Mavericks Nightly
All teams
The Big D Breakdown · Around the beat

Around The Beat: Irving's Return, Flagg's Ceiling, Bench Math

Irving's health, Flagg's next leap and a deep bench are what the rest of the beat is chewing on.

17 ptsIrving, Oct. 11in the win at Rockets
21.0 ptsFlagg Rookie Line6.7 reb, 4.5 ast last season
29.5%Flagg 3PT Last Seasonthe gap outlets are flagging
40.3%Poulakidas 3PT13 games last season
By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 12

Kyrie Irving's preseason return has outlets split between celebration and caution, while Cooper Flagg's early flashes are drawing praise and a scouting report in the same week. Underneath both, Dallas's bench picture is getting more interesting than the roster sheet suggests.

Mavericks Nightly artwork
Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Irving Looks Whole, For Now

ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote that Irving dazzled in the China preseason game, and Mavs.com called his return triumphant after he scored 17 points in the October 11 win over the Rockets. Mavs Moneyball went further, writing that Irving hasn't missed a step after 586 days off, and the box score backs it up — he played in that rematch despite being tagged for rest the same day. The Smoking Cuban floated Pistons interest as something Dallas should monitor, but that trade buzz isn't in our own reporting, which has only covered his China trip and camp health.

Flagg's Next Step, Argued Two Ways

ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote that Flagg's ascension is starting to feel inevitable, and Mavs.com framed Irving as eager to help him get there. The Smoking Cuban took the harder line, listing three improvements Flagg needs to become an All-NBA player. The numbers split the difference: Flagg scored 21.0 points, grabbed 6.7 rebounds and dished 4.5 assists a game last season, but shot just 29.5 percent from three — the clearest gap between the star he already is and the shooter he isn't yet.

Bench Math Nobody Saw Coming

The Smoking Cuban suggested Dallas is eyeing a costly Dwight Powell reunion for the new era, though Powell already rejoined camp in September — our own cap reporting has no new contract on him to confirm that framing. More grounded: the same outlet said the backcourt bench boost Dallas needed last season may already be here, and that the biggest question about Sergio de Larrea has been answered. John Poulakidas supports the case — he shot 40.3 percent from three in 13 games last season and has seen his minutes jump 12 a night this preseason with a teammate out.

Is Kyrie Irving healthy for the Mavericks this preseason?

Irving played and scored 17 points in the October 11 win over the Rockets after being tagged for rest, and outlets including ESPN and Mavs.com described his preseason return as strong.

What does Cooper Flagg need to improve this season?

Flagg shot 29.5 percent from three last season on his way to 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game, and that three-point number is the clearest area outlets have flagged for growth.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

More from The Big D Breakdown

all Mavericks news →
From the archives · Mon, Oct 12From The Archives: The Defense Promise Behind This Era's MavericksMorning · Mon, Oct 12Flagg's Minus-9 Masks A De Larrea Case For More MinutesAround the beat · Thu, Oct 8Lively's Clock, Risacher's Case, and Kyrie's Longevity DebateAround the beat · Mon, Oct 5Around The Beat: Christie's Ceiling, Defense Talk, Gafford's JumperAround the beat · Thu, Oct 1The Big D Breakdown: Beat Writers Split On Lively, Martin, IrvingAround the beat · Mon, Sep 28Around The Beat: Irving's Hype, Lively's Caution, A Front Office In Flux