2025 draft thread: THE MAVS SELECT COOPER FLAGG

[SleepingHero]

Of course you can. I´m just preparing you for reality. You are still living in Nico´s wonderland and there are no proper checks and balances in play. 

Kidd is friends with Giannis. Cuban hates rookies. Nico needs to win now to justify the Luka trade. Milwaukee knows it is over for them with the Lillard injury. Only ownership can stop this trade, or you pray that Silver put a no-trade clause into the deal. 

I think Flagg is that special. At least you now can get Giannis, cause I think that moron would even trade Flagg for Durant or Lebron. Don´t doubt for a second that Pelinka will be offering Lebron, too. Pelinka can basically trade for the Mavs finals team and add Flagg at the cost of a 40 something year old traffic cone.

Cuban has zero say in the Mavs anymore. He's made that clear. 

Kidd loves Giannis for sure. Nico cannot do anything to justify the Luka trade. I'd argue trading away a player like Flagg would just further enrage this fanbase.

[SleepingHero]

Also, I will say, I know Dumont is so hands-off he doesn't even know who Flagg is. But the blowback from the Luka trade was so severe I do not think Nico has free reign any more.

Call me dumb. I mean I know I am dumb. But Stein has already floated that Dumont does not trust Nico blindly. If Nico actually tries to trade the #1 pick, I think Dumont blocks it.

[Knutsen]

Another important outcome: OKC doesn’t get another very high pick, because the 76ers moved inside the top 6. So the rich didn’t get richer for now. But the Spurs will be a force for a very long time I fear.

[cow]

Sell the team. Fire Nico. Fire Kidd. Hire Dirk. Draft Flagg. Let Kyrie walk. Trade AD, PJ, and Gaff.

[Smitty]

@AdamSchefter

“One NBA executive estimated privately in recent weeks that winning the draft lottery would be worth a minimum of $500 million and maybe up to $1 billion for one lucky franchise.

The Mavericks just won the lottery, literally.”


Dumbont would be a real idiot if he let Nico screw this up.

[SleepingHero]

@DraftExpress
Wow! How crazy was that. Cooper Flagg to Dallas, with a whole lot of shot-creation responsibility that should give him a huge platform to hit the ground running.

New mock draft projection with all 59 picks coming out momentarily on ESPN.

1. Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
Freshman | TS%: 60.0

Scouting report: Flagg's spot as the consensus No. 1 pick was well-earned over the course of a stellar freshman season that ranks among the best in the one-and-done era. He compares favorably with the best college wings of this era from a statistical perspective, bolstered by his consistency and ability to lead Duke's young team.

Some NBA scouts project Flagg as a bona fide franchise player, while others wonder if he might be more of an elite second star. But that grand level of conjecture supports his case as the top player in this class. His rapid improvement, versatile two-way impact, unusual focus and competitive wiring at 18 years old make him a special prospect. -- Woo

NBA intel and fit: Winning the lottery with just 1.8% odds is a seismic, improbable victory for the Mavericks, who will have an easy decision to make with the addition of Flagg. Dallas has been intent on maximizing its current window as Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving approach their mid-30s, and Flagg's readiness and versatility alongside them should immediately bolster their lineup. With Irving recovering from an ACL injury, Flagg may enter the league with significant shot-creation duties handling the ball, giving him a terrific opportunity to stretch himself as a playmaker and potentially blossom into an offensive star. This outcome significantly changes the fate of the Mavericks, who were staring down limbo after trading away superstar Luka Doncic and seemingly shortening their window to compete for titles. -- Woo

[loki]

Sell the team.  Fire Nico.  Fire Kidd.  Hire Dirk.  Draft Flagg.  Let Kyrie walk.  Trade AD, PJ, and Gaff.

I kind of like it. Another lottery pick in a good draft next year is tempting. And they also wouldn't be dirt poor in assets from 27-30 while building around Flagg.

[SleepingHero]

https://x.com/all_things_mavs/status/192...06727?s=46&t=Fmdr94oXagcEyy75KJqaFg


Lively just posted an interview where he interviewed Flagg for Duke TV

[Knutsen]

https://x.com/all_things_mavs/status/192...06727?s=46&t=Fmdr94oXagcEyy75KJqaFg


Lively just posted an interview where he interviewed Flagg for Duke TV

Big Duke connection now with Kyrie, Lively and Flagg.

[SleepingHero]

[Mavs2021]

Cuban has zero say in the Mavs anymore. He's made that clear. 

Well duh.  But say you are Dumont, and you made the f*** up of a lifetime due to Nico (and probably Kidd) pushing for that Luka deal. You´ll want some additional input, to me the 25% minority owner with 20 years of experience, seems like a logical choice.

And we all know how much Cuban loves a good retirement home. Cuban will give his whole spill of you have to wait five years, maybe Flagg will never be good. Giannis is proven. Not drafting Giannis is the biggest regret of my life, get him when you have the chance. The obvious irony will be completely lost on Cuban. 

