DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May said Thursday that most of the players Dallas acquired this offseason already understand what it takes to win, so the staff won’t need to teach them.
May was in studio at 105.3 The Fan on “K&C Masterpiece,” on the day the Mavericks named the station their flagship radio home.
Marcus Sasser and Santi Aldama came to Dallas in a six-team trade. Sasser was the No. 25 pick in 2023 out of Houston and spent three seasons with the Detroit Pistons. Aldama played five seasons in Memphis.
May said Sasser’s background is the reason he expects it to carry over.
“When you look at Sass coming from the Houston program out of college, the Pistons last year, he’s coming from a winning organization,” May said. “He’s used to winning. And the majority of our roster, especially the newly acquired players, you know, you look at Tarik going to the EuroLeague finals and Morez winning a championship and Sass being a major contributor to the Pistons. Zaccharie with the Atlanta Hawks team that had the Knicks down in the playoffs before the Knicks caught fire and figured some things out.”
“So we have a lot of guys that know what winning requires,” May continued. “And so that’s what’s encouraging is we’re not having to teach all of these guys how to win and what it takes, and they’re already well-versed. And all of that is positive.”
Zaccharie Risacher And Tarik Biberović Join The Dallas Mavericks
Zaccharie Risacher joined the team through a three-team trade involving the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas sent Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and a 2027 second-round pick to Oklahoma City, receiving a protected 2027 second-rounder and Risacher in return. Lu Dort went from Oklahoma City to Atlanta in the same deal.
Risacher was the top overall pick in the 2024 draft and earned a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. He is set to earn a $13.8 million salary in the 2026-27 season, with a team option for 2027-28 worth $17.4 million, which Dallas must decide on by Oct. 31.
Tarik Biberović signed a two-year deal worth $6 million with a team option for 2027-28 after leaving Fenerbahçe. Dallas used part of its non-taxpayer mid-level exception on the contract and its bi-annual exception on Sasser.
Dusty May On Defensive Flexibility
The versatility of the new additions is what May said the group shares.
“Absolutely,” May explained, when the flexibility of Risacher and Sasser was raised.
Dallas also drafted Sergio de Larrea in the first round and Tobi Lawal with the No. 48 pick. Khris Middleton, A.J. Johnson, and Nembhard were traded during the offseason.
The Mavericks open the preseason Oct. 9 against the Houston Rockets in Macao and the regular season Oct. 21 at Houston at 7:30 p.m. CT.
