Charles Barkley's bold statement on Mavericks raises eyebrows, but is he right?

Now this is what you call a BOLD statement.

Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV analyst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks are currently receiving a lot of hype for the 2025-26 season. Stephen A. Smith just called them the title favorites if Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving enter the postseason healthy, and now Charles Barkley has made his call on the Mavs in a loaded Western Conference.

“That Dallas Mavericks team, they might be the second-best team in the West if they could ever get healthy,” Barkley said in an interview with The BetMGM Network.“Obviously, Kyrie is going to come back mid-season, but if AD can get healthy, and that boy Cooper Flagg, he’s the real deal.”

READ MORE: Mavericks fans will love Stephen A. Smith’s latest NBA prediction

That's a big caveat from Barkley: IF they ever get healthy. Kyrie Irving is expected to be out for at least half the season, as Barkley alluded to, as he recovers from ACL surgery. Anthony Davis is perpetually injured, especially in the mind of Barkley, who has often called him "Day-to-Davis." AD dealt with a few different injuries last season, limiting him to nine games with the Mavs, plus the two Play-In games.

Those injuries don't even consider someone like Dereck Lively II, who has played in just 91 games in two seasons, and missed a lot of last season with a stress fracture in his foot. Klay Thompson isn't getting any younger either.

The Mavericks have a small window to contend with Irving and Davis as the frontmen seriously, unless they can swing one of them in a trade for someone who better fits Cooper Flagg's timeline.

Feb 21, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) looks on after he makes a three point shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Are the Mavericks really contenders this season?

Without Irving for at least the first half of the season, it's unlikely that the Mavericks can be real threats for a guaranteed playoff spot this season. The West is too good and too deep for the Mavs to tread water without Irving and still be competing for that.

If Irving returns around the All-Star Break and the Mavs are within a few games of .500, they should at least be in decent standing to make the Play-In Tournament. If they can do that and win a game or two to squeak into the playoffs, that'll be a great experience for everyone involved, and then they can be ready to attack the 2026-27 season fully healthy.

But then there's the question of whether or not this team is properly built or not. They're missing a lot of playmaking, shooting, and perimeter defense, even if Kyrie Irving returns at the same level of player he was. If Cooper Flagg and D'Angelo Russell can be enough and show respectable three-point shooting, maybe it works, but that isn't guaranteed.

READ MORE: Ex-NBA All-Star explains difference between guarding Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the offseason

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

More Dallas Mavericks News

• Mavericks sign key piece to $54 million extension amid trade rumors

• BREAKING: Mavericks officially select Cooper Flagg first overall in 2025 NBA Draft

• Sequence between Cooper Flagg, Bronny James goes viral during Mavericks-Lakers

• Kyrie Irving makes massive decision on his future with Mavericks