Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

From here, every move needs to be designed to get closer to the goal, not start over.

Let's be real. With the addition of Flagg, it closed the door on a teardown. His addition alone pushed them a couple of rungs up that "enough talent to win it all" ladder. This team that really needed another major talent just got one. We have no idea how close they already are.

This is NOT the time to hold a fire sale.

No one has said it yet, so let me be the first - we are already in the Flagg Era for the Mavs, and the clock is ticking already. (It does NOT start in 2 or 3 or 4 years down the road.) Tear it all down NOW, of all times? No way. Don't waste any of it. Figure out how to take THESE pieces, with some tweaks, and play for titles.

Yes, Gump, ON PAPER, AD/Kyrie/Flagg is a formidable trio.  But one ALWAYS misses at least a third of the season. Another is coming off a major knee surgery and is in his 30s.  And the third, no matter how good he is or will be, will still be an 18yo rookie facing growing pains.  If all three were at tip-top level, sure, go for it this season. But they're not. 

And if the Mavs had all their draft capital, I'd say, sure, play it out and if this season or next doesn't work, retool around Flagg by trading your future picks. But they don't have any in abundance. So if AD inevitably gets injured,  then what? Am I advocating for the AD for PG and #3 trade? Definitely not. But there's a middle ground to finding someone younger or more dependable than AD.  Again, I LOVE the IDEA of AD, but not the pragmatic reality.

I'd much rather trade him for something that aligns with more than a 2 year window, especially if him not being here helps the Mavs afford to keep usable pieces like PJ and Gafford on movable contracts. 

So give me Flagg, Kyrie, PJ, Gafford and the something that comes back for AD instead of...

Flagg, AD, Kyrie and the two role players or mid-round 1sts that come back for PJ and Gaff. 

Plus, i think PJ and Gafford are more valuable here than what you'd conceivably get back in trades.