Max Christie wanting to stay is Mavericks’ top silver lining from Luka Doncic trade

Roughly a year and a half after the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, Dallas doesn't have much to hang their hat on regarding what was probably the worst trade in NBA history. Yet, Max Christie's desire to stay in Dallas long-term is one of the few saving graces from the Doncic deal.

Christie is eligible for a four-year, $93 million contract extension until the start of 2027 free agency, and though no deal has been agreed upon, he made his intentions clear regarding how he views his future with the Mavericks at Media Day on Friday.

Christie wanting to stay makes the Doncic trade a tiny bit less painful

"I love being here, this city has welcomed me with open arms ever since I came here a year and a half ago, or however long ago that was," Christie said. "I've felt nothing but love from the city, from my teammates, from fans, and so I absolutely would love to stay."

Of course, personal desires don't always align with contract negotiations, but there's no doubt Christie would love to get an extension done in Dallas ahead of his $8.8 million player option for the 2027-28 season.

The Mavericks will never come close to winning the Doncic trade, but if Christie does indeed stay in Dallas, then they will at least be able to retain some value from the deal beyond the Los Angeles Lakers' 2029 first-round pick. With Davis already traded to the Washington Wizards, Christie is Dallas' lone survivor from the Doncic deal, but it seems like the 23-year-old wants to be in Dallas so long as the two parties can get a deal done.

Christie is poised to be Dallas' starting two-guard of the future

Christie had a career year last season and forced Jason Kidd's hand in terms of starting him over an aging Klay Thompson. He averaged 12.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game with extremely efficient shooting splits of 44.4/40.4/89.9. Even with a midseason shooting slump, Christie was Dallas' best 3-point shooter percentage-wise, which was an invaluable skill set for a team starved for shooting.

There certainly seems to be a battle to be had for Dallas' starting shooting guard spot between Christie and new addition Zaccharie Risacher, but Mavericks fans shouldn't be surprised at all if Christie emerges as the starter. While he isn't a former No. 1 pick and doesn't have the notoriety Risacher has, he was a better scorer and shooter than him last season and is better equipped to guard quicker guards and wings at the point of attack.

Christie continues to improve every year and is a relentless worker

There are still areas Christie needs to continue to improve to fully maximize his potential, such as adding strength and athleticism to be a more confident finisher and defender. However, he's already an elite shooter who has improved every year throughout his career, so there's no reason to believe he won't continue to improve, given how young he still is.

This is potentially why Christie hasn't gotten an extension done with Dallas quite yet, as he and his camp likely believe he can put forth another great season, which would force Dallas to get him closer than not to the maximum extension he's eligible for.

The Doncic trade is an insufferable part of Mavericks history forever, but with Christie developing into an excellent role player and revealing he wants to stay in Dallas for the long haul, it makes the Doncic deal a slightly easier pill to swallow.

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