(02-10-2026, 10:45 AM)vfromlmf Wrote: To the OP's original recommended moves --
1. Trade PJW. I mentioned above, if you trade PJW, you need to trade him for a player who is better than PJW, which is no easy task. PJ has his flaws but was recently a high minute starter on a Finals team. Things change if you're talking about trading him for a swing at another lottery pick, or packaging him to move up to select an impact starter. Let's say the Bucks land at 5. Would you send PJW and #7 to MIL to move up two spots for Flemming?
2. Trade Naji. Really, same can be said for Naji. He's our version of Keldon Johnson. If you trade him for a mid-FRP you're looking at swapping him out for the likes of Meleek Thomson, a guy who projects as a Jordan Hawkins type. Or a Yaxel Landenborg / Kyle Anderson-type. There's benefit to landing another player on Flagg's timeline, and you might get lucky and find an impact player, but it's going to be difficult.
3. Acquire 1-2 versatile 3&D Wings. If you look at the top-14 projected picks there are only a couple of guys you probably wouldn't want to play next to Kyrie. I think that's the benchmark for a "modern wing," and for our FRP. If the best player available is 6' 4" and long, you take him. If he's 6' 10" and can guard on the perimeter, you take him. That being said, if the best player available is a 6' 3" lead guard like Acuff, and you can't move up, you take Acuff. This team is in pure unadulterated talent acquisition mode. And as others have noted, odds are long that Kyrie is the starting PG when this team is a contender.
4. If you trust Lively, roll with him. Center absolutely CANNOT be a priority at this time. Lively has to hit. He's an impact player when healthy and a major upgrade. Lively just has to get healthy or it will set this team back even further. I'd keep Gafford but trade him for a mid first. I'd keep Bagley if he's on a Powell-like contract. I'd retain Powell as a coach. I might sign Cisse to the minimum if Bagley walks.
5. If you trust Kyrie, roll with him. I don't think the Mavs have many options here if they want to win next year. You're not upgrading Kyrie unless you move him for a lottery pick and even then, it will likely take years for that player to develop and he'll likely never be Kyrie. I'd probably trade him for another lottery pick in '26 though :-(
To Dan's point about Max Christie, I'm not sure I buy him as a long-term core player. I just don't see the defensive impact. He's solid positionally but doesn't make plays. I agree that's he's being asked to do more offensively but I struggle to see more than a solid rotation player. If you're picking teams and PJW, Naji and Christie are all available, who do you take first? If the answer is "It depends on what I need" then you're talking about a role player, not a core piece.
My priorities for the Mavs:
1. Draft an impact starter. This will be a guy who can play next to Kyrie and Flagg. Archetype is a 6' 5" or taller 225 lbs two-way wing.
2. Use PJW, Naji, Christie, Gafford, and/or #30 to move up for above if needed, or into middle of the first if there's a guy you're targeting.
3. Get Lively healthy.
4. Backup Guard. Sign Tyus Jones around $5 million or Nembhard to a minimum.
5. 3rd Center. Sign Bagley around $4 million or Cisse to a minimum. If you trade Gafford I might sign Bagley AND Cisse.
6. 3rd Guard. Sign BWill to a minimum or let him walk.
7. Vet wing. If you have a roster spot, sign Middleton for the minimum.
8. I'd like to do something with Klay's expiring contract but that probably won't materialize until next year's trade deadline.
Some good analysis from everybody. But...this is the one I'd go with. I think I'd keep Christie a little longer, see if he can't work on his weaknesses. And get Naji to work on his outside game. But...I would go with this analysis if I had to...and be happy.