Southwest Notes: Okogie, Adams, Flagg, Mavs, G. Jackson
After using a jumbo starting lineup in their first two games of the season – both losses – the Rockets made a change on Monday, swapping in veteran wing Josh Okogie for center Steven Adams. As head coach Ime Udoka explained before the game, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required), he wanted a look at a smaller, more defensive-minded starting five.
“(Okogie) knows his role. He’s keeping it simple,” Udoka said. “Brings the physicality and aggressiveness on the defensive side of the ball. Knows how to play off other guys and then fits in with the areas we like: crashing the glass, slashing, making plays, second opportunities, and kind of gives Amen (Thompson) a break on ball at times.”
The change paid off, as Houston picked up its first win of the season. And while the sample size is very small, the Rockets’ lineup that features Okogie alongside Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr. has an impressive +29.2 net rating in its first 13 minutes together.
Still, it’s worth noting that Monday’s victory came against the Nets, who didn’t put up much resistance against any lineups the Rockets used. Additionally, Houston has a +18.2 net rating in 59 minutes through three games with Sengun and Adams sharing the court, so Udoka figures to continue leaning on that pairing going forward.
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg hurt his shoulder early in Monday’s game and appeared to be struggling with the injury after returning to the court, making just 1-of-9 shots on the night. However, he’s not on the injury report for Wednesday’s matchup with Indiana, so it sounds like he’s good to go, tweets Christian Clark of The Athletic. Dallas will likely be without its starting center for a second straight game though, as Dereck Lively II is listed as doubtful due to a right knee sprain.
- Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams are at odds, as the Mavericks filed suit against the NHL’s Dallas Stars on Tuesday, claiming that the club is in breach of its agreement with the American Airlines Center and has obstructed maintenance and upgrades to the arena the team shares. Brad Townsend and Lia Assimakopoulos of The Dallas Morning News have the details on that lawsuit in an in-depth story on the two clubs’ dysfunctional relationship. Assimakopoulos published a separate Morning News story about the Stars countersuing the Mavs on Wednesday, writing that the NHL team alleges the Mavs are attempting a “hostile takeover” of the arena.
- GG Jackson II had a breakout rookie season for the Grizzlies as a 19-year-old in 2023/24, but has seen his playing time decline significantly since then, even as the club has dealt with a series of injuries depleting its rotation. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal takes a closer look at Jackson’s efforts to earn regular minutes, noting that the Grizzlies have challenged the third-year forward to improve his defense. “GG is always very valuable for us,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said ahead of the season. “It’s easy to forget that he’s still the youngest player in our roster, even though he’s a third-year professional. He’s worked incredibly hard the whole summer. He’s looking to become a complete basketball player, and he’s taking the steps in the right direction.”
Cooper Flagg Hurts Shoulder, Kept On Bench Late In Game
Monday marked the worst night of Cooper Flagg‘s brief NBA career, beginning with an injury on the first play of the game and ending with him watching from the bench as the Mavericks tried to complete a comeback against Oklahoma City, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
Flagg managed to play 31 minutes, but he wore a large wrap on his left shoulder and treated it with heat whenever he came out. He received medical treatment after the game and told reporters that he’s optimistic about playing Wednesday against Indiana.
“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” Flagg said. “Just want to keep an eye on it, ice it, do some rehab and should be good to go.”
Flagg hurt his shoulder while battling for a rebound with Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein and was in obvious discomfort for the rest of the night, according to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). He finished with two points and shot just 1-of-9 from the field, leading to coach Jason Kidd‘s decision to keep him out of the game in crunch time as Dallas nearly overtook OKC after trailing by 22 points.
It also marked Flagg’s first back-to-back in the NBA after he scored 22 points on Sunday in a win over Toronto.
“I think in general, one of the biggest differences from college to this level is handling and preparing for a back-to-back like that, physically,” he said. “That was something I was going through tonight anyway, just being a little flat. A little banged up, but you gotta find ways to play through it to be successful.”
If Flagg has to miss any time, he would be the latest addition to the Mavs’ growing injury list. Centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford were both unavailable for Monday’s game, so Kidd gave Max Christie his first start of the season.
Kidd complimented Flagg for showing that he’s a “tough kid” by playing through pain, but said his decision to sit him late in the game was made to give Dallas the best chance to win. Flagg, who has been considered one of the top players in the country dating back to high school and has never experienced that situation before, said he understands.
