05-27-2026, 01:35 PM
(05-27-2026, 11:11 AM)numnuts23 Wrote: See, I'm the opposite of you. Without draft pick control over the next couple years and having a young generational talent, it makes zero sense to slow build this team. If anything, you speed the process up. Get him playoff experience now...because it's a different animal than the regular season. The faster he gets a taste of it, the better for the franchise overall. Get it now, while SA and OKC are the beast that they are. Sure, you might not compete for the title right now, but your getting him that experience that will be needed when the team is there.
I agree with this, in theory. Definitely want to get Flagg (and hopefully other young players who'll still be here when the team is actually good) into meaningfully competitive games ASAP to expedite growth. Right there with you.
I just don't know that I'm as confident as you that it's a simple matter of choice. Tell me who the new coach is, and that they'll have a fully healthy season of Lively and the equation might change some for me, but as of right this second I'm not sure I see making the playoffs as something within the Mavs' power of choice.