MAVS NEWS:

[KillerLeft]

Would they really have to bottom out in an AD trade? I wonder if there's a scenario where they pivot at the deadline and deal him for a younger established starter. The Mavs could tank the 2nd half of the year to maximize their 2026 1st while Kyrie continues to rehab. Then try to compete again next year with a Kyrie/(AD trade-maybe a Desmond Bane level player?)/Flagg/PJ/Lively core.

If you're trading him to get BETTER, that's a different story.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Bobby Marks discussing the Mavs situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh1Akb78AV8&ab_channel=DLLSSports

[F Gump]

Here's a helpful interview with Legler, whose opinions I respect tremendously, about the pros and cons of how most of the world expects Flagg to be integrated. 

https://youtu.be/iYqGY51G6qE?si=YOkZaj18mcVTB7Vk

For anyone who thinks there are question marks on what Flagg will be, and how long we have to wait to see that, you need to listen to this interview.

Leger has been following and evaluating Flagg for a LONG time, and thinks he will be HUGE right away. He won't be as good on day 1 as he will become, as he learns the NBA and its nuances, but he's going to be REALLY good. In general he thinks Flaggs shot will need to get better, but he sees his defense as ready and potentially great.

[Winter]

For anyone who thinks there are question marks on what Flagg will be, and how long we have to wait to see that, you need to listen to this interview.

Leger has been following and evaluating Flagg for a LONG time, and thinks he will be HUGE right away. He won't be as good on day 1 as he will become, as he learns the NBA and its nuances, but he's going to be REALLY good. In general he thinks Flaggs shot will need to get better, but he sees his defense as ready and potentially great.

One of the things you pick up reading the biographical sketches is how long he has been groomed for NBA stardom.

Not only did he go to all the right places (Monteverde Academy, Nike's Peach Jam, Duke), he was the one of the best players on the court from day one at each of those places. While most scouts aren't sure where his ceiling is, nearly all them know where his floor is - as an NBA starter.

By all accounts, he is social, unselfish, and a quick study. If there was ever a time to win the lottery, this was the year.

[Winter]

The thing that will make most us wince a little, is that I feel certain Nico has met him multiple times and probably has met his parents. I don't knoiw this to be fact and have never read it, but Nico and CF were two planets in the same orbit for a long time.

And frankly, I consider it strange fate that Luka is gone and Cooper will not have to be the number 2 option on this team - a team that was built to support Luka. CF has never been the #2 player on any team, and I just can't see them as compatible teammates. I might have been happy to watch it, but I can't believe that chemistry would be the best thing for Flagg. While players like Kyrie and AD might have a bigger NBA profile, I think Luka is a different animal altogether. Two silverbacks in the same troop just doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

[Chicagojk]

The thing that will make most us wince a little, is that I feel certain Nico has met him multiple times and probably has met his parents. I don't knoiw this to be fact and have never read it, but Nico and CF were two planets in the same orbit for a long time.

And frankly, I consider it strange fate that Luka is gone and Cooper will not have to be the number 2 option on this team - a team where all the players were there to support Luka. CF has never been the #2 player on any team, and I just can't see them as compatible teammates. I might have been happy to watch it, but I can't believe that chemistry would be the best thing for Flagg. While players like Kyrie and AD might have a bigger NBA profile, I think Luka is a different animal altogether. Two silverbacks in the same troop just doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

I am fine with those who say the Mavs should trade AD and Kyrie.  Although, I think for the next three years they could really make this work before Flagg is the clear best player (if he meets expectations).  I think he has the personality to shine but to also fit in.  It could be a great learning experience for him.  The tricky part is not going all in with over 30 veterans over the next 2 years.  The 27-30 draft picks are going to hurt.  Not as much as it would two weeks ago but it could create a vacuum of good young talent over those years.  So Dallas needs to be smart to be good now but not empty thr young talent pool post AD.


Another thing, Flagg has been the best player on most courts he has stepped on.  But in high school he played with three other first round picks (maybe another one next year too).  At Duke he played with two other lottery picks.  From what I gather despite Flagg getting all the accolades his teammates had plenty of opportunity to shine for themselves.  It was not a your turn, my turn type of feel you typically get with young talented players.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/all_things_mavs/status/192...14610?s=46

[myconsumerclub]

Flagg has an opportunity to step into a situation where the team is a perfect fit for him to start and contribute day one.

As I see it we have 10 players that I consider keepers and major assets to use in trades.

Flagg, Irving, AD, PJ, Lively, Klay,

Max, Naji, Gafford, B Will.