“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where Coach was at with that,” Flagg said. “And I mean, I was flat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t impacting the game at a high level, wasn’t doing the right stuff. So obviously, that’s an easy decision for Coach. He was just out there trying to win the game.”
Mavericks Notes: Aguirre, Russell, Flagg, Lively
The Mavericks are retiring Mark Aguirre‘s No. 24 jersey on January 29, 2026, the team announced today (Twitter video link).
Dallas selected Aguirre with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 draft. He played parts of eight seasons for the Mavs, averaging 24.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 566 games and making three All-Star appearances before being traded to Detroit in 1989. He went on to win back-to-back championships as a role player with the Pistons.
In a phone interview with Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, Aguirre became emotional multiple times when discussing the jersey retirement. He first found out the news before Wednesday’s season opener.
“I’m sorry about that,” he said. “After so long, it’s still a little shocking to me. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
As Townsend notes, Aguirre will be the fifth former Maverick to have his jersey hang in the rafters of the American Airlines Center, joining Derek Harper (No. 12), Brad Davis (No. 15), Rolando Blackman (No. 22) and Dirk Nowitzki (No. 41).
Townsend asked whether returning to Dallas this summer ahead of the 2025 draft and the news of having his jersey retired has brought closure for Aguirre after spending many years away from the franchise.
“Well, I think it opens it up really, to the fact that I am a Maverick,” Aguirre said. “Yes, I went to Detroit and it was a good stay, but I’m a Maverick. You know? I’m a Maverick. I am.”
Here’s more on the Mavericks:
- Free agent addition D’Angelo Russell got off to a slow start with the Mavs, playing just 12.0 minutes per contest in the team’s first two losses and going 1-of-9 from the field. He bounced back in Sunday’s victory over Toronto, recording 24 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in 29 minutes, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Russell was a game-high plus-26 in the 10-point victory. “True professional,” Anthony Davis said of Russell. “He’s been in this league long enough. He never wavered. He stayed with the team. He stayed with himself, stayed locked in and came and made plays for us today. He came in and definitely changed the game. I’ve been a teammate of his for a couple of years and I know his ability to change the game and what he can do offensively.”
- Top pick Cooper Flagg had the best game of his young career on Sunday, finishing with 22 points, four rebounds, four assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes. He also had the game’s top highlight (YouTube link), an and-one dunk over Raptors big man Sandro Mamukelashvili, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “The fans have showed up for the first three games, and I thought tonight was really the first time we gave ’em something to be excited for and be on their feet for,” Flagg said.
- Flagg may have suffered a left shoulder injury in Monday’s game vs. Oklahoma City. He had the shoulder heavily wrapped during a timeout, Curtis tweets, but was able to check back into the game shortly thereafter, notes Marc Stein (via Twitter).
- Starting center Dereck Lively II suffered a right knee contusion on Sunday, causing him to leave the win early, and was out for Monday’s contest as well. Davis started in the middle with Daniel Gafford still recovering from a right ankle sprain, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays.
Mavs Notes: Flagg, Starting Five, Russell, Gafford
Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg technically posted a double-double in his NBA debut on Wednesday vs. San Antonio, with 10 points and 10 rebounds. But the No. 1 overall pick shot just 4-of-13 from the field, committed three turnovers (to zero assists), and was a team-worst -29 in a blowout loss to the division-rival Spurs.
“Not great,” Flagg said after the game when asked to evaluate his performance, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “Obviously, didn’t play incredibly well, but we’ve got to move past it, turn our focus and start looking toward Friday (against the Wizards).”
Flagg’s critical assessment of his debut wasn’t echoed by his teammates, head coach, or even his opponents. Spurs guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle told reporters that Flagg was “a lot more poised than I thought he would be,” while Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said he thought Flagg “played within himself” and took what the defense gave him. Kidd added that the former Duke star looked more comfortable and aggressive in the third quarter after going scoreless in the first half.
“I thought he played well,” Kidd said. “Now, the stat line is not going to say that, but no one in this room is sitting in his shoes. As a rookie, he did fine and he’s going to learn from this game. We all will, and we’ll be better next time we take the floor.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Despite a blowout loss on Wednesday, Kidd remains comfortable with a super-sized starting lineup that features Flagg at point guard alongside Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Anthony Davis, writes Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required). The unit was only on the court for six minutes together due to foul issues, but played the Spurs to a draw during that limited sample. “It changes the dynamics of the rotation,” Kidd said of the Mavs’ early foul trouble. “We gotta look at game two if we can stay out of foul trouble.”
