The Dallas Mavericks don’t know what kind of team that they want to be.

At the mercy of circumstances beyond their control, including injuries to perennial All-Star selections Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, they currently stand at 12th in the West with a 15-25 record. Riveting rookie Cooper Flagg has helped to quell some of the darker thoughts about the direction the team was headed after trading Luka Doncic, an exceptional player on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Be that as it may, rookies normally don’t lead their team into playoff contention. Even ones with as much upside as their 19-year-old Maine import.

Dallas Mavericks: Trade, Sit, Or Play Anthony Davis & Kyrie Irving?

Consequently, the Mavs have the look of an organization with two timelines. At present, Flagg is cementing himself as a building block for their long-term future. However, their immediate success is more dependent on two of their established premier players. That’s Irving and Davis, who have 19 All-Star selections, eight All-NBA selections and two NBA champions between them.