If you still choose to boo former Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison every time you see him around town, do it.

Loudly.

And do it with passion. Let him feel all your sports hate. Let him know you will never forgive nor forget his role in the dumbest trade — sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers — in NBA history. And it’s certainly in the conversation for the dumbest trade in sports history.

Once you do that, though, the reality is you’re still cheering for one of the NBA’s worst teams.

The Mavs are tanking this year, which they should, so they’re probably not quite as bad as their record indicates, but they’re not a whole lot better either.

Dallas is likely to finish somewhere between the NBA’s fourth- and eighth-worst records. Any finish among the worst six is the preferred spot because the top six players in the 2026 draft are each supposed to have star potential.

This is supposed to be one of the best drafts in recent NBA history. The consensus top three prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft are Brigham Young’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and Duke’s Cameron Boozer in whatever order you want to grab them.

The next three players mentioned are usually North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Arizona’s Darius Acuff.

Luckily for the Mavs, Flemings and Acuff play point guard. The Mavs’ future rests on their ability to add a point guard in this draft. If they can, then their future brightens significantly. If not, they’re going to be bad for years.

Kyrie Irving will return next season after missing the 2025 season as he recovers from the knee injury he suffered last season. He’d be back if the Mavs weren’t tanking, so he should be 100 percent at the start of next season.

There’s no reason to believe he won’t be superb, but he was brought here to win a championship with Luka Doncic and he’s no longer here. Irving might be worth more as a trade chip who can help fortify the future with a bunch of No.1 picks. Besides, if the Mavs draft a point guard he needs to play — not watch Kyrie do his thing.

Irving can play shooting guard but he’s more valuable directing the attack. The question is whether the Mavs would rather have Flemings or Acuff.

Either would be fantastic.

Flemings is a better defender and probably a better all-around player. He played at Houston so you know he’s tough mentally and physically.

Acuff is like Derrick Rose 2.0. He’s a scorer and a slasher and he wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line. You can’t teach that.

Either one would remove pressure from Cooper Flagg, but give me Acuff.

Coach Jason Kidd used Flagg as a point guard early in the season with disastrous results. It’s not a position the 6-9 rookie has ever played.

Later, he played well when asked to run the point and helped the Mavs win some games. He’s not a point guard.

Period.

He can play there. He can help there. He is not a long-term option there.

Flagg has shown every indication he can help the Mavs get there. He’s averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists and has shown no fear.

He attacks the basket and plays with a high IQ that makes everybody else better.

He’s an alpha.

You can win a title with him as your best player. All the Mavs have to do is build a team around him.

It starts adding a point guard in the draft.