The Dallas Mavericks had the ultimate gift fall into their lap after making one of the most controversial moves in league history. Moving on from Luka Doncic one season after making it all the way to the NBA Finals won't be forgiven any time soon, even with Cooper Flagg falling into the team's lap. Still, there is reason to believe the team can be a contender again if Flagg is able to make an instant impact. Even having lost Kyrie Irving, the team still has a strong bench and Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Flagg to lean on.
If there is one missing piece, it is a wildcard bench scorer that allows the stars to take a step back. No player on the market fits this description and the team's budget more than Russell Westbrook. While the veteran point guard is unreliable at times, you aren't going to add another player with his ceiling for the price. The veteran had a handful of great moments with the Denver Nuggets, helping win key games more than once in the team's impressive run.
The Mavericks are the Perfect Landing Spot for Russell Westbrook
It was Denver that came the closest to beating the eventual NBA Champion OKC Thunder. Westbrook was a key piece in this and had important moments. The Mavericks could benefit from his experience and ceiling as they await the return of Kyrie. It is the best of both worlds, giving you a player with the ceiling to replace the star while having zero chance of blocking his eventual return.
Westbrook is a journeyman bench piece at this stage of his career and has embraced it. Looking at potential Western Conference contenders, the Mavs make the most sense for the veteran and will give him a chance to play meaningful minutes. At his best, the guard can help set up Flagg and Davis, helping set a tone of intensity.
The flip side of this is the fact that this will come with a fair share of frustrating heat checks and out of control turnovers. Still, the Mavericks aren't going to find any better upgrades at this stage of the offseason.