Mavericks plan to draft Cooper Flagg

After a stunning turn of events in Monday night’s NBA Draft Lottery, the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick despite holding just a 1.8% chance of doing so.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks have no intention of trading the pick and are widely expected to select top prospect Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks’ presence in the lottery came as a surprise, especially considering their run to the NBA Finals just a season prior.

However, the 2024–25 campaign was riddled with setbacks, most notably injuries to key players, and the midseason blockbuster trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic elsewhere.

Dallas ended up in the Play-In Tournament, and while they managed to defeat the Sacramento Kings in their first game, a subsequent loss to the Memphis Grizzlies kept them out of the playoffs, thus preserving their lottery status.

Veteran NBA insider Marc J. Spears shared insight into the organization’s stance during an appearance on ESPN, saying: “I’m being told that the Mavs are not trading this pick.”

He added that team president Rick Welts sent a message to employees earlier in the day, declaring, “This is a new day.”

Sources told ESPN that Patrick Dumont, who now holds final say over all basketball decisions, views the opportunity to draft a player of Cooper Flagg’s caliber as a rare and valuable moment.

One source described Dumont’s sentiment succinctly: he sees the No. 1 pick as a “gift.”

As for Flagg himself, while the Mavericks haven’t officially confirmed their selection, Welts offered high praise for the projected top pick during Tuesday’s media availability.

“I don’t know who we’re going to take, but should we take him, I think his résumé is pretty strong,” Welts said of Flagg. “Every time he’s put in a situation that everyone wondered if he could succeed, he’s succeeded and then some.”

With a new era taking shape in Dallas – and a generational talent possibly on the way – the Mavericks appear poised to turn the page and build a future centered around youth, potential, and a fresh organizational vision.