The Dallas Mavericks are interested in exercising their draft lottery pick on Cooper Flagg. Reports suggest the Mavericks are eyeing Cooper Flagg as their potential No. 1 pick, a move many believe they won’t pass up. However, several analysts believe Flagg doesn’t align with the Mavericks’ current win-now timeline.
Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison while trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis suggested that the franchise is moving forward with a win-now approach. He suggested that the window for the Dallas Mavericks’ championship run is now.
The move to bring in a veteran defender backfired as Davis was constantly injured during the regular season action. With all the injuries, and loss of momentum, Mavericks have landed the number one draft pick. However, as Nico Harrison suggested, the strategy of the front office is to build a win-now squad.
Rumors were strong that the Mavericks were looking to add Giannis Antetokounmpo. With their core being Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, the Mavericks wanted to fit in another top player with a similar play timeline. However, with the draft lottery, things have changed for the Texas based franchise. They are expected to include a future face within the presence of veterans.
Veteran Route Better than Rookie Risk for Mavericks
Former NBA player DeMarcus Cousins has an interesting take on the whole Dallas Mavericks win-now strategy. The 34-year-old lent support to Nico Harrison’s strategy and suggested that the Mavericks should add a star player in the off season rather than banking on their draft pick.
DeMarcus Cousins said, “Kevin Durant wouldn’t be a bad move. Nico is already on record saying it’s a three-year window to win a championship, and Cooper Flagg doesn’t necessarily fit that timeline. But Kevin Durant does. I absolutely think the Mavs should trade that No. 1 pick.”
The hot take does seem a bit far-fetched given the injury crisis of Dallas. Regardless of the championship window, Kyrie Irving remains sidelined long-term, and Anthony Davis’ injury history adds to the concerns. Banking on another star nearing the end of his career could be a risky move for Nico Harrison.
Cooper Flagg looks like a player who can hit the ground running. While Flagg may need time to adapt to the pros, his NCAA numbers suggest he could contribute sooner than expected. Moreover, with the current state of the roster, Mavericks are better off towards a rebuild rather than prolonging their veteran era.
