Cooper Flagg's rough stretch exposes why the Mavericks can't trade Kyrie Irving

Despite bouncing back last night in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs, Cooper Flagg was in the middle of a brutal stretch that dates back to Monday night's game against the Sacramento Kings. The Dallas Mavericks have lost two games in a row after starting the season 4-2, and Flagg's struggles at different points in these games have been impossible to ignore.

Cooper Flagg had his worst game of the season against the Kings

He finished with 17 points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals against the Kings on Monday, which may seem like a great game, but he shot 3-of-19 from the field, 0-of-4 from beyond the arc, and turned the ball over six times. Dallas' franchise cornerstone couldn't lift the Mavs over a then-winless Kings team at home, and Sacramento played physical defense and prevented him from getting to his spots inside the arc.

It didn't help that Kyrie Irving didn't play in that game, as the Mavericks have looked tough to beat when their new star duo shares the court, but this was a game that Dallas should've won. The Kings sold out on stopping Coop, and this plan led them to their first win of the season.

While the Mavericks struggled as a team from long range, shooting 7-of-33, Flagg wasn't able to give them the boost they needed to win the game.

Flagg's first half in San Antonio exposed the same concerns

These struggles continued on Wednesday night in the first half against the San Antonio Spurs. Cooper finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, helping the Mavs pull off a comeback and nearly beat San Antonio, but his performance in the opening two quarters was not memorable.

He shot 1-of-11 from the field and was a -16 in the first half, and he wasn't playing with the force that he typically does. His confidence was down, his body language wasn't great after misses, and his only make was a tip-in at the rim. Nine of his 10 misses came from inside the arc, and it seemed like the Spurs were going to shut him down for the whole game.

Flagg's struggles emphasize why Dallas shouldn't trade Kyrie Irving

He got into a better flow in the second half, but the Kings game and the first half of the Spurs game exposed why the Mavs need Irving. They can't afford to trade him right now, as the offense often looks lost when he's on the bench. Flagg can't be relied upon to have a big game every night, as he's only 19 years old and still has work to do as a shooter, and keeping Kyrie on the team ensures that he has a co-star to learn from, play alongside, and grow with.

The Mavericks need Irving to balance the offense

Dallas' offense was the 27th-ranked unit in the NBA last season, putting up just 110.3 points per 100 possessions. Not having Irving in the lineup hurt, as Flagg was relied upon to be the team's primary creator, and the Mavs' lack of shooting and secondary creation stuck out like a sore thumb.

While Dallas' shooting is a bit better this season, it's still a work in progress. They're shooting 33.7 percent from beyond the arc, which ranks 17th in the NBA, but they desperately need more consistency from their role players.

Of the top five Mavericks in 3-pointers attempted per game, Kyrie is the only player shooting above 31 percent from three. P.J. Washington is shooting 30.8 percent, and Max Christie, Zaccharie Risacher, and Flagg are all shooting below 30 percent from long range, despite each attempting at least 3.9 threes per game.

Dallas' volume shooters are in a slump, putting even more pressure on Irving to be a release valve on offense.

Dallas can't count on Flagg for everything

Flagg has shown plenty of promise this season, and his superstar leap is in the works. His improved mid-range game, assertiveness when attacking the rim, and off-ball instincts have all been on display, but Dallas needs more than Coop to be a competitive team.

Irving is crucial to the team's success, and Flagg's recent rough patch serves as a friendly reminder to the Mavs how much they need Kyrie. Dallas has made it clear that they aren't taking trade calls for the star guard right now, which is a positive sign for Mavs fans, and they should keep this same stance as the season progresses.

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