Trade & FA 2025-26: Free Agency Starts 5pm CST/6pm EST

[vfromlmf]

AD is still a top 12 player and top 3 center when healthy. If the Mavs deal him, odds are strongly against getting a player of similar ability whether through trade or through the draft. But even if they luck into a future star, that player will likely need years to develop.

Now consider the average number of games played for all players drafted in the lottery over the last 10 years:

Lottery picks 2016-2019: 59.6 games

Lottery picks: 2020-2024: 66.1 games

All lottery picks 2016-2024: 63.3 games

Lively year one, 55 games; year two, 36 games; year three, 7 games

Anthony Davis (career): 60.5 games

I watch sports to see teams compete and win. Some people want to make sports a drama. I'll leave the drama to the stage. This team looks competitive with Davis at center. A bird in hand is better than two in the bush.

If the Christie and Naji drafts were reordered, they'd both be top 20 picks. PJW was a lottery pick and would go higher.

This team has talent. Let's just get Kyrie back and see what they can do.

That said, if we're itching to do a deal and the team thinks AD, PJW, Powell and Cisse can handle the center minutes I could be talked into Gafford for Mathurin.