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DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 18: P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks hangs on the rim after dunking during the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center on March 18, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
The Dallas Mavericks are tanking just two seasons after making the NBA Finals. In the first full season without Luka Doncic, it has not gone well. Despite beating the Lakers on Sunday, Dallas has had a horrendous season, although there have been bright spots.
Cooper Flagg has been a huge bright spot. He might be the best rookie in the league and is one of the frontrunners to win Rookie of the Year. Despite his great play, the Mavericks are 12th in the Western Conference standings. They fired Nico Harrison and traded away Anthony Davis in order to start fresh.
P.J. Washington believes that the fans should have hope for next year. He listed off a myriad of reasons why they will be better next season.
Dallas Mavericks Forward P.J. Washington Gives Fans Hope for Next Year
After beating the Lakers, Washington gave Mavericks fans reasons to look forward to next year.
We get a good pick, we get Kyrie (Irving) back, we get Dereck (Lively) back. Start to build a really great team. So, gonna get a lot better this summer, guys will be healthy, guys will be working together, so I think it’s gonna be really good for us to get some time off and then some time to work together, and just see how we look next year. I think, like I said, the future is bright, so for us, it’s just coming in and be healthy.”
Injuries have certainly hurt Dallas’ chances of competing this season. Irving missed the entire season after tearing his ACL last year. Lively only played seven games. Davis was constantly injured when he was on the roster, which really prevented them from having any shot of making the playoffs.
Washington didn’t even mention how good Flagg is already. With him leading the team, Dallas has a real shot to make the playoffs next season in a tough Western Conference. As he continues to get better, the team has a real shot to be a title contender down the line.
Dallas Has to Nail the 2026 NBA Draft
In order for Washington to be proven correct, the Mavericks have to nail the draft this season. If they are able to get some lottery luck, they could have a top-five pick again in what is being framed as the most loaded draft in the last two decades.
If they nail their first-round pick, Dallas could be able to turn things around quickly. They still have to figure out who is going to run the team, as Michael Finley is the interim GM. After they fired Harrison, they tabbed him to run the team for the rest of the season.
This season, the Mavericks have the second-worst offense in the league. Whoever they take take with their first-round picks needs to help with that number. Even if they don’t get a top-five pick, they should be able to find someone who can help them be a more efficient offense.
Dallas is hoping they can’t be any worse next season.
Ryan Stano Ryan Stano covers the NBA and College Football for Heavy.com. He has been covering sports since 2017, covering the NFL, College Football, College Basketball, and the NBA. His work has been featured on Yahoo, Bleacher Report, FanSided, and Sports Illustrated. More about Ryan Stano
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