Nico Harrison is holding Mavericks back from franchise-altering Anthony Davis trade

Dallas Mavericks fans continue to rave about Cooper Flagg joining the team later this summer. They believe he is the perfect guy to help them reach the next level after missing the playoffs last season. Rumors from scouts suggest that Flagg will be an elite or borderline all-star. This isn't bad for any player, as some draft picks don't turn out that well.

Coach Jason Kidd even hinted at the different kinds of ways he could use Flagg. One scenario included having Flagg play shooting guard and running a huge lineup. Kidd recently jumped on the DLLS Mavs podcast to break down Flagg's potential. Kidd would use size to the Mavs' advantage.

However, not everyone is on board with Flagg joining the Mavs. Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins recently gave his take on the Mavs getting the number one pick. He made an appearance on FanDuel's show "Run It Back," stating that Dallas should trade Flagg ( the No. 1 pick) for Kevin Durant. His logic was that Durant best fits Nico Harrison's championship window.

Harrison's bond with Davis blocks the perfect rebuild opportunity

Cousins might have the wrong idea. Flagg's potential is through the roof, and it wouldn't make sense for Dallas to trade for a 36-year-old veteran. Instead, the Mavs should consider trading Anthony Davis and rebuilding around Cooper Flagg immediately.

Wait, so Dallas should trade the superstar they traded Luka Doncic for?

Yes, that's exactly what is being stated.

If you break it down, Davis is 32 years old and a huge injury risk. Last season, Davis played in nine games for the team, as he missed nearly two months with an adductor strain he suffered in his Mavs debut. This isn't the only example, though. Davis played in 76 games during the 2023-24 season, which was great for him, but he played in just 56 games during the 2022-23 campaign. You never know what you're going to get with him, and at the end of the day, his availability is typically an issue.

He has a list of long injuries, including an MCL sprain during the 2021-22 season and a foot injury that forced him to miss a month in December 2022. Injuries seem unavoidable, as Davis always finds a way to get hurt. So, why not move on?

Dallas could start from the bottom up and build around Flagg. Opposite of Cousin's statement, the Mavs could gear towards the future and get younger. They could start rebuilding now without delaying it.

Why not start now, right? If you examine the Mavs' current roster, there are a lot of what-ifs. Their upcoming season is based on a bunch of hypothetical scenarios. Some include the health of Kyrie Irving. What if he fails to come back fully healthy? Could his injury delay the Mavs' development?

Plus, the 2025 NBA Playoffs have shown fans it is a guard and wing league. It's hard for a big man to carry a team past the finish line. The Denver Nuggets proved that statement. Fans saw Nikola Jokic struggle (according to his standards) in a crucial Game 7. Denver lacked primary playmakers to help Jokic, as they became too reliant on him and couldn't get him the ball in his spots.

This is something Dallas must avoid, as it's very unlikely they trade Davis. Nico Harrison has been fascinated with Davis since his arrival. He believes Davis is a dominant two-way player who can help Dallas get back to the promised land. Not to mention, Davis and Harrison are tied together.

Dallas can't fire Harrison because Davis needs him, and vice versa with Harrison. The two have a positive relationship dating back to their Team USA days.

So, rebuilding with Flagg isn't an option. Dallas will have to ride Davis and hope he can be a positive mentor to Flagg. They'll need Davis to remain healthy for most of the season and continue to build a positive relationship with Irving.

It's too early to think of rebuilding. The Mavs have three all-stars on their team with Irving, Davis, and Klay Thompson. Not to mention, they have the No. 1 pick. So, adding Flagg with the players mentioned above could be deadly. All Dallas needs is for everyone to remain healthy. This upcoming season could make or break Nico Harrison's three-year window.