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The Dallas Mavericks made some improvements to their team over the offseason, both in free agency and the draft. Of course, they were able to land Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the draft, and he could come in and make an impact on the team on Day 1. As Kyrie Irving continues his rehab from an ACL injury, they went and signed D'Angelo Russell as insurance.
The team already had talent with players such as Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, and if they can put everything together, this could be a team to look out for in the Western Conference. Stephen A. Smith has never been shy of making a hot take, and he made a bold prediction about the Mavericks on First Take.
“If Anthony Davis, if Kyrie Irving is healthy and [AD] brings his A game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship,” Smith said. “That's a big if. It's fluid; it can change. But it's legit, and everybody knows it. Because the one thing we're not going to say about AD is that the brother can't play.”
"If Anthony Davis, if Kyrie Irving is healthy and [AD] brings his A game, the Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship. That's a big if."
– Stephen A. Smith 👀
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/7NRQ3RqIfU https://t.co/YkahXjGueR
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 22, 2025
It's definitely a bold claim, but it shouldn't be ignored if the Mavericks can stay healthy. Davis will be the key for the team, and he's shown that when he's on the floor, there aren't many people who can guard him. As for Irving, if he can come back at a reasonable time in the season and the Mavericks are in good standing, he could be a big plus to the team.
What's the ceiling for the Mavericks?
When looking at the Mavericks, you could say that they have one of the more complete teams in the league. They're just two years removed from making the NBA Finals, and though they traded a big piece from that team, they got some very good players in return that fit the identity. Last season was rough for the Mavericks, as they dealt with injury after injury throughout the year.
That led them to getting the No. 1 pick, and Flagg will have a big impact on the team to start. If Davis and the rest of the team can play at a high level as well, they should be good while Irving still rehabs. The Mavericks have a good chance to be a top-six seed in the West, and if Irving is the same player he's been when he comes back, they could be a team some wouldn't want to face in the postseason.
