The initial optimism about the Dallas Mavericks coming into this season is firmly gone. Instead of establishing themselves as a sneaky contender, they have fallen to a 5-14 record and are continuing to deal with key injuries, and there doesn’t appear to be a way to fix their many issues.

Former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was brazenly confident that superstar big man Anthony Davis, whom they acquired for Luka Doncic in February, would make them an elite defensive team, not to mention a championship-level team. Now, Davis is the subject of trade rumors, and the organization is reportedly open to moving him.

Some feel the Mavs should also trade nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who continues to recover from the torn ACL he suffered late last season. But as ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon said on a recent episode of the “Howdy Partners” podcast, that will not happen.

“What I would tell you about Kyrie is the Mavericks do not want to trade him,” MacMahon said.

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As of last season, Irving, who turned 33 years of age on March 23, was still very much a force in the NBA. He averaged 24.7 points on 47.3 percent field-goal shooting and 40.1% from 3-point range, plus 4.6 assists a game, and the thinking was that once he returned, he and Davis would make a formidable star duo.

But the good fortune Dallas had to draft Duke University phenom Cooper Flagg may have changed their plans. The thinking now is that Dallas should build around Flagg, who is gradually proving that he could be a special player, as well as other young players such as big men Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, forward P.J. Washington and 3-and-D wing Max Christie.

Irving is under contract for two more seasons after this one, with the second season being a player option. His amazing skill sets, not to mention his experience of winning the NBA championship in 2016, could prove to be very valuable across the league.

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The defending world champion Oklahoma City Thunder were in a similar situation not too long ago when they were stuck in mediocrity with one or two aging stars, and they have written the playbook on how to reset: Trade away those stars, and get young prospects and as many draft picks as possible in return. Perhaps that is the playbook the Mavericks should follow right now, as they have an excellent young prospect already in the versatile Flagg.

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