The 2025-26 Mavericks have traded Anthony Davis and now they'll be without Kyrie Irving for the season.
The team announced Wednesday morning that Irving will not return this year to continue rehabbing his torn ACL. Now that the veteran guard is out of the picture, what does the future hold for Cooper Flagg and the rest of the Dallas roster?
How the Kyrie injury news affects Cooper Flagg
On the surface, this update shouldn't change anything about how the No. 1 overall pick operates. But it does affect the Mavericks' playoff chances which in turn will affect how they use Flagg.
Dallas owns its 2026 first-round pick which means there is incentive to tank for better draft positioning. The Mavericks are 1-9 in their last 10 games and are the 12th seed squarely outside of the play-in tournament.
If the plan is to get Irving ready for a full season in 2026-27, that also means Flagg and other core pieces need to remain healthy. Dallas could opt to sit Flagg for rest or minor injury maintenance to ensure he stays healthy and that the team continues to lose games.
Flagg missed five games before the All-Star break due to a midfoot sprain. He was seen in a walking boot but a team source reportedly classified the injury as not serious.
MORE: Spurs sign 6-foot-10 rebounder to bolster frontcourt with Victor Wembanyama
While the Mavericks may have planned to put the rookie back on the court as soon as he was healthy, the Irving news may put a wrench in that plan.
Dallas could choose to further extend Flagg's absence to protect their prized asset and to help their lottery chances.
The best case scenario? The Mavs enter 2026-27 with a healthy Flagg, Irving, and another young prospect to chase a title with.
More NBA news: