Presumptive No. 1 2025 NBA Draft choose Cooper Flagg’s camp seemingly thinks he’ll reinvigorate the Dallas Mavericks instantly, but it surely might be in for a actuality test.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer has urged the 6-foot-9, 205-pound ahead may change into an prompt game-changer for the Mavericks, assuming they take him within the first spherical of the draft on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
“Dallas has been fortunate for therefore a few years,” Scheyer mentioned, per ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “They have been in a position to watch [Dirk Nowitzki], [Luka Doncic] — so many successful groups. Now, you have acquired a man in Cooper, who I feel will carry that custom ahead.”
Carrying that custom, although, may change into a burden for Flagg throughout his rookie season.
The Mavericks have star guard Kyrie Irving, however he tore the ACL in his left knee in March and will not return till January 2026.
Mavericks ahead Anthony Davis — who has performed in 75 regular-season video games or extra 3 times in 13 seasons — can also be injury-prone. After the Mavericks dealt star guard Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis in February, he performed in 9 regular-season video games for Dallas due to groin, thigh, adductor and stomach points.
If Davis and Irving miss vital time, Flagg might have to hold the Mavericks, and a surging Western Convention would solely amplify that problem.
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder gained the 2024-25 championship and has a powerful likelihood to repeat. As of Tuesday, FanDuel Sportsbook gives Oklahoma City the perfect odds (+210) to win the 2025-26 title.
The Minnesota Timberwolves might be on the verge of one thing massive after consecutive Western Convention Finals appearances, and the Houston Rockets possible improved their championship probabilities after including ahead Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.
Let’s not overlook about Doncic and the Lakers. The five-time All-Star continues to be in all probability salty in regards to the commerce from Dallas, which can gasoline him subsequent season.
Dallas, in the meantime, regressed final season after making the 2024 NBA Finals. It went 39-43 within the common season, and the Memphis Grizzlies eradicated it within the play-in match.
Flagg — who averaged 19.6 factors per sport in 37 video games in a single season at Duke — is extensively thought of a uncommon prospect. Brian Scalabrine, who performed 11 seasons within the NBA and is Flagg’s coach, mentioned his basketball IQ is “on par” with Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James, per NBC News’ Rohan Nadkarni and Olympia Sonnier.
James, nevertheless, did not lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the playoffs after they chose him with the No. 1 choose within the 2003 draft. Flagg might not information the Mavericks to the postseason both, particularly together with his camp seeming unaware of the state of affairs he is coming into.
