The plan of the Dallas Mavericks with the nº1: Cooper Flagg or trade?

NBA Draft 2025: The Dallas Mavericks have decided to select Duke's small forward, Cooper Flagg, with the first pick in the NBA Draft, after making the biggest leap in draft lottery history to secure that number one spot. According to ESPN sources, the Texan franchise has no intention of trading this pick, not even for an established superstar.

The surprising lottery win came after a chaotic season marked by injuries and culminated in the elimination in the Western Conference play-in. The Mavericks had mere 1.8% odds of landing the first pick.

This stroke of luck occurred months after general manager Nico Harrison shook up the league and angered Dallas fans by trading Luka Doncic, a five-time All-NBA First Team selection, to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Mavs received a package headlined by Anthony Davis, a ten-time All-Star center and power forward.

ESPN sources indicated that Patrick Dumont, who has just completed his first year as the Mavericks' governor, sees this opportunity to pick a generational talent like Flagg as a "gift". Although Dumont has granted wide autonomy to Harrison in basketball operations, he has the final say in all personnel decisions.

Doncic's departure raised serious economic concerns and clouded the future of a franchise that committed its first-round picks between 2027 and 2030 to build the team that reached the NBA Finals in 2024. Flagg's arrival would help address both situations.

Standing 2.06 meters tall, Flagg has been considered the frontrunner to be the number one pick since August 2023, when he announced he would graduate high school a year early and enroll in college at just 17. Despite the massive hype, he exceeded all expectations by winning nearly every national player of the year award. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, leading the Duke Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and an appearance in the Final Four.

“I don't know who we're going to pick, but if we choose him, I believe his resume speaks for itself,” stated Mavericks CEO Rick Welts on Tuesday. “Every time he's been in a situation where there were doubts about his performance, he has surpassed all expectations.”

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