The [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nba/dallas-mavericks) finished a disappointing 2025–26 season with a 26–56 record, tying for the seventh-worst record in the NBA. Their disaster kicked off after trading Luka Doncic to the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/nba/los-angeles-lakers), which was meant to reset the franchise's timeline. Instead, they missed the playoffs for a second straight year and posted their second-worst record of the century despite adding some worthy veterans like Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson to the roster.
The 19-year-old Cooper Flagg was the only bright spot who averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He won the NBA Rookie of the Year award and established himself as the team's new foundation.
Team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz have already started a complete overhaul around this foundation. They started with axing former head coach Jason Kidd. To align the roster with Flagg's timeline, the front office will likely decide on the potential future of these three prominent veteran players this summer.
**Khris Middleton**
Middleton was the biggest name Dallas acquired in the Anthony Davis trade, but he never fit the roster. At 34 years old, Middleton is now an unrestricted free agent as his 3-year, $103 million contract officially expires. So, re-signing an aging veteran makes no sense for Masai Ujiri’s timeline, which prioritizes younger talent and future draft capital.
He'd be better served signing a minimum deal with a contender team instead of returning to the Mavs again. And the Mavs are better served by giving that spot to a player with actual upside.
**Daniel Gafford**
Daniel Gafford has three years and $54.3 million left on his contract. He's a solid starting-caliber center. But Dallas does not need to pay an expensive veteran big man when Dereck Lively II is already their long-term starter. Combined with Flagg and P.J. Washington, the Mavericks already have a young, versatile frontcourt.
Moreover, Gafford is an efficient, starting-caliber center on a team-friendly deal. So, he has good trade value. Trading him now allows Ujiri to flip him for a future first-round draft pick or a young perimeter player who fits Flagg's timeline.
**Kyrie Irving**
This one is the most complex and the most inevitable. Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering from an ACL tear. He turns 35 in March 2027, carries a $39.5 million salary for next season and has no no-trade clause.
NBA executives are already monitoring how long the 34-year-old Irving can co-exist with the 19-year-old Flagg, given how differently their career timelines align. Irving wants to win now. Flagg is just getting started. Those goals don't live in the same zip code.
Since several contenders want him, Dallas has the leverage to trade him now before his value drops further due to age and his recent injury history.
The common thread across all three? Ujiri has made clear the organization's long-term focus is on Flagg. So, the above three aged stars must need to find jobs elsewhere so that the Mavs can build a team around their primary foundation.
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