Mavericks Shift Focus to Development as Playoff Hopes Fade

Jason Kidd says team's priority is playing young players and preparing for the future

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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With the Dallas Mavericks falling out of playoff contention, head coach Jason Kidd has acknowledged that the team's focus for the rest of the season will be on player development rather than chasing a postseason berth. Kidd highlighted young players like Ryan Nembhard and Moussa Cisse as getting increased opportunities, while 19-year-old Cooper Flagg will have an expanded offensive role as the team's new franchise cornerstone.

Why it matters

The Mavericks' shift to a developmental focus represents a change in direction for the team, which had been aiming to build a playoff contender around star players like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. By embracing a rebuild centered around Flagg and other young talent, the Mavericks are positioning themselves for a brighter long-term future, even if it means missing the playoffs this season.

The details

After trading away Anthony Davis, the Mavericks find themselves six games out of the final Play-In Tournament spot with just one game left before the All-Star break. Kidd has made it clear that the team's priorities are now "playing hard" and "developing" their young players, including Nembhard and Cisse, who are running out of two-way contract eligibility. The 19-year-old Flagg, who the Mavericks view as their new franchise cornerstone, will also have an expanded offensive role, taking over 22 shots per game in his last seven outings while shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range.

  • The Mavericks traded Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards last week.
  • Dallas has lost eight games in a row, the second-longest losing streak in the NBA.

The players

Jason Kidd

The head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, who has acknowledged the team's shift in focus to player development for the remainder of the season.

Ryan Nembhard

A young Mavericks player who Kidd says will get increased opportunities as the team prioritizes development over playoff contention.

Moussa Cisse

Another young Mavericks player who Kidd says will see more playing time as the team focuses on developing its young talent.

Cooper Flagg

The 19-year-old who the Mavericks now view as their franchise cornerstone, and who will have an expanded offensive role as the team shifts its focus to the future.

Anthony Davis

The veteran star player who the Mavericks traded away last week, a move that has significantly altered the team's direction for the remainder of the season.

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What they’re saying

“Playing hard. Developing, playing hard. Ryan, Moussa, these guys, this is a great opportunity for them.”

— Jason Kidd, Head Coach, Dallas Mavericks (thesmokingcuban.com)

What’s next

The Mavericks will continue to focus on developing their young players like Nembhard, Cisse, and Flagg over the final 29 games of the season, with an eye towards positioning themselves for a high draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to pair with their new franchise cornerstone.

The takeaway

By embracing a rebuild centered around their young talent, the Mavericks are making the difficult but necessary decision to sacrifice short-term playoff contention in order to set themselves up for long-term success. This shift in focus, while disappointing for fans in the near term, could pay dividends down the road as the team builds around the promising 19-year-old Flagg.