12-08-2025, 02:30 PM
(12-08-2025, 01:37 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: Question...is it the worst thing in the world to keep AD? Lets say he remains relatively healthy and the Mavs make or miss the playin game but don't make the real playoffs. Lets also say they don't strike lottery gold again and pick around 10. If they take that pick and really like that player, it is the worst thing in the world to keep AD and Kyrie even with good offers heading into next season. It is a pretty deep and talented team...probably not a real contender yet. Although, are any of the trades we have discussed putting the Mavs in a better spot for the next 1-2 years? Remember eventually AD and Kyrie contracts expire. When does it look more appealing to keep them and then have the potential cap room (with younger players) in a few years?
After this year, Mavs will have three first round picks in the next 4 years. Most, if not all, will be very late first round picks. But they are first round picks. A good scouting dept won't hit on all three, but can they hit on 1.5?
I understand it though, there are 3-4 times a game when AD falls down when my first thought is that he will never play basketball again. I just am not crazy with any of the deals I have seen.
Reasons not to keep AD:
The timeline is not there. The list of big men AD size aging well into their mid 30s and beyond is not long. It will be years before Flagg hits his peak and the future draft picks you mention will probably not impact winning before AD is well past his prime.
The team is not good enough. With a healthy AD and Kyrie its a good team, but not good enough to be a contender. Its still short on offensive creation. It would likely require an all in trade for another significant piece to have any chance. A very dangerous gamble on oft injured players for a short window while setting back the build around Flagg phase years.
An AD trade is not to make the team better in the next 1 to 2 years. Its to make the team better for the Flagg timeline, which is much farther in the future.
AD is going to want an extension. How are you addressing that. That would be another move that could set the reset back significantly.
What does AD want? I would not be surprised if he would prefer to get traded. In Dallas he will be forever known as the Nico fuck up. The fact that the rumors came out that Kyire was not for sell but they are taking offers for AD leads me to believe they talked to both guys and Kyrie wants to stay while AD is ready to move on.