Armed with the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft as well as two 2025 All-Stars on the wrong side of 30, the Mavericks are gearing up for a “two-timeline” approach, much like the Warriors strived to do when they had an opportunity to complement aging incumbent stars with lottery picks in 2020 and ’21, writes Christian Clark of The Athletic.
Duke forward Cooper Flagg, the top prospect among the 2025 draft class, could slot in as the rare one-and-done rookie who helps his team win in the present, Clark opines. The big question about Dallas’ contender status, however, stems from just how healthy 32-year-old Anthony Davis and 33-year-old Kyrie Irving will be during the next few years they’re under contract.
There’s more out of Dallas:
- After drafting Flagg, the Mavericks will have a variety of items to address during the 2025 offseason, as Keith Smith of Spotrac details in a thorough summer preview. Irving has a player option for next year, while guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Dante Exum are unrestricted free agents. Smith notes that Irving expects to return to the floor around the 2026 All-Star break. Smith projects that he could opt out and agree to a three-year, $120MM deal to remain with the Mavericks. Smith notes that free agents like Chris Paul, Malcolm Brogdon, Tyus Jones and Tre Jones could all get a look from Dallas as possible Irving replacements.
- With Irving likely sidelined for much of the 2025/26 season, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News proposes five veteran players at Irving’s position that the Mavericks could target on the trade market, including Bulls guards Coby White and Lonzo Ball, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, and more.
- In case you missed it, Mavericks assistant coach Sean Sweeney has made the third round of candidates for the Suns’ head coaching vacancy.
Is jaylen brown or jrue holiday part of that timeline? Because Flagg will playing in Boston next season…
Holiday ……. Nico I got you.
Jrue Holiday for Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington
Make another deal shipping of KP for depth and picks maybe
Celtics
White Brown … PJ Gafford
Pritchard … Hauser … Horford
They need a centre, they need to get younger and they need to build depth but also save money. Tatum will likely be out for all of next season but this team should be good enough for a playoff appearance maybe even an upset.
Tatum will return and they will be younger and hungrier the
Mavs
Holiday Klay Cooper AD Lively
Hardy Christie Martin Naji Powell
Kyrie will return and they will be one of the best teams in the league. They have defence, offence, experience, athleticism and relatively good depth. Williams, Exum and Dinwiddie all off contract and maybe a Gafford replacement and they could be favourites.
KPs next contract all things considered might be unders yet, ie Pritchard. Definitely needs cover though.
Marshall, Gafford for Jrue.
I’d try get PJ instead of Naji but if you have to settle for that then I’d still be happy with that if your Boston. Naji works better for depth more versatile and happy to be a starter or come off the bench.
White Brown Naji KP Gafford, that’s nice