2025 draft thread: THE MAVS SELECT COOPER FLAGG

[Tyler]

Not to be a jinx, but is there any worry that Flagg could drop out of the draft? 

No chance. No NIL money can top a guaranteed 4-year NBA deal. No #1 pick would pass that up and risk injury. Also, as negative as Mavs fans are about their own team, I doubt he wants to gamble on being banished to someone like the Wizards.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Sounds like we need to launder some money to CAA so we can get Coby White and Chris Paul in addition to Flagg.

That'd solve all our roster needs.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Sounds like we need to launder some money to CAA so we can get Coby White and Chris Paul in addition to Flagg.

That'd solve all our roster needs.

Dumont open the wallet, it's the only way you can be useful for this franchise.

[Chicagojk]

There was a report that the Bulls are interested in Denim. That appears to be an odd fit. Although maybe they are gambling on upside.

I am not really sure on Denim. His highlights look good but watching in a game is a little boring. Although maybe that is your typical freshman up and down. He might be an interesting guy for the Mavs. Mavs could go super big everywhere with the exception of Kyrie. The length would be ridiculous. It is a tough one though. I am not sure if he is a true point guard now.

[KillerLeft]

No chance. No NIL money can top a guaranteed 4-year NBA deal. No #1 pick would pass that up and risk injury. Also, as negative as Mavs fans are about their own team, I doubt he wants to gamble on being banished to someone like the Wizards.

This, PLUS he'll want to start the clock on getting THROUGH that 4-year rookie deal to get to his rookie max extension as quickly as possible.

[myconsumerclub]

Lively, Gafford, Powell
AD, PJ, OMax
Flagg, Naji, Martin
Klay, Max, Hardy
Irving, BWill
As it is now, this is it.

I hear Exum wants to come back and is talking w the team about resigning.

Most talked about trade candidates are Powell, Hardy, OMax, Martin

Someone was talking about making a trade to TOR for RJ https://fanspo.com/ trade with Powell Hardy NAJI and Martin works to get him.

Other options from last season : Kai Jones, Moses Brown, Kessler Edwards

At the end of the draft there are guys we can extend a 2 way to and I like what the talent pool has to offer. As stop gap measures we could probably add a few rookie PG's or Exum and Din, just joking I am sure we get a vet to play but for 2 ways we need 3 good prospects to develop.

From tankathons site
48 to Cavs at 49 https://www.tankathon.com/players/javon-small PG 5.6 assists
42 to SAC in mock https://www.tankathon.com/players/tyrese-proctor PG 40 % PLUS 3's
49 in mock to ORL at 46 https://www.tankathon.com/players/eric-dixon PF 40% 3's 6'8 3/4
62 undrafted https://www.tankathon.com/players/ryan-nembhard PG 10.1 assist in 36 and 9.8 in 35.1 40% 3's senior 23
53 to UTA in mock https://www.tankathon.com/players/amari-williams C 22.8 mpg 7'0 3.2 assists 8.5 rebounds 262 senior
55 mock says LA https://www.tankathon.com/players/micah-peavy 6'7 wing from Duncanville 3.6 APG 40% 3's
59 58 to Cavs in mock https://www.tankathon.com/players/kobe-sanders 23 year old 6'8 1/4 out of Nevada and dishes 5.1 assists per 36 minutes or 4.5 pg in 31.7 mpg

[Chicagojk]

article from 6 months ago

Mavericks’ Patrick Dumont played pivotal role in thawing relations between NBA, China


There is China big man who is probably a second round pick. No doubt if Cuban was still involved, he would be a trade target. Lets see if Dumont cares.

Hansen Yang

Size: 7'1", 253 lbs

Age: 19

Nationality: China

Pro Comparison: Andrew Bogut

Every scout presumably watched film of Hansen Yang putting up numbers in China. But they also had to see him execute against mostly different-caliber athletes in the 2025 NBA draft discussion. And Yang looked like he belonged, playing with swagger and confidence while scoring 12 points in the opening scrimmage and totaling 11 points, six boards and six assists at the NBA combine.

He delivered a number of wow plays, including a three-pointer, some fancy footwork from the post and a few beautiful dimes that highlighted obvious passing IQ and quick processing.

[Chicagojk]

cp3 on Flagg

https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1930677794859569397

[Chicagojk]

Espn Kevin Pelton rankings. Sort of different but Mavs certainly are good at grabbing his highest rated guys.


https://archive.ph/2025.05.30-221158/htt...-prospects

[Kidnova]

No chance. No NIL money can top a guaranteed 4-year NBA deal. No #1 pick would pass that up and risk injury. Also, as negative as Mavs fans are about their own team, I doubt he wants to gamble on being banished to someone like the Wizards.

