Make a fortune in silence? Take a look at the dark horse teams that have the chance to get KD: The Clippers Mavericks are on the list

. Wing player? Washington, Caleb Martin, Marshall, and Max Christie will be selected. It may be necessary to take advantage of Clay for salary balance, but this should not be a barrier to the Sun. Although the Mavericks cannot use their first-round picks before 2031, the 2029 Lakers' first-round picks are still worth trading. Although multiple players need to match their salaries and possibly introduce third-party teams, there is room for operation in this deal.

All this ultimately depends on the Mavericks' strategic priority. If Irving can make a comeback in February and March next year, the core lineup consisting of Durant, Irving, Davis, Flagg and Leifly will have real strength in the championship as long as the basic rotation depth is retained. Although Irving needs to find cheap defenders to temporarily fill the vacancy during his recovery period, Durant's joining will significantly reduce the demand standards for the position, which is completely feasible.

This move will greatly overdraw Flag's dividend period. After experiencing the disastrous Doncic deal, the No. 1 pick is the lifeline of the Mavericks. If the Mavericks lack young talents and no bargaining chips when they rebuild around Flag’s peak three years later, what is the significance of this revitalization opportunity? This is exactly the contradiction. Some people believe that since the Mavericks have been betting on the present, they can only win Flag's trust by winning the game immediately and keep him patient in the future when he encounters a trough. But once the championship failed, it was no surprise that the rising star asked for a deal four or five years later. In fact, Davis could have successfully connected to Flag's timeline through trading, but don't forget that Nick Harrison bets his reputation on his old Nike friend. Even if it is necessary, he will never take this dangerous move.

The Mavericks' most likely route is: to use the existing lineup to impact the current record (although this lineup is likely not sufficient). There is a fundamental contradiction here, and the Mavericks must clarify their strategic direction. Choosing the future is obviously a better solution, but considering the decision-making style of General Manager Harrison, the current demand for championship competition cannot be ignored.

Los Angeles Clippers

People-minded perspective: The Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs this year; Optimistic perspective: They fought seven games with the Nuggets, and the Nuggets played seven games with the Thunder. If we recognize this "combat power transmission" logic, as long as we stay healthy (although it has never been impossible for them, it is not impossible), the Clippers may not be far from the top competition.

The Suns will almost certainly ask for Zubac, and the Clippers will never let go of the quasi-All-Star center under this great contract. But this should not be a negotiation obstacle: the Clippers' abundant external defensive resources (Derek Jones Jr. and Chris Dunn) are in line with the needs of the Suns; although Powell is not suitable for the Suns, it can be used as a bargaining chip for multi-party trading. Why introduce the Nets to provide center for the Suns? The Clippers still hold two tradeable first-round picks for 2030 and 2032: one for Clarkston and the other for sending to the Suns.

Durant is willing to join forces with Harden again? This may be a potential obstacle, and the breakup between the two at the Nets is obviously not pleasant. But from the perspective of basketball logic, the four-player group consisting of Durant, Harden, Leonard and Zubac is perfect: the Clippers will have the top pick-and-roll combination in history and two masters who are best at shooting at high difficulty. As long as the outside defense system that relies on for survival this season is retained, this lineup is fully capable of winning the 2026 championship.

Original text: Sam Quinn

Compiled by: Li Taibai