MAVS NEWS:

[F Gump]

I think the first order of business is not letting AD play another minute and trade him to the highest bidder. It's time to rebuild around Cooper.

I agree the Mavs need to maximize CF's development and timeline. And get him plenty of minutes to develop NBA skills.

However when it comes to AD, I don't agree the Mavs rush into a "get rid of him" deal should be part of the process. He is the Mavs best trade asset. A half-season ago he landed Luka Doncic (!) in return. He's a 2-way big. Yes he has flaws, but the idea to bury him, then take whatever you can get, that's way wrong.

Instead, imo you have to get him healthy, then get him back in the lineup and looking great. You limit his minutes to 28-30, but you prioritize his stats, with the goal that even Mavs fans see him as priceless. You keep him all season with those as your priorities. If that focus on AD means the Mavs win a lot, or if it means they lose a lot, either way is okay imo. (To me only bad outcome is landing in the middle, where you get neither a top pick nor a strong playoff run.) The goal is All-NBA, non-injured AD.

And THEN in the summer you make the "hard decision" to move him, to make more room for CF, and you take the big giant offer some team will make in order to have an all-NBA caliber big on their roster.