After adding Cooper Flagg during the off-season, the Dallas Mavericks look to be much improved heading into the 2025-26 season. However, they have just officially parted ways with an athletic big man from last year’s team.
Center Kai Jones played a dozen games for the Mavericks during the second half of last season after being waived by the L.A. Clippers. While he wasn’t expected to return to the Mavericks, we officially know where he will be playing next. He will be heading overseas and playing in EuroLeague next year.
Kai Jones is expected to continue his career in EuroLeague, reports @Urbodo 👀
Where will he play? https://t.co/IWocQtvtv3 pic.twitter.com/1YnOkCicXe
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) September 11, 2025
While he showed promise as an athletic rim runner, the Mavericks have arguably the deepest big man rotation in the NBA. Anthony Davis, Flagg, Derek Lively II, and Daniel Gafford make for a stacked front line.
The Mavericks won’t miss Kai Jones next season thanks to Cooper Flagg
With the Mavericks having a loaded front court, it didn’t make sense for them to bring back Jones. As a result, he has to continue his career elsewhere.
The Mavericks have an embarrassment of riches with Flagg, Davis, and Lively II all likely starting. That could end up being one of the league’s biggest and best frontcourts.
With Flagg playing at small forward, the Mavericks may have some growing pains but could be better for it in the long run. They could also have a stronger defense with Flagg and Davis anchoring them defensively.
The Dallas Mavericks are a darkhorse playoff team next season
On the other end of the floor, the Mavericks should have just enough offensive weapons to stay afloat while they await the return of star Kyrie Irving. He will likely be out until at least January of next season as he recovers from an ACL tear.
That is a serious injury for a player in their 30s to come back from, but the Mavericks desperately need his offense. Fortunately, they managed to add a solid stopgap point guard, D’Angelo Russell.
He, along with Klay Thompson, will help to space the floor and ensure that the Mavericks’ offense survives without Irving in the short term. If Flagg is an immediate impact player, despite playing out of position, the Mavericks could even be a dark horse playoff team.
All told, former Mavericks big man Kai Jones officially won’t return after signing a new deal overseas. But the Mavericks’ stacked front court should more than make up for his loss.
