Mavericks Summer League: Flagg Rebuild | Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Image by Dallas Mavericks @dallasmavs/07/16/26/X
Las Vegas is hosting more than just another Summer League; for the Dallas Mavericks, it’s the unofficial launch of what could be considered a crucial reboot season for the franchise.
It’s been a rough stretch to be a Mavericks fan over the last couple of years. The Luka Dončić trade blindsided the fans in February of 2025, Kyrie Irving went down with a torn ACL weeks later, as another disappointing season unfolded before the front office finally ran out of patience. The fallout led to the Mavs firing former general manager Nico Harrison, head coach Jason Kidd, and eventually taking a complete-rebuild approach to the roster, with Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg as the centerpiece.
New Voices, New Vision
One of the most notable names in Dallas’ Summer League lineup isn’t a player. New head coach Dusty May, hired from Michigan after revitalizing the Wolverines program, will be on site in Las Vegas, though he’s handing off sideline duties to assistant Joe Boylan for the summer games.
May’s hire capped a chaotic 17 months for the organization. Team president Masai Ujiri, brought in to overhaul basketball operations, moved on from longtime coach Jason Kidd shortly after taking the job, and cleared the runway for May’s arrival. It’s a steep learning curve, but the Mavericks are betting May’s player-development track record translates to a locker room built around a young core with Flagg at the helm.
The New Roster Taking Shape
Dallas announced its full 13-man Summer League roster last week, per The NBA, headlined by No. 9 overall draft pick Morez Johnson Jr. out of Michigan. He’s joined by fellow rookies Sergio De Larrea, a Spanish League product acquired via trade, second-rounder Tobi Lawal of Virginia Tech, and Russian import Vsevolod Ishchenko.
Second-year guard Ryan Nembhard returns after earning a contract with Dallas last summer, rounding out a group the coaching staff will lean on heavily as it evaluates who sticks around for training camp after Summer League ends on July 19.
Kyrie Irving’s Long Road Back
In February, as previously reported by The Dallas Express, Kyrie Irving, the veteran and former All-Star, was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season as he continued recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025
Yet, the recent updates on his rehab have been encouraging. Irving told fans during a Twitch livestream on May 29 that he was “definitely close to being over at 100%” in his recovery, and he’s now more than 14 months removed from surgery with training camp on the horizon in late September.
Moving on From the Harrison Era
Harrison’s tenure ended in November following a 3-8 start, a firing that came less than a year after that shocking trade of Luka Dončić to the Lakers.
Anthony Davis, the centerpiece return in that deal, was himself traded away in February as the front office pursued what team governor Patrick Dumont called a “clean slate.” That reshuffling continued intoJuly, when Khris Middleton – whoarrived in the Davis deal – was sent back toWashington in a six-teamsign-and-trade deal, netting Dallas forwardSanti Aldama in the process and furtherreshaping a roster.
This reset ultimately delivered Ujiri to Dallas, then Coach May, and a roster now built around Flagg.
Flagg could spend more time on the wing under May after handling significant playmaking duties as a rookie. He will not play Summer League.
Dallas has been careful to reserve roster spots for a projected 13 players already under contract for 2026-27, which limits how many Summer League standouts could realistically crack the regular-season roster, but strong showings from De Larrea or Nembhard could still shake up the pecking order at guard, particularly with Irving’s exact return date still unconfirmed.
The Mavs’ Summer League Verdict: Progress & Lingering Questions
The clearest takeaway isn’t a box score – it’s Vsevolod Ishchenko.
The 56th pick was supposed to be a stash-in-Europe afterthought; instead, he has looked comfortable against higher-profile competition and shown real feel as a passer with great court vision. Sergio De Larrea has backed up his European-pro pedigree too, showing flashes as a playmaker while stretching the floor as a shooter.
Ishchenko now looks like more than a dart throw; De Larrea looks like a keeper, and the pieces around Flagg are coming into focus. The next test comes at training camp, when Irving is expected back – and the franchise tries to turn the page for good.