12-10-2025, 11:21 AM
(12-09-2025, 06:42 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I was thinking something very similar earlier today.
Gafford was signed in a way that he could be easily traded. I personally think a PnR big would be more highly valued elsewhere.
Rich Paul is already chirping about an extension this summer for AD. Even if I wanted to keep the band together to make a run this season (which I don't), the thought of an AD extension would scare me. Off topic, but I'm seeing evidence that past their prime stars aren't getting extended at their full max under the dual apron system like they used to. I would predict AD's next contract (or extension) won't be anywhere near the max years and money the press so obligingly throws out there.
Finally, you have Thompson. I don't think we are under any obligation to move him to a contender. I don't mind it, but we should be compensated. His off the bench shooting would be valuable in the right situation
The trick, if you send out all three guys, is you've wiped out your center rotation (with Lively likely out) and one of only two reliable three point shooters. Not that you are going to win a ton of games without these guys, but I want the Mavs to keep playing hard. I don't think you can make these trades just about draft picks and expiring trash. That's why I keep coming up with guys like Mathurin, or Risacher/Okongwu (or even Asa Newell as a secondary element...BTW, I think he played HS ball with Flagg) or Ivey/Holland.
I want to back fill some of the outgoing with players that are young-ish (not necessarily babies) and competent NBA players with upside. Someone like Okongwu is never going to be a Top-20 NBA player, but he's a plus guy who is young-ish and a decent style fit next to Flagg. Mathurin and Ivey aren't world beaters. But I want someone like that as my Klay replacement even if they aren't the direct return in a Klay deal. Add in the 8th pick and some future compensation as part of these deals and get to work on a rebuild. I'm also less desperate to bring back PG's. We still have Kyrie and we still have some decent bench guys. Work the deals to be a competent team next season with players with upside alongside Flagg and our 26 pick and a somewhat restocked draft board going forward.
There is no point in a complete tear down as we don't benefit from that in draft positioning past this season. Players like Davis, Gafford and Thompson should bring back players who may be too young to contribute greatly to winning today for their current teams, but could contribute to winning here a few years into the Flagg era.
Yeah, there has been a lot of talk about Atlanta, but Detroit was another one of the teams mentioned. Something like AD + Klay for Harris + Ivey + Holland + Stewart. Some young players, salary relief and Stewart makes it easier to trade Gafford for Mathurin (and the salary relief gets you the room need to sign him). Maybe you get some assets as well that would probably have to go to Indiana.