League, he'll be one of the best passers on the team right away. He has a great feel for where his teammates are on the court at all times and can make advanced reads.

Mavericks' roster construction leaves a role for Sergio De Larrea

The Mavericks have the shooters and rim rollers to make his life easy, and if Dallas doesn't make any more moves before the season begins, fans should expect him to play. This will become even more true on nights that Irving sits.

Kyrie missed the entire 2025-26 season with an ACL tear, and De Larrea will have even more of an opportunity to shine if the Mavericks manage Irving's workload and ease him back into things. In games that Irving misses, Sasser and De Larrea will be the only true point guards active. Add in the fact that Sasser is better at creating for himself than he is for others, and May's hand could be forced.

He's going to need someone not named Cooper Flagg who can set up the offense, feed the big man inside, and spread the ball around to the shooters on the perimeter. This gives De Larrea a natural chance to prove his worth, and if he can handle the NBA physicality and defense, he should make an impact as a rookie.

The Mavs likely would've added more guard depth this offseason if they thought De Larrea was more of a long-term project than an immediate rotation player, and they sent a clear message about him by trusting him, Irving, and Sasser to hold down the fort.

Dallas' point guard struggles from last season were notable, but the Mavericks are going to be in a much better spot if De Larrea exceeds expectations and thrives in his first year.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow