Dallas Mavericks Have A Talented 2025 26 Roster But Could Still Go All In To Acquire Another Proven Elite Scoring Threat
The Dallas Mavericks enter the 2025-26 NBA season in a fascinating position, caught somewhere between established strength and the possibility of making one more bold move that could completely reshape their trajectory. They already possess a roster filled with talent, anchored by Luka Dončić, arguably the most skilled offensive player in the game, and supported by veterans like Anthony Davis, plus a handful of versatile role players designed to complement their stars. They have experience, balance, and a system that appears better equipped than ever to compete at the highest level. And yet, despite all of this, the sense around the league is that Dallas could still be one aggressive step away from truly maximizing its championship window. That step, many argue, might involve going all-in to acquire another elite scorer—someone who can take pressure off Luka, provide a consistent secondary offensive option, and ensure the Mavericks have the firepower to survive the gauntlet of the Western Conference playoffs.
The idea of Dallas needing another scorer is not necessarily a criticism of the team’s current core. Luka has been nothing short of phenomenal since he entered the league, a generational talent whose offensive brilliance alone makes the Mavericks competitive every single night. His ability to control tempo, create shots for himself and others, and deliver in clutch moments has already placed him among the game’s top superstars. Around him, Dallas has worked to construct a roster that addresses some of the issues that plagued them in past years—defensive lapses, lack of rebounding, and limited interior presence. The acquisition of Anthony Davis gave them a formidable defensive anchor and a capable scorer in his own right, while role players have been added to provide spacing and hustle. On paper, this is one of the deepest, most well-rounded Dallas teams in recent memory. Yet the modern NBA has shown time and again that even a talented, balanced roster is rarely enough when the lights are brightest. Superstars win championships, and often it takes more than one dominant scorer to make the difference.
What makes the conversation especially pressing for Dallas is the reality of Luka Dončić’s prime. At just 26 years old heading into the season, Luka is still young, but he is also at the stage where his best basketball years are likely unfolding right now. The Mavericks cannot afford to squander this period by surrounding him with good but not great talent. Winning in the NBA is as much about timing as it is about talent, and the window to capitalize on Luka’s brilliance is now. Adding Anthony Davis was a step in that direction, but Davis, as impactful as he can be, is not the consistent scoring threat who can go shot-for-shot with the league’s elite perimeter players. He is a complementary superstar, invaluable for his defensive presence and ability to punish mismatches, but not someone who can carry the scoring load in critical stretches. Dallas, therefore, finds itself in the familiar dilemma of many contending teams: do they trust their current group to break through, or do they push their chips to the center of the table and gamble on acquiring another player capable of consistently generating offense?
The argument in favor of an all-in move is compelling. The Western Conference is as loaded as ever, with teams like the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, and even the retooled Golden State Warriors posing serious threats. Each of those teams boasts multiple elite scoring options who can swing playoff series. Denver has Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, Minnesota has Anthony Edwards supported by Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Thunder’s young core continues to develop around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. If Dallas hopes to keep pace, Luka cannot be expected to shoulder the offensive burden alone for four straight playoff rounds. Opposing defenses will trap him, double-team him, and wear him down physically, daring the Mavericks to beat them with secondary options. That strategy has worked in the past, particularly when Luka has been forced to carry too much of the scoring and playmaking load simultaneously. A second high-level scorer, someone capable of consistently punishing defenses when Luka draws extra attention, could be the missing piece that pushes Dallas from contender to favorite.
Of course, making such a move comes with significant risk. To acquire another star-level scorer, Dallas would almost certainly need to part with draft picks, young players, or both. Their flexibility is somewhat limited, given the assets already used in previous moves. But in today’s NBA, where player movement is constant and disgruntled stars regularly hit the trade market, opportunities always emerge. Whether it’s a high-volume wing scorer on a struggling team, a guard looking for a change of scenery, or a forward with a looming contract situation, there are always names that surface. The key question for Dallas is whether the front office believes its current roster is enough, or whether it feels the urgency to make one more big gamble while Luka’s prime is still ahead of him.
From a stylistic standpoint, the type of scorer Dallas should target is clear. They need someone who can create their own shot, preferably on the wing or in the backcourt, to complement Luka’s playmaking and Davis’s inside presence. Ideally, this player would also bring a level of defensive competence to ensure the team doesn’t regress on that end. The NBA is full of stars who fit this mold to varying degrees, though acquiring them would be easier said than done. Still, history suggests that aggressive teams willing to part with assets are often rewarded. The Toronto Raptors swung big for Kawhi Leonard in 2018 and won a championship. The Milwaukee Bucks traded for Jrue Holiday in 2020 and were rewarded with a title the following year. The lesson is clear: fortune favors the bold.
But what if Dallas decides to stay patient and ride with the current group? There’s an argument to be made that continuity, chemistry, and health might be enough. Luka is good enough to win multiple games in a playoff series on his own. Davis, if healthy, can swing matchups with his defense and timely scoring. Role players like shooters and secondary ball-handlers can step up in critical moments. Perhaps the Mavericks believe that their strength lies not in adding another scorer, but in trusting Luka to do what great players have always done: elevate those around him. There is a certain logic to this, as over-investing in another star could compromise depth and future flexibility. In the harsh reality of the NBA, there is always the risk of going all-in and still falling short, leaving the franchise depleted for years to come.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to how Dallas views its own timeline. Luka’s prime demands urgency, but the front office must balance that urgency against sustainability. Do they want to be perennial contenders for a decade, or are they willing to risk it all for a better chance at immediate glory? The Mavericks’ history offers clues. In 2011, they built around Dirk Nowitzki with depth, defense, and smart veteran acquisitions rather than chasing another superstar. That formula delivered a championship against overwhelming odds. At the same time, the NBA of 2025 is not the NBA of 2011. The level of talent across the league is deeper, the competition fiercer, and the margin for error smaller. Standing pat may not be enough anymore.
For fans, the debate is both exciting and nerve-wracking. The idea of Luka, Davis, and another elite scorer forming a modern “big three” is tantalizing, the kind of alignment that could make Dallas the favorite in almost any series. At the same time, the risk of gutting the roster for one player and seeing it backfire is real. Fans know how fleeting championship windows can be, and the idea of wasting Luka’s best years is unthinkable. The pressure on the front office to make the right call has never been greater.
As the season unfolds, the Mavericks will have to answer this question with their play on the court. If Luka and Davis dominate, if the supporting cast proves reliable, perhaps Dallas can march deep into the playoffs without a blockbuster move. But if the same old issues resurface—if Luka is forced into exhaustion by constant double-teams, if the offense stagnates when he rests—then the calls for a new scorer will only grow louder. The 2025-26 season may ultimately be remembered not just for what happens on the floor, but for whether Dallas chooses to go all-in off of it. One bold decision could be the difference between Luka lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy or another year of asking what could have been.
