There is a clear reason why the Dallas Mavericks are not ready to enter a full rebuild: new owner Patrick Dumont wants to see the Irving-Davis-Flagg trio on the floor before considering any drastic moves. That belief currently outweighs every other internal discussion within the organization.

The Mavericks have not seen Flagg, Davis, and Irving play together for even a single second.

Marc Stein

That line, written by NBA insider Marc Stein in his weekly report, captures the heart of Dallas Mavericks’ dilemma. Anthony Davis, once again sidelined by injury, arrived in Texas amid high expectations – but the team has yet to truly evaluate its intended core.

Kyrie Irving has not made his 2025-26 season debut as he continues to recover from ACL surgery last March, while Davis and Cooper Flagg have logged very little time together. With a 12-21 record, the Mavericks sit 12th in the Western Conference and are running out of time as the February 5 trade deadline approaches. The front office understands that any decision involving Davis will be pivotal.

The center remains an undeniable talent, but his injury history and limited chemistry with teammates complicate the picture. At the same time, rival teams are monitoring the situation closely: waiting too long could diminish league-wide interest in Davis, shrinking Dallas’ leverage on the trade market.

For the Mavericks, this is a delicate moment. Patience is required – but so is decisiveness. They must evaluate the trio on the court, determine whether Davis can truly be the cornerstone of the franchise’s future, and act before the window closes. In today’s NBA, strategy matters just as much as talent, and Dallas knows it is facing a decision that could define both the season and the organization’s long-term direction.