The Dallas Mavericks have plenty of offseason moves on the table as they navigate the summer.
The Dallas Mavericks, after trading away Luka Doncic, gave up a decade-long title window under the Slovenian superstar in return for a three-year shot with Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis.
Promptly after the trade, Irving tore his ACL, ruining any plans of contention that Dallas had for next season. However, the Mavericks defied the odds, landing the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. Cooper Flagg is the consensus top prospect, although the Mavericks have plenty of options.
They could shock the world by drafting Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper instead, or they could trade the pick for a player like Kevin Durant or Giannis Antetokounmpo and go all-in on the next two or three seasons, although the best course of action is the simplest.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesGilbert Arenas gives Dallas Mavericks some advice
Between trade rumors, draft speculation, and the general unpredictability of Nico Harrison in the front office, all options are on the table for the Mavs.
However, if they want to win a title, adding a solid, multi-level scorer who can play elite defense should be the priority around Davis, Thompson, and a healthy Irving.
Flagg fits the bill, and doing the simplest thing would be best for Dallas.
“Even without the number one pick, they felt that they, with the trades they made, they were a contender,” said Gilbert Arenas.
“So adding the number one pick and, you know, let him get a year under himself and, you know, Kyrie comes back, you know, that team right there would probably be a favorite to win a chip, you know, 2027.”
While adding KD, Giannis, or another proven talent might be tantalizing, Flagg is a very well-rounded player who can play a multitude of positions, which is exactly the type of player the Mavs need.
Dallas Mavericks’ lineup with Flagg
While in theory the Mavs could trade for an established point guard like Trae Young or Ja Morant, staying the course and waiting for Irving to recover is likely the best option.
Irving, Thompson, and Davis are all high-level players who, when healthy, can compete for an All-Star spot. Add in role-players like Dereck Lively II, PJ Washington, Naji Marshall, and Daniel Gafford, and the Mavs have size, shooting, and physicality.
Flagg is the glue that holds it all together.
He can shoot, slash, and pass. While he is not a point guard, expect the offense to run through him, especially as Irving continues his recovery.
Flagg will turn 19 in December, and after spending last summer with Team USA’s select squad, going up against Davis, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, reports emerged that the then-17-year-old was holding his own.
Depending on how the Mavericks utilize him, he could be the second-best player on both sides of the ball behind Davis and an All-Star from day one. Trading the pick, as Arenas explained, is not conducive to winning.