There’s not a whole lot going on in Mavs Land right now. Summer League has come and gone, and the transaction period of the offseason is all but over. Dwight Powell is playing in the Olympics and Dallas signed a Summer Leaguer to a training camp deal, but it’s mostly quiet on the Maverick front.
However, in the world of cinema, the party is just getting started. Master filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, Trap, just hit theaters. Love him or hate him, Shyamalan movies are events in their own right. No matter what you may think about the quality of his work, he is an unquestionable genius of form. I saw Trap on Thursday night and had an incredible time; I recommend you see it as soon as possible.
In my post-Trap delirium, my thoughts suddenly drifted toward the Dallas Mavericks. And as I thought more about it, I realized most Mavericks players have a pretty strong Shyamalan counterpart. Last year, during the Barbenheimer craze, I divided the Maverick roster into camps based on who would see each movie. Now, I’ll do something similar, matching the qualities of the players with a Shyamalan film. Let’s get right to it:
This one is a layup. The Sixth Sense was Shyamalan’s big breakthrough, the out-of-nowhere smash hit that established him as a major talent in cinema. Like Shyamalan, Luka Doncic also hit the ground running immediately with his first taste of national spotlight. Both men were called generational talents once the public got acquainted with them. And, on the other side of the coin, both M. Night and Luka have been unfairly criticized by their respective industries after some minor bumps in the road. Also— while Haley Joel Osment’s Cole had the “sixth sense” of seeing dead people, Doncic possesses a similar ability to see the floor as no other basketball player can.
The movie that started Shyamalan’s perceived decline, The Village is an extremely divisive work. While its formal brilliance is undeniable, many viewers were turned off by its daring final act, featuring a patented Shyamalan twist. Kyrie Irving knows a thing or two about controversy and big revelations. In The Village, the central characters live in a close, religious community (a sort of “tribe,” even) that believes in a grand conspiracy. It’s an allegory for Bush-era surveillance, a world governed by fear of an unseen enemy. These are all things that Irving would certainly take an interest in. And, like Irving’s singular basketball ability, The Village is awesome and a joy to watch.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. But this isn’t a dig at Klay or a declaration of his potential washed-ness. Make no mistake about it: in basketball years, Thompson is old. His best days are behind him. However, like the characters in the film (who find themselves on a secluded beach that rapidly accelerates aging), Thompson’s production level has been altered by factors outside his control. His devastating injuries robbed him of his elite defense far sooner than natural regression would have. Klay Thompson was on the Old Beach of professional sports. But just like our heroes from the film, he’s come out the other side with a ton still to give. Old, despite its reputation, is a great movie. And the Thompson signing will be a similarly great move for Dallas.
This is my personal favorite Shyamalan film. Does everything happen for a reason? I don’t think Signs answers that question one way or the other, but it does offer beautiful insight into the power of faith, family, and the great unknown. When disaster struck the Mavericks during the 2022-2023 season, it seemed as though all hope was lost. The team was heading toward rock bottom, even after trading for Kyrie Irving, and their only lifeline was a top-10 draft pick they smartly prioritized keeping. Of course, that pick ended up being Dereck Lively II, the definition of a franchise saver. Much like Rory Culkin’s asthma attack in the climax of Signs, a dark and scary experience directly led to a moment of salvation. It’s almost enough to renew your faith in a higher power. Throw in Lively’s alien-like ability to learn and get better on the fly, and this feels like a perfect fit.
Washington was a tough one to draw a comparison to, but I think there are some interesting parallels here. Star Dave Bautista and PJ Washington both started their careers as one thing and underwent a metamorphosis. Many doubted Bautista’s ability to transition from WWE icon to serious film actor. Similarly, NBA fans didn’t believe Washington, who spent his whole career on the perennial bottom-feeding Hornets, could become a winning piece on a contender. But both men proved their doubters wrong. Bautista’s turn in Cabin solidified him as a serious artist, just as Washington’s contributions in 2024 cemented him as a winning player. Washington is also famous for Standing on Business, which is exactly what Bautista’s character does in the film when Jonathan Groff and Ben Aldridge try to escape their fate.
