DALLAS — The surprising win for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA draft lottery granted them the opportunity to select Cooper Flagg as the number one overall pick. Mavericks general manager, Nico Harrison, initially anticipated drafting much later in the first round, around the 11th pick, yet fortune favored them with their minor 1.8% chance of winning the lottery.
This windfall for Dallas occurred merely a day after the team renewed their contract with star guard, Kyrie Irving. When Irving completes his recovery from a torn ACL, he’s expected to be part of a formidable lineup alongside Flagg and young center Dereck Lively II, another Blue Devils alumni. Lively was the 12th overall choice in the 2023 draft.
The win in the lottery came shortly after the team’s controversial decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, which had caused a stir among fans. The trade became all the more critical when injuries hit the team hard. Following Davis’s groin injury in his first game with the Mavericks, and Irving’s knee injury in March, the team’s playoff prospects faded, indirectly leading them to the draft lottery victory.
Despite the setbacks, Dallas managed a spot in the play-in tournament but eventually succumbed to Memphis, narrowly missing a playoff berth. The draft lottery chance was unexpected yet welcome, offering Dallas a fresh opportunity to build toward future successes.
As anticipated, Irving decided against exercising his $43 million player option for the 2025-26 season, opting instead for a three-year deal valued at $119 million, featuring a player option for the last season. This move aligns with the Mavericks’ vision of forging deep playoff paths, especially after missing out on the postseason in 2023 and making it to the finals last year for the first time since 2011.
With both Davis and Irving positioned to have player options by the 2027-28 season, Flagg stands to be an integral piece within the Mavericks’ strategic plans just as he enters the third year of his rookie term. Nico Harrison remains optimistic, having engaged in dialogue with critical team members and remains hopeful for future outcomes.
Flagg marks the second time in the Mavericks’ history they have the first overall pick; the last was Mark Aguirre in 1981. Unlike those early days, Flagg steps into a team with seasoned champions like Irving and Davis, who have each clinched NBA titles in the past.
Harrison emphasizes a shift in the Mavericks’ strategy toward emphasizing defense, a change influenced by the departure of Doncic. He believes that Flagg, known for his prowess as a two-way player, fits well within this revised vision. Having skipped his senior year of high school to join Duke early, Flagg’s readiness and adaptability will prove pivotal as he transitions to the NBA stage.
Despite the complications following the trade of Doncic and Davis’s injury record, the lottery win positions the Mavericks to cultivate new talent while securing immediate competitive goals. Harrison envisions a dual approach that not only seeks victory in the present but also lays the groundwork for continued success in the future. “Eventually, it’s going to be Cooper’s team,” Harrison commented, reflecting the team’s confidence in Flagg’s potential to lead.