- When the Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell in free agency, the assumption was that he would be the starting point guard until Kyrie Irving is ready to return from his ACL tear. However, Russell told reporters on Wednesday that he’s not bothered by coming off the bench. “Be a basketball player whenever I get in the game,” Russell said of his mindset, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “Like I said, it just comes down to winning and finishing the game. However, I can help finish a game if need be — and always impact winning — is my goal as well.”
- According to Kidd, the Mavericks aren’t thinking of Russell as their sixth man. “We’re not looking at a starter or sixth man,” the Mavs’ coach said, per Curtis. “He’s going to get enough minutes to help us win. That’s why he’s here. That’s what we believe. We’re not going to label him as a sixth man.”
- Veteran center Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain) is listed as questionable for Friday’s game vs. Washington and has a chance to make his season debut against his former team. As Curtis writes, Gafford is ramping up after missing the entire preseason and did some mid-range shooting, one-on-one defense, and free throw shooting in a post-practice drill on Thursday.
[UPDATE: Gafford has been downgraded to out for Friday’s game.]
Mavs Exercise 2026/27 Option On Dereck Lively
The Mavericks have formally exercised their fourth-year option on Dereck Lively II‘s rookie scale contract, the team announced today (via Twitter).
The move, which had been expected, locks in Lively’s $7,239,130 salary for the 2026/27 season, putting him on track to become eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2026 offseason. If he and the Mavs don’t work out a new deal at that time, he’d reach restricted free agency in 2027.
A 7’1″ center, Lively has averaged 8.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game for Dallas during his first two years in the league, making 72.9% of his shot attempts from the floor.
While the 21-year-old has shown plenty of promise early in his NBA career, staying on the floor has been a challenge — injuries have limited him to 91 total appearances (71 starts), including just 36 (29 starts) in 2024/25. He underwent a procedure to clean up bone spurs in his right foot in July, but was available during the preseason and should be ready to go when the team’s season tips off on Wednesday vs. San Antonio.
Decisions on rookie scale options for the 2026/27 season are due on October 31. We’re tracking all of them right here.
Mavs Notes: Flagg, Chemistry, Rebounding, 2026 Preseason
There are many reasons that Cooper Flagg was the obvious choice for the Mavericks with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft — he’s a high-level defender, a talented shot-maker, and an underrated passer. However, there’s one trait of his that head coach Jason Kidd is most impressed by, according to Eddie Sefko of NBA.com: his toughness.
“His willingness to compete at a high level and his willingness to be uncomfortable,” Kidd said when asked what parts of Flagg’s games stood out early on. “He absorbs that. I think those are his superpowers. His winning DNA – he stood in line a little bit longer to get that at a very high level. He’s all about winning.”
Kidd spoke excitedly about the potential of Flagg and young center Dereck Lively II to grow together, as well as their ability to impact winning in the near-term. That quality, along with the toughness, is what Kidd values the most in Flagg.
“It’s not about how many shots he gets or how many minutes or how many times he touches the ball,” Kidd said. “He’s about the team. He’s about winning. That’s the biggest thing that stands out — he competes to win.”
We have more on the Mavs:
- Through two preseason games, Flagg is still working on establishing chemistry with his new teammates and continues to search for the best ways to complement fellow frontcourt star Anthony Davis. “I gotta find ways to help AD more,” he said, per The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Curtis (Twitter video link). “Play off him a little better. Help him impact the game when he’s posting up, getting his isos and whatnot. It’s been huge just trying to fit together. That’s what the preseason is for, just for us to come out and get that real game minutes together and kind of gel.“
- While Flagg had five turnovers in Saturday’s 120-116 loss to the Hornets, the Mavs aren’t concerned with him experimenting and finding the limits of his play-making during the preseason, writes Sefko. Of more concern is the fact that the team was badly beaten in the rebounding battle, with the Hornets pulling down 54 boards to the Mavs’ 37. Given Dallas’ jumbo-sized lineup of Flagg, Davis, and Lively, the team expects to be one of the best rebounding squads in the league, Sefko writes, and it will likely have to be, given the shooting sacrifices that such a lineup would entail. Sekfo notes that Kidd addressed the issue, saying it will be a point of emphasis for the rest of the preseason.
