Mavericks should add a non-star to their list of untouchables in trade talks

It's NBA trade season, and the Dallas Mavericks are officially (and fully) open for business. They have one of the Association's most promising building blocks in Cooper Flagg, but they should still be ready to sell.

And they reportedly are. In fact, they're maybe a little too willing to ship players out. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks would field offers "for anyone on the roster not named Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving." While you'd love to applaud that aggressiveness, particularly given the importance of the 2026 draft, Dallas should be slightly more selective and make 22-year-old swingman Max Christie off-limits, too.

Max Christie possesses a coveted skillset and is a perfect timeline fit with Cooper Flagg.

As this fanbase knows all too well, very few players in this entire league are truly untouchable. And Christie would, admittedly, be a surprise pick to wear that label, since nothing in his profile suggests that stardom exists anywhere in his future.

Having said that, think about what Christie offers. He is a sturdy, versatile defender and a lights-out shooter from long range. That three-and-D archetype that seemingly everyone around the league is trying to get? That is his bag.

And his game is still growing. There are flashes of shot creation. There's some bucket-getting ability when he ups his assertiveness. There's some smart-read connectivity as a passer. And there's all kinds of disruption in his off-ball defense.

He may never be a great player, but he clearly has a path toward being a good one and a best-case scenario of cracking really-good territory. The Mavs will need this very kind of reliable role player as they eventually look to load up the roster around Flagg.

So, if they already have one in place, why risk letting him go?

While making Christie totally off-limits would be a step too far, Dallas should set such an extremely high asking price that no one bothers making the call. Or if they do, the call only comes after a long night of bad decision-making and features the kind of Godfather offer the Mavs simply can't refuse.

If the prize is anything less, Dallas should be wholly disinterested.

There just aren't a lot of perimeter role players who offer legitimate (and significant) value on both ends of the court. That's why potential poachers are already eyeing Christie. He could help elevate any roster and complement stars of essentially all play styles.

The best thing about him is his ability to make the game easier for his elite teammates. With the Mavs fully focused on doing everything they can to help Flagg, keeping Christie alongside him should be a no-brainer.