03-05-2026, 10:54 AM
I like Acuff a lot and those highlights vs Texas are swaggy.
If you imagine Dallas has 3 firm starters next year: Kyrie, Flagg, and hopefully Lively, how would you build from the ground up around those three?
Kyrie
*POA defender guard/wing*
*Big wing/forward*
Flagg
Lively
Acuff doesn't really check those boxes but I view this as a multiyear turnaround. Acuff would become your lead guard of the future but you might find another player in this draft. Someone mentioned sending Gafford out for a late first and packaging those two picks to move up to someplace around 18-20 where a guy like Dailyn Swain could be available. Swain isn't a shooter yet, but he has the physical attributes to defend at a high level.
If I'm looking at the current roster I don't see Christie as a long term starter, although he might start next year. He's just not a disruptive defender at the point of attack and he's not big or physical enough to hold up on the wing. I do like Christie as a rotation player though and given his age and contract I'd prioritize keeping him if his extension is reasonable. He's not a $20M+ player in my opinion.
I see Naji as a weapon off the bench. A great guy to keep but expendable if the right deal comes along.
PJW should be able to play next to Flagg but I realize it hasn't looked good this season. I still think he's a winning player when healthy and not asked to do too much but I wonder if there's a deal out there that might make sense. Something like MIA Jovic+16 for PJW+30 gives the Mavs another shot at landing an impact starter in this year's draft.
If you imagine Dallas has 3 firm starters next year: Kyrie, Flagg, and hopefully Lively, how would you build from the ground up around those three?
Kyrie
*POA defender guard/wing*
*Big wing/forward*
Flagg
Lively
Acuff doesn't really check those boxes but I view this as a multiyear turnaround. Acuff would become your lead guard of the future but you might find another player in this draft. Someone mentioned sending Gafford out for a late first and packaging those two picks to move up to someplace around 18-20 where a guy like Dailyn Swain could be available. Swain isn't a shooter yet, but he has the physical attributes to defend at a high level.
If I'm looking at the current roster I don't see Christie as a long term starter, although he might start next year. He's just not a disruptive defender at the point of attack and he's not big or physical enough to hold up on the wing. I do like Christie as a rotation player though and given his age and contract I'd prioritize keeping him if his extension is reasonable. He's not a $20M+ player in my opinion.
I see Naji as a weapon off the bench. A great guy to keep but expendable if the right deal comes along.
PJW should be able to play next to Flagg but I realize it hasn't looked good this season. I still think he's a winning player when healthy and not asked to do too much but I wonder if there's a deal out there that might make sense. Something like MIA Jovic+16 for PJW+30 gives the Mavs another shot at landing an impact starter in this year's draft.