Dread it. Run from it. Dwight Powell is inevitable. Many have tried to take him down. He’s been sent through the trade machine more times than any other player in NBA history. He’s been ridiculed, mocked, memed, and shunned. He survived a torn Achilles and got another multi-year contract. Just like David Dunn in Shyamalan’s monumental take on the superhero genre, you cannot hurt Dwight Powell. He cannot feel pain. Watch as he gets smacked in the face at least once per game— it doesn’t phase him. Powell didn’t ask for this power, but he tried to use it for good. While David Dunn used his newfound abilities to solve crimes, Powell used his wealth and influence to give back to the Dallas community. Both are heroes in my book.
After M. Night’s fall from grace in the mid-2000s to early 2010s, he experienced a career resurgence that peaked with the success of Split. In the lead-up to the film, no one knew this was a 16-years-later sequel to Unbreakable. But audiences were delighted with the movie and excited about the tie-in at the end. In a similar vein, Maverick fans did not anticipate losing Derrick Jones Jr. to free agency this summer. However, his replacement (or sequel) is ready to rock in the person of Naji Marshall. And just like James McAvoy’s characters(s), Marshall is incredibly versatile. He can do a bit of everything, and the hope is that he can have the same kind of on-court impact for Dallas as Split did for Shyamalan’s career. Also, Marshall is nicknamed “The Knife” which definitely sounds like one of McAvoy’s psychotic personalities.
In the final chapter of the Unbreakable trilogy, Glass gives us an in-depth look at fallen heroes and fragile villains. Unfortunately, Maxi Kleber could be confused for Samuel L. Jackson’s Mr. Glass at this juncture of his career. Mr. Glass is always in danger of breaking every bone in his body, just as Kleber is always in danger of missing basketball games due to injury. And when he is on the floor, Kleber is not as effective as he once was as a floor-spacing, shot-blocking menace. His arc is following a David Dunn-esque path. Plus, Glass, like many Shyamalan films, was extremely under-appreciated at the time of its release; but now, smart people recognize it as a strong film. Maxi Kleber can relate to that, too.
We’ll keep this one short and sweet because many have not seen Shyamalan’s newest film yet. The Maverick defense is built to funnel ball handlers into a rim protector. You may think you have the defense beat but in reality, the Trap has been set— Daniel Gafford is waiting for you at the rim. And he’s going to block your shot with the ruthlessness of a killer.
Many consider The Happening to be Shyamalan’s worst film. Personally, I think it’s fine. Definitely not his best, but there’s a lot to like. Dante Exum inspires the same feeling within me: he’s had some memorable moments, I’m glad he’s around, but I won’t defend him with my life. In The Happening, a mysterious, deadly virus wreaks havoc on the Northeastern United States; no one knows what’s causing it or why it’s occurring. There is no explanation, just as there was no explanation for how Exum became completely useless in the 2024 playoffs. Also, Exum was unfairly maligned before going to Europe and reinventing himself; the same thing happened to Shyamalan after this movie and the two that followed (The Last Airbender and After Earth).
Morris is on the team because the players respect him as a veteran and elder. The Visit teaches us a thing or two about that. Getting old is terrifying, and the baggage we carry as we age can consume our minds as they deteriorate. In Shyamalan’s film, these ideas are brilliantly woven into a campy horror concept that preys on the audience’s preconceived ideas about the elderly. The 34-year-old Morris has virtually nothing left to give from a basketball perspective. It’s easy to think of him as useless, a waste of a roster spot. But he’s worth keeping around because he’s the grandfather of the team. And like the “grandparents” in The Visit, Morris can unleash a world of hurt as an enforcer if his number is called in that capacity.
Lady in the Water was the moment people started to dismiss Shyamalan entirely. And I’ll be honest; it’s one of my least favorites of his filmography. I admire the fantastical elements and appreciate what M. Night was going for, but it doesn’t quite work for me. Olivier Maxence-Prosper suffers from the same mistake Shyamalan made with this movie: he’s out of control and needs to reign it in. There’s still ample time for O-Max to rebound from the disappointing start to his career, just as Shyamalan did after Lady in the Water sent him down a path of denigration by the film-going public. But the situation leaves a lot to be desired as is.
An off-duty Dallas police officer shot at a group of people allegedly trying to steal his personal vehicle on Sunday afternoon in Addison, officials said.
