The Dallas Mavericks are expected to do some cap maneuvering to set up Duke Blue Devils basketball phenom Cooper Flagg as the next face of the franchise after they take him No. 1 overall at the 2025 NBA draft.
One expected move is re-signing Kyrie Irving on a reasonable yearly rate, but for several years, to get underneath the second tax apron and avoid a massive tax bill.
“I think the sensible solution is, he opts out, lowers his 2025-26 salary to help them with their apron issues, but gets multiple years to make up for it. Something like, idk, 4x130-140 with a partial or non-guarantee on the last year,” CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn tweeted.
As Quinn explained, Irving’s trade value is too low to attempt to extract any assets from an opposing team.
Quinn also believes the Mavs would be doing Flagg dirty by committing to a multi-year tank.
“I don’t think he has trade value. That’s a combination of the injury, the contract situation and just how unpredictable he is,” Quinn added on Irving.
“I don’t want a prolonged tank with Flagg. There’s no benefit. They don’t control their picks. I want a brief dip followed by an upward trajectory.”
As for a potential Anthony Davis trade, Quinn feels the team should consider it if the cost were at least four future first-round picks.
“If someone offers them four or five firsts it would be absolute malpractice not to take them,” Quinn wrote.
“That’s your ticket to building a winner around Flagg! What are we doing here? Why prioritize the timeline of two guys in their 30s, one of whom has a torn ACL, over the No. 1 pick’s?”
Dallas is seemingly between a rock, a hard place, and a rebuild. Depending on how good Flagg is, though, there may not be much rebuilding necessary.