5 Dallas Mavericks Trade Targets to Save Cooper Flagg's Rookie NBA Season
Early November losses usually don't cause panic, but when the 2025-26 New Orleans Pelicans are the opponent, it's time to raise concerns. The Dallas Mavericks must make a trade to improve Cooper Flagg's rookie season beyond minor moral victories.
Any move should focus on boosting Dallas' offense. Currently, the Mavericks rank 30th in points scored per possession and 28th in effective field-goal percentage, with no internal solutions available. D'Angelo Russell is not the answer.
Playing Flagg as a point guard is an interesting experiment but overburdens him with responsibilities too soon. The Mavs have a minus-61 net rating when Flagg plays without a true point guard and suffer from an offensively poor rating.
Relying on Kyrie Irving's return from an ACL injury is unwise. His recovery timeline is uncertain, and the Western Conference leaves no room for error.
Trade Targets to Consider
Here are five realistic yet ambitious players the Mavericks should explore:
- Tyler Herro – Yet to play this season while recovering from left ankle surgery. Due to Norman Powell's strong play, Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s increased role, and Kasparas Jakučionis' recent selection, the Miami Heat chose not to extend Herro's contract in October. At 25 years old, this All-Star might be more available than expected.
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."
The Mavericks must act quickly and decisively to provide Flagg with the support needed for a successful rookie season.
Author's summary: The Dallas Mavericks urgently need trades focused on offense to support Cooper Flagg’s rookie year, with Tyler Herro standing out as a promising trade target.