Dallas

Mavericks

Irving has not appeared in a game since suffering a torn left ACL in March 2025. While there was some optimism last summer that the point guard was ahead of schedule, he did not play at all during the 2025-26 campaign. Based on Irving’s words during a recent livestream, he’s on track to be good to go for the start of the 2026-27 season. “I am definitely close to being over at 100% in terms of my ACL recovery,” Irving said on Friday. “It’s been a while now…I’m so grateful that I’ve had the time to heal and just experiment with my body more on the court and off the court in the weight room & just pushing myself to the limit.” With Cooper Flagg coming off a Rookie of the Year season and the Mavericks adding another lottery pick to the mix this summer, it will be interesting to see where Irving fits in the rebuild under new lead executive Masai Ujiri. A healthy Irving can provide top-25 fantasy value, but his playing time could be limited early on for injury management reasons.

Flagg, Knueppel, and Edgecombe all received 100 first-place votes, with Harper’s 93 votes not far behind. Cedric Coward’s 29 first-place votes were the least of the first-teamers. Meanwhile, Derik Queen, Maxime Raynaud, Jeremiah Fears, Ace Bailey, and Colin Murray-Boyles were named to the All-Rookie Second team.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that Kidd is out as head coach of the Mavericks. His tenure lasted five seasons, with Dallas failing to make the playoffs three times, losing in the Western Conference Finals during the 2022 postseason, and losing the NBA Finals during the 2024 postseason. Kidd had four years left on his deal.

The Mavs have been without a Team President since Nico Harrison was fired in November, and the former Raptors executive will look to guide a rebuilding Dallas team centered around Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.

Flagg won the closest Rookie of the Year vote since 2003 over the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel. The 19-year-old small forward led all rookies in points per game and was tied for first in total assists. Flagg lived up to his fourth-round preseason ADP and will surely go even earlier in drafts next season.

Thompson played just over 10 minutes in Sunday’s season finale, and that was enough time for him to add another accomplishment to his career résumé. With his four three-pointers, the veteran sharpshooter finished with 202 on the season. Thompson has 11 seasons with at least 200 three-pointers; only Stephen Curry (13) has more. Klay is under contract for the 2026-27 season, but the days of him being a must-roster player in fantasy leagues are in the rear-view mirror.

As a two-way player, Cissé’s opportunities this season were somewhat limited. However, he got another extended opportunity on Sunday and finished with season-highs in points and rebounds. Add in the defensive stats, and this was an excellent stat line for fantasy managers whose leagues were active on Sunday. Cissé’s fantasy outlook for 2026-27 depends on whether he can secure a standard contract.

The Mavericks’ rookies put on a show in Sunday’s season finale, and that doesn’t include Cooper Flagg, who left during the first half with a sprained ankle. Poulakidis put on a shooting exhibition, making eight of his 16 three-point attempts. And the rookie guard was at his best in the third quarter, scoring 22 points. Poulakidis is on a two-way contract, so he’ll have some work to do to lock down a consistent role. But the Mavericks should be encouraged by his finish to the season.

While Nembhard failed to grab that elusive tenth rebound, he did make some franchise history in Sunday’s season finale. His 23 assists were a single-game franchise rookie record and two shy of the league record. Add in an efficient night shooting the basketball, and this was an excellent finish to the season for Nembhard. While he played well enough to earn a standard contract, the expected return of Kyrie Irving limits Nembhard’s fantasy value in 2026-27, in both redraft and dynasty leagues.

Flagg sprained his left ankle early in the second quarter of Sunday’s regular-season finale. With nothing to play for, the rookie’s debut campaign has come to a disappointing end. Thanks to a late-season flourish, Flagg is the betting favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors, with college teammate Kon Knueppel also in the mix. Flagg lived up to his fourth-round ADP, and he’s likely to go earlier in drafts next fall.