What happened
Dallas enters 2026-27 after a 26-56 finish and several roster changes, adding Morez Johnson Jr., Sergio De Larrea, Tobi Lawal and Vsevolod Ishchenko while bringing in Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher. The Mavericks open at Houston on Oct. 21, then visit Indiana on Oct. 23 and,
preview notes say Kyrie Irving is expected back about 19 months after ACL surgery, but Santi Aldama, Dereck Lively II and Morez Johnson Jr. were all described as sidelined in preseason coverage. Kevin O'Connor also said Daniel Gafford's role has expanded by default, which could j
Early availability remains unsettled, so Dallas' first-week rotation could hinge on which injured bigs are active. Gafford may stay important if the frontcourt absences continue, while Irving's return changes how much creation the offense can carry.
Automated brief based on the linked report. Lineup context is analysis; official starting-five labels come separately from our game data provider.
Original reporting: Dallas Mavericks season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27 — Yahoo Sports ↗