The Dallas Mavericks close the preseason Friday against Atlanta at American Airlines Center, two nights after a 101-97 loss to New Orleans there. The front office has already set its position on the most-discussed question about the roster.
Masai Ujiri has made clear that Dallas plans to keep Kyrie Irving alongside Cooper Flagg, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Monday, after the Mavericks split two exhibitions with Houston in Macao. Windhorst also reported that rival front offices doubt the club can hold to that plan, pointing to holes elsewhere on the roster and to two stars whose careers are on different clocks.
Fifteen years apart
Flagg is 19 and will stay a teenager until Dec. 21. As a rookie he led a 26-win team in points, rebounds, assists and steals, the first rookie to do all four since Michael Jordan in 1984-85, ESPN noted, and he was named Rookie of the Year. Irving is 34 and back after 19 months away with a torn left ACL.
The two worked out together through much of the offseason, Windhorst wrote, and the main project was Flagg's outside shot. He made 29.5 percent of his 3-point attempts last season. In 45 minutes across the Macao games, Flagg totaled 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
"He's going to lead this franchise into the future. You can definitely bank on that," Irving said, according to ESPN. First-year coach Dusty May described Flagg as a player who "can score three levels."
A consistent message from the front office
Ujiri's stance has not shifted since his arrival. In May, with Irving's name circulating in trade talk, he repeated something Kevin Durant once told him: "there's only one Kyrie walking around in the world," BasketballNews recalled. Ujiri has also said decisions will be "future-based," built around Flagg.
BasketballNews framed the tension as one that can hold for a season but may be tested as the February trade deadline approaches. NBA insider Marc J. Spears, quoted by Sporting News, said Ujiri's relationship with Irving would allow the two to find a solution if Irving ever decided Dallas was not for him.
"I don't think would be something ugly," Spears said, adding that teams would be interested "if he's as healthy as he looks."
Churn at the end of the bench
Lower on the depth chart, Tuesday was busy. Dallas confirmed Monday's signing of forward Matt Cross before releasing him for Darin Green Jr., then swapped Green for Chris Mantis and Mantis for Jorge Diaz Graham, Hoops Wire reported. Diaz Graham, a 6-foot-10 big man who finished his college career at Oregon State, signed an Exhibit 10 contract, according to RealGM.
