Cooper Flagg predicted to mirror NBA's most feared defender right away for Mavericks

Dallas Mavericks fans are counting down the days until Dallas drafts Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick, and excitement is building in DFW every single day. The Mavericks even planned a draft party for draft night at the American Airlines Center, with multiple Mavericks legends and Paige Bueckers set to attend, and everyone is eager for the Flagg era to begin.

By drafting Flagg, the Mavericks will land an NBA-ready wing whose offensive game will fit perfectly into their offensive system due to his playmaking, size, and versatility, but his defense is what will stand out the most right away. Former Mavericks guard and NBA analyst Tim Legler joined the DLLS Mavs Podcast recently, and he is a huge fan of Flagg's defense, saying he can be in the same class as Houston Rockets star defender Amen Thompson within a few years of being in the league.

"Starting like year two, I think he can be in that same category as Amen Thompson in terms of a guy that's potentially an all-league defender," Legler said. "Like pretty quickly, he'll get there."

Cooper Flagg has all the tools to be Dallas' Amen Thompson

Flagg being in the same conversation as Thompson immediately would give the Mavericks one of the most deadly defenses in the NBA, as they already have Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington holding down the back line. They also have Naji Marshall and Max Christie on the perimeter, giving Dallas one of the more stout defenses in the NBA, especially with Flagg coming into the mix.

What makes Flagg special is his elite help defense, athleticism, and instincts, as he can read the offensive players beautifully by being able to quickly slide over to make a help-side block or intercept passes in the passing lanes.

"He's got about as much 'want to' for a wing, that's a high-profile wing, as anybody I've seen coming into the league as far as (a) 'want-to' defender," Legler stated. "He loves it. That's the first thing that stood out to me when I started hearing about him..."

This is easily the best part of Flagg's defensive game.

He works as hard as anyone on that end, and he takes pride in shutting people down. This is exactly what the Mavericks need, as Nico Harrison wants the team's identity to be built around defense, and Flagg's play on that end will never be questioned.

Dallas is all about energy and effort defensively, and Flagg embodies both of those things every single play. He never takes a play off, and him being on the floor will make players think twice before driving to the rim.

Mavericks fans should be ecstatic about what Flagg will bring to the team's defense alongside Lively II and Davis, and being compared to Thompson before stepping foot onto an NBA floor is the ultimate compliment. In just two seasons in the NBA, Thompson has become one of the most feared defenders in the NBA due to his athleticism, versatility, motor, and off-ball instincts, and he and Flagg share many of the same traits.

Thompson's ability to anticipate passes in the passing lanes is excellent, and just like Flagg, he oftentimes flies in as a help defender to block shots. Thompson was honored for his stellar defense by being named to the All-Defensive First Team last season, and if Flagg can get anywhere close to that level defensively after just a few years, the Mavericks will be in great shape.