Mavericks don’t have to look far for the perfect signing to save Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg was just part of the second-worst season for the Dallas Mavericks in the 21st century, and they must look elsewhere to get him some help. Even though Kyrie Irving was injured, Dallas didn't have the roster to put Flagg in a position to win as a rookie.

They can't expect to return to the NBA Playoffs without making some big splashes in free agency, and Isaiah Hartenstein of the Oklahoma City Thunder could give Dallas the frontcourt depth they need to be a real threat in the Western Conference if the Thunder turns down their team option on his contract.

Isaiah Hartenstein would be a major upgrade for Dallas

The Thunder are the closest geographic team to the Mavericks, and Masai Ujiri may not have to look far to find a new paint beast to play with Flagg.

Dallas and OKC have had some heated battles over the last few seasons, and with them making multiple trades over the last few years (the Dereck Lively II draft night trade and OKC helping facilitate the Daniel Gafford trade), Hartenstein is right under their nose. Dallas knows his game well, and putting him in Mavericks blue would be game-changing.

Both of the Mavericks' main centers, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, battled injuries all season. Lively II only played seven games, while Gafford played in 55 (and wasn't himself due to a nagging ankle injury). This is nowhere close to enough games from Dallas' center duo that was once expected to be a two-headed monster, and adding another starting-caliber big man in the offseason may be the move they quietly need most.

Flagg lacked stability at the center spot in the starting lineup as a rookie, and a veteran like Hartenstein would change everything for him. He'd go from relying on a fourth-year player in Dereck Lively II, who has played less than 100 games in three seasons, to having an NBA Champion down low, and this is the type of change they need.

How the Mavericks can actually pull this off

The Mavericks will have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to utilize (around $15 million annually for up to four years), and this could be around the range that Hartenstein signs for in free agency if the Thunder turns down his $28.5 million team option to create financial flexibility. Oklahoma City will be well over the second apron to begin the 2026-27 season if they don't make some cost-cutting moves, and as crazy as it sounds, Hartenstein could hit unrestricted free agency this summer.

We saw the Boston Celtics trade Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday last summer to avoid the dreaded second apron and its penalties, and the Thunder could take a similar approach with its players this summer. They could decide to move on from Hartenstein, even if they win the NBA Finals again, given that Chet Holmgren is one of the best centers in the league. This is where the Mavericks come into play.

Why signing Hartenstein makes sense

They need some reliability and an elite starting center if they want to win in the West, and bringing in Hartenstein would be a great start to achieving this goal. He's proven to be one of the best bigs in the NBA due to his elite playmaking, strong rebounding, and his signature push shot. Hartenstein can serve as an offensive hub on one end while being a reliable rim protector and physical force on the other, and his rise in OKC has been undeniable.

He averaged 9.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game for Oklahoma City while shooting 62.2 percent from the field this season. His production has been a key reason that the Thunder have been the most dangerous team in the NBA for multiple seasons in a row, and Dallas should swoop in if they decline his team option.

They could trade Gafford elsewhere and sign Hartenstein, giving them a center duo of Lively II and Hartenstein to kick off the first official year of the Cooper Flagg era. Flagg would have two seven-footers to play with, and this would be the frontcourt core they need to survive in the gauntlet that is the Western Conference.

Ujiri can't run it back this season if he wants to turn his new prince named Cooper Flagg into a king, and one of the best moves to save him from another losing season would be signing Isaiah Hartenstein if he hits the open market.

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