The Dallas Mavericks got lucky after they got Cooper Flagg in arguably the luckiest NBA Draft Lottery of all time. Now, after winning Rookie of the Year by leading his team in points, assists, rebounds and blocks, ESPN has set the tone for what the Mavericks could do by 2030, but not really anywhere close to now.
At least that's the timeline Ben Golliver of ESPN gave for the Mavericks as a team that can win a championship, "maybe by 2030." They have a new coach in Dusty May, and for the Mavericks in general, they're starting over from scratch with a new front office. They have a new general manager, Mike Schmitz and a new president, Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri and Schmitz made a ton of moves this offseason, but this new squad requires patience. Fans have every right to think the Mavs won't go 26-56, but it's still a long way to go.
Mavericks listed by ESPN as teams that can win a championship "maybe by 2030"
Golliver says the Mavericks have a young, vibrant team but are still rebuilding. That doesn't mean they won't become a force quickly, though.
"It's asking too much to expect Flagg to transform the Mavericks into a contender as quickly as Wembanyama lifted the Spurs, but his rapid improvement over the past three years suggests he has MVP candidate potential in the not-too-distant future."
The new and young guys may be a surprise at best to make the playoffs, but don't depend on it this season. Morez Johnson Jr. is one of the hardest-working guys on the court, and he's going to be the glue guy who will be a fan favorite in no time.
Sergio De Larrea has been labeled a steal, and with his mature ball-handling, IQ and shooting abilities, he's going to learn with the best under Kyrie Irving, who's also going to come back stronger than ever.
As long as they stick with Flagg and don't trade him as Nico Harrison did, there's a clear path for the Mavericks to have an NBA Finals window for a long time. Flagg is truly a rare jack-of-all-trades, and he's the type of player to bring in championship veterans who have been there, done that.
There's a chance the basketball heavens could bring Luka Doncic back to Dallas in 2028, but nobody should be relying on it. Doncic has indicated in every way that he still has a heart for Dallas, and you can bet the Mavs are the first team in mind when he becomes a free agent
If the Mavericks are starting a rebuild, it's a strong start, but fans shouldn't expect immediate results in 2026-27.
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