Trading Anthony Davis unlocks Dallas' future, reshaping the roster around rising star Cooper Flagg and his potential for long-term contention.
For the second season in a row, the Dallas Mavericks have made a huge splash at the NBA trade deadline.
Fortunately for them, this one went over a lot better with the fans than when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
But, then again, most trades in NBA history would.
Dallas traded away Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, two first-round picks, and three second-rounders.
This does mean that the team will likely not be coming back and contending this season, but it does mean they can further build around Cooper Flagg to give him the best chance at contending in the future.
The former Duke Blue Devil is already having a spectacular start to his NBA career at 20 points, just under seven rebounds, and four assists per game. As a result, he is currently the frontrunner to take home the Rookie of the Year award.
But past this season, Flagg looks to be the centerpiece for everything the Mavericks are looking to do for the foreseeable future.
And trading away an aging Anthony Davis gives them the flexibility to build around him.
Dealing the future Hall of Fame big man frees up $57 million in cap space for the Mavs, which they could use to perhaps sign some young players or extend ones they already have.
Not to mention the picks that the team got in the trade, which is easily more than they got for their former franchise player when they sent him to the Lakers.
Even with Kyrie Irving set to come back from injury, Flagg is now undeniably the focal point of the entire team, and he has been showing in his past few games that is the correct decision for Dallas to make right now.
Just a few games ago hew put up a career-high with 49 against the Charlotte Hornets, which is also the most points that a 19-year-old has ever scored.
So while trading away a star like AD is often going to feel wrong in the moment, it could set up Dallas well for the future to build the team of their dreams around their new icon.