MAVS NEWS:

[Smitty]

I agree with a lot of the Naji concerns in regard to his fit with Flagg, and maybe even some with Washington, but it's important to keep things in perspective. The NBA is no longer about building a team that will stay together and contend for a championship for 5-6 years straight. It's about having 2-3 core guys that you constantly move pieces around each transaction cycle. Even Nico was wrong when he said 3-year window is long term, it's more like 18 months. Most of the guys that are on the roster now will not be the same ones after next years TDL. I love to talk roster building as much as the next guy, but maybe even I need to dial it back some and just focus on what's best for Flagg right now, the next 12 months. Then you reassess and make some moves around the edges. Or... if Flagg shows that he's already a top-10 guy by then, you make a more all-in swing. The biggest takeaway for me post-AD trade is that the Mavs have a ton of options now. The next GM will get a blank canvas as soon as this summer. The top pick this year will hopefully be part of that '2-3 core' with Flagg.