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

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Again, the problem is "why?" There is a very low chance that you'd find a player as good as either with a late first round pick, and even if you hit on the pick(s) it will be 2-4 years (starting when the pick is made - the drafts in question might be a few years down the road already) before you have a player who's the equivalent of what you're giving up with either of those two. If you think you'll be bad for the next few years, that's a decent risk to take because before long those guys (Marshall and Gafford) will be old and worth less, anyway. But, if there's a chance of being good in the next year or so, letting go of those guys (for draft capital, at least) could be a mistake (unless you get back better fitting pieces of equivalent quality, not just picks).

I just don't know what I think they should do, frankly. Honestly, if there was just a starting level PG here, I might be in favor of trying to compete next season, in which case I'd be looking at reshaping the roster in a completely different light. It's really that close of a call for me.

The why is future assets.  If for example a player you like such as Darius Garland becomes available, future 1st rd picks are needed.  The more you have, the better.  It's not really about the player picked using that pick being as good as Naji or Gafford.

The chances of being good next year are about what they were this year.  Being good would require Anthony Davis to be healthy.  We've seen how that goes.  We're gonna be stuck in this never ending loop of "if AD was healthy..."

It feels to me like people are looking at all the recognizable names the Mavs have on paper.  That does not make a good team.  Most of their top players have health or fit concerns.  Cooper Flagg and Max Christie are the only certainties.