Why the Dallas Mavericks’ Decision to Keep Cooper Flagg Could Change Their Future Forever

When the dust settled on the NBA lottery and the Dallas Mavericks found themselves catapulted a staggering 10 spots up to claim the No. 1 overall pick—against all odds with just a 1.8% shot—the whispers and wild rumors started swirling immediately. Would Dallas flip this rare gem, including the rights to draft the highly touted Cooper Flagg, as part of a blockbuster deal to reel in Giannis Antetokounmpo? Maybe package it off to a team like Utah loaded with future draft picks? Not a chance. The Mavericks have made it crystal clear: this pick—and the prodigious talent that comes with it—stays put. Patrick Dumont, the Mavericks’ governor who’s been a key figure steering the ship, sees this as nothing short of a “gift”—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snag a transcendent player. And with CEO Rick Welts backing that sentiment, saying Flagg’s track record of knocking down expectations is downright impressive, it’s clear Dallas believes their future lies in holding tight. Even with star power like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, Dallas isn’t about to gamble away a potential cornerstone that could define the franchise for years. Sure, others like the Spurs and 76ers might be shopping their high picks around…but the Mavericks? They’re playing a different game entirely. LEARN MORE

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.” While Dumont has given (GM Nico) Harrison great leeway to run basketball operations, the governor has final decision on all personnel matters.The moment the Dallas Mavericks leapt up 10 spots and their 1.8% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick became reality, the speculation began:No, no, and no.“I don’t know who we’re going to take, but should we take him, I think his résumé is pretty strong,” Welts said. “Every time he’s put in a situation that everyone wondered if he could succeed, he’s succeeded and then some.”Would the Mavericks trade the No. 1 pick and the rights to draft Cooper Flagg? What about sending it to the Milwaukee Bucks as the core of a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo? What about a team (maybe Utah) that could throw a flood of future picks at them?

However, the Mavericks are not listening to trade offers.Mavericks CEO Rick Welts echoed that idea the day after the lottery. Now, the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 2 pick are a different story; that pick is expected to be available in something like an Antetokounmpo trade with the Bucks. The win-now 76ers likely will consider trading the No. 3 pick for the right deal. Dallas will not entertain the idea of trading the No. 1 pick, which seemed obvious — even in the wake of the Doncic trade — but a source confirmed to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. It would be foolish to trade away Flagg, whose projected floor is a multiple-time All-Star and whose ceiling is a top-five player in the league. Even for more of a win-now team, such as the Mavericks with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, they are not going to trade away that much talent and a bridge to the future.