Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils ahead Cooper Flagg (2) walks off the courtroom after dropping to the Houston Cougars within the semifinals of the boys’s Last 4 of the 2025 NCAA Event on the Alamodome. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Pictures
Supposedly, the Dallas Mavericks have already carried out 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 inside the Mavericks group: “We’re 100% drafting Cooper Flagg. There might be no trades for our choose on draft evening.”
Welp, guess that’s it.
Nothing to see right here.
No manner the Mavericks gained’t choose the reigning faculty 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 recreation for the Last 4-qualifying Duke Blue Devils.
He can soar, 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 normal 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 seek 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’ finest participant, how does it assist their probabilities to win an NBA title by including somebody who was in preschool when Kyrie gained the NBA’s 2012 Rookie of the Yr 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 gained 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 Whereas he’s 30 years outdated, which suggests he’s nearing the tip of his prime, he simply set profession highs for scoring (29.6 ppg), assists (10.2 apg), 3-pointers (138), 3-point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’d instantly develop 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 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 improbable, and the Bucks have to discover a method to begin over as a result of they’re too outdated and too costly.
However Giannis isn’t an equal to Jokić in any manner. 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 crucial vital features 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 — until 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 could have been price a legit dialogue as a result of he’d match that Mavs lineup completely.
Anthony Edwards, who’s a mere 23 years outdated? That might 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 price 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 finest 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 could be a tough no. That’s in all probability an enormous #duh assertion, proper? So, let’s ask a by-product query.
If Nico Harrison someway 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 in all probability no probability right here for Nico to be forgiven. Until he additionally requested for (and acquired) Chet Holmgren. And Jalen Williams.
And included himself within the swap in change for Thunder GM Sam Presti.
