And we are in a weird spot.

We are prepared to watch basketball.

We don't fully know what to expect.

And I would just say, as a positioning standpoint, from a positioning statement standpoint, the following.

I'm very eager to watch the maps play.

I'm very eager to follow the journey and the adventures of this franchise because I always am.

I'm very eager to see Cooper Flag begin his journey and see where that takes us.

These are all very, very important things.

However, I also acknowledge that it's a very weird time with the franchise.

They are attempting the husband-wife tactic of let's not actually talk out our disagreement.

Maybe when we wake up in the morning, we can both act like it didn't happen and just carry on with our life.

And maybe that will be fine.

Maybe we don't have to have a resolution conversation.

Maybe we don't have to have a resolution conversation.

Maybe we don't have to try too hard to mend fences.

Maybe they just mend organically.

And so it's worth at least acknowledging the oddity.

And so I'd like to say to both halves of this civil war right now,

no, we're not going to stop following the Mavericks,

but also no, we're not going to stop bringing up the worst trade in NBA history.

So both can happen, I think, and that's kind of where I feel right now as, let's say,

a Mav centrist.

...