Cooper Flagg: Dallas Mavericks have ‘a lot of really good pieces’

Cooper Flagg: Dallas Mavericks have ‘a lot of really good pieces’

In one of the most improbable–and hilarious–NBA Draft Lottery outcomes in recent memory, the Dallas Mavericks scored themselves the No. 1 overall pick.

Duke star Cooper Flagg, a fringe-generational prospect, will be the unquestioned No. 1 pick in next month’s draft. Thus, he was asked about the pre-draft process and the lottery results with heading to Dallas.

“I’m grateful to get this opportunity, or any opportunity to hear my name called on draft night,” Flagg said, according to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal. “I’m just really excited for this whole experience. Not everybody gets to go through this, so I just feel really blessed. As far as Dallas goes, they’ve got a lot of really good pieces.

“To be able to learn from [Dereck Lively] — that’s pretty cool.”

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was gifted a life raft after handing another in Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Though the Mavericks currently aren’t in a great position to build around Flagg long-term.

They do not own any of their first-round picks from 2027-30 and have just one additional first-round pick in 2029–from the Los Angeles Lakers. Dallas is devoid of young talent. So, ironically enough, Dallas’ best opportunity to build around Flagg is to either trade Lively or capitalize in free agency in upcoming offseasons.

The Mavericks aren’t expected to trade the No. 1 pick

We know they need a point guard with Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL that could keep him out for most of the season, but there’s more that needs to be added to the equation in both the short- and long-term.

Flagg, 18, is one of the best American-born prospects since LeBron James. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks on 59.3 percent true shooting in his lone season at Duke, winning the Naismith Award and being a consensus first-team All-American.

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