Dereck Lively II (Dallas Mavericks)
July 2025
Mavericks center Dereck Lively II has undergone surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right foot. He is expected to be fully healthy and available for training camp in September.
Lively missed significant time last season with a stress fracture in the same ankle. Despite early injury struggles, he remains a core piece in a frontcourt featuring Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
July 2025
The Dallas Mavericks have decided to shut down No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg for the remainder of the NBA Summer League after two games, highlighted by a 31-point performance against San Antonio.
Flagg rebounded from a tough debut with a standout showing against Dylan Harper’s Spurs. The Mavs opted to limit his exposure, prioritizing development and preserving the rookie after his strong response in Game 2.
Anthony Davis (Dallas Mavericks)
July 2025
Mavericks All-Star Anthony Davis underwent surgery to repair a detached retina suffered last season. He is expected to recover in time for training camp ahead of his first full season in Dallas.
Davis joined the Mavericks in the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade and impressed in limited games. With Kyrie Irving out long-term, Davis will lead a revamped team that includes No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks)
July 2025
Free agent guard Dante Exum has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 8.0 points and 2.8 assists over two injury-hit seasons with the team.
Exum rejoined Dallas after weighing offers from two contenders. He’ll help cover backcourt duties with D’Angelo Russell as Kyrie Irving recovers from injury until early 2026.
Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks)
June 2025
Kyrie Irving is signing a new three-year, $119M deal with Dallas after declining his $43M player option. The contract includes a player option for 2027–28 and keeps Irving as the cornerstone alongside Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg.
Despite an ACL injury, Dallas doubled down on Irving post-Doncic trade, valuing his leadership and locker-room presence. Irving aims to return midseason and help steer the Mavs toward another Finals run in a now Davis-led roster.
Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)
June 17 private visit; 2025 NBA Draft
The Mavericks have scheduled a private visit with projected top pick Cooper Flagg and are not considering other prospects. They are fully committed to selecting him first overall in the upcoming NBA Draft.
After jumping 10 spots in the lottery, Dallas views Flagg as their post-Doncic cornerstone. His dominant freshman year at Duke solidified his No. 1 status, and he’s not meeting with other teams before the draft.
New York Knicks
June 7, 2025
The Knicks are actively evaluating Jason Kidd among other candidates to replace Tom Thibodeau. Although they haven’t requested permission yet, Kidd has two years left on his deal and was a finalist for the Knicks job in 2020.
Kidd remains under contract with Dallas, and the Knicks—low on draft assets—would need a trade to secure him. Kidd’s coaching résumé includes a recent Finals appearance, but tension emerged after Luka Doncic’s trade, which he wasn’t consulted on.
Dionne Calhoun, Keith Belton (Dallas Mavericks)
May 2025 (following 2024–25 season)
The Dallas Mavericks dismissed head athletic trainer Dionne Calhoun and performance director Keith Belton after a season plagued by injuries and internal conflicts. Calhoun had been with the franchise for 21 years, while Belton was under scrutiny for lacking required NBA certifications.
The firings followed a season of medical mismanagement, including a key incident involving Dereck Lively II’s stress fracture. An internal HR investigation was triggered by a heated dispute between Belton and health director Johann Bilsborough, who remains with the team. This marks the third straight offseason of major performance staff changes.
Klay Thompson (Dallas Mavericks)
April 16, 2025
Thompson scored 23 points, including 16 in a dominant 44-point second quarter, helping Dallas advance after his scoreless 0-for-10 outing one year ago with Golden State.
Thompson hit four 3-pointers in Q2 to spark a blowout; Davis led with 27 points. Mavs now face Memphis for West 8-seed and a shot at OKC in the first round.
Nico Harrison, Luka Doncic, (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Davis (Dallas Mavericks)
April 2025
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison doubled down on his controversial decision to trade franchise star Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, citing a long-term philosophy that “defense wins championships.”
The move, made without consulting Doncic, Mark Cuban, or Dirk Nowitzki, has been met with fan outrage and criticism. Harrison believes Davis and Irving form a “championship-caliber” core, despite injuries derailing a 39–43 season. He remains confident the team’s new defensive identity will win back trust.
