The Dallas Mavericks can only watch as Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers are in the NBA Finals. Carlisle's team is a perfect example of what it takes to reach the promised land. This is something Dallas can easily replicate, as they have an ideal roster composed of multiple all-stars, such as Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, along with key veteran players and plenty of depth.
One player who will be part of the Mavs' success moving forward is Cooper Flagg. The projected No. 1 pick is expected to be the Mavs' top choice this month. It's clear why Dallas will select Flagg, as he has all the intangibles to be a huge part of Nico Harrison's plan. He is a two-way player who can excel on both ends of the court.
Now, it seems that Flagg's move to Dallas is nearly complete. The Mavs have been itching for Flagg to meet with the team in person, and now it seems those dreams are becoming a reality. Both sides have a date set in place, as Flagg has a pre-draft visit scheduled for June 17 in Dallas.
Flagg will turn down visits with other teams and is ready to become a Mav
ESPN's Shams Charania and Jonathan Givony reported that both sides seem to be in on a mutual agreement with Flagg being the number one pick. They stated that Dallas has no plans to work out other top players outside of Flagg, as the Mavs have made it publicly and privately clear they will select him with the top pick.
Flagg seems to be on board with Dallas' plan, as he too is focused on becoming a Dallas Maverick.
"Flagg is not planning on conducting any additional visits, sources said, and both sides are aligned on his arrival as the No. 1 pick in Dallas," Charania and Givony said.
Both reporters further explained that Flagg, "will both step into a significant role." This means that Flagg will have a chance to make the playoffs in his first season while playing big minutes, as he will have "several key veterans" to assist him along the way.
This is good news for Flagg, as coach Jason Kidd had discussed the different ways he could utilize the projected top pick. Last month, Kidd jumped on the DLLS MAVS podcast to discuss the ways Dallas could use Flagg. He broke down the offensive game plan on how Flagg could be used.
One thing Kidd mentioned was moving Flagg to shooting guard in certain scenarios, and how he could enforce a lineup consisting of Kyrie Irving, Flagg, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II. This means Dallas would be able to dominate their opponents with size and have a high-scoring lineup. A lineup like this would surely get fans excited, as it provided them with a vision of how Flagg could fit in.
Last season, Flagg played most of his minutes in the forward spot, as he was interchangeable between small and power forward. However, Dallas will have plans to utilize him even more. At 6-foot-9, Flagg is dominant wherever.
Assuming Kidd uses him on the wing, it could work to the Mavs' advantage. Last season, Flagg shot 48.1 percent overall and 38.5 percent from the 3-point line. He excels in action, as he can shoot off the dribble and on the move. This means Flagg isn't afraid to fling the ball from different angles.
Plus, Flagg would have the perfect supporting cast to help him excel at the next level. We already know how effective Irving and Davis are. Both players are all-star players who can take over a game. Yet, placing Flagg next to shooters like Washington and Klay Thompson would also open up the Mavs' offense.
So, the possibilities are endless when it comes to Flagg becoming a Dallas Maverick. They can utilize him in countless different ways.
The first step, though, is ensuring Flagg and the Mavs are on the same page. This is important, as both sides seem destined to make him a Maverick, and this already being the case should be a dream come true for Mavs fans.
Flagg's commitment to visit Dallas on June 17 is key. It will allow both sides to get acquainted with each other, and give Flagg a glance into the history of being a Dallas Maverick. Plus, this means the Mavs and Flagg can further develop their bond and discuss their plans to help bring Dallas back to the promised land.
So, Mavs fans should rejoice, Flagg is one step closer to becoming a Dallas Maverick. The only thing missing is the official announcement on draft night. Until then, fans can continue to dream about various scenarios in which Flagg will be incorporated into Dallas.
