The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Charlotte Hornets 120-116 in their preseason matchup at American Airlines Center on Saturday night. LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 20 points, three rebounds, and six assists, while Klay Thompson topped the Mavericks with 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. However, the game also revealed a potential area of concern for Dallas.

ESPN insider Tim McMahon expressed significant doubts about the defensive capabilities of the Mavericks’ projected starting backcourt. McMahon specifically pointed to Thompson’s preseason assignment against Charlotte’s star guard. “I’ll say this, though. I saw Klay Thompson try to defend LaMelo Ball. He got that assignment, and that didn’t go very well either now,” McMahon stated.

McMahon’s worry extends beyond a single preseason matchup. He is concerned about the broader fit of Thompson and D’Angelo Russell playing together. “I have some concerns about this stage in his career, Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell as a backcourt, a starting backcourt on the defensive end,” he said. This pairing could struggle against quicker guards, potentially creating a major weakness for Dallas.

Thompson played 21 minutes in the loss and grabbed just one rebound with zero assists. Thompson started the game sharp from beyond the arc, hitting his first three three-point attempts in the first half before missing his fourth attempt early in the third quarter. He bounced back by making his next attempt less than two minutes later to help stop a 13-0 Hornets run.

Especially with Kyrie Irving sidelined indefinitely due to and ACL tear, Dallas’ defense perimeter is consequentially weaker. Dallas brought in Russell to fill Irving‘s void during his absence.

Russell and Thompson are both past their athletic primes and lack the quick-footed movement they once possessed. Particularly, Thompson, following his ACL and Achilles injuries, still has moments where he can clamp down on some wings and guards with less quickness, but he’s not the same defender he was during his Golden State days, when he averaged 0.9 steals in first 8 seasons with the Dubs and 0.6 steals till last season with the Mavericks after coming back from his injuries in 2021.

Defense has never been one of Russell‘s calling cards despite his 6-foot-4 frame. With both players potentially starting in the backcourt for Dallas, the Mavericks could struggle with three-point defense and opposing guards’ penetration to the rim. The team will need to rely heavily on their frontline of Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis to compensate for the backcourt’s lack of athleticism.

Thompson also made a bold proclamation about the team’s defensive potential earlier this month, telling The Athletic there’s no reason the Mavericks can’t be the highest-rated defensive team in the NBA. He emphasized having a roster full of two-way players, pointing to Cooper Flagg, Washington, Naji Marshall, and Christie on the wings, plus Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford in the interior.

But the Hornets’ matchup has led to questions arising around Thompson’s future in the starting line-up- which is also concerning because Thompson came off the bench for 14 games during the 2023-24 season with the Warriors, and reports indicate he was not happy with the role. He felt disrespected by the move, which factored into his decision to leave Golden State. When he joined the Mavericks, there was a clear guarantee of a starting role as part of his recruitment.

Amid the Klay-Russell defense dilemma, another concerning news has been afloat after the preseason matchup, revolving around none other than the front-line player Anthony Davis, about which- let’s discuss further.

Anthony Davis under heat- trade rumors brewing

A growing number of Dallas Mavericks fans are already calling for the team to trade Anthony Davis after a disappointing preseason debut. The frustration stems from the franchise altering trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The backlash intensified following the preseason loss to the Hornets. Davis finished the game with 12 points and 4 rebounds, but posted a team-worst plus/minus of negative 24 during his 24 minutes on the court. His performance was described by analyst Trevor Lane as sluggish, with moments where he looked disinterested.

Davis entered training camp 15 pounds heavier than his usual playing weight this season. He described the weight gain as a deliberate decision to better handle the physical demands of a long NBA season. The extra weight appeared to impact his mobility and quickness during the game against Charlotte, as per the insider.

Lane explained the connection between the trade and current fan anger. “He was the main piece they got back in the deal that sent out their guy, Luca Dončić, right? There is going to be that frustration,” Lane said about why expectations are so high for Davis.

The 31-year-old big man shot 50 percent from the field but struggled with spacing issues when playing alongside other centers. His defensive performance was particularly concerning as he appeared to have trouble guarding players outside the paint.

Flagg spoke to reporters after the game about his relationship with Davis and how he plans to help his teammate. “I gotta find ways to help AD more, play off him a little better. Help him impact the game when he’s posting up, getting his ISOs,” Flagg told the media. The rookie added that he needs to find ways to help Davis while they work on fitting together as teammates.

One fan comment about the situation between Davis and Flagg went viral on social media. “Rookie talking about how he’s got to prop up a 13-year vet so he can play up to his standard. Genuinely shameful,” the fan wrote, expressing embarrassment about a rookie needing to help a veteran superstar.

Lane warned that the situation could get much worse for Davis if his conditioning doesn’t improve quickly. “…if we see this version of AD in a regular season game… the frustration is only going to ramp up that much more because he looks sluggish. There were moments where he looked disinterested…” Lane explained about the potential for increased backlash.

The pressure is mounting on both Davis and the Mavericks’ front office to prove that trading away a generational talent like Doncic was the right decision. Harrison’s gamble on building around Davis will be tested throughout the 2025-26 season as fans continue to voice their concerns about the direction of the franchise.