Why the Dallas Mavericks may be shooting themselves in the foot

The Dallas Mavericks are struggling in the first part of the season as they try and figure out how to get No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg going.

The Mavs have not set up Flagg for early success in the league, which is why Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley used the word "self-inflicting" to describe Dallas' season so far.

"Dallas' disastrous trade of Luka Dončić last season looks like an all-time debacle, and the decision to neglect the point guard position this offseason only appears slightly worse. Undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard is suddenly attempting to stabilize the position while guiding the league's least efficient offense," Buckley wrote.

"It didn't have to be this way. In fact, it never should have gone down like this, especially if you bought ex-front office head Nico Harrison's explanation that the Dončić deal was made with win-now intentions in mind. D'Angelo Russell was never leading this team to win-now glory, and neither was any Point-Cooper Flagg experimentation.

"The Mavericks could take years trying to dig themselves out of this unnecessary mess, and who knows who will remain around Flagg whenever this team makes it to that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel."

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg drives to the basket as Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins defends. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Mavericks hoping to turn things around

There isn't exactly a quick fix to the Mavericks' struggles. Firing general manager Nico Harrison was the first step to putting the team back on the right track, but there is still a long way to go for the Mavericks.

Undrafted free agent Ryan Nembhard is also softening the blow, but he has yet to prove that he can be a key piece for the future.

Ultimately, the Mavericks have a long way to go to get back to where they once were, but each step they take gets them closer.

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