According to the Addison Police Department, around 2:15 p.m., the off-duty Dallas officer saw a group of people trying to steal his vehicle in a parking lot at 5000 Belt Line Road. He confronted the suspects, “and during the encounter, fired a weapon at the suspects’ vehicle.”
The suspects fled in their vehicle, Addison police said, and it is unknown if any suspects were hit by gunfire.
The investigation is ongoing.
The Dallas Wings can’t seem to get a win, at least when it comes to the team’s training facility and arena. Not only is its practice facility in west Oak Cliff, approved over the summer and fast-tracked to open ahead of the team’s spring season, now running behind schedule, it is also somehow over budget.
Dallas had already committed $55 million for the team’s practice facility, a price tag we were uncomfortable with from the beginning. At the time, city staff said that was the amount needed to build a training facility with the amenities and infrastructure required for a WNBA team. The city argued there were few viable alternative locations for the practice facility after delays with the convention center, and they were running out of time. Enter the $55 million facility at Joey Georgusis Park.
But now the project needs an additional $27 million to cross the finish line. How did costs increase so much in just a few months? And how did a project that was expedited to meet the team’s deadline end up falling behind and over budget?
City staff attribute the holdup to missed deadlines by the project management firm McKissack and McKissack and new requirements from the WNBA that weren’t part of the original scope. McKissack and McKissack didn’t respond to multiple messages seeking comment for this editorial. Whatever the company’s missteps, the city is ultimately responsible for conducting due diligence and making sure the project stays on track, and it couldn’t deliver what it promised.
Now the city wants the Wings to take over. The city would cap its total contributions at $57 million, which includes $653,000 in delay reimbursements. The Wings would then cover the remaining costs, at least $27 million, needed to finish the practice facility and agree not to sue Dallas for the delays.
Some City Council members have suggested that Dallas should consider the American Airlines Center for the Wings’ practice facility and arena. But even though the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars, who currently play at the AAC, are looking to leave, their lease agreements run through 2031. That doesn’t do much for the Wings who need a practice facility now.
Maybe all of this could have been avoided if the city had more seriously considered existing facilities that could have accommodated the Wings. That’s not to say the team doesn’t deserve a training space that will meet their needs, but repurposing an existing space instead of starting from the ground up might have saved both time and money.
This debacle is frustrating for the Wings, and it also isn’t a good look for the city. If Dallas can’t figure out how to deliver a practice facility that it promised to one of its professional sports teams, how can it hope to attract more businesses and major investments? Anyone watching this unfold would have good reason to question the city’s ability to deliver.
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If you want some insight into how the Cowboys are thinking heading into free agency Monday, consider the trade they didn’t make this weekend.
The Cowboys were interested in star edge rusher Maxx Crosby before the Las Vegas Raiders sent him to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks. Dallas offered one of its first-round picks in this year’s draft and a second-round pick in 2027, a person familiar with the team’s thinking told The Dallas Morning News.
In doing so, the Cowboys made it known how willing — or unwilling — they were to go to get a premium defender.
It’s no secret the Cowboys have a lot to do this offseason. That’s especially true on defense, where the Cowboys are tasked with rebuilding the league’s worst defense from a year ago. It’s factual, as well, that there are many ways the Cowboys could approach this offseason.
Here are 10 steps the Cowboys can take toward achieving a perfect offseason — at least in our eyes.
The Seattle Seahawks had a dominant defense a year ago. It’s a major reason they won the Super Bowl. Fun fact: that defense also had just one player with a contract with an annual value over $20 million per year. The Cowboys, meanwhile, had three such players on their defense last season.
The point: sometimes it’s more about the collective than adding one high-priced, yet very good, free agent. That’s especially true for the Cowboys.
Trey Hendrickson is going to have a big market. Interested teams have waited for the opportunity to sign him for years. Spotrac projects his market value at $25.4 million, and there’s a chance his final deal goes above that.
The Cowboys aren’t one instant-impact free agent away from improving this defense. They need more than that.
New Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker wants a versatile defense. He’ll need versatile chess pieces, especially in the secondary. Saints corner Alontae Taylor could be that chess piece. Taylor can play in the slot and outside. He also hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons, lowering the injury risk for a secondary that has a bunch of it.
