2025 draft thread: THE MAVS SELECT COOPER FLAGG

[DallasMaverick]

I think it's at least possible Flagg may not start at the beginning of the season, but there's no way he doesn't get more than 15 minutes a game. And it won't be long at all before he's a fixture in the starting lineup. The fans may hate Kidd even more than Nico if he plants Flagg on the bench. 

Sorta feels like Nico and Kidd are committed to what they think is best for the team, regardless of what the fans think.

[SleepingHero]

I'd note that FG has Flagg off the bench in his projected lineup.  Obviously, not permanent, but it would be a way to start PJ.

I'm not advocating this being a 'contract year' for either.  I'm advocating giving both their extensions this summer.  It won't be a comfortable negotiation, but if the years/salary are right, I think it is possible.  One might say "yeah, but aren't you just setting them up to be traded later".  Well, everyone is subject to being traded later.  Both would much rather have the certainty of an extension (at a preferred number) than the uncertainty of going into free agency.  S&T's are really hard for good (expensive) teams to pull off as it is a hard cap trigger.  So, free agency probably means going back to situations (Charlotte/Washington) that both recently escaped from.

I know FGump wasn’t actually suggesting bringing Flagg off the bench, but there is just no scenario that ever happens even if we don’t make a trade. He’s just that caliber of prospect that will instantly start, make an impact, and play 34 mpg easily. 

It’d be like bringing Wemby off the bench. Or Lebron. You just don’t do that.

[SleepingHero]

https://x.com/fullcourtpass/status/19222...08424?s=46

@Fullcourtpass
Video proof that the Dallas Mavericks ACTUALLY won the NBA Draft Lottery

The combination 10, 14, 11, and 7 gave the Mavs the 1st pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Following up on this, I find it absolutely hilarious the NBA is releasing the actual drawing footage to definitively prove it wasn’t rigged.

Of course E&Y would never risk their reputation over an NBA lottery so the rigged talk was insane to begin with, but the NBA trying to quell that narrative themselves proactively is hilarious to me.

[cow]

I know FGump wasn’t actually suggesting bringing Flagg off the bench, but there is just no scenario that ever happens even if we don’t make a trade. He’s just that caliber of prospect that will instantly start, make an impact, and play 34 mpg easily. 

It’d be like bringing Wemby off the bench. Or Lebron. You just don’t do that.

Unless Al Bundy thinks fans chanting "we want Flagg" or "we want Cooper" is an upgrade to "fire Nico".

[ThisIStheYear]

Flagg isn’t playing 15 minutes or even starting his career on the bench. He’s easily a top 10 prospect to enter the league in my lifetime, and I’m no longer young. Also, championship teams must roll out 4 three point shooters. It’s one of a handful of required roster building rules of thumb for the modern NBA. That means you need a power forward or center who can shoot it. AD/Gaff/DLive can’t, but Flagg will be an elite sniper and stretch 4. And PJ is only good at the 4. He’s not agile enough to be really good at the 3. The Mavs need to do a lot of roster work this summer, the most in franchise history, to build a proper, balanced, modern roster and give themselves the flexibility to build around Flagg going forward. At minimum, I’d trade Gaff. Then maybe you could play Davis with Flagg at the 3 and PJ at the 4. DLive would back up Davis and only play a few minutes with Davis. Then, the Mavs need to figure out the backcourt. It’s not good. Klay is washed and who knows about Kyrie’s future. Grimes would have been perfect on this new team.

[cow]

It might just be his personality, but Flagg seemed completely apathetic of the events that transpired during interviews at the lottery event.

[Tyler]

My wife commented that he needs media training. But you have to remember that he's just 18, and seeming unaffected isn't the worst thing in the world. Also, it's not like the lottery affected his draft position. He was just prepared to roll with whatever.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I think it's at least possible Flagg may not start at the beginning of the season, but there's no way he doesn't get more than 15 minutes a game. And it won't be long at all before he's a fixture in the starting lineup. The fans may hate Kidd even more than Nico if he plants Flagg on the bench. 

It could very much see Kidd let Flagg back up PJ and AD at the 3/4.  There are 96 minutes there and Naji is the only issue (if Martin is traded) and there will be enough injuries to slide people around and get Naji some time.  I think the front half of the season has PJ starting if he is here.  The question is finishing lineups.  Much like Klay will start at the two and Christie might finish.  I could see Kidd finishing with Flagg before I see him starting Flagg.  He's 18.5.  He'll be under a ton of pressure.  No need to add to that pressure by having him displace a good and well-liked player from day one.

[cow]

My wife commented that he needs media training. But you have to remember that he's just 18, and seeming unaffected isn't the worst thing in the world. Also, it's not like the lottery affected his draft position. He was just prepared to roll with whatever.

That was my thought until the interviewer pressed him on playing with AD and he stayed vague and very non-committal about anything specific to Dallas.  I just found it odd.

[F Gump]

He isn't the passer Luka is, doesn't have the ability to carry the same usage as Luka either. From the very little I watched Flagg is the type that plays with the system on the offensive end, rather than enforcing himself on it. Both in a good and bad way. 