- The Mavs’ owner, Patrick Dumont, was present for the matchup between the Nets and Suns in Macao, reports Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). Dumont was a part of the effort to rebuild the NBA’s relationship with China, according to Townsend, who believes there’s a good chance the Mavs will play in China during the 2026 preseason. Marc Stein (Substack link) has heard the same thing.
Mavs Notes: Flagg, Starting Five, Russell, DSJ
No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg showed off his versatility in his preseason pro debut on Monday, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. The Mavericks forward scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and handed out three assists in just 14 minutes of action, taking on some point guard responsibilities against the defending champion Thunder.
As MacMahon notes, Flagg also showed off his defensive ability early in the first quarter when he stepped in from the weak side to block a Isaiah Joe layup attempt, which led to a fast-break basket for Dallas.
“You got to see the defensive side, you got to see the play-making and then the scoring,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “He was really, really good.”
While Flagg’s scoring and play-making may generate more highlights during his rookie season, the Mavericks are bullish on what he can do defensively, with Anthony Davis suggesting during training camp that his new frontcourt partner can “defend one through five,” as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays.
“We’re going to put him in situations where you have to guard maybe the best wing — have to guard (Kevin) Durant or Jimmy Butler or these guys,” Davis said of Flagg. “And we have enough confidence in him to go out and send him out there and be able to guard those guys. But he’s also got help on the back line with the other four guys on the floor.”
We have more on the Mavs:
- As Christian Clark of The Athletic details, the starting lineup that Kidd used on Monday – Flagg, Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II – seems likely to be the one the team will deploy when the regular season begins. That means forward P.J. Washington, who started 56 of his 57 games last season, figures to come off the bench as long as the rest of the frontcourt is healthy and available.
- Russell made a strong impression in training camp, earning kudos from Kidd for fitting in quickly and being willing to speak up and use his voice despite being a Mavs newcomer, as Afseth writes for Dallas Hoops Journal. The Mavs’ head coach had more praise for the point guard following a preseason opener in which he scored five points and distributed a team-high five assists in 15 minutes of action. “I thought he did a great job finding guys,” Kidd said, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “I thought his defense was really good. Oklahoma City puts a lot of pressure on you on the one-on-ones and I thought he did a really good job defensively … I thought D-Lo did a really good job.”
- Dennis Smith Jr. didn’t play in Monday’s game, but Kidd appreciated the intensity the veteran guard brought to training camp, according to Afseth at RG.org. Smith, who is with the team on a non-guaranteed contract, says he appreciates the opportunity to compete for a roster spot in Dallas. “I’ve got to come out and put my best foot forward every day,” he said. “If that happens to be what the team needs, that makes it even better — and it is. So I’m in a good spot.”
Mavericks Notes: Flagg, Davis, Washington, Lively
No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg enters a unique situation with the Mavericks, who have two other former top picks on the roster in Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, plus a frontcourt with plenty of talent and depth. The 18-year-old forward says he’s going to use the versatility that helped him become an elite prospect, writes Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.
“For myself, it’s just about being me — going through it, not changing for anybody, impacting the game in a lot of ways, and doing whatever I can to impact winning,” Flagg said at media day. “Coach (Jason) Kidd and I have talked about being versatile. We’ve got a bunch of guys who can do a lot of different things, so we want to use that to our advantage.”
Flagg, who won virtually every college player of the year award last season for Duke, is open about his expectations for 2025/26.
“I’d like to be Rookie of the Year,” Flagg said, per Afseth. “As a team, the goal is obviously to win a championship. But like I said earlier, if I stay true to myself and what got me here, the personal goals will work themselves out.”
Four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson believes Flagg has all the right ingredients to fulfill his potential, Afseth notes.
“Cooper can be as good as he wants to be,” Thompson said. “He’s got all the tools — height, athleticism — but what I love most is that he’s receptive to information and he wants to work. When you combine that with his athleticism, he can be special.”
Here’s more from Dallas:
- The Mavs only had a 1.8% chance of winning the draft lottery and Davis admitted he wasn’t watching the unlikely occurrence in May. Still, he was thrilled with the outcome, according to Christian Clark of The Athletic. “He’s a hell of a talent,” Davis said of Flagg. “He can do everything on the floor. It was a great moment for us.”
