Two Mavericks. Two turning points. In Dallas, a young core is pushing the Mavericks into a new gear. In music, fans are grieving the loss of a singular voice. I can confirm both stories today. One is about momentum. The other is about memory. Both matter right now.
Dallas’ surge meets a December decision
The Mavericks just went 2 to 1 this week, beating the Heat and Rockets and falling to the Thunder. That run lifted them to 11th in the West. The offense is humming, now ninth in the league. The energy in the building feels different, lighter, faster, bolder.
The kids are the spark. Rookie Cooper Flagg has averaged about 19 points in this stretch, showing poise beyond his age. Ryan Nembhard has steadied the point guard spot with 14.8 points and 6.8 assists across six starts. His pace has unlocked cleaner looks for everyone. Jason Kidd is leaning into that tempo, and it shows.
The backcourt depth is growing too. Nembhard and Brandon Williams are forming a smart, quick pairing. They pick their spots, they share the ball, they defend with purpose. This is not a team that looks ready to fold. It looks like a team that wants more.
Trade clock, loud whispers
Here is the other side of the story. I can confirm Dallas is weighing aggressive trade options as the December 15 eligibility date nears. The front office is taking calls and making them. The goal is clear, add veteran punch without stalling the youth movement.
Names are on the board in real conversations. Anthony Davis is in the mix. So are Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and D’Angelo Russell. Dallas is testing the market for size, for shooting, for late game scoring. The question inside the room is simple. Do you bet big now, or ride the rookies and strike later.
December 15 is the key date when many contracts can be moved. Expect talks to sharpen as that window opens.
The schedule adds urgency. After their NBA Cup exit, the league tacked on a home date with the Nets on December 12, then a road game at the Jazz on December 15. A Warriors matchup was added to keep travel balanced. These are tone setters before the market heats up.
- Nets at Dallas, Dec 12
- Mavericks at Jazz, Dec 15
- Added Warriors date, schedule adjusted for 42 road games
This is a strategic inflection point. Dallas is too competitive to tank, not satisfied enough to stand still. The room can feel both truths at once.
The Mavericks mourn Raul Malo
I can also confirm Raul Malo, the lead singer and chief songwriter of The Mavericks, has died at 60. The cause is leptomeningeal disease, a rare cancer that attacks the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. The loss is heavy. That voice could turn a barroom into a ballroom in a single verse.
Malo’s sound was a bridge. Country, rockabilly, Latin rhythm, classic pop romance, he carried them all with velvet power. Songs like Dance the Night Away and All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down lived in jukeboxes and wedding halls, in arenas and tiny clubs. He sang in English and Spanish, and fans felt seen either way.
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His impact goes beyond genre. He gave the band its swagger, its tenderness, its wink. Young artists studied his phrasing, that patient glide over a drum shuffle, that sudden burst into a soaring chorus. He made big emotions feel simple, and simple lines feel big.
Raul Malo’s voice defined The Mavericks, a showman with a crooner’s heart and a songwriter’s eye.
The band’s future will unfold in time. Tonight is for applause that lasts a little longer, for a quiet dance in the kitchen, for a chorus sung a little louder. The music holds him close.
Why both stories hit today
The name is the same, but the moments could not be more different. In Dallas, the Mavericks offer hope, young legs, and a front office ready to act. In music, The Mavericks give us a reason to pause, to thank an artist who blended styles with joy. Sports push us forward. Songs pull us together. Both remind us why we care.
