The Dallas Mavericks are set to begin next season without Kyrie Irving, something everyone expected. Irving tore his ACL in his left knee on March 3 and, a few weeks later, underwent surgery to repair his knee. So, fans assumed his recovery would be around a 10-month window. However, that might not be the case, as Irving's recent update hints at uncertainty. There is no right answer when it comes to his return.
This is why Dallas went out and signed D'Angelo Russell. The team desperately needed a guard to run the offense, and Russell seemed like the perfect fit with his veteran experience and fast style of play. Dallas then brought back Dante Exum to further solidify their backcourt. Yet, there is just one problem. Neither player will be enough to make up for Irving's absence, as they should have traded for another high-level guard rather than just depending on Russell and Exum.
Irving is a 2016 NBA Champion and a nine-time NBA All-Star. He played a major role in helping the Mavs advance to the 2024 NBA Finals. Plus, before the injury, he was having one of his best seasons. Irving made the 2025 All-Star team and shot 40.1 percent from the 3-point line. It's clear he will be deeply missed this upcoming season. His leadership and skill set would have been a perfect complement to Cooper Flagg beginning on opening day.
Mavericks should have traded for another guard this offseason
The Mavs, though, must rely on their offseason moves to make up for Irving's absence.
Dallas was linked in trade rumors to players like Jrue Holiday, Collin Sexton, and Lonzo Ball, but the Mavs stood pat as all of these players were traded to new teams. The Mavericks would have been in a great spot to land any of these players, depending on the assets that they would have been willing to give up, and they should have set their sights much higher when searching for Irving's replacement.
As mentioned, Dallas sealed in Russell and Exum, while signing Ryan Nembhard to a two-way contract. It's assumed Russell will be the starter, though, as he has all the intangibles to lead the way. He is an established scorer who isn't afraid to make his presence known on offense in a variety of ways. He has averaged 17.3 points per game for his career and shot 42.7 percent overall. Last season, Russell had his best stretch in January, when he averaged 14.9 points per game and had double-digit points in most of his games.
The problem is that Russell is inconsistent in his style of play. For example, in his second-to-last game of the season, Russell had a double-double with 18 points and 11 assists. However, in the following game, he struggled heavily. He went 0-6 from the field and missed all four of his 3-point attempts. His defense and playoff struggles are also an issue. Russell sometimes shows a lack of effort on the defensive side. This forces teams to lack trust in him, as they never know which Russell they're going to get.
Russell's playoff struggles are connected to his cold streaks. He fails to find a clear rhythm and impact the game beyond his scoring, this being another reason the Mavs should have traded for another guard this summer rather than solely relying on Russell and Exum. They clearly need more playmaking, and relying on just Russell and Exum was a bold bet by Dallas.
This is what differentiates Russell from Irving. Two years ago, Russell failed to be consistent be a primary factor against the Denver Nuggets. He scored 23 points in Game 2, then went scoreless in Game 3, as he missed all seven of his attempts. Irving, on the other hand, thrives in the postseason. He played a role in helping Luka Doncic guide the Mavs to the finals. Irving averaged 27 points per game two years ago against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
Irving's defense is also a step up from Russell's. He does a great job anticipating the scorer's move and knows how to get to the right spot defensively.
As for Exum and Nembhard, they, too, lack Irving's flair. Exum is a great role player who can get hot at the right time. The problem is trusting him in big moments and his injury history. Exum played in 20 games this past season and 55 games the year prior. So, Dallas is unsure how long Exum will be available this season.
Ryan Nembhard is another story. He joins the team on a two-way contract. Nembhard is still a rookie and will have a lot to improve on. So, signing him was for the future with the hope that he develops, not to be Irving's replacement. Plus, it's unclear about his playing time, with him being a two-way player.
So, with Russell, Exum, and Nembhard being the only guard acquisitions, Dallas may be in a pickle. Recently, Irving jumped on a Twitch stream, stating he had no timetable for when he would return. This puts a damper on Nico Harrison's two-to-three-year championship period. The Mavs will have a long way to go if they make his vision true.
If you look at the Western Conference, teams are loaded with guards. For example, you have the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, and the list goes on. Dallas will need a strong, stable guard to battle it out. They have that in Irving, it's just unclear if the rest of the pack can compete at a high level, and they should have traded for someone rather than forcing the current group of guards to hold it down on their own.
The new series of guards will need to prove doubters wrong if they hope to make a statement. It all starts with D'angelo Russell. He will need to prove he can play at a high level day in and day out. For now, it seems Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks are tiptoeing towards disaster. Their inability to trade for a well-rounded guard may come back to haunt them.
