Mavericks' biggest offseason weakness is about to fix itself fast

The Dallas Mavericks haven't gone .500 in NBA Summer League since 2019, but that's about to change this offseason.

Dallas' Summer League squad is going to be STACKED

While Cooper Flagg won't play again this year after posting one of the most impressive rookie seasons the league has ever seen and cementing himself as the best rookie in his draft class, they're bound to have several rotation players from this season on the roster.

Ryan Nembhard said that he'd like to play during Summer League during his exit interview last week, but he won't be the only impactful Maverick who could be suiting up in Las Vegas. Other beloved rookies who would benefit from some extra work this summer include Moussa Cisse and John Poulakidas, and they have multiple second-year players who may play as well.

Poulakidas is under contract through the end of next season, and with the way he played at the end of the season, he definitely could have a role moving forward. His ability to hit movement threes, spread the floor, and play with confidence was all on display, and he emerged as the most confident shooter on the team behind only Klay Thompson.

These are the types of players who light it up at Summer League, and his off-ball gravity and spacing will make life easier for other players on Dallas' roster. The Mavericks will likely draft a guard with their lottery pick unless they move up into the top four, and whoever they pick would love to play with Poulakidas due to his electric shooting.

While Cisse will be a free agent, Dallas should explore bringing him back. He always made a massive impact in his minutes due to his energy, rim protection, and ability to run the floor, and he'd be an incredible third option behind Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford next season.

Both Tyler Smith and AJ Johnson finished the 2025-26 season in Dallas after beginning the year elsewhere, and it wouldn't be a shock to see either player suit up during Summer League.

It won't be just rookies

Smith is on a two-way deal with Dallas through the end of next season, and he made himself known to Mavericks fans with a 20-point game in the final regular-season game. His versatility, 3-point shooting, and size on the wing are all valuable, and he could carve out a more significant role for himself next season if he has a strong offseason.

Johnson needs a game-changing offseason as much as anyone, as he struggled to secure a regular role in Jason Kidd's rotation. While he showed promise as an energy guy who can get to the rim, attack in transition, and play hard-nosed full-court defense, his game is still raw.

He hasn't panned out to be the player the Milwaukee Bucks expected to be drafting when they selected him with a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and Summer League would be best for him as he enters year three.

If Johnson, Cisse, Smith, Poulakidas, and Nembhard all play in Summer League, Dallas will have several players on their summer roster that will be in next season's rotation. This doesn't even include whoever they draft with each of their first-round picks, along with their singular second-round pick, and the Mavericks will be must-watch television later this summer.

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