I´d not trust Flagg to be a Maverick until he wears the uniform on opening night.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Well duh.  But say you are Dumont, and you made the f*** up of a lifetime due to Nico (and probably Kidd) pushing for that Luka deal. You´ll want some additional input, to me the 25% minority owner with 20 years of experience, seems like a logical choice.

And we all know how much Cuban loves a good retirement home. Cuban will give his whole spill of you have to wait five years, maybe Flagg will never be good. Giannis is proven. Not drafting Giannis is the biggest regret of my life, get him when you have the chance. The obvious irony will be completely lost on Cuban. 

I´d not trust Flagg to be a Maverick until he wears the uniform on opening night.

Totally understood. You never know with this braintrust.  He's no Luka, but he can be a good piece moving forward.

[Jym]

damn the franchise was saved by a 1.8% chance
well hopefully saved. DON'T DO ANYTHING DUMB, NICO! PLEASEEEEE

[Mavs2021]

The Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery and jumped 10 spots to grab the top pick, the biggest move by any team in lottery history, according to ESPN Research.

Funny enough Washington, Utah or Charlotte would just be "Let´s go we got Cooper". Mavs fans will have to sit on the edge of their seat for next six months.

If the ownership had any sense for the mood of their fanbase Dumont would come out tonight and say: We hear you. We pick Cooper Flagg. There won´t be any trade. I promise you this right now.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

NOW you can get Bob Myers!!!

[Dixon Cider]

I'm a diehard UNC fan and watch as much ACC hoops as possible, so I saw Flagg in several games.  He's going to be a bona fide stud by year 2 or 3.  I think it's going to take him a little bit to get accustomed to the NBA because so much hype was put on him.  He can score from anywhere on the floor, has great court vision, and is a very good defender.  He's not as good of a passer as Luka, but he's not bad.  About the only knock on him was in every Duke loss, he did something in last few seconds that hurt the team.  Went over the back in the Final Four, slipped and lost the ball out of bounds against Clemson, did something similar against Kentucky, etc.  He was going to be the Naismith Player of the Year no matter what, but the ACC was extremely weak this year.  The conference has been bad for several years, but this year it was really bad, and he dominated against poor competition.  Again, I don't think it matters THAT much, but I do think it would have helped him better prepare for his rookie year had he faced some consistently good competition in his one and only year in college. Anyone expecting him to put up Luka type numbers in his rookie year is probably going to be disappointed.  He'll have more good games than bad, but he will be a rookie, and it will show in several games.  All that being said, I think by year three I think he'll be a top 15 player in the league and will only get better. I don't think he'll ever be a top 2 or 3 NBA player, but he'll be close and leaps and bounds better on the defensive end than Luka.

[The Jom]

I’m not sure about that. But think about this: if we hadn’t traded Luka there is little chance we end up in the lottery. So….would you rather have Luka with the prior core or would you prefer to have Flagg along with the assets we gained from the Luka trade?

And please Nico, build around Flagg for God’s sake!

We gained assets in the Luka trade?

[Dixon Cider]

I'm a diehard UNC fan and watch as much ACC hoops as possible, so I saw Flagg in several games.  He's going to be a bona fide stud by year 2 or 3.  I think it's going to take him a little bit to get accustomed to the NBA because so much hype was put on him.  He can score from anywhere on the floor, has great court vision, and is a very good defender.  He's not as good of a passer as Luka, but he's not bad.  About the only knock on him was in every Duke loss, he did something in last few seconds that hurt the team.  Went over the back in the Final Four, slipped and lost the ball out of bounds against Clemson, did something similar against Kentucky, etc.  He was going to be the Naismith Player of the Year no matter what, but the ACC was extremely weak this year.  The conference has been bad for several years, but this year it was really bad, and he dominated against poor competition.  Again, I don't think it matters THAT much, but I do think it would have helped him better prepare for his rookie year had he faced some consistently good competition in his one and only year in college. Anyone expecting him to put up Luka type numbers in his rookie year is probably going to be disappointed.  He'll have more good games than bad, but he will be a rookie, and it will show in several games.  All that being said, I think by year three I think he'll be a top 15 player in the league and will only get better. I don't think he'll ever be a top 2 or 3 NBA player, but he'll be close and leaps and bounds better on the defensive end than Luka.

[Chicagojk]

I expect they keep the pick. I am actually more scared Nico takes Harper. lol. I don’t think having three super contracts makes sense in today’s game. Now if it was as for Giannis???


Kidd is sort of weird. I expect they move PJ because PJ in a contract year won’t want to come off the bench. This year or the future. But crazy Kidd could try Cooper at the Two and go with a jumbo big lineup. Don’t think that happens but just wondered what if just now.

[ThisIStheYear]

AD, Kyrie, Flagg. Three ballyhood #1 overall picks on the same team. I remember Magic, Kareem, and Worthy. That’s all I can think of that’s comparable. Anything like this since Showtime in terms of #1 overalls forming a Big 3?