Dallas Mavericks Trade Targets To Fast-Track Rebuild Around Cooper Flagg

James PierceyApril 24, 2026 8:07 PMApril 24, 2026 8:07 PM

DHJ Quick Take: Targets to Consider

The Flagg Foundation: Despite a 12th-place finish (26-56), the “Information Gain” from the 2025-26 season is the historic arrival of Cooper Flagg. After dropping 51 points on the Magic in April and setting the teenage scoring record, Flagg (21.1 PPG) has validated Nico Harrison’s controversial decision to reset the roster. The goal now is to maximize his rookie-scale window.
The Trey Murphy III “Home Run”: Murphy III is the premier target. His 21.5 PPG and 37.9% clip from deep would provide Flagg with the gravity needed to open the paint. While New Orleans would demand a “coffers-emptying” package, his 3-and-D profile is the modern archetype Dallas lacks.
Defensive Identity with Jalen Suggs: If the Mavericks stay true to Harrison‘s mandate that “defense wins championships,” Jalen Suggs is the logical pursuit. Pairing Suggs with Kyrie Irving creates a balanced backcourt, allowing Suggs to handle the most difficult point-of-attack assignments and taking the pressure off Flagg to carry the defensive load.
The Wiggins Compromise: Andrew Wiggins (41.4% 3PT) represents the veteran “floor spacer” who won’t cost multiple first-round picks. For a Mavericks team wanting to stay competitive without losing future flexibility, Wiggins provides the championship experience and size needed to flank Flagg in the frontcourt.

The 2025-26 regular season is over for the Dallas Mavericks. The team finished 26-56, 12th in the Western Conference, and enters the lottery with the eighth-best odds at the No. 1 pick. It was a predictable finish from the moment Nico Harrison decided to trade Luka Dončić.

Yet, the future is brighter than ever. Cooper Flagg is as strong a franchise player as you’ll find around the NBA. Now, the Mavericks need to decide whether they’d prefer a long-term rebuilding process or accelerate it this summer. With their franchise player in hand, that’ll be an awfully tempting proposition.

Here are three players the Mavericks could target this summer to start winning games as soon as possible.

Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans

Don’t expect to see the league’s most prominent superstars on this list.

The Mavericks don’t have the goods to acquire one of those players. They have two unprotected firsts and two swaps they can trade. For a player like Trey Murphy III, Dallas would have to empty the coffers.

Arguably, he’d be worth it. Murphy III is a 3-and-D wing who doubles as a shot creator, and he’d make any team better. He averaged 21.5 points per game while shooting 37.9% from long-range this past season.

Murphy III would be perfect, but that’s true for many teams. If the Pelicans make Murphy III available, it could inspire a substantial bidding war. Even if Dallas could win that war, they may prefer to keep some assets.

If so, they’ll need to look at more modest targets.

Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic

When the Mavericks traded Dončić, the justification seemed to be that defense wins championships.

If they acquired Jalen Suggs, they’d be testing that theory.

Suggs averaged 13.8 points while shooting 33.9% from long-range this past season. His shooting has fluctuated since he’s been in the NBA, but it’s been bad more often than it’s been good.

Yet, Suggs is one of the best point-of-attack defenders in the NBA. If the Mavericks acquired him and kept Kyrie Irving, Suggs could function as a lead reserve, spending time at both guard positions. Dallas could lean into their new identity by acquiring Suggs.

But if they feel they need an offensive punch, they may look elsewhere.

Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat

This feels like the perfect compromise.

Andrew Wiggins is aging, so he won’t cost as much as Murphy III. Yet, he’s a similar archetype. Wiggins actually shot a more impressive 41.4% from three-point range this past season.

He’s also not a potent shot creator. That’s fine. The idea here is to surround Cooper Flagg with floor spacing. Wiggins is the quintessential role player that teams with a star player want.

Finally, he doesn’t compromise their new defensive identity. If the Heat are interested in acquiring a first-round pick for Wiggins, the Mavericks should bite.

Unless they prefer a longer-term approach.