Dallas Mavericks season preview: Lineup, roster and prediction

Former Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri was hired this offseason to be the Mavericks' new team president , and former ESPN NBA draft analyst Mike Schmitz, most recently an assistant GM with the Portland Trail Blazers , was tabbed to be the new Dallas GM . They then made a huge splash by hiring Dusty May as the franchise's new coach after he led Michigan to the 2026 national championship in college basketball.

On the court, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II are expected to return from lengthy injury absences, and they're set to play alongside reigning NBA rookie of the year Cooper Flagg . They'll be surrounded by a mixture of reliable veterans and an intriguing collection of newcomers, including four drafted rookies, that could force May into some tough (and awkward) lineup decisions.

There's enough talent to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2024 NBA Finals but also a lot of variables to overcome.