With Dallas’ preseason opener just days away, here are three hot takes for what could happen this season for the defending Western Conference Champions.
The expectations around the Dallas Mavericks are the highest they’ve been in recent memory. Fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, Dallas made a series of offseason moves to improve their roster as they look to return to the championship series and take the trophy home this time.
As we count down to the team’s first preseason game, an Oct. 7 matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, here are three hot takes for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024-2025 season.
Klay Returns to All-Star Form
Since his first major injury in the 2019 season, Klay Thompson has continued to put up efficient offensive numbers, but he’s been left off the All-Star teams with the West continuously getting better. However, this year, he’ll make his return to the All-Star stage.
With Irving and Dončić creating space for Thompson to create and space the floor, I expect Thompson to have one of the best seasons of his career, even as he enters his age 35 season. With less offensive pressure on him, Thompson can focus on what’s made his career successful — shooting. Dallas’ playstyle will fit Thompson well and I think Thompson will be an All-Star this season.
Dallas Wins 60 Games
Last season saw the Mavericks finish the year scorching hot, going 16-2 in a 18 game stretch to climb to the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. Now, with a full offseason to work with PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, and a second-year Dereck Lively II, I expect this team to come out firing on all cylinders.
The Thompson adjustment period may force this prediction to come up just short, but if Dallas could find its groove mid-season like it did last year, I see no reason it can’t find that same groove over a four-month offseason. This will be the first 60-win season for the Mavericks since 2006-2007.
Luka Dončić Takes Home His First MVP
Perhaps the tamest take on this list, i still feel it belongs on this list since he’s been listed near the top of the odds for MVP heading into each of the last five seasons but hasn’t managed to take one home yet.
We’ve seen steady improvement from Dončić ever since he entered the league and now he enters the 2024-2025 season with a roster talented enough to contend for a championship. Put those things together and it screams MVP for the Slovenian superstar. If Dončić is able to win the award, it will be the seventh consecutive year an international player has taken home the Most Valuable Player trophy.