11-10-2025, 12:01 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-10-2025, 12:06 PM by KillerLeft.)
(11-10-2025, 11:43 AM)Nowitzki Way Wrote: I want Davis off this team. His fit is terrible for this team. His timeline with Flagg is off. And he's not reliable.
I want to maximize his value while he still has it. But with all of that said. I don't see an in-season trade being advantageous for the Mavs. The off season will open up more teams and more opportunities. We also need Nico far away from this team and not making trades.
Either way, I struggle to find a trade match for him. I don't see many teams that can match his salary with good young players we want, plus the picks. I think i'd be open to a trade of a star for star trade involving Davis. If Giannis wanted out. That would be the only way.
For an in-season trade. Maybe if San Antonio stays hot and thinks that Davis next to Wemby is the key to putting them over the top. And if healthy, he could.
I know Barnes and Olynk have been mentioned to help fil salary and they are expiring. But what else can we get. I'm assuming Castle and Harper are off limits. Does Fox become expendable? We'd have to get Carter Bryant added for youth. Can we pry Vassell or Sochan in this. I feel like the Spurs could be the team. But others who are smarter could figure out legal trades, etc.
Several ways to look at this, imo.
1) the "two timeline" conversation we had all summer seems to be dead, at least the way things sit today. For that reason, it's reasonable to entertain ideas on how to get what you can for AD, BUT...1-2 good moves, some improved morale and (I think) a better coach, and they could be right back in contention. They have some good players, after all.
2) I still believe that there is a literal ton of stuff Flagg has to learn from a guy like AD. We're basically banking on the idea that Flagg will become the impactful defender Davis has always been, and in a very similar role, honestly. I think there is value there, precious value, even if the team is not in contention.
So...
3) While I find myself much more open to the idea of moving Davis now that the bloom has (very quickly) faded from this season, I am nowhere near the point where I want them to "Porzingis" the guy. That move (the KP trade) was a GREAT decision. Addition by subtraction, and I'd argue that in the context of this team, the player they got during Dinwiddie's first stint here was better than the version of KP they sent out. Some people still claim not to like that deal, but I'd do again without hesitation if we were able to go back in time. I don't think such a move would be advisable with Davis. For one thing, he's 10x the player Porzingis ever was, and there's point #2 to consider. Also, there's very little chance of "addition by subtraction" in this case (though I could be wrong about that part).
I think getting AD healthy and reminding the league what a defensive force he is might be the only reasonable way forward at this point, although I admit it is time to start looking for the opportune time to change direction. It seems more and more likely that the next move we can expect is a GM change. I'd like to hope that a move to get an actual NBA architect/tactician on the coaching staff will soon follow that step. At THAT point, I'm all for whatever changes they think necessary.
I still can't believe they're THIS bad, and I'd like to believe some simple shakeups/reshuffling in some areas can jumpstart things.