Mavericks' imminent expansion dilemma already has an obvious solution

Rumors of the NBA adding two more teams in Las Vegas and Seattle have been swirling for days now, and the Dallas Mavericks' answer for dealing with such an expansion draft is already clear.

Dallas would only be able to keep eight players, and a group that essentially builds itself would include Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, Kyrie Irving, Naji Marshall, and both of their upcoming first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft (or Ryan Nembhard if he continues to improve).

This list will likely be easier for the Mavericks compared to most teams around the league due to their new timeline around Flagg, as every move they make moving forward will prioritize him and his future.

The Mavericks can't afford to lose their biggest strength

A lot can change from now until the offseason before the 2028-29 season, but if each of these players is under contract, the Mavericks should try to do whatever they can to keep them in Dallas. One of the Mavericks' biggest strengths is their depth, and they can't afford to sacrifice any of it right before the fourth season of Cooper Flagg's career.

Expansion drafts can quickly turn contenders into pretenders, and the Mavericks can't give up their championship window in the early years of the Cooper Flagg era.

Depth is one of the most important things for teams trying to push for the NBA Finals, and unfortunately, expansion drafts can strip teams of it due to the nature of the way that it works. Dallas can avoid this by protecting a strategic group of players, and even with an expansion draft, they should be able to keep their core intact.

The players that the Mavs should try their hardest to keep are obviously Flagg, Irving, Christie, and Lively II. Each player has played a major role in their success, and losing any of these players to a team in their conference would be a major gut punch.

Why keeping Kyrie Irving is imperative

Dallas will be in an interesting spot with Irving ahead of the 2028-29 season, as he'll be 36 years old at the start of that season, but he's worth keeping around for as long as he's willing to stay. Irving has been the definition of a true Maverick on and off the court over the last few years, and at the point that the expansion draft rolls around, he and Flagg should have outstanding chemistry.

With Lively II, Flagg, and Christie, it's a given why Dallas should keep them. Flagg is set to be one of the faces of the league in a few years, and Lively II and Christie are poised to be high-level starters alongside him.

Keeping Washington and Marshall would also likely be a priority, but their future roles on the team remain uncertain. Washington's fit next to Flagg has been shaky at times, and the Mavericks have yet to see how Marshall plays for a fully healthy squad for a full season.

Both players are integral pieces of the Mavericks' identity for the time being, but that could change over the next few years.

Two of Dallas' likely protections aren't even on the team yet

These six players give Dallas a strong core to work with, and their two upcoming first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft should make it even more exciting. The Mavericks will have a pick in the lottery, along with the Oklahoma City Thunder's first-round pick, and both of these players will have the chance to join Dallas' young core.

This is one of the most loaded draft classes that we've seen in recent memory, and if the Mavericks hit on both of their picks, Flagg should have a great pair of young players to grow alongside. Their lottery pick should have star potential, and they'll have a chance to pick someone who can grow into a strong role player at the end of the first round as well.

NBA expansion drafts can be tricky, but with the way the team is built, keeping this group together should help them win moving forward.