Dusty Might Inherits a Cooper Flagg-Led Mavericks Roster With Restricted Draft Capital to Reshape It
Dallas formally launched Dusty Might as its head coach on Monday, practically every week after hiring him away from Michigan and putting in him in time to participate within the franchise’s first draft underneath new president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri and normal supervisor Mike Schmitz.
Might, 49, arrives lower than three months after main Michigan to the 2026 nationwide championship, a 34-3 season capped by a 69-63 win over Connecticut. He went 64-13 throughout two years with the Wolverines and 126-69 over six seasons at Florida Atlantic, the place he reached the 2023 Remaining 4. He’s the primary national-title-winning faculty coach to maneuver to the NBA since Billy Donovan left Florida for Oklahoma Metropolis in 2015, and the primary faculty head coach of any form to make the leap since John Beilein joined Cleveland in 2019.
Might replaces Jason Kidd, whom Dallas dismissed after a 26-56 end, roughly two weeks after Ujiri took over basketball operations and commenced what he has referred to as a clear slate for the franchise.
Dusty Might says the primary dialogue of this job occurred in Chicago, when discussing the Michigan trio of NBA Draft prospects. Then they requested if he would have any curiosity within the Mavs head teaching job.
Might: „This one checks all of the bins.“ pic.twitter.com/b5ckEJt6BX
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) June 29, 2026
How Might Ended Up in Dallas
Might stated he had deliberate to return to Michigan till Ujiri and Schmitz approached him on the NBA draft mix in Chicago, the place the dialog began along with his three lottery-bound faculty gamers and was a job provide.
„At that time, I had full intentions of being again at Michigan it doesn’t matter what,“ Might stated. „After which every time we had been speaking about our guys, we had three guys within the lottery, it was talked about, would I’ve any curiosity on this job? My eyes went up and immediately I stated, ‚This one checks all of the bins.'“
What offered him, he stated, was the roster already in place and the folks operating it.
„Clearly, you’ve gotten a younger famous person in Cooper Flagg who’s about all the suitable stuff, probably the greatest level guards within the historical past of the sport in Kyrie Irving, and a supporting solid of actually high quality gamers and high quality folks,“ Might stated. „I am unable to wait to get there and be a part of the group.“
A Roster Constructed Round Cooper Flagg
Flagg, the No. 1 choose in 2025 and Rookie of the Yr, is the group’s core. He averaged 21.0 factors as a rookie, the primary since Michael Jordan (1984-85) to steer his group in factors, rebounds, assists, and steals. He additionally turned the youngest to attain 50 in an NBA sport.
Irving is about to return after lacking the 2025-26 season as a consequence of a left ACL tear on March 3, 2025. Anthony Davis, acquired within the commerce sending Luka Dončić to the Lakers, leads a entrance courtroom with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Vigorous II, whereas Klay Thompson, Max Christie, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin might fill the rotation.
Might used his introduction to straight handle Irving’s unsure place within the rebuild after a misplaced season.
„Kyrie is aware of what it takes to win a championship,“ Might stated. „In order a first-time NBA coach, I’ll lean on him in lots of areas. He is one of many best level guards to ever play our sport, and I am unable to wait to be round him daily and assist him on his journey.“
Might expects a fast return to competitiveness, counting on veterans and younger gamers nearing a leap, when requested concerning the playoff timeline.
„Ahead of later,“ Might stated. „We have now some veterans which have finished it earlier than in pivotal moments, and we have now some younger guys which might be on the cusp of breakthrough seasons.“
He views the Mavericks‘ roster make-up as having a better ceiling than what exterior expectations might counsel.
„I’ve taken lots of delight on being part of groups the place I really feel like we have now all over-achieved,“ Might stated. „So if we had been all dedicated to taking part in extremely unselfish basketball, competing on the highest degree, and actually sharing the success, and caring about one another, then we’ll surpass all expectations.“
Betting That Faculty Interprets
Might has by no means coached within the NBA and considers the trendy faculty sport extra as preparation than a spot. Since his hiring, he is analyzed his gamers and finds few stylistic variations between the 2 ranges.
„The final 5 years of the NIL period is a segue into the NBA,“ Might stated. „We weren’t teaching skilled gamers per se the place they’re underneath contract, however they had been getting paid. The sport is nearer than ever. Faculty, NBA, the G League, stylistically all of them look very, very related.“
Why is Dusty Might now not the top coach at Michigan after profitable the Nationwide Championship?@WindhorstESPN #GoBlue #MFFL #NBA pic.twitter.com/HvywjiILbp
— Wealthy Eisen Present (@RichEisenShow) June 29, 2026
A Draft He Says He Did not Steer
The Mavericks picked Michigan ahead Morez Johnson Jr., a 6-foot-9 defender and rebounder, with the No. 9 choose, a alternative attributed to educate Might. Might stated he had no enter, and Schmitz said Dallas was completely satisfied Johnson was obtainable and match their wants.
Dallas traded the No. 30 choose for No. 25 to accumulate Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea, selected Virginia Tech ahead Tobi Lawal at No. 48, and purchased the No. 56 choose so as to add Russian shooter Vsevolod Ishchenko. De Larrea and Ishchenko would possibly keep abroad subsequent season. The category centered on size and potential over fast guard assist, receiving blended evaluations as a consequence of a skinny backcourt and crowded frontcourt, with Johnson ranked close to the underside of the lottery evaluations.
The Constraint the Mavericks Cannot Draft Round
The tougher restrict on Might’s roster is one he cannot repair by the draft, as Dallas cannot transfer its first-round choose till 2031 as a consequence of 4 trades. The Mavericks owe a top-two protected first to Charlotte in 2027, can swap their 2028 first with Oklahoma Metropolis, and ship their 2029 first to Houston or Brooklyn. A least-favorable swap follows in 2030.
Dallas has two incoming picks: Lakers‘ 2029 unprotected and a top-20 protected 2030 Golden State from the Davis deal. These do not restore the flexibleness misplaced when the earlier entrance workplace traded away the group’s picks. Restricted tradable picks and two second-rounders constrain star trades, with most managed picks for different groups‘ rebuilds.
Maximizing What’s Already There
This highlights Might’s success in remodeling an 8-24 Michigan right into a champion in two years. He runs a pro-style offense centered on switching, tempo, and physicality, which gamers say prepares them for the subsequent degree. Might stated his Dallas employees could have a „faculty taste“ with NBA coaches and a few holdovers from Kidd’s group. Phil Useful is anticipated to remain, and Dallas has thought of Willie Inexperienced, Adrian Griffin, and Noah LaRoche to finish the bench.
A primary-year NBA coach with a generational expertise and restricted draft belongings should develop present gamers, as Dallas’s subsequent managed first-round choose is not till 2031, by which period Flagg shall be 24 and in his prime.
