Trade & FA 2024-25:

[michaeltex]

At the risk of over reaction...

I think DAL only real course is to tear it all down to the studs. Trade anyone who has real value in the market, including PJ, DLive, AD, Christie and Gaff, for cheaper players and picks. Then build a roster as cheaply as possible so there is plenty of cap space available. Then become the target of every team needing to off load contracts for cap management or trade facilitation. This is a 2-3 year philosophy.

Once the picks are re-built, hire the best drafter available and start re-building from top-of-the-draft talent. The young (cheap) talent will re-energize the fan base while still allowing caps space to continue accumulating picks. This is another 2-3 years.

At the end of 5-6 years you make sure to have a GM who is adept at FA trading and has he cojones to play hardball, so you can judiciously add FAs to the growing young core as you (hopefully) become a serious contender. By now the current contenders will be either starting to age out (e.g., OKC, MEM) or waiting on their HOF election (GSW, DEN, BOS).

TBH, I THOUGHT some version of this was in the Mav's plans. Luka + Kyrie + Klay was the old guard while PJ + DLive + Gaff was the young blood. (Luka is old guard because of all his years as a pro in Europe). Have picks and swaps to continue to make deals as interesting upgrades become available and stay contenders for the next decade.

I thought Cuban did a number in 2011, but Nico's gamble has put him to shame.