DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki said Monday that the Dallas Mavericks are building the roster around Cooper Flagg and that the largest open question in Dallas is the health of center Dereck Lively II. He made the comments in a phone interview with Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.
Flagg won Rookie of the Year in 2025-26 and made the All-Rookie First Team. Over 70 games he averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 29.5% from three. He also averaged 1.2 steals and led Dallas in total points, rebounds, assists, and steals, joining Michael Jordan as the only rookies to do so since steals became an official statistic in 1973-74.
Building Around Cooper Flagg
For Nowitzki, the roster question is which of the new pieces can play off two ball-dominant scorers in Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
“Overall Mavs, I think it’s rebuilding around Cooper,” Nowitzki said. “I think everybody knows that. I think that’s a no-brainer, especially after the first year he had. He’s going to have veteran leadership around him. Kyrie [Irving’s] coming back after a year off. P.J. Washington, a local guy. They extended Naji [Marshall], which I thought was well deserved. He had a great year last year. He was a bright spot over weeks and months there at a time.”
Naji Marshall appeared in 74 games last season, starting 47, and averaged 15.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29.5 minutes. He shot 51.0% from the field and had six 30-point games after two in his career to that point.
Dallas announced his extension on Aug. 2. The fully guaranteed three-year deal is worth $52.2 million and runs through 2029-30. Marshall makes $9.4 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $27 million contract, and he switches from No. 13 to No. 3.
P.J. Washington played 56 games and averaged 14.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He signed a four-year, $88 million deal last offseason that runs through 2029-30.
Dereck Lively II’s Availability
Lively appeared in seven games last season, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 16.4 minutes. He shot 61.1% from the field. He has been listed with a foot issue through the offseason.
“I think the key is obviously going to be [Dereck] Lively’s health,” Nowitzki explained. “How’s he going to look? He’s such a game changer when he’s healthy. His length, his activity, his defense. Man, he’s good. A lot depends on if his foot is going to be right. Is he going to be out there? Is he going to miss some time early and hopefully stay healthy?”
Daniel Gafford is the other center on a standard contract. He played 55 games and averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 65.5%.
Kyrie Irving’s Return Year
Irving missed all of 2025-26 after tearing the ACL in his left knee. He was averaging 25.0 points at the time of the injury. Irving turned 34 in March and was named the NBA’s best 34-year-old by Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey this week. Michael Porter Jr. said last week that he played pickup with Irving a day earlier.
Dallas finished 26-56 and scored 114.1 points per game, 23rd in the league. The Mavericks bought out Klay Thompson on Aug. 21, and he signed a two-year deal with the Miami Heat.
The Mavericks open the preseason against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Global Games on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11 at The Venetian Arena in Macau, China. Training camp starts before Sept. 29 to accommodate the trip.
