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

Supposedly, the Dallas Mavericks have already finished all the things however submit their decide 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 one hundred pc drafting Cooper Flagg. There might be no trades for our decide on draft night time.”

Welp, guess that’s it.

Nothing to see right here.

No means the Mavericks received’t decide the reigning school participant of the 12 months, 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 Ultimate 4-qualifying Duke Blue Devils.

He can leap, he can shoot, he can defend, he has aptitude, he has no drawback taking pictures within the clutch. There’s nothing to not like — no purpose 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 decide. Extra vital: It’s his job to seek out out whether or not the Mavs can 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 just a few 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 12 months’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 Whereas he’s 30 years outdated, which suggests he’s nearing the tip of his prime, he simply set profession highs for scoring (29.6 ppg), assists (10.2 apg), 3-pointers (138), 3-point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’d instantly turn out to be the title favorites subsequent 12 months. However the Nuggets should say no. It slams their window shut.

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

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 He’s unbelievable, and the Bucks have to discover a approach to begin over as a result of they’re too outdated and too costly.

However Giannis isn’t an equal to Jokić in any means. 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 elements of the sport. The Mavs say no to this one.

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

The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama? Oh, the Spurs say no — except they will’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 may be a captivating commerce, however the Timberwolves say no. They’re too invested in him and he’s creating 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 report. He looks as if he will get each name from the officers, which is a superb factor to have in your aspect. He turns 27 in July, so he’s primed for a number of extra prime-time seasons.

There’s actually no purpose for the Thunder to say sure. They’re teeming with younger expertise already and don’t have to reset their window. So we’re declaring the Thunder can be a tough no. That’s most likely an enormous #duh assertion, proper? So, let’s ask a derivative 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 received) Chet Holmgren. And Jalen Williams.

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