Not so long ago, the Dallas Mavericks were in the NBA Finals, and they looked like a team on the rise, poised for a decade of contention. Then, with Luka Doncic out the door, those expectations took a massive hit.
The Mavericks seemed to think about the future when they gave up on Anthony Davis. And even though Cooper Flagg can be a superstar and Kyrie Irving is a win-now veteran, their timeline may no longer be that of a contending side.
To add insult to injury, the Minnesota Timberwolves quickly went from being tangled up in Anthony Edwards trade rumors to pairing him with another star. That's why adding LaMelo Ball was an indirect big hit to the Mavericks.
LaMelo Ball trade makes the Timberwolves highly competitive in the West for years
There were rumblings about Edwards being the next big star to leave a small-market team. Giannis Antetokounmpo was on the move, and the Timberwolves' decision to trade Julius Randle hinted at a change of direction.
Instead, they traded for one of the most electric three-level scorers and playmakers in the game. He's from the same class as Edwards, so if they can make finances work, they can give the Timberwolves a decade's worth of All-NBA-caliber play together.
The Timberwolves were already a pesky and sturdy rival, thanks to a Western Conference Finals matchup two years ago. And while one could argue that Ball will never be a good defender and may not always make winning plays, the fact that they traded for him shows they're still serious and fully committed to winning an NBA championship, so they may continue to make aggressive moves in the near future.
In the meantime, the Mavericks are a blank canvas. Flagg has the potential to be the face of the league and the best player in basketball, but he might need some time -- and more importantly, some help -- to get there.
Masai Ujiri is a risk-taker. He won't hesitate to tear the roster apart to get back to the drawing board, and with several veterans potentially up for grabs, it might be a while before the Mavericks can catch up to the new-look Timberwolves.
Of course, we've seen how quickly things can change in this league, and Flagg might flick the switch and become a two-way superstar overnight, or the Timberwolves' locker room can implode with two alphas in town. But for now, it's hard to believe the Mavericks can take the Timberwolves down in a seven-game series.
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