Mavericks risk undermining Cooper Flagg era if they aren't disciplined with three-time NBA All-Star

Mavericks risk undermining Cooper Flagg era if they aren’t disciplined with three-time NBA All-Star originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Cooper Flagg era for the Dallas Mavericks is still in its infancy, but the front office already has a discipline test on its hands.

After Masai Ujiri took over as Mavericks Team President in May, he inherited a roster built around the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. Ujiri wasted no time stamping his vision on the franchise, hiring head coach Dusty May fresh off his Michigan national title run and nailing his first draft by adding critical size and shooting around his young star. 

But this offseason’s true test isn’t navigating the draft board — it’s what Dallas decides to do with veteran forward Khris Middleton.

Middleton, 34, originally arrived in Dallas as the centerpiece matching salary filler in February’s blockbuster deadline deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. His three-year, $102 million contract extension, originally signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, paid out roughly $33.3 million this past season and has now expired, making him an unrestricted free agent. 

He could have taken a buyout to join a championship contender months ago, but he chose to stick it out with the Mavericks. That decision was a massive win for Dallas. By staying on the roster, Middleton kept his Full Bird Rights intact. Now, Ujiri and the front office have the cap flexibility to re-sign him to a new deal, even if it pushes them over the salary cap.

That is where things get risky. Middleton is a champion and a three-time All-Star, but his days of dropping 20 points a night are over. He is 34 now, and the Mavs community can joke that he is officially on Father Time’s clock since he last averaged over 20 points back in the 2021-22 season. 

Aging players like him are always a gamble. However, NBA insider Marc Stein reported on All-City DLLS that a Middleton return to Dallas “has not yet been ruled out,” which is okay news for fans, provided the price stays right.

If Middleton wants to sign a cheap, short-term deal to come off the bench and mentor Flagg, it is a perfect match. But if he wants big money, Masai Ujiri has to walk away. Dallas cannot afford to waste cap space on past production. They need every dollar available to build a true contender around Flagg. Middleton deserves a ton of respect for his career, but Dallas has to protect its own future.

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