By Jamla Baker
NDG Sports Writer
The Dallas Mavericks and former general manager Nico Harrison’s decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers is one that will forever be etched in the history of the entire NBA.
The Mavs did get another superstar in return in ten-time All-Star Anthony Davis, but he hasn’t been consistently available since arriving in Dallas—something that’s been an issue throughout his career.
In a recent game against the Utah Jazz, Davis suffered ligament damage to his left hand that may require season-ending surgery. According to ESPN, if a second opinion determines that surgery is not required, Davis will be out a minimum of six weeks.
Dallas had been reportedly hoping to trade Davis before the trade deadline to get off his contract, but his latest injury certainly throws a monkey wrench in those plans.
Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports and Davis’ agent, believes there’s a bright side to Davis staying in Dallas.
“I do think when you have that trade speculation out there, you have to make your mind up because sometimes when you play in traffic, you get hit by a car. If you plan on trading somebody, there’s a time. It’s almost a gamesmanship to it,” Paul said on the “Game Over” podcast.
“You’re trying to go a little longer, a little longer, and see the most you can get out of somebody. When you do that, you run a risk. There is a world you come out of this draft with a great pick, that the following year and saying, ‘Wait a minute, we got these two young guys on rookie contracts that are good, you have Kyrie and AD, two top 15 players’… It’s not totally negative.”
The Mavericks currently have a record of 15-25 on the season—the eighth worst record in the entire league. Ideally you never want to be in a position where you’re hoping for lottery luck in the upcoming draft almost midway through the season, but let’s be honest, Dallas making the playoffs this season would be a waste of time.
Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg has been better than advertised, and if the basketball gods smile upon Dallas with a top-five selection in what’s shaping up to be a loaded 2026 draft class, the Mavericks could be a very competitive team next season.
Flagg will continue to develop and become more comfortable in the second half of this season as Dallas enters a soft tanking state. He could potentially become the first All-Star rookie in more than a decade.
In the league’s second fan voting returns, Flagg ranked 16th in the Western Conference with 236,182 votes.
“I feel blessed,” Flagg said. “Obviously, to see that is really cool. I feel really honored and really blessed just to see my name up there.”
Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists through 38 games this season and averaged 23.5 points per game during December.
Head coach Jason Kidd believes Flagg will be a part of All-Star weekend in some capacity—whether he’s participating in the All-Star game or Rising Stars game.
“He’s going to be there no matter what,” Kidd said. “If he participates in the Big Game, that’s because of the work he’s put in. We hope that he does make the Big Game and he gets voted in. He’s playing at a high level for a young player. He’s taking on the best defender. He’s trying to help his team win. He’s been very successful in late game. Hopefully he’s in the Big Game, but he will participate in the Little Game.”
With Flagg, Kyrie Irving returning from injury, a 2026 lottery pick, and potentially Anthony Davis still in the fold, Dallas has plenty to look forward to.
