The Dallas Mavericks are primed to add an elite talent this offseason, one way or another.
After the Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA world by landing the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, speculation immediately started running wild.
The idea of pairing consensus top pick Cooper Flagg with Anthony Davis is tantalizing for both immediate and long-term success, although the Mavericks have made it clear that they are not above making a shocking move.
Armed with the best trade asset in the league, Dallas has been named as a possible landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo should the Milwaukee Bucks agree to trade him, although one insider outlined what he thinks the Mavs will do.
Dallas Mavericks’ offseason plans revealed
After the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, pretty much anything is possible. Fans have speculated that the Mavericks might pass on Flagg and draft someone else, although that is a very long shot.
Antetokounmpo seems like a realistic target, although his fit next to Davis would be questionable at best, which is why drafting Flagg remains the most realistic outcome.
“Patrick Dumont completely understands what a gift horse he has been given, and he isn’t going to look it in the mouth,” said insider Tim MacMahon. “He understands, hey, there were some major business concerns coming out that one little deal that they did in early February, and this mitigates those concerns.”
The Mavericks reportedly lost out on season ticket sales, and Flagg offers a chance for ownership to recoup that lost revenue in the wake of the Doncic trade.
On top of that, the Mavericks don’t control their own future, and there were very real concerns about how Dallas would rebuild after their title window closed.
“He understands that long term, boy, there were concerns about those picks through 2027 to 2031, how are you going to handle that after this three or four-year time frame is over,” MacMahon continued. “Well, getting this generational talent addresses that. The Dallas Mavericks will draft Cooper Flagg with the number one overall pick.”
Apparently, trading for the Greek Freak is not on the table, although other teams will certainly be in the running.
“We are going to talk a lot about the Giannis trade, and we can begin that discussion, as we did last night with the number two overall pick [the Spurs],” he finished.
Mavericks’ draft plan shows a lack of trust in Nico Harrison
If MacMahon’s reports are true and Dallas has no chance of entertaining any other option aside from drafting Flagg, it shows a bit of distrust in Harrison.
While Harrison was jumping for joy as the Mavericks landed the top pick, he won’t be the only decision-maker. Harrison’s midseason blunder and subsequent “press conferences” rubbed ownership the wrong way, and even if they still believe in him as an executive, the leash is tight.
Most general managers preach about doing “due diligence” even when there is a clear-cut option. Drafting Flagg, it would seem, is the only choice, and the Mavericks are leaning into that, not even entertaining any other options.
“The main factor is that he can hoop, he can play,” said Rolando Blackman immediately after the draft. “The important factor is that there are a lot of great players in that draft class. And the important thing is that we’ll see how the guys get together and being able to make our team better, which is exactly what we want to do.”
While Blackman won’t be the one calling the shots, Dallas fans, for once, can expect the expected.
