The official start of the offseason will begin June 25 when the Dallas Mavericks are on the clock for the 2025 NBA draft.
While it’s safe to presume Cooper Flagg will be the first name uttered by NBA commissioner Adam Silver, the Mavericks remain an unfinished project that will need more roster reconstruction during free agency and trade season.
A champion has yet to be crowned for the 2024-25 NBA season, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next season.
We’re taking a look at where the Mavericks stand position by position. Monday’s breakdown featured the Mavericks’ precarious point guard situation. Tuesday, we looked at shooting guard. Today is all about the small forwards, and Dallas is stacked at this position.
Small forward
On the roster: P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Olivier Maxence-Prosper, Kessler Edwards (two-way)
The starter: Washington. After playing the last two seasons as the team’s power forward, Washington can transition to his natural position with Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively II occupying the front court.
The wild card: Of the two wild cards for this position, one is on the roster (Klay Thompson) and one is not (presumptive No. 1 overall pick Flagg). Depending on the Mavericks’ guard situation, it’s possible head coach Jason Kidd could continue to play Thompson at small forward. And in the event Flagg blossoms into an undeniable two-way force at the NBA level, it would be hard to envision him not starting alongside Davis and Lively. But nothing’s guaranteed in this league, and Flagg will need to have a significant showing during training camp and possibly dominant reps throughout the regular season.
Outlook: Kidd has the most options at his disposal at small forward. He will lean heavily on Washington for his two-way versatility, but also Marshall for his ability to play point forward.
Washington averaged 14.7 points during the regular season, his highest since the 2022-23 season. He often took the challenge of guarding the best perimeter player on a nightly basis, when healthy. Marshall signed a three-year deal with the Mavericks last season and produced his best year as a professional. He had career highs across nearly every statistical category and showed he can provide offensive sparks when needed. His signature right-handed floater came in handy for the Mavericks more often than not.
Another option for the Mavericks is Martin, who will benefit from an offseason to fully recover from the hip strain that hindered him throughout the final month of the season. His length and ability to stay in front of his man on the defensive end is what makes him valuable.
If the Mavericks run into another injury crisis, Prosper and Edwards have the experience to serve as “next man up” emergency options at small forward.
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More Mavericks positional outlooks
Point guard: Kyrie Irving injury makes PG depth an obvious priority
Shooting guard: Klay Thompson’s looming return
Power forward: Title hopes start with Anthony Davis at power forward
Center: Depth not a problem at center, highlighted by Dereck Lively