The Klay Thompson chapter in Dallas is now closed. On Friday afternoon, the Mavericks confirmed they had reached a buyout agreement with the shooting guard, and Thompson intends to sign with the Miami Heat after clearing waivers. His time in Texas, which began with fanfare in the summer of 2024, was far from the transformative tenure many had envisioned. Yet the Mavericks are already pivoting, finalizing a full 15-man roster as the regular season approaches in late October. While roster moves remain possible before tip-off, the current lineup looks set.

Here is a projected starting five and depth chart for the 2026-27 Dallas Mavericks, assuming full health. Starters are bolded.

**PG: Kyrie Irving**, Marcus Sasser, Sergio De Larrea
**SG: Max Christie**, Zaccharie Risacher, Tarik Biberovic, John Poulakidas (two-way)
**SF: Cooper Flagg**, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Jett Howard (two-way)
**PF: P.J. Washington**, Santi Aldama, Morez Johnson Jr., Tobi Lawal (two-way)
**C: Dereck Lively II**, Daniel Gafford, Moussa Cisse

Only two starting spots are truly secure: Kyrie Irving and rookie Cooper Flagg. Irving appears to be fully healthy, which is critical. But the depth behind him raises concerns. Marcus Sasser has yet to prove he can deliver consistent rotation minutes, while Sergio De Larrea, though entertaining in Summer League, may struggle with the jump to the NBA. The shooting guard position offers a lively competition. Tarik Biberovic might be the best pure shooter of the trio, Zaccharie Risacher has the highest upside, and Max Christie held the starting role for much of last season. On the wings, Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall will command the bulk of minutes. If Caleb Martin continues his 2025-26 form, the Mavericks will hope to limit his playing time.

At power forward, P.J. Washington stands out as the most complete option. His three-point shooting and defensive versatility make him a flexible fit alongside the frontcourt. First-round pick Morez Johnson Jr., selected ninth overall in the 2026 draft, should see ample minutes, especially in small-ball lineups. Santi Aldama offers similar versatility. Center remains a question mark. Dereck Lively II’s health is an unknown, with the team revealing little about his recovery. If he is ready for opening night, he will start. If not, Daniel Gafford is a reliable fallback. Moussa Cisse provides an intriguing long-term option, while Aldama and Johnson can also soak up minutes at the five in certain matchups.

Overall, this is a deep roster, but it may lack the elite star power needed to make a serious push in the Western Conference. De Larrea will likely need time to develop, but the Mavericks should feel comfortable with 12 or 13 players deserving of rotation minutes, depending on how quickly Biberovic adapts to NBA speed and whether Cisse builds on his flashes from last season. The Mavericks now move forward without Thompson, but the path ahead is filled with both promise and uncertainty.