For the reason that day Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic, Dallas’ GM has been closely criticized. Followers of the workforce couldn’t comprehend why Harrison would half methods with an All-NBA expertise like Doncic.
The Mavericks completed 39-43 in 2024-25, tenth within the West. Dallas had a 1.8% likelihood to land the #1 choose at Monday’s draft lottery. Nevertheless, the Mavs had been extraordinarily fortunate. With the fourth-longest odds in draft historical past, Dallas gained the draft lottery and the appropriate to pick #1 subsequent month. Which means the 2024-25 AP Participant of the Yr, Cooper Flagg, is heading to Dallas. How shortly can the Flagg make the Mavericks a contender within the West?
After buying and selling Luka Doncic, the Mavericks will reload by drafting Cooper Flagg
For the primary time ever, we gained the LOTTERY 💰#MFFL pic.twitter.com/gp1NlDbY6k
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) Might 12, 2025
On Monday evening, the Jazz, Hornets, and Wizards had a 14% likelihood to land the #1 choose within the 2025 NBA draft. They’d the three worst information in 2024-25. Nevertheless, all three fell out of the highest 4. With Utah, Charlotte, and Washington sliding out of the highest three, Dallas, Philadelphia, and San Antonio moved up the board. The Mavericks had a 1.8% likelihood to land the #1 choose. It’s the primary time in franchise historical past that the Mavs have gained the NBA draft lottery.
With the primary total choice in June, the Dallas Mavericks are anticipated to take the consensus #1 choose, Cooper Flagg, out of Duke. The 21-year-old performed his lone collegiate season with the Blue Devils. Averaging 19.2 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per recreation, Flagg gained AP Participant of the Yr. Because the consensus #1 choose, there’s strain on Flagg to be a star on the subsequent degree.
The second we gained 🙌 #MFFL pic.twitter.com/KfsitX1tFE
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) Might 13, 2025
We noticed the same scenario when Zion Williamson was the #1 pick of Duke in 2019. Cooper Flagg will be part of a Dallas Mavericks workforce that already has veteran expertise. Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving will help mentor Flagg. Irving is out till a minimum of January attributable to a knee damage. How shortly can a participant like Flagg assist change the outlook in Dallas? He was a dominant power on the collegiate degree, however the NBA is a unique animal. The Dallas Mavericks have a brand new lease on life after touchdown the #1 choose after Monday’s NBA Draft lottery.
Cooper Flagg can do all of it on the court docket. He’s now identified for having one talent that may blow you out of the water. Relatively, he’s a refined product heading into the NBA that ought to have a easy transition. The addition of Cooper Flagg to the beginning lineup is good for Nico Harrison’s imaginative and prescient. Relying on who performs PF and C subsequent season, the Mavs may have three gamers who’re 6’8 or taller. Harrison mentioned protection wins championships, and that’s partially why he traded Luka Doncic. How shortly can Cooper Flagg make Dallas a contender within the Western Convention?
