After winning the NBA’s Draft Lottery on Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks have a ton of options at their disposal. But it sounds like the organization has already made its decision on what it’s going to do with the No. 1 pick.
According to ESPN insider Tim MacMahon, the Mavs have long had their eye on who they’re going to select — and it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
“After making the biggest leap in NBA draft lottery history to land the No. 1 overall pick, the Dallas Mavericks plan to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg and will not entertain the possibility of trading away the pick for a proven superstar,” MacMahon reported.
“Sources told ESPN that Patrick Dumont, who just finished his first year as the Mavs’ governor, considers the opportunity to be in position to draft a generational talent such as Flagg a ‘gift,'” he continued.
Adding, “While Dumont has given Harrison great leeway to run basketball operations, the governor has final decision on all personnel matters.”
Mavs CEO Rick Waltz also made it clear on Tuesday that Flagg is the player he’d like to see the team take.
Telling reporters, “I don’t know who we’re going to take, but should we take him, I think his résumé is pretty strong. Every time he’s put in a situation that everyone wondered if he could succeed, he’s succeeded and then some.”
Flagg was exceptional in his lone year as a Blue Devil, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists on the way to a 35-4 record, Final Four appearance and nearly every major national player of the year award.
The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled to take place Wednesday, June 25 at 8 PM ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.
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