The Dallas Mavericks will open training camp without a finalized starting five, head coach Jason Kidd said Monday. Although No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg headlines the club’s lone major offseason addition, Kidd noted that multiple lineup combinations will be tested before Opening Night.
“This is competition,” Kidd told reporters. “We’re going to look at a lot of combinations.”
Irving progressing, but not cleared
Kidd confirmed that every player except Kyrie Irving is expected to take part in full-contact work. The All-Star guard is rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered in March and remains on a standard recovery timetable.
“He is doing quite well, as we can see, but he’s not ahead of schedule,” Kidd said. “Is he on schedule? It looks like it.”
With Irving sidelined, recent free-agent signee D’Angelo Russell is slated to start at point guard during camp.
Roster and contract updates
Guards Dennis Smith Jr. and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl joined Dallas on Exhibit 9 contracts, according to a league source. The agreement provides the Mavericks limited injury protection if either player is waived due to health issues.
Staff turnover
The Mavericks lost assistants Sean Sweeney, Jared Dudley, and Alex Jensen during the offseason. Kidd called their departures “a compliment” to the organization. “The guys who left will be missed,” he said. “It means we must be doing something right.”
Lively reports added height
Second-year center Dereck Lively II, recently signed to an extension, told media he measured between 7’2” and 7’3” this summer after being listed at 7’1” last season.
The Mavericks open camp later this week as they prepare for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
