You’re now the Mavs’ GM. What are you going to build?

[mvossman]

You have some valid points but your timing is off. Its true the West has stacked teams with young bright futures so the competition would be fierce no matter what the Mavs did.  Trading for "assets" wouldn't have changed that at all. 

Mavs have high quality veterans in AD, Kyrie, Gafford and PJW but the team is coming off a injury plagued down season and they didn't have long term contracts besides AD.   

Now they get their vets under what should be tradeable contracts and hope to showcase those vets in a healthy year.  A strong year now will not only give Dallas a year or two to make a run but still leave those guys as  tradeable assets to restock picks and youth around Coop and Lively.  

I guess there is a scenario where AD and Kyrie play well but the Mavs don't make the playoffs, Nico gets fired and they decide to rebuild around younger players.  I think the most likely scenario is they go hard at the first window and by the time they give up, their stars will have little to negative value.  After two seasons, AD will have a player option for 63 million in his age 34 season.  Kyrie will have a player option making 42 million in a season he will be turning 36.  Gafford will be on a 19 million expiring contract at age 30.  My guess is they go current window for three years and then go the cap space route before Flagg's first big contract hits.