Everyone Else is less valuable so as the picture comes into focus as to what we are going to trade off we need to fill in around who we have left and if possible we need to orchestrate some trades for picks early on so we can add talent that falls into the 2nd.

Powell Hardy Martin & OMax are probably on the way out as they are the remaining assets that may help us acquire picks and or a PG. Cap issues dictate we lower payroll ASAP and a rookie contract is less costly to our payroll than a guy making 4 to 10 Million a year who is mostly going to sit on the bench.

3rd string concerns with BIGS:

If we think either Jones or Brown showed enough auditioning for us last year then perhaps they fit in somewhere or we see guys that fall through the 2nd round that we like better because this draft has a lot of bigs who might not get taken in the draft. It would be nice to have our backups on the team from day one instead of trying to fill in after someone gets injured.

If Gafford is traded then we need to add 2 to 3 more bigs to back up Lively and AD. Injury history has to be addressed and we need to do a better job of anticipating our potential future needs.

Either this is taken care of or we are tanking again this year when AD is hurt bad. Next years draft is not going to provide as many bigs to fit in that have decent upside.

PG:

The mavs brain trust knows that we need a decent point guard and not just a fill in. Someone that is 6'5" or larger who can shoot well from 3 and get assists is needed. Then when Irving is back we have a SG ready guy to play next to him that can come in for Klay.

Max still needs to develop his game more to impress me enough to crown him the best back up at the 2. Klay is not going to be here forever and if his game drops off you need someone that can come in and score so we either develop Max or Hardy or someone else that hits close to or better than 40% from 3. If you are adding someone that can be a starting PG it would help if they had that size and skill set to fit that slot as well.

Klay Irving and AD are the ones that we need to trade off if we do a rebuild with Flagg but if they can stay healthy and win with a team they mentor into becoming a contender then that learning process is valuable for Flagg to experience and it will certianly position us in a way we do not need to tank anymore.

The way the remaining roster comes together we are going to need some more luck to find the replacements we need to fill in when and if our old guys add on to their injury history.

If Irving comes back early and AD is healthy in the 2nd half of the season and Klay keeps his health we will be a contender with Flagg and Lively in that starting line up.

Still we need to have a deent bench and we have a decent bench now but if Nico plays it wrong that bench could be less than ideal so we need to get lucky and hope he makes the right call on adding the right players into the mix going forward.

[loki]

https://x.com/all_things_mavs/status/192...14610?s=46

I don't mind Jrue as long as there is no PJ or future picks included. I have very little confidence that you know who can pull that off.

[myconsumerclub]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boF5FI2p1t0
The Dallas Mavericks' PERFECT Offseason! Realistic Trade & Draft Ideas For The 2025 NBA Offseason

decent video

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

For anyone who thinks there are question marks on what Flagg will be, and how long we have to wait to see that, you need to listen to this interview.

Leger has been following and evaluating Flagg for a LONG time, and thinks he will be HUGE right away. He won't be as good on day 1 as he will become, as he learns the NBA and its nuances, but he's going to be REALLY good. In general he thinks Flaggs shot will need to get better, but he sees his defense as ready and potentially great.

Is there anyone on this forum that thinks otherwise?  We all agree Flagg will contribute to winning as a rookie.

The point of contention on the forum is whether Cooper Flagg should be playing guard next to a front court of Lively/AD/PJ.  That discussion begins at the 3minute mark of the video.  Legler says that if AD is obsessed with playing the 4, then Cooper Flagg can be your starting 3.  Legler says as the starting 3, Flagg needs to improve his range and his ability to get his own shot.  They don't even discuss Flagg playing the 2.  

At the 13:20 minute mark, Legler talks about the Mavs needing a "ballhandling, scoring type."

[FireNicoHarrison]

If AD is obsessed to play the 4 can we simply trade him? Why do we have to play half the squad out of position to make room for him?

[Winter]

If AD is obsessed to play the 4 can we simply trade him? Why do we have to play half the squad out of position to make room for him?

This just falls in the "least likely to happen" category so I don't give it much oxygen.

According to one article I read just today, it appears that the Flagg camp is on board and communicating that Cooper would be happy playing the SF spot. There was no real discussion about PJ in the article, and the gist was mostly centered around AD's continued interest in the playing the PF position. If all that is true... the starting lineup would appear to be Lively, AD, Flagg, Klay... and someone unnamed. I suspect this is the most likely front line on opening day.

The rotation after that is where things get messy. I think PJ rotating in for AD makes the most sense while someone like Max rotates in for CF.

I'm going with Chris Paul as my choice for PG.

