With the NBA's trade deadline just a few days away, many teams are looking to make last-second moves to angle themselves better towards a lengthy playoff run. Despite the lack of moves from the Dallas Mavericks so far, there is plenty of conversations going on behind closed doors, including the future of standout guard Max Christie.
To no surprise of any Mavericks fan, NBA reporter Marc Stein revealed that the Mavericks do not plan to trade Christie at this trade deadline. While this doesn't out-rule a possible move in the future, there's no denying that the Mavericks view Christie very highly, especially as they try to surround the right players around Cooper Flagg to build a contender.
In the latest substack of The Stein Line, Stein revealed that the Mavericks do notplan on trading Christie (subscription required) or Naji Marshall at the deadline.
Mavericks view Max Christie as a key future building block
"I'm told that Dallas does not want to trade Naji Marshall or Max Christie - who arrived in Dallas alongside (Anthony) Davis." Stein wrote.
There is no doubt that Christie is having one of the best shooting seasons in Mavericks history, as he is currently shooting the threes at a 44.2 percent clip, but more importantly, the Mavericks are committed to his future. A proven formula for success around Flagg is to have as many shooters on the floor as possible, and Christie is one of the few Mavericks who can make that difference.
Not to mention, Christie is also one of the best point-of-attack defenders the Mavericks have on their roster, which makes him virtually one of the most versatile players on Dallas's roster. At 22 years old, Christie offers much more than just a young player to add alongside a team's future name of the franchise, but also someone who can complement any superstar.
By no means does this rule out a possible move in the future, as Christie could already be regarded as one of the league's best 3-and-D wings at his young age, but it ensures that the Mavericks have a 3-point sharpshooter to pair alongside Flagg. Christie has played lights out this season, and it shouldn't be a surprise to any fan that the Mavericks are attempting to lock down his future in Dallas.
There will be plenty more moves the Mavericks can make to help build around Flagg and the future of the franchise, but with the deadline inching closer, fans need to know that the Mavericks love Christie.
Coming over as a complementary trade piece in the Davis for Luka Doncic swap, Christie didn't have many fans salivating over what he might be able to do in a Mavs uniform, but exactly one year removed from one of the most infamous trades in sports history, Christie has quickly become a fan-favorite.
The best move the Mavericks can make is ensuring a young core around Flagg, and by not shopping Christie or even listening to conversations this deadline for him, is a strong indication of how the Mavericks feel about the 22-year-old wing.