Dallas Basketball

NBA analysts split on 2025-26 Mavericks in early power rankings

The Dallas Mavericks are starting fresh with a new season on the horizon.

Jeremy Brener

Cooper Flagg talks to the media during the NBA Draft Combine at Marriott Marquis Chicago.
Cooper Flagg talks to the media during the NBA Draft Combine at Marriott Marquis Chicago. / David Banks-Imagn Images
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The Dallas Mavericks are turning the page after the NBA Finals have come to an end, and with the NBA Draft now just days away.

ESPN conducted a way-too-early power ranking for the 2025-26 season, and the Mavs clocked in at No. 14.

READ MORE: Mavericks could look to Lakers NBA champion for coaching void

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis shoots during warm ups prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies
Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis shoots during warm ups prior to the game against the Memphis Grizzlies. / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Mavs hover around middle of the pack

"The Mavs' long-term concerns -- on the court and financially -- in the wake of the Luka Doncic deal were mitigated by their amazing lottery luck to land Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick," MacMahon wrote.

"He will arrive in the NBA with a chance to win immediately alongside Anthony Davis and eventually Kyrie Irving, who will sit out at least the 2025 part of next season while recovering from a torn ACL."

The teams in the Western Conference that ranked ahead of the Mavs were the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

This means that the Mavs have some work to do to climb up the ladder during the offseason, but the main reason behind such a movement would be fueled by how Cooper Flagg performs.

Flagg will be the Mavs' No. 1 overall pick for Wednesday's NBA Draft, and he is the new face of the franchise. He will be the reason Dallas is competitive for the next several years, so how he adapts to the NBA will play a big role in the Mavs' success or lack thereof.

READ MORE: Kyrie Irving contract status gets big update from NBA insider

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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