After including Cooper Flagg throughout the low season, the Dallas Mavericks look to be a lot improved heading into the 2025-26 season. Nonetheless, they’ve simply formally parted methods with an athletic large man from final 12 months’s group.
Middle Kai Jones performed a dozen video games for the Mavericks throughout the second half of final season after being waived by the L.A. Clippers. Whereas he wasn’t anticipated to return to the Mavericks, we formally know the place he can be enjoying subsequent. He can be heading abroad and enjoying in EuroLeague subsequent 12 months.
Kai Jones is predicted to proceed his profession in EuroLeague, studies @Urbodo 👀
The place will he play? https://t.co/IWocQtvtv3 pic.twitter.com/1YnOkCicXe
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) September 11, 2025
Whereas he confirmed promise as an athletic rim runner, the Mavericks have arguably the deepest large man rotation within the NBA. Anthony Davis, Flagg, Derek Energetic II, and Daniel Gafford make for a stacked entrance line.
The Mavericks will not miss Kai Jones subsequent season because of Cooper Flagg
With the Mavericks having a loaded entrance courtroom, it did not make sense for them to deliver again Jones. Consequently, he has to proceed his profession elsewhere.
The Mavericks have a humiliation of riches with Flagg, Davis, and Energetic II all seemingly beginning. That might find yourself being one of many league’s largest and greatest frontcourts.
With Flagg enjoying at small ahead, the Mavericks might have some rising pains however could possibly be higher for it in the long term. They might even have a stronger protection with Flagg and Davis anchoring them defensively.
The Dallas Mavericks are a darkhorse playoff group subsequent season
On the opposite finish of the ground, the Mavericks ought to have simply sufficient offensive weapons to remain afloat whereas they await the return of star Kyrie Irving. He’ll seemingly be out till a minimum of January of subsequent season as he recovers from an ACL tear.
That may be a critical damage for a participant of their 30s to return again from, however the Mavericks desperately want his offense. Fortuitously, they managed so as to add a stable stopgap level guard, D’Angelo Russell.
He, together with Klay Thompson, will assist to area the ground and be sure that the Mavericks’ offense survives with out Irving within the quick time period. If Flagg is a right away influence participant, regardless of enjoying out of place, the Mavericks might even be a darkish horse playoff group.
All advised, former Mavericks large man Kai Jones formally will not return after signing a brand new deal abroad. However the Mavericks’ stacked entrance courtroom ought to greater than make up for his loss.
