MAVS NEWS:

[OBX Maverick]

First, you're fighting ghosts here. I doubt anyone here would deny that Luka is, to date, the second best player ever to put on a Mavs jersey. Likewise, he gave all of us levels of joy and a respite from life's ills that are hard to measure. PERIOD. FULL STOP.

However, the question posited was whether on October 28, 2026, we would rather build around a 27 year old Luka or a 19 year old Cooper. With all due respect (truly), your response was built on past accomplishments and  emotions.  Again, I get it, Luka did some great things, but that's in the rear-view mirror. 

I suppose if you want to use your resume for Luka as a barometer or measuring stick for Cooper, I'd ask, whether you think Flagg will get the Mavs to an NBA Finals before his 27th birthday. If you're asking me, I say, yes, and take that bet everyday and twice on Sunday. 

What makes me so sure? I think Luka thinks he wants to win. But I KNOW COOPER DOES.

What do I mean? I have no doubt that anytime Luka is near a basketball court he wants to be the best player on it. Yes,, he wants to win. But I truly don't think he wants it as much as he thinks he does. Too many times he's said the quiet part outloud.: that he doesn't have it in him to condition himself to play long into his 30s. Now, I appreciate his honesty, and he doesn't owe anyone to play any longer than he wants. That said, conditioning IS a part of winning. 

On the other hand, I think Cooper wakes up nearly every night in a cold sweat wondering what he could be doing to get better. I would also wager that if a "basketball guru" told him that 5 years of abstinence would help him to get to a championship, I'd bet he'd strongly consider it.

 Likewise, how many of us are 40+? Remember how easy, relatively speaking, life felt, physically, in your 20s? And then in your 30s there was a bit of a hitch? Then, suddenly, somewhere in your 40s your body fell like it was hit by a bus (enjoy it it now, you 20 year olds!)?  I love Luka, but I think one year he's gonna go from being All NBA to suddenly being played off the court. In the last few years he's missed a ridiculous amount of games and that's when his body is at its peak, better than it ever will be in his life. Knowing how Luka's temperament is, I wonder what he'll be like when his game gets hard. Like hard-hard. If he's a player capable of being a knockdown shooter, but physically he can't get to his spots (and is still a sieve on defense). How much would a coach play him?

Again, this isn't meant to bash Luka at all. I'm merely, analytically, looking at his future game. I mean, as bad as February 2, 2025, was, is it possible that the Mavs caught basketball lightning in a bottle, where we enjoyed Dirk's career, immediately pressed reser, then we enjoyed a top 5 talent like Luka in his peak years (never experiencing anything but "Luka Magic"), immediately pressed reset, and then getting to watch someone who could be the best player in the league? 

Hey, there's no way the Mavs get Cooper without losing Luka. Yeah, it was some sh-tty tasting medicine, but I'm happy the Mavs backed into Coop.

I said this way back when we lucked into the #1 pick and got Coop, and I’ll say it again now. The Mavs would never have been in the lottery with  Luka still playing for us that season. Yes, god, and everyone else, knows we got fleeced by the LAL in that trade. But could you say (especially with what we’re seeing now) that the Mavs came out ahead in the assets they gained from the Luka trade + Flagg? I think it’s a valid argument. 

I was and still am a Luka fan. He’s a good guy. But let’s face it, he was and still is immature. That’s what always got me with him….the arguing and complaining, the lingering back behind the play to complain to the referee…..especially after watching Dirk play for 21 years. Cooper came in as an 18 year old rookie more mature than Luka is now. To watch Cooper impact the game in a major way on both ends of the floor is a thing of beauty, and honestly, is something I’ve never seen happen in a Mavericks uniform over the last 46 seasons. And one more thing….as the father of 3 boys, you have to give it to Coop’s parents for raising him right.  As a teenaged phenom, he might be a much different person now if not for the obvious values and lessons his parents taught him.