MAVS NEWS:

[DanSchwartzgan]

I agree. I think they need to prioritize this pick and get a player that can be a part of the core of the team. I'm just starting to feel like we are going to see some young assets go to the Suns for KD and that's making me very depressed about the future of the team beyond a year or two. The 90s were bad.

I get it.  It is depressing.  We made a bet on AD's health and that we could win with Kyrie as our only starter level creator.  We crapped out on both.  To make matters worse, the path forward isn't very inspiring:

You can't trade Kyrie this summer.  He's damaged and will be free at the end of 25/26 assuming he takes his PO.  Even by the TDL, he won't be back to full speed if he's playing at all.  Oh, and you have to use some asset to replace his role at some level.  SD and Exum are both free and you aren't in a great position to add anyone except by trade, the NTMLE or through the draft.

You probably can't trade AD this summer.  I assume they will shut him down and maybe even do surgery.  You will get pennies on the dollar if you try to trade him before he shows the world he can stay healthy for more than a day.

Klay has very little value.  Without Luka or Kyrie he's going to look more and more pedestrian.  The same probably applies to Martin, Christie and Naji, but at least they don't cost as much.

Your most exciting young player has a broken bone in his foot (the history of bigs with feet problems isn't great).

This summer is extension time for PJ and Gafford.  Do you do the extensions?  Do you trade them?  Do you keep them without extending?  That just seems like a great way to get "Brunsoned" again.  What makes that even more difficult is you probably can't sort out a plan for Kyrie and AD until the TDL or maybe the summer of 2027.  Dark times.