Mavericks' Trade Targets to Save Cooper Flagg

Merlin sees a Mavericks alarm bell: early losses — including to the Pelicans — exposed a bottom‑ranked offense and make a trade imperative if Cooper Flagg’s rookie season is to mean more than moral victories. Dallas is 30th in points per possession and 28th in eFG%; D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy or forcing Flagg to run the offense aren’t solutions, and Kyrie’s return is uncertain. Bleacher Report lays out five realistic targets: Tyler Herro, Malik Monk, Payton Pritchard, Austin Reaves and Coby White, each with salary or third‑team complications. Merlin notes the fits: Herro as a secondary creator/spot‑up threat; Monk to relieve Flagg and add downhill creation; Pritchard as a cheap floor‑spacer; Reaves as a transformative finisher (costly); White as a two‑way scorer/creator. Dallas will likely part with youth, picks or frontcourt pieces. The West won’t wait.