Not that I think there's any chance Flagg goes back to Duke, but he reportedly made $28 million via NIL in his one season.  He'll make half that in his first season in the NBA.  Of course there's more value, but if he simply didn't want to play in Dallas, for whatever reason, it's a viable option.

[Mavs2021]

Not that I think there's any chance Flagg goes back to Duke, but he reportedly made $28 million via NIL in his one season.  He'll make half that in his first season in the NBA.  Of course there's more value, but if he simply didn't want to play in Dallas, for whatever reason, it's a viable option.

Not when there is a guaranteed pot of $250M at the end of the rainbow, but it might actually play a part in some players returing to college recently. Guaranteed college payday + free education vs. potential 2nd round pick.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

https://archive.ph/73tHB#selection-13096.0-13122.0

I don't know if anyone has posted this, but this is great.

IMO the best offensive comp is Tatum, with better distribution. I would have said Pippen going into his freshman Duke year, but he progressed greatly.

The best defensive comp is Kawhi.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Not when there is a guaranteed pot of $250M at the end of the rainbow, but it might actually play a part in some players returing to college recently. Guaranteed college payday + free education vs. potential 2nd round pick.

Agreed.  I don't see any college athlete staying in college for NIL money, unless they're much more of a college stud than projected in the pros (eg, Charlie Ward, Danny Hurley, etc).

[Chicagojk]

Sam Vecenie from the Athletic released his draft report today. Really exciting reading. I wasn't able to cut and paste his section though. Really in depth.

On another note, Jase Richardson 17, Fears 18 (I expect he goes higher), Clayton 20, McNeeley 21, Traore 22, Demin 25 are his rankings. Interesting if there is a Gafford trade to Orlando or Atlanta in the mid first if any of these players would interest the Mavs. I list McNeeley because I think he is being undervalued, but probably isn't a fit with the Mavs with their roster. Demin is really intriguing, just a lot of question marks of what he is and what he will he will become. If he is a point, he could pair with Kyrie or be a part of a jumbo long lineup. Not sure he is a point in the pros though. I really like Richardson, but his measurements really scared me away. Also, I am not sure if he will ever be a point.

[Chicagojk]

Sam Vecenie from the Athletic released his draft report today.  Really exciting reading.  I wasn't able to cut and paste his section though.  Really in depth. 

On another note, Jase Richardson 17, Fears 18 (I expect he goes higher), Clayton 20, McNeeley 21, Traore 22, Demin 25 are his rankings.  Interesting if there is a Gafford trade to Orlando or Atlanta in the mid first if any of these players would interest the Mavs.  I list McNeeley because I think he is being undervalued, but probably isn't a fit with the Mavs with their roster.  Demin is really intriguing, just a lot of question marks of what he is and what he will he will become.    If he is a point, he could pair with Kyrie or be a part of a jumbo long lineup.    Not sure he is a point in the pros though.  I really like Richardson, but his measurements really scared me away.    Also, I am not sure if he will ever be a point.

His summary is Flagg is his second best prospect since he has been evaluating players behind Victor.  While Williamson's theoriteical ceiling may be higher, he has Flagg higher for two reasons.  1) Flagg has no roster building limitation where as Williamson you had to have the right guys around him (floor spacing center as an example).  second, Williamson had injury concerns going back to high school.   He says the level of safety you get with Flagg drascially exceeds that of Williamson.

He see Flagg as a uture all NBA player with the updside of being one of the top 5 players in the league.   His overall impact on the game on both ends of the floor is remarkable.   He is the exact kind of player you want to build your organization around i you want to try to win championhips.   He's and immediate organization centerpiece.

That is a summary.   In the strengths, I was surprised to see Vecenie rave about his creation ability.  First time he was asked to do this and Veceine said the results were ridiculous.  Called one of the varied offensive weapons he has seen in college basketball.   Said the creation revelastion is why he is one of the best prospects in over two decades.  

He then goes into that one of his best offensive skills is his passing ability.   This was a really fun section to read about his passing.

[DanSchwartzgan]

In the strengths, I was surprised to see Vecenie rave about his creation ability.  First time he was asked to do this and Veceine said the results were ridiculous.  Called one of the varied offensive weapons he has seen in college basketball.   Said the creation revelastion is why he is one of the best prospects in over two decades.  

He then goes into that one of his best offensive skills is his passing ability.   This was a really fun section to read about his passing.

