2025 draft thread: THE MAVS WIN THE 1ST PICK

[Smitty]

My preferred summer doesn't really align with or satisfy most of the opinions here, but it's very much in the vein of these recent posts.

The moves are mostly simply ones, not splashy, and basically would IN TOTAL see the Mavs get Ball and send away Martin, Hardy, and DP. Re-sign Jones (multi-year minimum with TO or NG at end) and Exum (2 yrs 9M). Kyrie re-signs at 3/120.

That's 14. The 15th spot is probably left open, for development and flexibility, and there's still room to spend TxMLE, more or less, and stay below A2.

In the summer they sign PJW to a 3-4 year extension (maybe 20M/yr?) and Gafford to a 2-3 yr extension (maybe 15M/yr?), with a plan to have a big rugged team that wears you down and has the opportunity to grow together. Their PG plan uses lots of combo type guards to create offense, with some big enough to play and defend at SG, but no one to be heliocentric. Kyrie returns in time, but in the meantime some mix-and-match of Klay, Flagg (a point-forward, actually, but starting like Luka's NBA time did with the ball in his hands a lot and a vagueness as to his position), Williams, Ball, Exum. Don't quibble about the details but recognize they definitely would have no problem filling the overall G rotation with good players.

They end up comfortably under A2 with flexibility and a very manageable payroll future.

The end result looks like this:
Starters  ---- main backups ---- deep backups to start season
C - Lively ---- Gafford ---- Jones
F - AD, PJW ---Naji --- Prosper
G - CF, Klay ---Williams, Christie, Ball, Exum --Kyrie eventually

Starting CF at SG essentially is partly because I think he can play that position and present HUGE problems to the opponent on both ends at that position, and also to ensure he gets enough minutes. But if he never plays a minute at G, there's still more than enough good guards to handle their needs.

There's options to go big, small, depth to deal with injuries, and lots of very good talent at every position. And most importantly to me, it doesn't take an impossible get by trade from another team, nor impossible salary-shedding gymnastics.

It's just difficult not to like this. Flagg makes a hell of a difference when it comes to opinions on the Mavs roster. I don't know that it's my top choice on the way I'd want them to go this offseason but it's definitely an acceptable one. 

There's something to be said about keeping talented players and letting the coaching staff figure out the fit. I've said it already but want to stress the continuity part also. There's been so much roster turnover every offseason and TDL, that it's impossible to know what any one version of the Mavs is capable of. The bad thing about this coming season is we still won't have an idea on their ceiling until Kyrie is back and looking like Kyrie.