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

[KillerLeft]

The Mavs won’t be a contender next year by any means. Mostly because their best two players aren’t on the court enough. I’m fine with AD and Kyrie being here through their contract though. To bridge the gap to when Cooper is that Top-10 in the league type player. I don’t want the Mavs to make moves to improve their perceived contention status next year or anything. As in, send a future pick for a more win-now player. If they win organically because their best players are healthy, so be it.

I think that’s how they should operate. Sell high on Vets that may not fit in 2-3 years, collect assets, and focus on player development.

See, right there. With respect, I can't wrap my head around this logic, and I feel you're sidestepping the question, somewhat, despite giving clear answers. 

To be clear, I don't know which way is the right way to go, but I'm uncomfortable with this sort of line straddling. If, like you state, I thought for sure "the Mavs won't be a contender next year by any means," then I'd very quickly settle on the notion that almost all vets need to be liquidated into either draft capital, extremely young players or both.

And, it's not that I don't see the value in mixing vets in with the youngsters - I've always been a proponent of continuity and experience in this community. But, the team just doesn't have many assets other than some attractive veteran role players. If they're not going to be good (by my definition, a contender), then they need to get busy acquiring assets that aren't going to age out so quickly. 

What I'm saying is that those who've chosen a clear direction on how to handle this trade deadline seem to have decided what they believe in terms of the team's near future, whether they realize it consciously or not. 

I just don't think it's as clear as some think whether or not they'll be good. I'm a little paralyzed by indecision, and I wonder if the Mavs are, too.