Overview

• Smith made the conditional pick on ESPN's First Take, saying Dallas would win if Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving are healthy and at their A-game.
• Kyrie Irving’s timeline remains unclear after a March ACL tear, leaving his availability for the 2025-26 season in question.
• Smith placed Davis at No. 1 on his players-to-watch list and said Dallas felt comfortable trading Dončić because of Davis’s impact when healthy.
• The Mavericks went 39-43 and exited in the play-in last season, heightening scrutiny of the revamped roster.
• Reports highlight a supporting cast featuring Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, Jaden Hardy, and prospects Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively as key complements.