The Mavericks Could Land Cooper Flagg—A Generational Talent That Changes Everything
The ping pong balls haven’t dropped yet, but the air around the NBA Draft Lottery is already electric. Among the 14 teams with their fingers crossed, the Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a unique—and perhaps historic—position. If the basketball gods smile on them, the Mavericks could land the No. 1 overall pick and, with it, the chance to draft Cooper Flagg, the most talked-about high school-to-pro prospect since LeBron James.
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward with preternatural instincts, explosive athleticism, and an elite two-way motor, isn’t just another talented teenager. He’s a cornerstone. A once-in-a-decade kind of player who can redefine a franchise. And if the Mavericks—already home to generational talent Luka Dončić—are fortunate enough to win the lottery, they would suddenly hold the rights to an NBA future that could rival any superteam vision currently floating around front offices.
The mere possibility of pairing Flagg with Dončić is almost too tantalizing to comprehend. It’s the kind of scenario that shifts the league’s power structure. And for the Mavericks, an organization that has long been searching for the right player to take pressure off its Slovenian superstar, this might be their golden ticket.
Make no mistake—Cooper Flagg is that good. At Montverde Academy, the Maine native has dominated the highest level of high school basketball with such consistency and polish that NBA scouts stopped asking “if” he’ll go No. 1 months ago. The question now is simply which franchise will be lucky enough to build around him.
Flagg brings more than raw numbers—though those are eye-popping too. Averaging nearly 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game against elite competition, he’s displayed a rare blend of versatility and maturity. He’s a defensive menace, capable of switching across four positions, blocking shots, and reading passing lanes like a seasoned vet. On offense, he’s fluid, efficient, and remarkably selfless. His jumper is smooth, his passing instinctual, and his basketball IQ off the charts.
It’s the kind of profile that makes executives salivate—and the Mavericks could be the biggest beneficiaries.
For Dallas, the lottery represents more than hope; it offers redemption. The Mavericks haven’t made the most of the opportunities they’ve had in recent drafts. Sure, Dončić was a home run—arguably the biggest draft steal in recent memory—but beyond that, there have been more questions than answers. Draft day trades, missed evaluations, and roster imbalances have made the road rockier than it should be for a team with a player of Dončić’s caliber.
Winning the lottery would change that in a heartbeat. In Flagg, the Mavericks would get a second franchise pillar—one who complements Dončić’s game perfectly. Where Dončić is methodical, deliberate, and offensively oriented, Flagg is explosive, instinctual, and brings defensive versatility. They wouldn’t step on each other’s toes; they’d elevate one another. The pick-and-roll possibilities, the transition game, the sheer IQ on the floor—it would be a basketball symphony.
There’s also a deeper layer to what Flagg could bring to Dallas. Beyond the box score, he embodies a culture. Toughness. Competitiveness. A relentless work ethic that has already become legendary among those who’ve watched him grind in gyms long after practices have ended. For a Mavericks team that has often struggled with consistency and identity outside of Dončić’s brilliance, Flagg would represent a new era. One built on accountability, defensive pride, and collective effort.
Even beyond the on-court pairing, the marketing machine would go into overdrive. Cooper Flagg is a star in the making, and putting him in a top-10 media market alongside one of the league’s most recognizable faces would immediately make the Mavericks a global brand. Jersey sales. National TV games. Playoff runs. The future, suddenly, becomes both profitable and promising.
Of course, all of this hinges on a little bit of luck. The Mavericks didn’t tank their way to the bottom, but a late-season slump and some strategic rest days positioned them with just enough odds to sneak into the top pick conversation. The NBA Lottery is fickle, unforgiving, and dramatic—just ask teams like the Pistons or the Rockets, who have gone through rebuilding cycles only to see their ping pong balls come up short year after year.
But sometimes, the stars align. And if Dallas finds itself holding that No. 1 envelope, the path becomes crystal clear: take Flagg and never look back.
There will be debates, of course. There always are. Some scouts may push for a more traditional big man or a high-scoring guard. Others might suggest trading the pick for an established All-Star to give Dončić immediate help. But those arguments lose steam when the prospect is this rare. Cooper Flagg isn’t just a good draft pick; he’s a franchise-altering force. The type you don’t pass on unless you’re ready to regret it for the next 15 years.
Besides, Dončić isn’t exactly old. At 26, he’s still entering his prime. The idea of pairing him with a player who is five years younger—yet wired for greatness—creates a timeline where the Mavericks can contend now and dominate later. Think of what the Warriors did with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. What the Thunder tried to do with Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. Dallas, with Flagg and Dončić, could build the next great NBA dynasty.
It also can’t be overstated how much Flagg wants to win. He’s been clear in interviews and behind closed doors: he’s not chasing stats or clout—he’s chasing championships. That mindset would resonate immediately in a Mavericks locker room that, at times, has lacked that unified drive. Flagg would push teammates. He’d defend the toughest assignments. He’d do the dirty work without complaint. He’s that rare top prospect who doesn’t need to be told what winning requires; he already lives it.
The implications of such a pick would ripple throughout the league. Other teams would scramble to retool. Free agents would suddenly have Dallas high on their radar. Coaches would scheme around how to stop the Mavericks, not just Dončić. It would be a power shift—subtle at first, perhaps, but eventually seismic.
And the timing couldn’t be better. The Western Conference is aging in certain places and uncertain in others. The Warriors are past their peak. The Lakers are one injury away from irrelevance. Even teams like the Nuggets and Suns face long-term roster questions. The Mavericks, if they win the lottery and draft Cooper Flagg, could leap ahead of all of them.
That’s what makes this year’s draft lottery so consequential. Not just for Dallas, but for the entire league. It’s not often that the fate of a franchise can change with the drop of a ball. But this is one of those years. Cooper Flagg is the kind of player who alters trajectories—of games, of teams, of careers.
For the Mavericks, this is more than a hope or a dream. It’s a shot at basketball immortality. A chance to build something that’s not just competitive but iconic. The league is watching. The fans are waiting. And if the Mavericks hear their name called first on lottery night, the entire NBA will take notice.
The road ahead is uncertain, but the reward is clear. Cooper Flagg is the future. Dallas just needs the right bounce to claim it.