I found this in the ESPN article on CF:

..."Chris Paul approached Maine United's coaches and told them how much he was loving the team's run. He'd been watching their games on his phone, he said. "I love the way you all play," Paul told them. He said he was teaching his son, Chris Jr., then a middle school player, to model how he played after them. He asked if he could meet Flagg and Ace, and, of course, they obliged."

[F Gump]

If the Mavs had a choice between CP and Tyus Jones, not sure which one I'd prefer, but I think landing either (or both) would be great. I wonder if either will be available for what the Mavs have to spend on a FA. Both have things to offer and both are smaller and deficient on defense.

After redoing Kyrie deal, Mavs should have room for minimum salary for one of these guys (while still staying below A2). But not TxpMLE (5.7M) unless they do a deal that reduces payroll somehow.

ABOUT REDOING KYRIE DEAL. As for how much Kyrie will get paid, if we had a better GM I would expect they work various deals and then decide that number for Kyrie at the end. But is he so stupid he messes up the intricacies of what has to be done? If they want to give Kyrie some sort of "whatever we have left to fit the rest of what we do" deal, that number gets figured out LAST -- but then they have to re-sign Kyrie 1st BEFORE they do those other deals except minimum salary FAs. That's because they can't drop his Bird rights (otherwise they have no way to re-sign him), yet retaining those Bird rights will keep them well over A2 (which then impacts trade rules and what they can pay FAs, such as whether they have TxpMLE to offer).

[Winter]

If the Mavs had a choice between CP and Tyus Jones, not sure which one I'd prefer, but I think landing either (or both) would be great. I wonder if either will be available for what the Mavs have to spend on a FA. Both have things to offer and both are smaller and deficient on defense.

After redoing Kyrie deal, Mavs should have room for minimum salary for one of these guys (while still staying below A2). But not TxpMLE (5.7M) unless they do a deal that reduces payroll somehow.

ABOUT REDOING KYRIE DEAL. As for how much Kyrie will get paid, if we had a better GM I would expect they work various deals and then decide that number for Kyrie at the end. But is he so stupid he messes up the intricacies of what has to be done? If they want to give Kyrie some sort of "whatever we have left to fit the rest of what we do" deal, that number gets figured out LAST -- but then they have to re-sign Kyrie 1st BEFORE they do those other deals except minimum salary FAs. That's because they can't drop his Bird rights (otherwise they have no way to re-sign him), yet retaining those Bird rights will keep them well over A2 (which then impacts trade rules and what they can pay FAs, such as whether they have TxpMLE to offer).

I think the real difference between Tyus and CP will be in their approach to the future.

Tyus will be looking to re-establish his value I think. He wants a better paycheck, but he may need to take a smaller one this season to get a bigger contract next year. Dallas could be a good place for him with the starter minutes. He's going get a lot of exposure with the media, Cooper Flagg, and all the Dallas newsy nonsense this season.

CP knows Cooper Flagg and I think will want to play with him. I posted this information in another thread. CP has been in teach-mode these last few seasons, and he may want to piece of the action with Cooper like he had last year teaching Wamby. 

I can see a reason for either player to take a modest salary to be in Dallas.

[Scott41theMavs]

Guys, guys, the solution to all of our Nico angst is quite simple. They won't fire him? Get Dennis Lindsay back in as his adviser at whatever price necessary. Nico and Lindsay did a phenomenal job of building around Luka. Since the owners aren't ever going to let Nico trade Flagg for anything, Nico and Lindsay ought to do a bangup job of building around CF.

[F Gump]

Guys, guys, the solution to all of our Nico angst is quite simple. They won't fire him? Get Dennis Lindsay back in as his adviser at whatever price necessary. Nico and Lindsay did a phenomenal job of building around Luka. Since the owners aren't ever going to let Nico trade Flagg for anything, Nico and Lindsay ought to do a bangup job of building around CF.

I would love that solution, and would STRONGLY prefer DL had the control as the boss, not Nico. But DL has a job now and is probably out of reach.

[ThisIStheYear]

Shams saying this will be the most surprising offseason ever? I’d expect the Mavs to make some surprising moves (though they sure as Hell better not involve Flagg). If they don’t, then they’re not good at their jobs. I think most teams will be trying to shed salary.

[Chicagojk]

https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2025/05...ks-dallas/

[Winter]

Good article.

"Any scenario that has Flagg or Washington on the bench when the ball tips is a suboptimal one."

I know that's true, I'm just not absolutely sure Flagg at guard makes it a better team in a collective sense. It feels too slow.

On the other hand, if Kidd thinks it's workable in pre-season, then give it a shot.