The Dallas Mavericks will have an especially important PJ Washington contract decision to make at the end of August.

With Lively on track and Davis healthy following his own off-season surgery for a detached retina, the Mavericks head into training camp with legitimate championship ambitions. Dallas will lean on a frontcourt rotation featuring Davis, Lively, Daniel Gafford, and top draft pick Cooper Flagg.

Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg is the overwhelming favorite to be the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year. FanDuel Sportsbook has him at -185, and the next closest player is +800.

Mavericks center Dereck Lively II underwent offseason surgery on his right foot but is expected to recover fully before training camp.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks back at Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) after driving the baseline with an off-balanced score in the fourth quarter at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, April 9, 2025.

"Defense wins championships" was the moniker adopted by Harrison and the rest of the Dallas front office – though widely mocked, it seems the team has embraced this model going forward, focusing on the front court with players like Dereck Lively II, Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, and Daniel Gafford.

There could be a clever trade on the table between the Mavericks and Pacers that swaps talented youngsters and some future picks.