Overlooked Mavericks guard might secretly erase their biggest problem overnight

After a rollercoaster of a season, the Dallas Mavericks were unexpectedly thrust into 2026 title contention this offseason. The Mavs won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery and a chance to select Cooper Flagg, a generational talent who scouts project to make an immediate impact for the Mavericks.

Flagg gave the Mavs the third star the team desperately needed. However, fans felt that the Mavs still have a weakness in the backcourt and a logjam in the frontcourt. While the Mavs may have moves to perfect this roster, Brandon Williams is poised to step into this role and exceed expectations.

The Mavs signed Williams to a two-way contract during the 2023-24 season. He played a minor role and spent much of his time in the G League, as Dallas had a plethora of guards, but figured Williams was a promising prospect worth holding onto when the time came. After the Mavs traded Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending ACL tear, Williams suddenly found himself one of the few guards available for Dallas, shouldering a much greater role than anticipated.

Offseason grind sets up Williams for breakout year in Dallas

Williams shined in his new role after the Irving injury. In 26 minutes a game, Williams averaged 15 points, four assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 37 percent from three and a whopping 60 percent EFG, 6 percent above league average. Williams showed in his brief stint that he is a capable point guard who belongs in the NBA. The Mavs agreed, signing Williams to a multi-year deal in April.

This offseason, Williams has prioritized his development and recovery from injury. In an interview with Mike Curits of the Dallas Morning News, Williams said he has been working out daily, emphasizing shooting, ball handling, and running the point.

Irving will miss the start of next season with his injury, leaving Williams as the only point guard on contract and available for opening tip. While the Mavs can bring back free agents Dante Exum and Spencer Dinwiddie, neither player has shown they deserve a starting spot running the Mavs' offense.

But Williams has shown that he deserves this chance. In sixth-man minutes, Williams delivered starting-level production despite having little help on either side of the ball. With his improved supporting cast next season, Williams is primed to take a leap.

The Mavs will certainly need to bolster their guard rotation, as Williams will need a backup while Irving is sidelined. However, Williams showed tremendous upside as a point guard after Irving's injury. If Williams can remain as productive as he was last season, the Mavericks have the solution for their point guard problem sitting on the bench.

Dallas should plan on Williams being an elite sixth man option next season.

While Williams deserves to start in Irving's absence, he has not proven he is capable of starting on a team with title hopes. To supplement their backcourt of Williams, Irving, and Klay Thompson, the Mavericks should look to add a combo guard who can defend and space the floor. The Mavs appear to agree, as they are rumored to be interested in two players that fit this bill: Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday.

The Mavericks have a thin line to walk this offseason. They must balance immediate success with building a team to support Flagg in the future. Trusting that Williams is the sixth man the Mavs need will help Dallas by enabling the team to focus the offseason on shoring up their wing talent, rather than redundantly adding another offense-first point guard to the team.