Is Cooper Flagg a Lock at No. 1? Or Are the Mavericks About to Shock the NBA World Again?
By all accounts, the Dallas Mavericks have made up their minds.
Multiple reports — most notably from Hoops HQ — claim the Mavericks are locked in on selecting 18-year-old Duke sensation Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. According to sources within the organization, “We are 100 percent drafting Cooper Flagg. There will be no trades for our pick on draft night.”
On the surface, that statement sounds definitive. But these are the Mavericks we’re talking about.
This is the same franchise that stunned the basketball world by trading Luka Dončić, the generational star they once built their future around. So the idea that GM Nico Harrison wouldn’t consider flipping the No. 1 pick for a game-changer is, at best, naive.
Yes, Cooper Flagg is the reigning college player of the year. Yes, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals while leading Duke to the Final Four. He shoots, defends, creates, and takes over in crunch time. By all metrics, he’s the most complete prospect to enter the draft in years.
But let’s ask the question no one in Dallas wants to face: Does it actually make sense to draft a teenager when your top players — Kyrie Irving (33) and Anthony Davis (32) — are racing against the clock?
If Nico is doing his job properly, he’s taking calls. Maybe even making some. So let’s play a little game of “Who Says No?” — looking at trade scenarios that could blow up the Mavericks’ supposed draft-night certainty.
1. Cooper Flagg for Nikola Jokić
Jokić, a three-time MVP and still arguably the most dominant force in basketball, just finished a career year: 29.6 points, 10.2 assists, 12.7 rebounds, and 41.7% shooting from deep. Pair him with Davis and Kyrie? Dallas instantly becomes title favorites.
But there’s a catch. Denver isn’t taking that deal. Jokić is their identity, their legacy, their future. The Nuggets hang up the phone.
Verdict: Denver says no.
2. Cooper Flagg for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis remains a top-tier superstar and MVP finalist. But his long-term health is a question mark, and his shooting continues to be a liability — just 22.2% from three this season. While the Bucks could use a rebuild, Flagg isn’t enough.
Verdict: Dallas says no.
3. What About Younger Stars?
Could Dallas aim for someone with more upside but already established?
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Victor Wembanyama? San Antonio isn’t even taking the call.
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Jayson Tatum? Maybe before the Achilles injury. Not anymore.
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Anthony Edwards? Tempting, but Minnesota hangs up.
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Cade Cunningham? A discussion worth having.
Most of these doors are firmly closed.
4. Cooper Flagg for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Now we’re talking. SGA led the league in scoring (32.7 ppg), topped the NBA in win shares, and has the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. At 26, he’s in his prime — and seemingly just getting started.
But again, the Thunder already have youth, depth, and a plan. Trading SGA for a prospect, even one as hyped as Flagg, resets their clock for no reason.
Verdict: Thunder say no. Loudly.
So where does that leave Dallas?
Stuck — or poised — with a generational talent in their hands. But here’s the twist: Mavericks fans still haven’t forgiven the Dončić trade. Nico Harrison is on the clock not just with the draft, but with the franchise’s entire trajectory. Unless he delivers something miraculous — like SGA and Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams — he’s unlikely to earn their trust back.
At this point, the safest bet might be the simplest: draft Cooper Flagg and hope he’s as ready for the league as he looks. But if the Mavericks have taught us anything, it’s that draft night in Dallas is never that simple.
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