- Davis says his goal for this season is the same as it was when he was shockingly traded to Dallas in the Luka Doncic blockbuster in February, as Afseth writes for Dallas Hoops Journal. “Same as last year at my press conference: my goal hasn’t changed. I want to bring a championship here,” Davis said. “We’ve got a good team. The key is health — staying healthy. I’m happy and excited to be here, and I want to win here.”
- The 10-time All-Star big man is listed at 268 pounds for training camp, 15 pounds heavier his listed weight last season. Davis says he isn’t concerned, explaining that’s not unusual for him to enter camp above his playing weight because he typically loses 10-12 pounds during the season and is feeling “great,” tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
- According to Clark, forward P.J. Washington made it clear he hopes to spend the rest of his career with his hometown team. Washington signed a four-year, $89MM extension last month. “It’s always been home for me,” Washington said. “I’m just blessed to be here. I’ve always wanted to be here. Hopefully, I end my career here.”
- Center Dereck Lively II was limited to just 36 games last season after playing 55 contests as a rookie. He’s determined to be available more often in year three following offseason ankle surgery, per Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “I want to stay healthy—that’s the biggest (goal),” he said. “From there, I want to keep growing as a defensive anchor. Be somebody my teammates trust to call things out, protect the rim, and cover for them.” Lively will be on a minutes restriction to start the season and he’s happy with the team’s plan. “Honestly, I just take whatever comes,” the 21-year-old said. “If it’s 24 minutes, 20 minutes, whatever the coaches need from me, I’ll give everything I have in that time. I’m just focused on playing the right way and building myself back up.”
Mavs Notes: Starters, Kyrie, Smith, Robinson-Earl, Coaches, Lively
The Mavericks made one very significant roster addition over the summer, drafting No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg out of Duke. But the club’s starting five has yet to be determined heading into training camp, per Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
“This is competition,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “We’re going to look at a lot of combinations.”
Kidd has indicated that everyone aside from All-Star guard Kyrie Irving is expected to fully participate in practice, tweets Christian Clark of The Athletic. For now, free agent signing D’Angelo Russell is expected to start in Irving’s stead.
There’s more out of Dallas:
- Irving continues to improve from the ACL tear he suffered last March. Kidd, however, offered a measured take on his recovery to date, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “He is doing quite well, as we can see, but he’s not ahead of schedule, and so let’s not say that,” Kidd said. “That’s unfair to him and to the Mavs because it’s not true. Is he on schedule? It looks like it.” Mavs president of basketball operations Nico Harrison had suggested in July that the star guard was “ahead of schedule” in his rehab process.
- New Mavericks additions Dennis Smith Jr. and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl signed non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 agreements, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). The agreements protect the team in the event that either player sustains an injury in training camp or the preseason and don’t count against the cap unless they carry over to the regular season.
- Kidd weighed in on Dallas losing assistant coaches Sean Sweeney, Jared Dudley, and Alex Jensen to other teams this summer, Curtis tweets. “The guys who left will be missed,” Kidd said. “Sweeney, Duds and Alex… It’s a compliment that we must be doing something right. Not wrong.”
- Third-year Mavericks center Dereck Lively II indicated during his media day session that he has grown this summer, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link). Lively, who was listed at 7’1″ last season, claims he is currently 7’2″ or 7’3″.
Dereck Lively II Expected To Be Ready For Camp
Dereck Lively II is expected to be ready for the Mavericks‘ training camp following offseason foot surgery, writes Grant Afseth for Dallas Hoops Journal.
Lively underwent a procedure to clean up bone spurs in his right foot in July and was initially in a walking boot. This followed a diagnosis of a stress fracture in the same foot in January. Previous reports indicate that the handling of Lively’s foot injury had led to a confrontation between the team’s director of health and performance, Johann Bilsborough, and the athletic performance director, Keith Belton (Belton has since been let go).
Lively’s foot issue limited him to 36 games last season, during which time he averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks in 23.1 minutes per night.
On Saturday, the Mavs posted a video of Lively working out in Philadelphia, where he has been training with head video coordinator Riley Crean (Twitter video link).
In addition to his rehabilitation, Lively has spent a large part of the offseason in communication with new Maverick Cooper Flagg, giving him advice and helping him get acclimated to the NBA world.