Building Around Cooper: A Backward-Looking Thought Experiment

[Smitty]

I don't disagree on any particular point, really. 

I just think (with respect) you might still be in a touch of denial about how LONG it's going to take to fix all of that. Now, they truly have a 19 year old best player - the AD trade made it triple official. I just think we were all in the bargaining phase of mourning when we convinced ourselves rookie Flagg could be dropped into an already assembled team and they could compete, healthy or not. I think the reality is that when your best player changes, your team starts over, at least in some key ways. 

PJW, Gafford, Thompson, Marshall, Kyrie...none of them are "too old" to be good right now, today, but I think they might ALL be too old to be part of the NEXT great Mavs team. There are reasons to keep good, key vets around, sure - no argument with that, whatsoever. But, the key vets I'd be in favor of keeping around would at least be able to form synergistic lineups with Flagg to close games. Otherwise, they'd all just be Dwight Powell types, right? The rest, once you're thinking like I'm thinking (not that you have to, I'm just saying "if") really need to be turned into more helpful tools (younger players, draft capital, whatever) at the HIGHEST possible point in their value. 

Since I don't think PJW, Marshall or possibly even Gafford fit here like they used to, my strong instinct is that they're going to lose value, and pretty quickly. 

I think, personally, the smart thing is to find a way to completely remake the team around Flagg. I think there might be shortcuts available, but for me the AD trade signals the end of hope for the kind of EXTREME shortcut we were hoping to see. I doubt the Mavs win a championship with any of those guys on the roster - straight up. I could be wrong, obviously, but I've reached the conclusion that trying to remake a team built around Luka with as little turnover as some are hoping might be a little like trying to turn the Titanic away from the iceberg at top speed.

So many, me included have said the same things over and over. I’ve provided a full list of names that are available this summer. Who on that list, or who via trade is the ideal fit? Theory is great but give some real alternatives? I think we’ve lost some sense of reality here. If a 3&D Wing like PJ is not a fit with Flagg, who is?! Do you and others think we should give up less D and add more 3 in that Wing spot? Do we just continue to disregard the lack of any legit NBA level Guard on this team and use lineup data to form our opinions on fit for future years? Do we assume that this is what Flagg is and will always be and there’s no need for projection when it comes to his own role within the team? I think the empty space of a lost season has caused us to talk about the future more, but with no real ideas or replacement level names it means little to nothing?