Conventional wisdom had it that Anthony Davis was worth maybe 25 cents on the dollar at the deadline, if that, so it says a couple things that the Mavs traded him Wednesday to the Wizards for three expiring contracts; an intriguing young talent; two first-round picks and three seconds, which might have been a better haul than what they got for Luka Doncic.
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First, either Michael Finley or Matt Riccardi, the Mavs’ interim co-general managers, should be a front-runner for the job full-time after getting this done.
And, second, I think I found Nico Harrison.
Mavericks
Whispering in Will Dawkins’ ear.
No other way to explain it.
Dawkins, the Wizards’ general manager, traded for Trae Young last month and must think he just made Washington into a contender for next season. Because, as everyone knows, AD is all-world when healthy.
Except, unlike Dawkins and Nico, you and I know Street Clothes earned his nickname.
He’s played in 29 games since the trade and more than 56 only once in the last six seasons. He turns 33 next month. He’s collecting one of the NBA’s seven largest salaries, he’s due $58 million next year and $62 million the year after that, and he wants a new deal this summer.
Counting on one of the league’s most expensive talents to play meaningful minutes from here on out at his age with a track record like that is nearly as foolish as Nico trading a perennial MVP candidate at 26.
The good news is AD’s the Wizards’ problem now.
The bad news is this closes out the Luka error nearly a year to the day after its execution, and it’s still not enough.
Final tally: All of the above, including Oklahoma City’s first-rounder this year and a top-20 protected pick from Golden State in 2030, plus Max Christie and the Lakers’ first in 2029.
No use thinking they would somehow make up for what they lost in Luka. Frankly, I can’t believe they got what they did, much less hope for more by waiting until this summer.
Hope is all you can get from AD these days, and hope is not a plan. The Mavs realized the error that was made and effectively cleared the crime scene. And they did it without giving AD away.
They got cap room and capital to build for the future, which changed the moment they lucked into the first pick last year.
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Cooper Flagg is as good as everyone figured he’d be, even after a rough start. He went from a highly regarded rookie expected to be a satellite of AD and Kyrie Irving to the center of their universe, all in less than five months. He looks every bit the kind of player they can build around.
Call it a rebuild if you like, but it might have a short arc. With Wednesday’s trade, the Mavs shed nearly $70 million in cap space for next season; nearly doubled their draft capital through 2030; and created a $20 million trade exception for next year.
Considering they didn’t subtract much from their nucleus, they might not be done, either. Don’t be surprised if Daniel Gafford or Klay Thompson is dealt before Thursday’s deadline.
Of the players the Mavs got in return from Washington, Texas A&M’s Khris Middleton, once a fine sidekick to Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, is the best, but he’s 34 now and in steep decline. The value is in his expiring contract, same as Marvin Bagley III and Malaki Branham. AJ Johnson, a 6-5 combo guard, is the only former Wizard under contract beyond this season. He’s shown flashes. Ought to see an opportunity to pick up Jaden Hardy’s minutes.
Not much else really matters at this point. Just positioning for a lottery pick. The Mavs currently sit seventh in a good draft. Could they use some of their new capital to rise even higher? At least it’s an option.
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They could use an heir to Kyrie Irving, who’s got another year and a player option. Will he come back as good as he was? Hard to believe so. He turns 34 next month, and his game is built on speed and quickness.
Just the same, I think I’d hold on to him a little longer. By all accounts, he’s been a leader and good teammate. Of course, you could say the same about AD. The difference is Kyrie has played meaningful minutes for the Mavs, and he didn’t cost them an icon.
Both matters were beyond AD’s control, but they’re factors, nonetheless. Perception is reality, especially when you bought a franchise to sell a casino. Las Vegas was always going to be a tough sell in Texas, and they only made it tougher with the actions of the former GM. AD’s mere presence represented tangible evidence of everything wrong with the new regime.
The new guys still seem a little bewildered that the locals took the loss of Luka so hard, if you really want to know. Nico did quite a number on Patrick Dumont. Others no doubt did, too. Maybe even the head coach.
The best you can hope is that it’s all behind them now. Time to move on, just like Luka has. No, the future isn’t what it once was. The good news is, they’ve still got one.
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN
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