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

[mvossman]

That's a good question, but my answer is different than you might expect.

My plan to rebuild around CF would focus on using the existing talent on the roster - OR THE EQUIVALENT THEREOF IN TRADE -  to put alongside CF. 

So a starting point is AD. He plays next to CF and they are better. Or --- he is swapped for a player (or pick) who will eventually be the same sort of talent. The NO pick has that potential, and none of the rest being discussed with ATL does. So if I don't get that return from ATL or elsewhere, I keep him. 

The assumption that this means he gets extended by DAL is weird. He has TWO more seasons after this one. Yes he wants an extension, but no, I'm not doing it this summer even though R Paul acts like it should be automatic. It's not. Maybe we get there in summer 2027. Maybe in May 2028. Maybe he gets traded before then. Maybe not. I am quite willing to let it play out and have him line up next to CF.

The Mavs issue really isn't a lack of talent. It's an ill-fitting set of otherwise talented pieces. Talent-for-talent (rather than throwing the existing talent in the trash, and then trying to find that level of talent in the draft) is where I would go. And I would start with an expert GM doing the roster building.

A player or pick that has a good chance to be AD level talent is wildly more valuable than AD.  Not just because he is injury prone with a massive contract, but because he is almost 33.  Why would somebody give away potentially 10+ years of (cheaper and healthier) AD talent for the last couple of injury riddled years of AD?

The Mavs don't have to give AD an extension, but what is the plan then?  He will be disgruntled (as his agent will be) and a year older.  Do you think you are going to get more of a return then?  

I think the team is lacking in talent.  If Kyrie, AD and Flagg were all in their prime then this would be a contender, but that is not the case.  You can't just take existing talent and turn it into the same talent 10 years younger.  Not without getting really lucky.  The best way to get really lucky is to get as many opportunities as possible, which means accumulate as much quality/quantity picks as you can.