5 Dallas Mavericks Trade Targets to Save Cooper Flagg's Rookie NBA Season
Early November losses usually don’t trigger panic, but a defeat to the 2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans signals a clear warning for the Dallas Mavericks. To give Cooper Flagg's rookie season more meaning than just moral victories, Dallas must make a trade focused on improving their offense.
The Mavericks rank 30th in points per possession and 28th in effective field-goal percentage, with no internal options to fix these problems. D'Angelo Russell is not the solution, and while deploying Flagg at point guard offers useful experimentation, burdening him with heavy floor-general duties too soon harms his development. The Mavs are minus-61 this season when Flagg plays without a point guard, resulting in an offensively bleak rating.
Waiting for Kyrie Irving’s return from ACL surgery is not a viable strategy. His timeline is uncertain, and the Western Conference leaves no room for errors. Therefore, general manager Nico Harrison needs to consider bold moves.
Trade Targets the Mavericks Should Consider
- Tyler Herro: The 25-year-old All-Star hasn’t played this season due to left ankle surgery. Given Norman Powell’s strong play, Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s expanded role, and Kasparas Jakučionis’ recent draft selection, the Miami Heat did not extend Herro's contract in October. This could make Herro more available than previously thought.
"The Dallas Mavericks clearly need to make a trade if they want Cooper Flagg's rookie season to feature more than hollow-hearted moral victories. Any move must be aimed at upgrading the offense."
Dallas must act decisively to improve their offensive woes and help Flagg's rookie season avoid a discouraging narrative.
Would you like me to include the other four trade targets mentioned in the original article?