Mavericks' newest trade rumors could ignite a quiet but devastating future disaster

As NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is about to kick off for the Dallas Mavericks, the primary focus in Las Vegas will be on No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, as Flagg will be in a Mavericks uniform for the first time when facing off against Bronny James Jr. and Dalton Knecht on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Fans have been awaiting this moment since it was announced Dallas secured the No. 1 pick on draft lottery night, but the most exciting part about Flagg won't be this Summer League game or even his rookie season, as the most exciting proposition he brings to Dallas is the ability to one day develop into one of the best players in the league and be the face of a franchise.

While Dallas is in a 2-3 year window to try and win around this current core, Flagg will likely be the only member left of the 2025-26 Mavericks in as soon as 4-5 seasons, so the Mavericks have to be wary about mortgaging any of their future draft capital away considering that Flagg will just be entering his early prime at that time. Recent rumors indicate the Mavericks will try and dump a player via trade to get under the 15-man roster limit before the next regular season starts, but they must avoid trading both or any of their second-round picks to accomplish this task.

The Mavericks only have two future second-round draft picks right now, one in 2030 and one in 2032, as the Mavericks and their front office have not operated cautiously when it comes to trading second-round picks in this new CBA environment. While seconds are easier to trade for and are a far more common currency in today's NBA compared to previous eras, they are still valuable, especially when taking into consideration how talent-rich the draft is compared to even 10 years ago.

Mavericks must avoid trading second-round picks away in a salary dump

The Mavericks are as dense as it gets when it comes to their future second round picks, so the last thing they should be doing is trying to attach them in aggregate to the contracts of either Jaden Hardy or Olivier-Maxence Prosper in a potential salary dump, as it would be rough asset management to pay to get off either of those player just to make way for Dante Exum. Prosper, in particular, has been listed in rumors as someone who the Mavericks are looking to dump in a trade, and fans have maybe already seen him play his last game in Dallas.

Flagg is an extraordinarily rare type of 1A prospect because of his insane work ethic, and the Mavericks have to what they can to make him happy in Dallas once he assumes more of a leadership role in the organization. Exum's point-of-attack defense is needed undoubtedly, but Dallas could always make another trade or really try to push Hardy to embrace a defensive identity this season if they wanted to mitigate that issue as well, as it would simply be bad business to trade away Dallas' only remaining second round picks just to get off one of their guys so Exum can re-sign.

The Exum signing nor the Daniel Gafford extension have been made official by the Mavericks yet, so perhaps they still have some flexibility in that department, though, it would seem both of those deals would probably get officially done soon.

Obviously, the Mavericks would likely love to get off one of Hardy or Prosper to re-sign Exum, but it shouldn't come at the cost of more than one second round pick, as getting off Prosper's sub-$4 million salary or Hardy's $6 million salary isn't worth attaching multiple future draft assets toward with a new era beginning with Flagg.