Mavericks can finally build along Cooper Flagg's timeline with sneaky trade

The Dallas Mavericks have a reasonable amount of control over the events that will take place ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline. Though Dallas is on the outside looking in of the postseason picture, it has several players whom rival executives may covet.

Daniel Gafford may be the most intriguing trade piece of all, as he could yield a return that instantly simplifies the game for Cooper Flagg—and Bennedict Mathurin could be a key to that process.

The Indiana Pacers are currently in the market for an upgrade at center. Gafford has been mentioned as a potential trade target. The development that's made Dallas a more prominent factor in hypothetical discussions is the Pacers' decision to shop Mathurin.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Pacers are looking to trade Mathurin for a starting-caliber center ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline.

"As we've covered before, Indiana has been widely searching for avenues to turn Mathurin — who's destined for restricted free agency — into a starting-caliber center to slot alongside Tyrese Haliburton next season in hopes of helping restore the Pacers to championship contention in 2026-27."

If the Mavericks are willing to complete a trade that centers around swapping Gafford for Mathurin, they would give Cooper Flagg an immediate measure of reprieve on offense.

Bennedict Mathurin can alleviate pressure from Cooper Flagg

Mathurin has become a polarizing young player, but his talent and shot creation ability are virtually unquestioned. He boasts career averages of 16.1 points per game and 20.2 points per 36 minutes, and is on pace to shoot better than 36.0 percent from three for the second time in three years.

Mathurin is up to a career-best 17.8 points and 2.2 three-point field goals made per game in 2025-26, shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Mathurin is shooting 37.8 percent on catch-and-shoot threes and 35.5 percent on pull-ups, thus showing an intriguing level of balance. He also buried 41.3 percent of his catch-and-shoot attempts in 2024-25 and 38.6 percent in 2023-24, which seemingly implies he could play off of Flagg.

There are clearly flaws that will need to be addressed, but at 23 years of age, Mathurin has time on his side and untapped potential worth marveling over.

By completing this trade, the Mavericks would bring in a shot creator who fits Flagg's timeline of development—something they currently lack. They'd also get out of Gafford's contract before his three-year, $54,380,290 extension kicks in.

Compounded by the fact that Mathurin will be a restricted free agent this summer if all goes south, the Mavericks should seriously consider a logical gamble at the deadline.