Hoops Rumors examines the 2026 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s moves in the offseason and take a look at what else could happen before the regular season begins. Today we focus on Dallas Mavericks.
Signing free agents
- Moussa Cisse: Two years, minimum wage. First year with partial warranty ($1,092,558). Second year without warranty. The Knicks’ respective offer sheet using the minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired rights to the project Sergio de Laurea (Pick #25) with the Lakers in a four-team trade in exchange for draft rights Koa Pea (pick #30; to Suns), Sixers’ 2030 second-round pick (to Knicks) and Mavericks’ 2032 second-round pick (to Knicks), plus draft rights Melvin Azhynka (to Nix).
- Acquired rights to the project Vsevolod Ishchenko (pick #56) from the Lakers in exchange for cash ($1.7 million).
- Purchased Saint Aldama and draft rights to Tarik Biberavich from Grizzly and Marcus Sasser from the Pistons in a six-team trade in exchange for Chris Middleton (sign and trade; wizard), AJ Johnson (to Grizzlies), 2030 Warriors first-round pick (top-20 protected; to Grizzlies), 2029 Rockets second-round pick (to Grizzlies), and 2033 Mavericks second-round pick (to Wizards).
- Purchased Zachary Ryzaker and the Hawks’ 2027 second-round pick (top-55 protected) from the Hawks in a three-team trade in exchange for Ryan Nembhard (to the Hawks) and the Bulls’ 2027 second-round pick (to the Thunder).
Drafts
- 1-9: Morez Johnson Jr
- Signed rookie contract (four years, $30,745,155). The first two years with a guarantee. Third and fourth year team options.
- 1-25: Sergio de Laurea
- Signed rookie contract (four years, $16,329,525). The first two years with a guarantee. Third and fourth year team options.
- 2-48: Toby Laval
- A bilateral contract was signed.
- 2-56: Vsevolod Ishchenko
Two-sided signatures
- Jett Howard
- One year, $91,000 partially guaranteed (will increase to $339,441 at the start of the regular season).
- Toby Laval
- One year, $91,000 partial warranty.
Note: Mavericks has been moved John Pullakidas under a bilateral contract from 2025/26.
Abandoned/Unsigned Free Agents
Other moves are listed
- Signed Nazi marshal to a three-year, $52,200,000 veteran contract extension that begins in 2027/2028. Full warranty.
- Signed 2023 second round pick Tarik Biberavich to a two-year, $6,000,000 contract using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Sophomore team option.
- Redeemed Klay Thompson (gave up $9,800,000 of his $17,460,317 salary).
- They refused Tyler Smith (bilateral agreement).
Salary cap situation
Note: Numbers are rounded to one decimal place.
- Operating above the cap ($165 million) and below the first tax bracket ($209 million).
- A hard hat on the first apron.
- Team salary: $188.3 million (tax); $189.7 million (apron).
- Below the luxury tax line by $12.1 million; below the hard cap of $19.3 million.
- A partial exemption for middle-level nontaxpayers ($12 million) and a partial biennial exemption ($278,000) are available.
- Three tradeable player exceptions are available (the largest at $7 million).
Offseason yet
It’s been a busy offseason in Dallas, where the Mavericks overhauled both their front office and coaching staff and made several changes to a roster that finished last season with a disappointing 26-56 record.
The only high-ranking relic the front office’s new look is reportedly the former star wing Michael Finleywho spent the 2025/26 campaign as joint interim CEO after November dismissal with Nico Harrison.
Mavs new president and deputy governor, Masai Ujiritabs quickly Mike Schmitz to be its new CEO and has continuation to fill out the front office over the past few months. The organization also parted ways with the former head coach Jason Kiddsucceeding the former FAU and University of Michigan head coach Dusty Maywho led the Wolverines to a national championship in 2025/26.
Dallas received the ninth overall pick in the draft lottery and used the pick on a forward/center Morez Johnson Jrwho spent his second season with May at Michigan. Interestingly, the team drafted Johnson over his college teammates Yaksel Landeborg (No. 11) and Marr’s candidate (#12), who were also both lottery picks.
The Mavs also controlled the final first-round pick beginning on June 23, but they didn’t stick with No. 30, instead packaging that pick along with two future second-rounders (and draft picks Melvin Azhynka) to move up five slots and add Spanish guard Sergio De Laurea.
