This season hasn’t gone the way the Dallas Mavericks expected, even though they’re showing signs of life recently. They enter the NBA Cup week off with a 9-16 record, but they have won four of the last five, with wins over the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets, which are all good victories.

But how is the ceiling, realistically? If it’s anything less than at least a Conference Semifinals appearance, they need to think about the future around Cooper Flagg and sell on some veterans. And that could be exactly what they’re doing.

According to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, the Mavericks are expected to explore trades for multiple key veterans on the team.

“The Mavericks are open to exploring the trade markets for Anthony Davis, center Daniel Gafford, and guards Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell, sources said,” Charania started.

“…Thompson, who joined Dallas during free agency in July 2024, was sold on joining the Mavericks to play alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on a team coming off a run to the Finals. With Doncic gone and the franchise winning at a below-.500 clip, teams across the league know Thompson prefers to be part of a contender over the remaining two years of his three-year, $50 million deal. After a slow start to the season, the four-time champion is averaging 12.8 points per game on 39.5% 3-point shooting in his past 10 games while holding opponents to 38.5% shooting as their closest defender, which ranks 10th out of 120 guards to defend 50-plus shots since the stretch began.”

READ MORE: Anthony Davis helping Mavericks move up in NBA power rankings

Mavericks Shouldn’t Stop There With Trades

Realistically, the only players on this roster who are safe moving forward this year are Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, and maybe Dereck Lively II. Once Ryan Nembhard becomes a standard contract, he’ll be safe, too.

Washington’s contract extension makes him ineligible to be traded until after the season. Naji Marshall should probably be included there as well, but if the right offer comes across the table, no one should be safe.

And that could go for Dereck Lively II, but his injuries could have teams around the NBA concerned. It’s clear he doesn’t have the same type of impact without a superstar point guard setting the table for him, and he’s only played in about 50% of the games he’s been available.

Dallas should definitely focus on trying to clear the books of Caleb Martin and Jaden Hardy, as their contracts could really hold the team down in the future, considering how little they play.

One could argue that Kyrie Irving could be shopped, but they’ve made it clear that they want to build around Irving and Flagg for the next few years.

READ MORE: NBA expert makes case for Mavericks to keep Anthony Davis amid trade rumors

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Let City Hall go

Re: “A tale of another city hall — What can Dallas learn from Boston’s commitment to its own, decades-old architecturally significant building?” by Emanuel Rame, Sunday Opinion.

As a graduate of architecture and 35-year project manager evaluating space for tenants, I often advocate saving an iconic building. Regarding Dallas’ City Hall, why repair it at overwhelming cost only to have its maintenance neglected? That’s only delaying the inevitable at massive cost.

Dallas’ record of deferred maintenance is unlikely to change. Sell it and get whatever is possible, then spend the money on fitting up functional leased space that a landlord maintains.

Further, nowhere in all of the discussions and opinions has the issue of temporary space during repairs, moves, etc., been addressed. That’s a huge cost, too. Just plan for new space, and the money will go further than spending it on a poorly designed building that will be more costly to repair and maintain than a non-iconic building that functions well for city offices, council chambers, etc.

Although Dallas’ City Hall is better looking than Boston’s, it has serious design flaws and deferred maintenance that will probably cause problems again in the future. There is also a lot of wasted space in the building for the massive atrium. I would never recommend a building with that much unusable space. Let it go.

Marsha Hayes Walker, Grand Prairie

Build but maintain, Dallas

I saw a quote from acclaimed independent filmmaker Werner Herzog that made me think of the current controversy over the fate of Dallas City Hall. It reads, in part: “Whether something lasts or not has nothing to do with whether it’s made of stone or steel or wood or fabric. A house built all in wood can be a monument that lasts for hundreds of years because it seduces people to live in it, to use it and maintain it. Eternity depends on whether people are willing to take care of something … no building can be neglected entirely.”

And that’s where we are with many iconic structures in Dallas (Fair Park, anyone?). This I.M. Pei-designed building that Dallas is so fortunate to have must stand as part of Dallas history, just as the Old Red Courthouse has and Reunion Tower, to name just a few. (Is Dallas even Dallas without Reunion Tower as part of the skyline?)

Build beautiful and unique, but above all maintain. Other places do it, for centuries and millennia in many cases, yet it seems Dallas wants the new and shiny every 40-50 years.

Borrowing an opinion from the great film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, “thumbs down” on that.

Sara Miskimins, Dallas/Lake Highlands

AG spends wastefully

Re: “Paxton sues Islamic center — Filing becomes latest effort by state to stop Muslim-centric project,” Sunday Metro story.

This guy just can’t stop himself from filing frivolous lawsuits and wasting large sums of money. Money that you and I pay in taxes. If you want to look at wasteful spending, look no further than the attorney general’s office.

Myriad possibilities exist for a better use of the attorney general’s office than what this partisan politician can dream up. Can we please open our eyes to the obvious and finally get rid of him, or are we completely blinded by our political leanings?

