After the Dallas Mavericks traded away Luka Doncic, it felt like the franchise was headed for dark times.
Then, lightning struck, and with a 1.8% chance to do so, they received the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and were awarded Duke's Cooper Flagg, a generational prospect.
Now, armed with a slew of veterans in Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, Dallas appears ready to contend in the 2025-26 season. But what other moves can they make to improve the team, while also finding a balance of maintaining a young core to grow with Flagg?
Mavericks Trade Idea Lands Trey Murphy From Pelicans
Bleacher Report recently released an article naming each team's best trade asset and deals they could make involving them. For the Mavericks, they listed their 2029 Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick, and mocked a trade landing them a three-and-D wing to pair with Flagg.
Dallas Mavericks receive: Trey Murphy III
New Orleans Pelicans receive: P.J. Washington, Max Christie, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, a 2029 first-round pick (via LAL) and a 2032 first-round pick (top-three protected)
"This price probably looks steep to some, but the Mavs could pay it if they think Murphy is the missing piece of their championship puzzle. And maybe they would." Wrote BR's Zach Buckley.
"He's almost a turbo-charged three-and-D support piece, boasting both a 38.3 percent career splash rate and the physical tools to be an all-purpose defender. Plus, he just shattered his previous bests in points (21.2) and assists (3.5) this past season."
While the New Orleans Pelicans probably shouldn't be in the business of giving up good, young players, this package may be too fruitful for them to turn down.
Trey Murphy, only 25 years old, would be a nice building block for the Mavericks to have grow alongside Flagg.
The rest of their team is mostly north of 30, so acquiring a young asset like Murphy would help Dallas build out their roster with win-now veterans and players budding into key contributors.