Cooper Flagg Is a No-Brainer, Which Is Precisely Why Dallas Mavericks May Screw It Up

Supposedly, the Dallas Mavericks have already performed all the pieces however submit their choose to the commissioner.

On June 25, they’ve been leaking to the world, they’re going to spend the No. 1 choice within the 2025 NBA Draft on 18-year-old Cooper Flagg.

For instance, right here’s what Hoops HQ has attributed to sources throughout the Mavericks group: “We’re 100% drafting Cooper Flagg. There can be no trades for our choose on draft night time.”

Welp, guess that’s it.

Nothing to see right here.

No method the Mavericks received’t choose the reigning school participant of the yr, the 6-foot-7¾, 221-pound ahead who averaged 19.2 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per sport for the Remaining 4-qualifying Duke Blue Devils.

He can soar, he can shoot, he can defend, he has aptitude, he has no downside taking photographs within the clutch. There’s nothing to not like — no motive to not draft him No. 1.

However that is the Mavericks we’re speaking about. If Mavs common supervisor Nico Harrison has the stones to commerce Luka Dončić, then he has no compunction about buying and selling the No. 1 choose. Extra vital: It’s his job to search out out whether or not the Mavs could be higher served by making a deal.

And with 33-year-old Kyrie Irving and 32-year-old Anthony Davis being the Mavs’ greatest participant, how does it assist their possibilities to win an NBA title by including somebody who was in preschool when Kyrie received the NBA’s 2012 Rookie of the 12 months award?

Simply in case Nico wants any assist — and judging by the Dončić deal, he does — we’re going to suggest a couple of trades and play: Who Says No?

No. 1: Flagg for Nikola Jokić. Who says no?

Jokić has received three of the NBA’s final 4 MVP awards — and he’s one of many three finalists for this yr’s award. Whereas he’s 30 years outdated, which suggests he’s nearing the tip of his prime, he simply set profession highs for scoring (29.6 ppg), assists (10.2 apg), 3-pointers (138), 3-point accuracy (41.7%) and steals (1.8 spg), and loved his second-best rebounding season (12.7 rpg).

If the Mavs acquired Jokić and paired him with Davis and Irving, they might instantly change into the title favorites subsequent yr. However the Nuggets need to say no. It slams their window shut.

No. 2: Flagg for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Who says no?

The Greek Freak is simply 75 days older than Jokić, and he’s one of many MVP finalists, too, which suggests he’s assured to complete within the prime 4 for MVP for the seventh straight season. He’s improbable, and the Bucks must discover a strategy to begin over as a result of they’re too outdated and too costly.

However Giannis isn’t an equal to Jokić in any method. Amongst different issues, his physique appears to be breaking down extra quickly than Jokić’s. He additionally shot 22.2% from three, so he’s poor in one of the vital facets of the sport. The Mavs say no to this one.

No. 3: Younger guys on the market with a better ceiling than Flagg?

The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama? Oh, the Spurs say no — except they’ll’t cease laughing lengthy sufficient to spit out the succinct syllable. The Celtics’ Jayson Tatum? Earlier than he ruined his Achilles tendon, it will have been value a legit dialogue as a result of he’d match that Mavs lineup completely.

Anthony Edwards, who’s a mere 23 years outdated? That will be an interesting commerce, however the Timberwolves say no. They’re too invested in him and he’s growing into the brand new face of the NBA. Detroit level guard Cade Cunningham, who’s additionally 23? That’s value a dialogue.

No. 4: Flagg for SGA. Who says no?

Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Jokić and Giannis because the finalists for MVP. He led the league in scoring (32.7 ppg) and win shares (16.7) this season because the Thunder posted the NBA’s greatest document. He looks like he will get each name from the officers, which is a good factor to have in your facet. He turns 27 in July, so he’s primed for a number of extra prime-time seasons.

There may be actually no motive for the Thunder to say sure. They’re teeming with younger expertise already and don’t must reset their window. So we’re declaring the Thunder could be a tough no. That’s most likely an enormous #duh assertion, proper? So, let’s ask a by-product query.

If Nico Harrison by some means pulled off a Flagg-for-SGA swap, would he be again in Mavs followers’ good graces? Or is there no such factor as getting back from the Dončić deal?

Contemplating Dončić belonged to Mavs followers, there’s most likely no likelihood right here for Nico to be forgiven. Except he additionally requested for (and obtained) Chet Holmgren. And Jalen Williams.

And included himself within the swap in change for Thunder GM Sam Presti.