Erol C. Orer, Dallas

Wild in Dallas, too

Re: “A little bit of Texas frightens me — On a friend’s ranch, I learned you have so many reasons to wear boots,” by Christopher de Vinck, Saturday Opinion.

I really enjoyed de Vinck’s column about the wildlife in Texas. As a Dallas native, I can relate having spent 10 years in South Texas. It seems everything either poked, bit, stung or stabbed me in the beautiful wilds of Texas.

Interestingly, I now have coyotes and bobcats in my yard in East Dallas. What’s next, a javelina?

Nancy Turner, Dallas

New Jersey has critters

De Vinck’s fine column understated New Jersey’s natural hazards. The Garden State has plenty of venomous snakes including rattlers and copperheads, plus bobcats, and one native cactus, the prickly pear. Maybe no javelinas or chiggers, but plenty of ticks, black widows and other mean little critters — and rip tides.

Also, like Texas, New Jersey still has some beautiful rural scenery and even some night skies free of light pollution.

Peter Haskel, Lewes, Del.

Get behind Talarico

All the other Democrats should get out of the race, like we did with Beto O’Rourke, watch the Republicans fight it out in the primary and let James Talarico run against the Trump Republicans. Talarico is a proven winner, and if Colin Allred and O’Rourke couldn’t beat Ted Cruz, you know the rest of the story.

Andrew Goldsmith, Irving

A job or an education?

Re: “What are they teaching?” by Rick Williams, Thursday Letters.

Williams writes that in undergraduate and graduate classes he took “math, chemistry, English, accounting and finance.” Hopefully he also took courses in philosophy, ethics, world history and fine arts as well.

Otherwise, although Texas A&M and the University of Texas gave him a meal ticket, they did not give him an education.

Holmes Brannon, Plano

Put blame where it belongs

Our president has stated that immigration is the leading cause of dysfunction in our country. I must disagree. A political policy of hatred, scorn, revenge and ignorance is the leading cause of dysfunction in our country. One must look no further than the Oval Office.

Jan Schroeder, Lucas

Wake up on age limits

The Democrats had Sleepy Joe and the Republicans have, among other things, Dozing Donald. Any thoughts for age limits for public office?

T.P. O’Mahoney, Dallas

The wild card for both offenses in this matchup is the tight end position. Oronde Gadsden is a developing player with a high ceiling, while Dallas Goedert has been scoring more this year and has the talent to post a big game if coverage favors his opportunities. Which tight end offers more value on tonight’s DraftKings Showdown slate for Monday Night Football?

Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers (DK: $5,800)

From Week 6 to Week 9, Gadsden was an excellent waiver wire find at tight end. He had a floor of 12.00 fantasy points in four contests (7/68, 7/164/1, 5/77/1, and 5/68), highlighted by his best fantasy day (32.40). His role has been much lower over his last three games (3/13, 2/41, and 1/27) while averaging 4.3 targets. 

The Eagles rank fourth in tight end defense (109.00 fantasy points). They allow only 8.6 yards per catch, accounting for 15.3% of their receiving yards allowed. Only three tight ends scored.

• Jake Ferguson (5/23)
• Travis Kelce (4/61)
• Evan Engram (4/33/1)
• T.J. Hockenson (6/43)
• Jake Ferguson (5/60)
• Cole Kmet (3/36/1)

Gadsden doesn’t have a great matchup on paper, but the Eagles’ defense hasn’t played the most challenging tight end schedule. I like the pricing on the Chargers’ tight end in this matchup.

Best MNF Wide Receivers to Target for Tonight’s DraftKings Showdown Slate

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (DK: $5,400)

Goedert is another player in this matchup over a quiet six-game stretch (3/18, 3/28/2, 4/43, 2/24, 2/20, and 2/27) on 21 combined targets. He scored seven touchdowns between Week 3 and Week 8 (six games), with his impact showing coming in Week 6 (9/110/1). 

The Chargers also play week against tight ends (130.60 fantasy points – 6th). They’ve allowed six touchdowns, with them catching 71.9% of their targets.

• Travis Kelce (2/47/1)
• Theo Johnson (3/17/1)
• Tyler Warren (4/69/1)
• Brock Bowers (4/63/2)

Goedert should be an overlooked asset by Los Angeles’ defense in this matchup. His ceiling supports his lower salary, putting him in the mix at the backend of the showdown ticket.

Best DraftKings Showdown Running Back For Monday Night Football!

DraftKings Showdown Lineup Strategy For Eagles vs. Chargers

Here’s my game plan for tonight’s showdown:

• Jalen Hurts
• Dallas Goedert/Oronde Gadsden/Cameron Dicker
• Dallas Goedert/Oronde Gadsden/Cameron Dicker
• DeVonta Smith/Ladd McConkey/A.J. Brown
• Justin Herbert

Tre’ Harris is my top low-value filler.

My easier team builds have Oronde Gadsden or Dallas Goedert as the captain. Jalen Hurts is a must for me. I’m fading Saquon Barkley based on his salary and direction, while also rooting for the Eagles’ passing attack. The over/under (41.5) in this game is relatively low, suggesting slower drives and a faster-moving clock. 

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