Taylor won’t come cheap. Spotrac gives him a market value over $11 million, though he could sign for more. The Cowboys haven’t waded into waters like that for a free agent in some time — but they should in this case.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) celebrates after sacking Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during the third quarter of an NFL football game at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Arlington.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
The Cowboys are on the hunt for someone to play alongside linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. They want someone who can be their green-dot Mike linebacker to get everyone aligned in Parker’s defense. It makes sense, then, that Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean will be one of their targets, multiple people familiar with the team’s thinking have indicated.
Dean understands the system, he fits what they’re looking for next to the speedy Overshown, and he can be a valuable blitzer. The one problem: he’s been injury-prone recently. That’s why he shouldn’t be the only linebacker they acquire this offseason — but he should be the first. Former Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke could be another option higher in the market.
It’s become obvious that this year’s safety draft class has the chance to produce a good amount of quality starters. Whether it’s Caleb Downs early, or TCU’s Bud Clark on Day 2, there are good options. That should also push down the price for some veteran safety free agents. The Cowboys should take advantage and double-dip. It’ll be interesting to see the market for former Eagles safety Reed Blankenship. Another affordable option could be Denver’s P.J. Locke. Both have familiarity with Parker.
One of the popular external conversations since the end of the season has been about veteran safety Malik Hooker and right tackle Terence Steele. The Cowboys could save $20 million in cap space by releasing both and designating them as post-June 1 cuts. While tempting, don’t expect the Cowboys to be in the business of adding more holes to a boat they’re trying to fix. They also lack known entities behind them worth entrusting.
Remember when I brought up Seattle? Part of the Seahawks’ success has come from drafting well on defense. The Cowboys haven’t drafted well on defense in a while. They need to hit on their 12th pick and they need to do it at a vital position like corner or edge. If one of the elite edge rushers falls and is there, take them. If Mansoor Delane from LSU is there, sprint to the podium. It’ll be hard to find affordable, quality options at both positions in free agency, making it more important to get one at the draft. Stick at No. 12 and pick there.
LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane answers questions during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Eric Gay / AP
As for Dallas’ second first-round pick, I’d recommend moving back to get more Day 2 selections. The Cowboys don’t have any after trading for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and George Pickens last year. It’s easier said than done, of course, but if a team is willing to move up and offer multiple picks to do so, then the Cowboys should be willing. People familiar with the team’s thinking have said they want to get back into Day 2. That portion of the draft, the second and third rounds, is very dense in talent this year. The Cowboys have a ton of holes on defense, but they could remedy those problems with more selections.
The Cowboys have nearly 20 free agents of their own. Outside of a few exceptions, and outside of exclusive rights free agents like corners Josh Butler and Reddy Steward, it would be wise for the Cowboys to let them hit the market. Dallas needs a clean slate on defense.
The Cowboys already restructured the deals for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, left guard Tyler Smith and quarterback Dak Prescott. More moves to open up cap space should be expected, as well. The two logical areas are the contracts for Williams and Clark. Both have over a $21 million cap hit for next season. That has to change. For Williams, I’d get ahead of things and sign him to a major extension now. He’s one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL and should be a cornerstone for this defense. Pay him like it. Clark could be an extension or pay-cut candidate. His cap hit can’t be that high if the Cowboys want to make the moves they’re motivated to make.
Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey indicated this week he’s open to seeing what the market looks like for him as a restricted free agent. The Cowboys have had an offer on the table that would make him the highest-paid kicker in the NFL, eclipsing Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who makes $6.4 million per year. No deal has been consummated, however, resulting in the Cowboys placing a second-round tender on Aubrey worth around $5.8 million.
If a team wants Aubrey they’ll have to sign him to a record deal and give up a second-round pick for him — a price that is unlikely to be met.
The Cowboys have every reason to let Aubrey’s situation play out. The same can be said for George Pickens. The Cowboys placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Pickens, worth just under $28 million a year. Pickens is worth more than that, but how much? The market should give some indication, but just like Aubrey, the price will likely be too high for other teams. The Cowboys would get two first-round picks if someone agreed to a deal with Pickens and the Cowboys elected not to match.
The Cowboys have leverage in both situations. Aubrey and Pickens have some, too: they’re both Pro Bowl players and their services would be missed.
I know, I know: Is it worth having more offseason contract drama? In this case, for the Cowboys, it probably is.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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