Two more players were acquired in the 2026 second round, with Dallas moving on Toby Laval at No. 48 and trading $1.7 million in cash to secure the rights to the wing Vsevolod Ishchenko (No. 56). While Lawal quickly signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks, Ishchenko remains unsigned after spending last season in his native Russia.
After the end of the draft, the team’s activity in the offseason did not stop. In the complex mega deal with six teamsThe Mavericks acquired a forward Saint Aldama and draft rights to Tarik Biberavich from Grizzly and Marcus Sasser from the Pistons in exchange for a heavily protected first-round pick and two second-round picks. Veteran forward Chris Middleton was signed and sold to Washington in this deal, with AJ Johnson sent to Memphis (since traded to New Orleans).
Aldama, who had arthroscopy on his right knee in March, missed Spain’s World Cup qualifiers last month due to injury. However, he is expected to be ready to go when training camp begins in a few weeks.
Former Fenerbahce sharpshooter Bieberovic wasn’t just an add-on in this deal, as Dallas signed him to a two-year, $6 million deal using a small portion of his non-taxpayer mid-level exception. The second year of the 2023 second-round pick’s contract is a team option.
The Mavericks made several other noteworthy roster moves this summer. They signed up in advance Nazi marshal to a three-year, $52.2 million contract extension that will begin in 2027/28; agreed to buy out with Klay Thompsonwho gave up $9.8 million of his $17.46 million salary; purchased Zachary Ryzaker in a three-team trade in which they sent Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and a second-round pick to Oklahoma City; and matched the two-year minimum salary offer letter that restricted the free agent center Moussa Cisse signed a contract with New York.
In addition to parting ways with Middleton, Nembhardt, Johnson and Thompson, the Mavericks also let Marvin Bagley III (Denver) and Brandon Williams (Golden State) walk in free will. Old center Dwight Powell remains on the open market after spending most of the last 12 years in Dallas.
Adding shooting and additional games Cooper Flagg has been a top priority for the Mavs this summer. They will be hoping for better health in 2026/27 and look forward to the return of the Star Guard Kyrie Irving and a talented young center Derek Lively II.
Next
The Mavs got tough on the first tax cap in the Aldama/Biberovic/Sasser trade and are currently $19.3 million below that threshold. They are also $12.1 million below the luxury tax line and still have $12 million on the non-taxpayer MLE.
Thompson’s return of a large portion of his salary created much more financial flexibility for the Mavs, who also faced a minor roster deficit before being waived. They have now reached the regular season limit of 15 players with guaranteed contracts, and Cisse’s deal is still partially guaranteed until October 1st.
The Mavs’ back-to-back spots are currently occupied by Laval, a former lottery pick Jett Howardand John Pullakidaswhich was carried over from last year. Those three players appear to be decent bets to be in the starting lineup, but it’s worth noting that two-way deals aren’t guaranteed, so they could change in the event of injuries or other contingencies.
Camp Lively has reportedly talked to Dallas about potentially expanding the rookie scale before the Oct. 19 deadline, and Sasser is open to expanding the rookie scale as well. I’d be surprised if Sasser was extended given his modest contributions at this point in his career, and I don’t really understand how the new front office views Lively, who has shown promise when healthy but has been limited to just 98 regular-season outings in three years in the league.
Max Christiewho had a modest breakthrough in the 2025/26 season, is another candidate for an extension. He can enter free agency next year if he opts out of his $8.86 million player option for 27/28.
Irving, 34, drew rave reviews from his teammates for the way he looked after coming back from a torn ACL that kept him out all of last season. Although Irving’s name popped up in some trade speculation this offseason, I now believe it’s more wishful thinking than reality from opposing teams, though it’s worth noting that he’s not quite on the same scale as Flagg, who won’t turn 20 until December.
Center Daniel Gafford was reportedly on the trade block this summer, and that could continue into the season. Still, he has three more seasons under his contract at a reasonable cap, so the team doesn’t need to call there any time soon.
Finally, Dallas has until Nov. 2 to decide whether or not to exercise Risacher’s $17.43 million option for 2027/28. i waiting command to pick it up, but it’s not necessarily a lock.
LuKe Adams contributed to this article.
