New Deputy In Dallas - A Dallas Mavericks 'Chise

[GM Rizzo]

Game: NBA 2k26
System: XBOX X
Roster: 2k Official Rosters - 2/12 Update (Post Trade Deadline)
Difficulty: Superstar
Sliders: Default
Playoffs: 7, 7, 7, 7

[GM Rizzo]

Current State of the NBA

Trade Deadline Shakeup

This season’s mid-season trade action had ripple effects across the league. Some of the biggest moves included blockbuster swaps like the Utah Jazz acquiring Jaren Jackson Jr. (in exchange for multiple picks and players) and the Los Angeles Clippers maneuvering future picks and young talent in deals that reshape their timelines and asset pools. Teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and others also saw major roster adjustments as contenders pushed for depth and rebuilding clubs added draft capital.

These moves aren’t just about wins right now — many front offices are balancing competitiveness with long-term positioning, knowing how valuable draft assets can be in a deep upcoming class.

Tanking Talk — It’s Real
Unlike years past, tanking is again one of the biggest headlines of the season. A handful of teams have clearly tipped toward losing records with draft advantage in mind, and the league is taking notice. The Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers were recently fined a combined $600,000 for questionable player participation decisions that the NBA says undermined competitive integrity — a stark reminder of how intensely teams are playing the long game for draft positioning.

Data outlets and analytics sites have pointed to multiple teams with minimal incentive to win down the stretch, essentially jockeying for position in the 2026 draft lottery. That includes not just traditional rebuilding squads, but franchises in transitional phases looking to capitalize on the perceived strength of next summer’s class.

Players that packed their bags and found new teams that have been immediately shut down for the season include Utah's Jaren Jackson Jr. and a pair of Wizards in Anthony Davis and Trae Young. As the league broke for the All-Star Break, the Kings announced that Zach LaVine will also be done for the season.

Why the Tanking Frenzy? — The 2026 Draft

The root cause of all this strategic losing? The 2026 NBA Draft class is widely regarded as one of the strongest in years, with multiple potential franchise stars projected near the top. Prospects like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson have generated huge buzz — enough that teams see a high lottery slot as potentially transformative.

Mock drafts throughout the season have shifted based on college performance and team needs, but the common theme remains: elite talent at the top, and a deep pool thereafter. That dynamic encourages teams out of playoff contention to prioritize tanking, hoping to vault themselves into a position to draft a cornerstone player.

Bottom Line

This NBA season feels like two narratives at once — intense competition for playoff seeding and a subtle war of attrition at the bottom of the standings. With trades reshaping rosters league-wide and tanking incentives soaring because of the 2026 draft’s potential, every win (or loss) carries both present-day and future ramifications. How these strategic bets pay off will be one of the defining stories of the next few years in the NBA.

[GM Rizzo]

A Season of Transition

If you told Mavs fans at the start of this campaign that by mid-February the franchise would be fully redefining itself, they might not have believed it — and yet, here we are. The blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić away last season still looms large, and this year’s deadline continued that theme of upheaval. The biggest move saw Anthony Davis shipped out to the Washington Wizards in a multi-player, multi-pick deal that brought back draft assets and role players like Khris Middleton, Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson and future picks.

But, as a dagger to Dallas’ immediate hopes, Davis — already racked by injuries — is expected to miss the rest of the season in Washington, leaving the Mavs with little contribution from him after just 20 games in a Dallas uniform.

On the bright side, Dallas added depth at the point position with guard Tyus Jones, aiming to stabilize an offense that has lacked consistency with Kyrie Irving still working his way back from injury.

Current Outlook: Growing Pains and Hope

The Mavericks are now very much in rebuild mode — not a full teardown, but a pivot toward younger talent and future flexibility. That’s been embodied by rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2025 draft, who has shown star potential and given this franchise something to believe in.

However, Flagg recently hit a setback with a foot injury that will keep him out through the All-Star break — a timing blow but hardly a derailment of what’s shaping up as his era.

With veteran pieces shuffled and young players now getting real minutes, Dallas’ record this season will likely be a byproduct of development over wins and losses. The playoff race feels like a long shot at this point, but that seems secondary to what the front office and coaching staff are trying to cultivate: a new identity centered around Flagg, draft capital, and roster flexibility.

The Future: Asset Accumulation & Core Building

The Davis trade wasn’t just about swapping players; it was about resetting the franchise’s financial and strategic footing. Moving Davis’ massive salary helped push Dallas under the tax apron, giving them breathing room to pursue future free-agent talent or use exceptions in creative ways. And unlike the pre-Doncic era when the team was capped out, this version of the Mavericks can actually maneuver.

Most importantly, the haul of draft picks — including a 2026 first-rounder and a cache of future seconds — gives Dallas the ammo it needs to accelerate its rebuild. Those picks could either be used to draft more young gems or be leveraged in trades for established stars when the timing is right.

Flagg sits at the center of this new core. Surrounding him with shooters, defenders, and seasoned pros who can mentor and compete will be the name of the game over the next 1–3 seasons. How head coach Jason Kidd balances development and competitiveness will be a storyline worth following.

In the Press Box

Fans in Dallas right now are sorting through disappointment and cautious optimism. There’s no question the Mavericks’ current path is a far cry from playoff battles — it’s construction season. But with a generational young talent in Flagg, cap flexibility to chase help, and a growing stockpile of draft assets, the blueprint for future contention is finally being sketched out.

Next up on the beat: tracking how Dallas deploys its new draft currency this summer and how Flagg’s growth accelerates as the core around him takes shape.

[GM Rizzo]

[RMJH4]

Ooh nice choice and good timing. Coop gonna be great. Anthony "Street Clothes" Davis out of there. Let's get Kai healthy soon.

[GM Rizzo]

Current Standings as of February 14, 2026

[GM Rizzo]

Ooh nice choice and good timing. Coop gonna be great. Anthony "Street Clothes" Davis out of there. Let's get Kai healthy soon.

Thanks! I went back and forth between running with the Spurs or the Mavs. Spurs would be a ton of fun and probably has enough talent to make me competitive early (I'm not very good at 2k, if I'm being completely honest). But if I wanted this to be a longer running franchise, Dallas seemed like the play. Playing well with Wemby is going to be much different than playing well with Coop, and the surrounding casts aren't even comparable. Here's to hoping we can build around Flagg and make some noise.

Kyrie will be an interesting case. We are so desperate for talent, shot making and point guard play that I'll probably have to keep him along for the ride, but if we are approaching this same point next season we may need to cash in on him as an asset prior to the deadline in order to load up the draft cupboards.

[redsox907]

almost went with Dallas instead of the Jazz. Agent told me that the Mavs wouldn' be tanking

imo, gotta get Klay and Kai off the books, get another top tier talent next to Coop, then build from there.

[GM Rizzo]

Statistical League Leaders: 2/13/2026

[GM Rizzo]

almost went with Dallas instead of the Jazz. Agent told me that the Mavs wouldn' be tanking

imo, gotta get Klay and Kai off the books, get another top tier talent next to Coop, then build from there.

Not sure how much Klay can really fetch us on the trade market in the offseason but as a $17m expiring he could be attractive to a contender for sure. I'm interested to see how Kyrie plays early on in the 2026-2027 season before deciding to ship him off. After this season, he has one more guaranteed and then nearly $40m player option for 2027-2028, which I imagine he would pick up. If we pick up a top-4 draft pick this year and add another elite, young talent, maybe we do lean fully into a full-on rebuild and ship him off elsewhere.