The Dallas Mavericks have dropped to 17th in ESPN's Future Power Rankings for the 2026 offseason, a slide that reflects growing concerns about the team's direction. This marks a continued decline from their 5th-place standing just two years ago following their 2024 NBA Finals appearance. Their recent on-court struggles mirror this outlook, with a 1-4 record in their last five games, including a 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, 2026, their only victory in that stretch.
Analysts placed the Mavericks squarely in the middle of the pack across almost every category. The presence of 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, is the major positive. His two-way game offers a bright future. However, the timeline for when Flagg and the current roster will become genuine playoff contenders remains unclear, creating a cloud of uncertainty.
One specific criticism focused on asset management. "It continues to baffle me that Dallas hasn't been able to get draft capital for some of the veteran players who are on the roster," one analyst noted. For a team not expected to compete seriously in the near term, being in the bottom third of the league for draft assets is a significant handicap. The only category where Dallas ranks in the upper half is its market, a factor largely outside the organization's control.
All eyes are on the status of Kyrie Irving. The nine-time All-Star hasn't played since tearing an ACL in March 2025 and has two years left on his contract. With a new front office now in place, his future is a major topic. Will he be on the roster next summer, or could he become a trade candidate before the deadline in February?
Irving was averaging at least 20 points per game for a ninth straight season before the injury. By late October, it will have been 18 months since his last NBA game. If the Mavericks aren't competing for a play-in spot, will Irving want to stay? This decision will shape the team's strategy for the next several seasons.
Some within the league see a path where Flagg becomes the catalyst for a dramatic turnaround. One bold prediction suggests he could be the first American-born MVP since James Harden in 2018 by the 2029-30 season. That's a high bar with players like Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic dominating the conversation.
But Flagg's production as an 18-year-old rookie was exceptional. His ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor provides a foundation to build a winner. LeBron James won his first MVP at age 24. Observers believe Flagg has the talent to reach that peak even earlier. A Flagg MVP campaign would almost certainly mean the Mavericks are a top team again, a scenario every Dallas fan hopes for.
The team's current form, however, shows how far they have to go. After the win over Chicago, they lost to the Phoenix Suns 112-107 on April 9 and were beaten soundly by the Milwaukee Bucks 123-99 on April 1. Earlier losses included a 137-131 shootout with the Golden State Warriors on March 24 and a 135-120 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on March 19. You can review the full schedule and results on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page. The ranking of 17th feels about right for a franchise caught between a promising future and a challenging present.