I see this in the highlights and think his creation was actually held back by Duke's system.  He runs the PnR just fine and can create for others on the move.  Heck, they put the ball in his hands when he played with all those NBA guys on the USA select team.  I don't have real worries about creation once Kyrie is back.  Which means, I'm less about a pure PG and more about a 3 and D player at the guard position in terms of what we need to add.   I think more of a Caruso or White time and less of a 'get a bucket' type.

[F Gump]

I see this in the highlights and think his creation was actually held back by Duke's system.  He runs the PnR just fine and can create for others on the move.  Heck, they put the ball in his hands when he played with all those NBA guys on the USA select team.  I don't have real worries about creation once Kyrie is back.  Which means, I'm less about a pure PG and more about a 3 and D player at the guard position in terms of what we need to add.   I think more of a Caruso or White time and less of a 'get a bucket' type.

I'm back to wondering if Flagg and Klay are the starting backcourt until Kyrie returns. If CF can be an oversized 2 and excel at the position, it has a positive ripple effect on the rest of the lineup, with him not needing minutes as a 3 or a 4.

I would think the need they might want to address is likely to be shooting (finding efficient 3-point guys to spread the floor).

But if we don't worry about the health, isn't the player who overlaps your wish list and mine, and perhaps satisifies both, going to be Exum?

[DanSchwartzgan]

I'm back to wondering if Flagg and Klay are the starting backcourt until Kyrie returns. If CF can be an oversized 2 and excel at the position, it has a positive ripple effect on the rest of the lineup, with him not needing minutes as a 3 or a 4.

I would think the need they might want to address is likely to be shooting (finding efficient 3-point guys to spread the floor).

But if we don't worry about the health, isn't the player who overlaps your wish list and mine, and perhaps satisifies both, going to be Exum?

Both Dameris and Kidd have mentioned the Flagg as a 2 thing.  So, it probably has legs for at least some amount of minutes.  Starting?  It does allow you to introduce the right guys until Kyrie comes back.  Is Klay willing to come off the bench at that point? For sure he'd be the one not finishing unless it was an O for D swap thing. 

I wonder if PJ is actually the player more out of position in a Lively, AD, PJ, Flagg, Klay (Kyrie) lineup.  One nice thing about this is it is really easy for players to slide up a spot when someone sits.  You've already named a top six at this point and 

I'm fine with Exum as part of the solution.  I would point out that Ball plays good D and hits his 3's at a great clip on good volume.  if you told me we consolidated some salary into Ball and brought back Exum (and extended PJ and Gafford), I'd say sign me up for some of that.  It is probably the most straightforward of the remaining options on Stein's list (if you assume CP3 is off the table).

[Chicagojk]

I see this in the highlights and think his creation was actually held back by Duke's system.  He runs the PnR just fine and can create for others on the move.  Heck, they put the ball in his hands when he played with all those NBA guys on the USA select team.  I don't have real worries about creation once Kyrie is back.  Which means, I'm less about a pure PG and more about a 3 and D player at the guard position in terms of what we need to add.   I think more of a Caruso or White time and less of a 'get a bucket' type.

Interesting about the White and Caruso wants. I guess every team wants a player like that though.   Vecenie was grasping at straws on weaknesses, but mentioned his man on man defense, especially against smaller players could be a weaknesses.  He didn't think he would be the man on man defender that Herb Jones or the Rockets Thompson are.   

Watching the Duke highligths, they really didn't have a real point guard.  Proctor struggled at it his first two years and sort of moved to an open shooter last year.   I wonder if a guy like Walter Clayton could fit that role off the bench?   A stone cold sniper who can handle the ball but much better as a floor spacer.    Add our bigs and we could replicate a lot of what the Duke offense looked like last year.  Is there enough shooting if you have Kyrie, Klay, Max and Clayton in the backcourt?

[DL2RimRocker]

Interesting about the White and Caruso wants. I guess every team wants a player like that though.   Vecenie was grasping at straws on weaknesses, but mentioned his man on man defense, especially against smaller players could be a weaknesses.  He didn't think he would be the man on man defender that Herb Jones or the Rockets Thompson are.   

Watching the Duke highligths, they really didn't have a real point guard.  Proctor struggled at it his first two years and sort of moved to an open shooter last year.   I wonder if a guy like Walter Clayton could fit that role off the bench?   A stone cold sniper who can handle the ball but much better as a floor spacer.    Add our bigs and we could replicate a lot of what the Duke offense looked like last year.  Is there enough shooting if you have Kyrie, Klay, Max and Clayton in the backcourt?

I would love to see the Mavs find a way to get Clayton. 

I think he could become a Jason Terry type player for us. Lightning quick, super athletic and has unlimited range. 

Also a winner and a perfect player to develop with Flagg even though he is 5 years older.