Nico Harrison Fired: 4 Trades Ideas for the Dallas Mavericks to Begin Rebuild Around Cooper Flagg

Less than ten months after the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade, the Dallas Mavericks have made the move we all saw coming as they fired GM Nico Harrison. With the front office reset and the roster now sitting between two timelines, the direction of the franchise is becoming increasingly unclear.

Dallas currently features veteran stars like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, who when they return to the floor after recovering from injury, will want to compete for championships as their careers come to a close . Yet the team also holds the No. 1 overall pick in Cooper Flagg, whose development suggests a longer-term approach. Balancing these timelines is difficult—maybe impossible—and for that reason, it now feels increasingly likely that the Mavericks could choose to rebuild around their young cornerstone.

While Dallas may not be positioned to contend this season, here are four realistic trade ideas that could help the franchise reset around Flagg and gather much-needed young assets and picks.

Anthony Davis to the Suns

The Trade:

Suns Receive: Anthony Davis

Mavericks Receive: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2026 First Round Pick (Top 5 Protected)

This would essentially be the Suns turning in the package they got for Kevin Durant into Anthony Davis. It gives Phoenix another superstar to pair with Devin Booker, providing him a reason to stay long-term while also giving the Suns a stronger chance to contend.

For Dallas, the return is centered around Jalen Green, a young, high-upside scorer who fits Cooper Flagg’s timeline. Dillon Brooks offers defensive toughness and will likely have trade value at the deadline or next offseason. And for a team with limited draft capital, adding a first-round pick is a meaningful step toward rebuilding.

Daniel Gafford to the Pistons

The Trade:

Pistons Receive: Daniel Gafford

Mavericks Receive: Jaden Ivey

This is a straightforward swap that benefits both teams.

Detroit gets a productive, athletic big man in Gafford who can help them compete in the East immediately. He’s only 26, making him a strong addition for a rising team.

Dallas, meanwhile, adds Jaden Ivey, a young guard with explosive upside who simply needs a fresh environment. Pairing him with Cooper Flagg gives the Mavericks a young backcourt-frontcourt duo to grow together. And with Dereck Lively and PJ Washington already in the fold, Dallas no longer needs Gafford long-term—despite having recently extended him.

Klay Thompson to the Spurs

The Trade:

Spurs Receive: Klay Thompson, 2030 2nd Round Pick

Mavericks Receive: Harrison Barnes

This smaller deal benefits both sides in different ways.

San Antonio adds Klay Thompson, hoping that a new environment and a competitive situation alongside Victor Wembanyama could revitalize his shooting and veteran leadership. With playoff ambitions soon becoming real for the Spurs, adding championship experience makes sense.

Dallas offloads Thompson’s contract a year early while taking back Harrison Barnes, whose expiring deal creates financial flexibility. Barnes can also be flipped again at the deadline, giving Dallas another chance to add future assets.

Kyrie Irving to the Heat

The Trade:

Heat Receive: Kyrie Irving, Caleb Martin, Jaden Hardy

Mavericks Receive: Andrew Wiggins, Terry Rozier's Expiring Contract, 2026 First Round Pick, 2028 First Round Pick (Top 10 Protected)

This is the biggest, most controversial proposal—and likely the riskiest for Dallas.

If Kyrie asks for a move to a contender when healthy, this is the type of package that might make sense.

Miami never fully commits to rebuilding, and this trade lets them stay competitive while adding a theoretical star to chase a deep playoff run. Rozier is not expected to play again due to the betting scandal, but his contract becomes a meaningful trade chip. The Heat could use his salary slot to acquire another difference-maker.

Dallas, meanwhile, adds a defensive wing in Andrew Wiggins, an expiring salary in Rozier, and—most importantly—two first-round picks. For a franchise low on future assets, this injection of draft capital is significant.

The Reality: Dallas Has Limited Trade Assets

Across all of these ideas, one truth stands out: the Mavericks don’t have much trade leverage right now.

• Kyrie Irving remains injury-prone and is a small guard, which lowers his value.

• Anthony Davis carries extensive injury history.

• Klay Thompson has struggled so much that he could become a buyout candidate by the deadline.

• Many of the veterans on the roster are either underperforming or on contracts that limit their market.

This makes any rebuild more challenging—but not impossible.

If the Mavericks had their choice, the ideal scenario may be to hold onto Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, let them get healthy, and see how the roster ultimately fits around Cooper Flagg. That would provide the cleanest vision for the future without resetting entirely.

However, the more realistic outcome is that by next summer, both Kyrie and AD will be gone, giving Dallas a clear path to building a roster fully around Flagg’s timeline.

The Mavericks are entering a pivotal moment. Whether they stay the course or blow it up, their decisions over the next year will shape the franchise for the next decade as they look to move forward in a world post Dončić and Harrison.