Tatum is the best comparison (and there is rarely a good comparison) and both actually landed into teams with good players.

Luka carried the offense heavily, and it was James Harden ugly at times, and Lebron James greatness at times , many times both. Flagg isn't like that, and in short term we will need another creator at the 2 and the bench to make it work.

With a better offensive coach, it is doable that we might be even better.

The good thing is, if it doesn't work you have a future now. We will see who trades for Giannis from Spurs, OKC & Rockets, and if we decide it isn't working with current team, you let the rest gave an auction for AD and get young assets and rebuild.

That wasn't on the table hours ago.

This is an excellent analysis of CFs game and potential fit. I agree with the Tatum comp -- a full sized F with multi skills, who can impact a game in many ways, with lots of upside.

[Jmaciscool]

That was my thought until the interviewer pressed him on playing with AD and he stayed vague and very non-committal about anything specific to Dallas.  I just found it odd.

I wonder - and this is just a guess - if he doesn't want to comment on any team because technically he doesn't know if the Mavs will keep the pick or trade the pick.  I mean, technically he doesn't even know if he'll be chosen as the #1 pick (obviously he will be, but maybe he's trying to stay humble)

[vfromlmf]

Flagg should start the season as a backup but he'll ave 28-32 min and have plenty of starts assuming PJW and AD only play their usual 50-60 games. There will be enough of minutes to go around and you could even see some big lineups with a single guard, two big wings, a forward and center.

Guard: Kyrie
Wing/Forward: Flagg, PJW, AD, and Klay
Center: Lively

I think PJW is part of the core and is a lock to stay. I also think Williams and Powell stay.

I assume a No 1 pick, Gafford, Christie, Naji, Martin, Hardy, OMAX are all available for a starting PG. My guess is Dallas would prefer to keep Christie for PR purposes but he fits the "young player with upside" GMs are typically looking for.

[Tyler]

I can't imagine that Flagg expected Dallas to get the top pick and thought ahead of time of what they might do with it. The simplest explanation is that his agent told him to roll with whatever happens and let the draft process play out. Also, note that he's doing pre-draft workouts today even though they're not necessary. He's just doing his thing and not assuming anything. I see it as a sign of maturity rather than something negative.

[michaeltex]

That was my thought until the interviewer pressed him on playing with AD and he stayed vague and very non-committal about anything specific to Dallas.  I just found it odd.

I would suggest that DAL was not on any of his radar screens prior to last night, so he probably doesn't know what to say. He may not even know what the roster looks like, other than there is no more Luka.

Watching the highlights, I see CF as a higher energy, more athletic version of LD. Maybe not the "holy sh!t did you see that" moves, but with certifiable court vision and passing skills. He seems to score well enough from outside in and should, eventually, create enough gravity to help other shooters. Seems to play faster than the current LD version, but has the same ability to be successful at his own pace and not get hurried by defensive pressure. Performs well in traffic and finishes extremely well through contact. And he won't even be able to (legally) buy a beer in TX for 2.5 more years.

Two years ago, DAL made the WCF, but was exposed for a big hole in the middle that was fixed with DLive, Gaff and PJW acquisitions that made the NBA Finals. A lot of last year's finals team is still here (as of today), less LD of course. But now DAL has added AD and CF (and a couple of interesting end of bench players) to that core, so there are possibilities for success with this team. IMO, the pressure is now squarely on the coaching and medical staff to find schemes to maximize the talent her and keep said talent functioning on the court.

Nico's not trading CF. Doing that, on top of the Luka trade, would kill any legacy he now has a chance to build in DAL.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Flagg is already 6'9" and an ELITE help defender. Playing him anywhere other than the 4 is wasting his talents IMO. He's like a much better version of Aaron Gordon, who was wasting away at the SF position in Orlando. Trying to play him out of position so you can accommodate role players like PJ Washington or Daniel Gafford is disgusting.

Although I can see Kidd/Nico starting a front court of Lively, AD, Flagg. I'm fine if they start that way....

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Some discussion from the Bill Simmons podcast about Flaggs fit on the Mavs: https://youtu.be/f1m5kb5p4Mw?t=1642

27:22 mark on the video

[Chicagojk]

Yeah minutes are there to backup the 3 or 4. I just don’t think bringing Flagg off the bench is a realistic option. Start him and figure the rest out. That is why the Pj thing is tricky.

[SleepingHero]

https://twitter.com/nationmffl/status/19...72880?s=46


@nationmffl

Rich Paul on if he thinks the Dallas Mavericks would trade the first overall pick:

“No. I think there’ll be no trade. I think the Mavs take him [Cooper Flagg] and I think it’s the right thing for the kid…”

[SleepingHero]

https://twitter.com/haterreport_/status/...37612?s=46


@haterreport_

Utah Jazz fans seeing the Dallas Mavericks get another great, white basketball player

[BigDirk41]

There is no chance Flagg comes off the bench, nor should he. He's an amazing talent with great length and can defend. He can play immediately and play well. He won't be brought along slowly. He'll be thrown in and allowed to figure it out.