There have been a lot of great points made in this thread about the fit issues for CF into this specific roster, since the minutes at C-F positions were already a challenge.
However, I think that will solve itself, so to speak, once they figure out what they want those positions to look like in the summer of 2026. That summer's issue will primarily be about money, because it's possible that PJW and/or Gafford will price themselves out of the mix.
To keep a highly talented roster together, you have to have a whole slew of players who are good-to-great values when it comes to their contract. Right now, PJW and Gafford are both very good values, but when they become a FA, who knows? So I think step 1 to resolving the lineup issue will start with extension talks with each of those guys, and you either get them locked up to an extension now that's good value, or you trade them.
But to me there's another issue, which is value vs lineup availability. On this one, I gotta take a really hard look at AD, and decide whether he is overpaid and not worth the hassle because he's too brittle. In addition, if Nico has any skill as a GM (which of course I question, but nevertheless...), he will see AD as an "asset" he received (which can then be used in a trade for a better or more reliable fit that's a great value financially) rather than as the focal point of the Mavs' future.
All the money questions in 2026 go away by themselves in summer 2026 by just letting players walk as a FA if they are too expensive, but the Mavs need to get ahead of this so that they can get some value for the assets that don't fit financially.
I think once they get all that resolved, then the lineup issues won't be there.
As for a preferred way to resolve it, I'm really torn on every player except one. That's Cooper Flagg. He stays, he starts, he gets about 30 mpg. But otherwise ....
1 Lively - I like his defensive skill and ability to guard all over the floor. His contract price is good. He has upside. But he is injured way too much.
2 Gafford - He's helpful but flawed on defense, but he's a brute and a presence when he's on the floor. He takes the beating that other players can't (or don't want to). His contract price is good right now, but unknown if it will continue that way.
3 AD - He's skilled, and a true 2-way player, and his length is off the charts. But his contract is huge, and he's injured way too often. Can you pay that much to a player that you can't be sure will be able to play? He could probably bring the most value in a trade fwiw.
4 PJW - Probably the Mavs best all-around defender, but his offense is a rollercoaster. His contract price is good right now, but unknown if it will continue that way.
There are reasons to trade each of those players (including the value in return) and reasons to keep. It's a hard equation to solve - although I think it will get easier once the Mavs work on extension possibilities and numbers and see where that takes them in their future payroll.
Oh, and BTW, I still think the Ball trade I've proposed (or one very much like it) will still be a crucial part of what's needed this summer.
This is really a great situation for an EXPERT GM to have, because there are great assets to work with, and issues to be fixed. Lots of teams will want to talk trade, because if very good assets might be available, they want in. After the draft lottery, Marc Stein made the point that the Dallas GM job now looks very appealing to the best available GMs for that very reason.
Of course, if Mavs owners insist on Nico still running the show, there's every reason to wonder if disaster trades and more asset-bungling will happen instead. What should be an inevitable great summer ahead then becomes very scary.
However, I think that will solve itself, so to speak, once they figure out what they want those positions to look like in the summer of 2026. That summer's issue will primarily be about money, because it's possible that PJW and/or Gafford will price themselves out of the mix.
To keep a highly talented roster together, you have to have a whole slew of players who are good-to-great values when it comes to their contract. Right now, PJW and Gafford are both very good values, but when they become a FA, who knows? So I think step 1 to resolving the lineup issue will start with extension talks with each of those guys, and you either get them locked up to an extension now that's good value, or you trade them.
But to me there's another issue, which is value vs lineup availability. On this one, I gotta take a really hard look at AD, and decide whether he is overpaid and not worth the hassle because he's too brittle. In addition, if Nico has any skill as a GM (which of course I question, but nevertheless...), he will see AD as an "asset" he received (which can then be used in a trade for a better or more reliable fit that's a great value financially) rather than as the focal point of the Mavs' future.
All the money questions in 2026 go away by themselves in summer 2026 by just letting players walk as a FA if they are too expensive, but the Mavs need to get ahead of this so that they can get some value for the assets that don't fit financially.
I think once they get all that resolved, then the lineup issues won't be there.
As for a preferred way to resolve it, I'm really torn on every player except one. That's Cooper Flagg. He stays, he starts, he gets about 30 mpg. But otherwise ....
1 Lively - I like his defensive skill and ability to guard all over the floor. His contract price is good. He has upside. But he is injured way too much.
2 Gafford - He's helpful but flawed on defense, but he's a brute and a presence when he's on the floor. He takes the beating that other players can't (or don't want to). His contract price is good right now, but unknown if it will continue that way.
3 AD - He's skilled, and a true 2-way player, and his length is off the charts. But his contract is huge, and he's injured way too often. Can you pay that much to a player that you can't be sure will be able to play? He could probably bring the most value in a trade fwiw.
4 PJW - Probably the Mavs best all-around defender, but his offense is a rollercoaster. His contract price is good right now, but unknown if it will continue that way.
There are reasons to trade each of those players (including the value in return) and reasons to keep. It's a hard equation to solve - although I think it will get easier once the Mavs work on extension possibilities and numbers and see where that takes them in their future payroll.
Oh, and BTW, I still think the Ball trade I've proposed (or one very much like it) will still be a crucial part of what's needed this summer.
This is really a great situation for an EXPERT GM to have, because there are great assets to work with, and issues to be fixed. Lots of teams will want to talk trade, because if very good assets might be available, they want in. After the draft lottery, Marc Stein made the point that the Dallas GM job now looks very appealing to the best available GMs for that very reason.
Of course, if Mavs owners insist on Nico still running the show, there's every reason to wonder if disaster trades and more asset-bungling will happen instead. What should be an inevitable great summer ahead then becomes very scary.
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