Mavericks' Luka Doncic trade is finally taking the unexpected turn they need

As the Dallas Mavericks enter the 2025-26 season, the Luka Doncic trade will be lingering on the back burner for the organization. Even though the Mavericks secured No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, the backlash from Nico Harrison's ill-advised Doncic trade will be a narrative that Mavericks fans and NBA fans are going to follow for the foreseeable future, but the development of young guard Max Christie could mitigate some of this backlash.

Christie was never viewed as a throw-in on the Doncic trade whatsoever, but with the Mavericks objectively not accruing proper first-round pick compensation in the Doncic deal, Christie's ability to develop into a prominent part of Dallas' rotation is something that fans and the Mavericks are expecting out of him, whether it's fair or not.

When Harrison decided to make a deal with as much magnitude as the Doncic trade had, a young role player like Christie carries a lot of weight in such a transaction, especially since he showcased some three-level scoring ability for the Mavericks last season, particularly right after the trade.

Max Christie's rise could help shift the optics of the Luka Doncic trade

Christie's work ethic and buy-in haven't been questioned whatsoever since he's been in Dallas, but his inclusion in the Doncic trade increases the pressure for him to develop into a starting-caliber player for the Mavericks one day, especially since he's only 22 years old and has the potential to be a player Dallas takes with them into the Flagg era.

Christie has been working relentlessly all summer to develop new parts of his game, primarily focusing on his conditioning, ball-handling repertoire, and off-dribble shot creation ability. Given that Dallas is already having injuries to their guard rotation beyond Kyrie Irving, these attributes will be essential for Christie to provide off the bench for the Mavericks this season.

It's without a doubt that Christie already does all the little things right, such as cutting, being a pest at the point of attack, as well as hustling for 50/50 balls, but if he can start hitting self-created shots in the midrange and even from outside sometimes, this could add a new wrinkle to Dallas' offense.

In Dallas' first preseason game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Christie showcased some of this offensive dynamism en route to 12 points and three assists on 3-6 shooting from the field, in only 15 minutes of action. Christie hasn't popped near as hard offensively in either of Dallas' ladder two preseason games, but it's just preseason and it's without a doubt he'll probably be playing somewhere in the 20-25 minute range once regular season action kicks off.

Given Christie's aforementioned work ethic, he has the potential to develop into a fringe All-Star or something of the sort if he can continue to hone in on his off-dribble creation and 3-and-D ability, especially given his age, but this isn't a guarantee given how game-to-game his shot creation ability was with the Los Angeles Lakers as well as the Mavericks toward the tail end of last season.

It's obviously not a reprimand of Christie if he can't fulfill Harrison's vision and doesn't blossom into a great starter or All-Star one day for Dallas, as it was completely Harrison's fault for not getting proper compensation in the Doncic trade, but it would certainly less the burden of the trade more if Christie can capitalize upon his three-level scoring ability one day for Dallas, as it could be one of the only long-term silver linings of the Doncic trade.