Max Christie is giving the Mavericks something the Lakers never saw coming

Initially viewed as a throw-in to the Luka Doncic trade, Max Christie has put the league on notice this season, especially after making a career-high eight 3-pointers versus the New York Knicks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Christie's confidence and offensive bag have grown immensely this season compared to last, and being that he's one of the top shooters in the league, the 22-year-old should be untouchable in trade talks for Dallas.

The only Mavericks that have been described as untouchable in any report this season have been Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, but Christie is proving he should be etched with this status as well. He empties the tank on both ends of the floor and has flashed three-level scoring ability to go along with being one of the best shooters in the association.

Christie is shooting 45.9 percent from outside on 5.5 attempts per game, and it's clear that he's learning all the elements of how to be an elite shooter from Klay Thompson.

Max Christie should be untouchable in trade talks

Christie's up-fakes and side-steps have been causing defenders to fly by on contests because of the gravity he's drawing right now, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's invited to the 3-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend. This would be in front of countless Lakers fans in Los Angeles, and he'd make them regret ever giving up on him.

Christie showed some flashes last season for the Lakers of what he's doing offensively for Dallas right now, but it's clear he's put the work in to improve since last February. He's looked noticeably stronger and more athletic this season, which has helped him immensely in terms of his ability to attack the rim and finish through contact.

Christie carved out a spot in the Los Angeles Lakers' rotation through his defense and hustle, and while he isn't an elite defender by any metrics, these attributes have still been pillars of consistency since he's been in Dallas. He easily has one of the highest two-way impacts on Dallas' roster, and this makes him someone that Jason Kidd can rely upon every night.

He also only turns 23 years old in the next few weeks, so he's undoubtedly a player the Mavericks can pair alongside Cooper Flagg for the foreseeable future. The Lakers could've never predicted that Christie would be one of the best young role players in the Western Conference, and Christie looks like someone who will be in Dallas for a long time.

Given his continual improvement every season since being in the league, as well as his youth, the discussion around Christie in Dallas shouldn't be centered around what his trade value is at this point, but rather what his next deal should be, as he'll be due for a big payday if he keeps playing like this.

Unless one is considering unrealistic scenarios, there's no world where Dallas should be shopping Christie at this point, as he's a player who may have All-Star potential if he continues to put the work in. Dereck Lively II has been extremely injury-prone throughout his time in Dallas, so the Mavericks are off to a rocky start in terms of formulating their young core around Flagg, making Christie's development and place on this roster more important than ever.