The direction of the Dallas Mavericks has come into sharper focus in the days following the trade of Anthony Davis, and that clarity traveled with the team to South Texas.

League sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com that Marvin Bagley III, AJ Johnson, and Tyus Jones traveled with the Mavericks to San Antonio and are probable as their transactions continue to finalize under “trade pending” designations. Everyone on both sides has to pass a physical to play.

Those developments come as Dallas prepares for a Saturday rematch against the San Antonio Spurs, two nights after a 135–123 loss that further highlighted both the promise of the Mavericks’ young core and the growing pains that accompany a midseason reset.

League sources also told DallasHoopsJournal.com that the current plan is for Khris Middleton to join the team in San Antonio on Saturday. However, he is doubtful to play due to “trade pending.”

A Dallas Mavericks Roster in Transition, a Core Taking Shape

The Mavericks’ pivot is now unmistakable. With Davis moved and the deadline behind them, Dallas has entered a phase centered on evaluation and long-term flexibility, with Cooper Flagg at the center of that vision.

Flagg has scored at least 30 points in four consecutive games, including a 32-point performance Thursday against San Antonio. He was matched that night by Naji Marshall, who also scored 32 in a loss that was competitive deep into the fourth quarter.

“It’s always unfortunate,” Marshall said after Thursday’s game. “AD faced some injuries. I wish I could have played more games with him, shared the floor with him. That’s my guy. He’s a cool guy and an amazing vet. He put in work, wanted to win, played for the team. All those guys. Shout out to them. I wish them nothing but success in the future.”

Marshall’s remarks reflected a locker room processing change while still competing nightly. For Dallas, that balance — respect for what was, focus on what’s next — has become the theme of the season’s final stretch.

“We still have some really great guys here,” Flagg said. “Guys like Naji, Max, P.J. We have a really bright future, and we can continue to keep competing and getting better every single day.”

What the New Dallas Mavericks Additions Represent

Bagley, a 6-foot-11 big man, has averaged 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 38 games this season. With Dallas thin up front and Daniel Gafford still working back from ankle issues, Bagley represents a potential stabilizer in the frontcourt.

Jones brings experience and ball security. The 11-year veteran has averaged 3.0 points and 2.4 assists in 48 games this season, with a career-long reputation as one of the league’s most efficient assist-to-turnover guards.

Johnson remains a longer-term developmental piece. The 21-year-old has averaged 2.8 points in 25 games this season, and the remainder of the schedule provides Dallas a chance to see how he fits alongside its emerging core.

Middleton’s eventual integration looms larger than his immediate availability. The three-time All-Star has averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 34 games this season and brings championship experience to a roster suddenly short on it.

Learning Through the Losses

Dallas enters Saturday having lost six straight games and sitting 12th in the Western Conference, four games behind the final play-in spot. Still, the broader arc tells a more nuanced story. Since a 5–15 start, the Mavericks have gone 14–17 — progress, even if not enough.

“It was tough, obviously, that much losing,” Flagg said. “But for me, it’s just about learning from the losses and try to take positives away from it. Take the negatives and learn from them. But shake things off and move on.”

That mindset will be tested again by a Spurs team led by Victor Wembanyama, who dominated Thursday’s matchup with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists, opening the night by hitting his first five three-pointers.

For the Mavericks, Saturday is less about the standings and more about information — who fits, who grows, and how the next version of the roster begins to take shape.

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