The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison and have found themselves in trade rumors surrounding Anthony Davis, but another domino needs to fall.
Firing Nico Harrison was only the beginning for the Dallas Mavericks. As veteran reporter Mike Fisher points out in the video above, "the stench remains."
The only path forward is clear: Dallas has to rebuild around Cooper Flagg. By the grace of lottery luck, the Mavericks walked away from the Luka Doncic trade with a franchise player to build around. Is Flagg the player Harrison had in mind? Nope, but they're no longer following his blueprint.
Anthony Davis, by virtue of his age, injury history, and unwillingness to play center, does not fit Flagg's timeline. Trading him away seems to be an inevitability, with his hometown Chicago Bulls seemingly the best fit.
Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson have also been included in trade rumors, but I'd like to take things a step further: Flagg and Dereck Lively II should be the only untouchable players on the roster.
That means it'll soon be time to say goodbye to Kyrie Irving.
I understand that Irving immediately bought into being the second option in Dallas after rocky stints in Cleveland, Boston, and Brooklyn. I understand that he represents the bygone era where Dallas made the Finals. However, in order to find success with Flagg, the Mavericks need to prioritize him and only him.
Irving might not return from his torn ACL until after his 34th birthday. As talented as he is, that's not the player who should be a centerpiece around Flagg.
Dallas seems destined to land a top pick once again, and the 2026 draft is the last time before 2031 that the Mavericks will control their own first-round pick. By flipping Davis, Gafford, Thompson, and even Irving for future-driven assets, they can start to build around Flagg, Lively II, and Peterson/Boozer/Wilson/Brown Jr., or any other top prospect they land next summer.
While Irving could provide a stable backcourt presence, the "three-year widow" promised by Harrison after the Doncic trade was never really opened. As long as he has value around the league, the Mavericks would be best off trading Irving, even if ripping the band-aid off will be painful.
Fans might not want Irving gone. However, in order to best get past the Harrison/Doncic trade debacle, going all-in on the young core is the only real option. Rebuilding takes time. With Flagg in town, the process can be sped up, but it can't be rushed.
The Mavericks desperately need to clean house both on and off the court. Fans have reckoned with the inevitability of trading Gafford, Thompson, and Davis. Add one more name to that list.