The Dallas Mavericks were defeated 122-110 by the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, dropping the team’s record to 2-4 to begin the 2025-26 NBA season.

Cooper Flagg continues to start at point guard—a move that has been questioned by many, as it is not the rookie’s natural position. Flagg has certainly enjoyed some impressive moments so far, but Dallas would clearly benefit from having a true point guard on the roster.

“There’s a couple of things behind him playing point guard,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd told reporters in Mexico City. “One is our health. Coming out of training camp, we had a lot of injuries, so being able to have Cooper handle the ball. The other part of handling the ball is being able to handle the pressure when April comes around and you’re playing for something greater. Just to have that experience early on here is a blessing.”

While having another ball-handler would not hurt the situation, Flagg should not be starting at point guard for a win-now team. Kidd’s decision to play Flagg at the position seems more fitting for a rebuilding squad, yet Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded the team’s former point guard, Luka Doncic, in a win-now move to add more defense.

This strategy does not completely line up with Harrison’s stated plan—at least on paper. Starting a veteran such as D’Angelo Russell while having Flagg play the three would likely give Dallas the best opportunity to win right now. However, Russell is a combo-guard, and even Kyrie Irving—who is expected to return in either late 2025 or early 2026—played more of a two-guard role alongside Doncic before last season’s trade.

### Do the Mavericks Need a True Point Guard?

In today’s NBA, the point guard position isn’t necessarily what it once was. Pass-first guards such as Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and even Jason Kidd himself once defined the league. Nowadays, many point guards, like Doncic, can score with the best players in the NBA.

However, the best point guards today are still exceptional at setting up the offense, leading the team, and finding open teammates. Dallas would benefit from bringing in a true point guard—something Kidd likely understands well, given his Hall of Fame career at the position.

Whether through a trade, free agency, or the NBA Draft, Dallas needs to provide Cooper Flagg with a reliable playmaker who can consistently help him receive better looks on the court. Right now, the Mavericks’ roster has not done a good job of supporting Flagg, but part of that responsibility lies with the coaching staff for placing Flagg in the role of one of the primary playmakers.

The point guard experiment is understandable, but it is not a win-now move. At 2-4, the Mavericks have to ask themselves if they truly envision the team as a legitimate contender this year.

Either way, adding a true point guard would not only help Flagg develop but also improve the Mavericks’ overall roster performance.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-dallas-fix-problem-around-cooper-flagg