The Dallas Mavericks’ season is already over even when there’s nonetheless 5 months and greater than 70 video games remaining within the 2025-26 marketing campaign. The Mavs are off to a disastrous 3-7 begin regardless of enjoying the NBA’s third best schedule up to now. Dallas has misplaced to the tanking Washington Wizards, the hapless New Orleans Pelicans, and the sinking Memphis Grizzlies to open the season, and so they barely beat the 1-9 Indiana Pacers.
Dallas’ offense ranks No. 29 within the NBA. They’re one of many league’s worst groups are taking and making three-pointers, grabbing offensive rebounds, and producing assists. The Mavs are shedding the possession sport on a nightly foundation and they’re arguably the worst shot-making group in basketball. They wrestle to provide paint touches with out a actual level guard on the roster as Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. The protection enters the week No. 4 within the NBA, however whereas this franchise believes “protection wins championships” it’s changing into clear that it doesn’t win common season video games when the offense is that this pathetic.
The Mavs have someway discovered a method to thread the needle of being the NBA’s saddest franchise whereas using one of many league’s brightest younger stars at the beginning of his profession. Dallas cashed in on a miracle 1.8 % probability to win the lottery for Cooper Flagg, and he’s had a tough begin to his profession. Flagg’s scoring effectivity is completely abysmal (49.5 % true capturing as league-average is 58.2 %), he nearly has as many turnovers as assists, and the protection has been 10 factors per 100 possessions with him off the ground. Flagg is the youngest participant within the NBA this season after spending solely three years in highschool, and he’s additionally enjoying out of place as a de facto level guard for the primary time in his life. He’s going to be glorious finally, and these further on-ball reps proper now ought to solely assist him develop long-term. It’s simply an unlimited bummer that this “generational” prospect goes by a misplaced rookie yr and taking a look at a grim group context going ahead with out some troublesome selections and lots of luck over the subsequent eight months.
The fanbase that will get to root for Flagg needs to be overjoyed, however in fact Mavericks followers stay depressing as a result of the notorious commerce that was made earlier than he arrived. Luka Doncic continues to hang-out Dallas, and at this level there’s little doubt that it’ll go down as one of many worst trades within the historical past of sports activities. My authentic D+ grade for Dallas within the deal was far, far too beneficiant, and I’m frankly a bit embarrassed I didn’t give it an F. Doncic flirting with 40-point triple-doubles for the Los Angeles Lakers each evening to open the season solely provides salt to the wound. His presence hangs over this franchise like a ghost, and so they can’t transfer on till the mess is lastly cleaned up.
The day after the Mavs received the draft lottery, I laid out a plan for find out how to construct round Flagg: 1) hearth Nico Harrison, 2) commerce Anthony Davis, 3) begin to construct the asset chest for the lengthy haul. It seems that the Mavericks could be able to take step one, and in the event that they’re good the subsequent two will rapidly observe.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported that it’s turn into “unavoidable on the highest ranges” that the Mavs want to think about firing Harrison. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon adopted by saying that there’s a “very very robust chance” that Harrison will probably be fired throughout this season. The Doncic commerce will probably be Harrison’s legacy, and I worry it is going to survive lengthy after anybody studying this put up is lifeless. This the fashionable NBA’s model of the Crimson Sox buying and selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees, and never even Flagg goes to make Dallas followers neglect about it.
The truth is that the Mavs have already broken the Flagg period by ready this lengthy to fireplace Harrison. In information that may shock nobody, Davis is already lacking video games this season as he offers with a calf harm. Davis turns 33 years outdated in March, and he began the season about 20 kilos obese. He’s underneath contract for $58.4 million subsequent season with a $62.7 million participant possibility for 2027-28. Klutch Sports activities mouthpiece ESPN insider Shams Charania guessed that Davis may return 4 first-round picks in a commerce earlier this offseason. At this level, even two firsts feels too wealthy for Davis, and he could rapidly be verging on being a damaging asset.
The Mavs can solely tank for this season. Dallas doesn’t management its first-round decide in 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. I’m already fascinated about Flagg enjoying on the qualifying supply on the finish of his rookie contract and signing together with his hometown Boston Celtics in free company. Dallas can nonetheless save the Flagg period, however they need to act fast and nail all the things any more. As soon as Nico is fired, the enjoyable begins.
What does the Anthony Davis commerce market appear to be?
It’s not straightforward to discover a touchdown spot for Davis that truly works by way of each wage matching and applicable draft compensation. Sarcastically, I believe the Lakers are the perfect on-court match for Davis, however making that commerce can be completely untenable for the GM that proceeds Harrison, plus the Lakers solely have one unprotected first spherical decide to supply proper now.
LeBron James + an unprotected 2032 first-round decide works. I hate this commerce and it’ll by no means occur:
Right here’s a pair different potential Davis suitors:
- Chicago Bulls: The Bulls are the NBA’s greatest shock, and Davis is a Chicago native. The Bulls’ greatest gap is rim safety and Davis may resolve that downside, however his unwillingness to play heart full-time can be a hindrance. Chicago may commerce Coby White if it doesn’t wish to pay him in free company as a result of it already has lots of guards. Throw in Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith, plus an unprotected first-round decide in 2027, plus Portland’s lottery-protected first-round, and the salaries work. I personally don’t love this for the Bulls — why destroy factor? can Davis ever play 60 video games in a season once more? — but it surely’s one thing to consider.
- Toronto Raptors: Toronto desires to compete within the East this yr and so they have each the draft picks and the contracts to land Davis. Level guard is the Raptors’ greatest want, however I’m jus throwing this on the market.
- Portland Path Blazers: Hey, AD may truly play the 4 right here. The Blazers have a couple of younger gamers they might throw in right here however one thing like this works.
- Miami Warmth: The Warmth are all the time star-hunting, and so they could be the one franchise that might get Davis in form and capable of keep on the court docket. Eh?
Who else can Dallas commerce?
Each single participant on the roster exterior of Flagg needs to be on the commerce block. I’d maintain Dereck Vigorous II and Max Christie to pair with Flagg long-term, however the remainder of this roster needs to be auctioned off for draft picks. These gamers ought to have first rate worth across the league even when they aren’t returning future first-round picks:
- Daniel Gafford
- Klay Thompson
- PJ Washington
- Naji Marshall
And what occurs to Kyrie? The Mavs may maintain him round to assist Flagg’s improvement, however at this stage of his profession Irving most likely solely desires to compete for championships. He ought to most likely simply be traded this offseason, too.
The Mavs are in a extremely, actually dangerous state of affairs. This group is listening to “Marvin’s Room” within the pregame locker room and that alone is sufficient to blow this entire factor up. Nico Harrison needs to be fired tomorrow, even when this mess is admittedly governor Patrick Dumont’s fault. The Mavs need to act quick, as a result of day-after-day they wait their long-term state of affairs round Flagg will get worse and worse.
