Biggest weakness of the Dallas Mavericks that they must fix

The Dallas Mavericks, under Nico Harrison, are building their 2025-26 roster around a defensive philosophy, highlighted by trading Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, drafting Cooper Flagg, and retaining Daniel Gafford. However, significant concerns exist about their offensive capabilities, with Bleacher Report grading them a C+ due to a lack of playmaking and perimeter shooting, especially with Kyrie Irving sidelined.

Criticism points to an overly frontcourt-heavy roster with too many play finishers and insufficient creators, suggesting trading Gafford for a guard who can shoot and pass would improve balance. D'Angelo Russell is viewed as better suited for a sixth-man role rather than a starting playmaker, making the offense appear inefficient until Irving returns.

The team's success heavily depends on Cooper Flagg adapting quickly to the NBA, alongside improvements from Russell, Davis as a three-point shooter, and Naji Marshall. Even if these factors align, the Mavericks may only achieve league-average offense, which remains a considerable challenge given their current construction.