Overview
- On Tuesday’s First Take, Smith said Dallas should be the 2025–26 title favorite contingent on Irving and Davis being available.
- He pointed to Oklahoma City’s past troubles with Dallas and to a frontcourt led by Davis at power forward with Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.
- The prediction follows a sweeping roster reset that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Davis and led to Dallas drafting Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall.
- Irving is rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in March as Dallas gets set to open the season Wednesday against the Spurs.
- Betting markets have the Mavericks around +3300 to win the championship, well behind the Thunder and other favorites.