The Dallas Mavericks officially selected Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick to start the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. While the pick was anticipated, the real work for Dallas is just beginning. The Mavericks seem poised to adopt a “two-timeline” approach during the Flagg era, less out of strategic choice and more out of necessity given the presence of Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Assuming Davis isn`t unexpectedly traded, the strategy moving forward involves blending the veteran core with the new talent, hoping Dallas can successfully build a winning team.
But where does Flagg fit within this structure? He is projected to start immediately, that much is certain. However, considering the roster was constructed to maximize Luka Dončič`s strengths before his surprising trade in February, how will the Mavericks adapt to integrate the 6-foot-8 Flagg? It`s not necessarily a question of poor fit, but rather numerous variables Dallas must navigate as they enter this new phase.
With that in mind, let`s explore some of the biggest questions facing the Mavericks now that Flagg has been officially drafted.
What Could the Starting Lineup Look Like with Flagg?
The Mavericks currently have an unbalanced roster, featuring an excess of forwards and a deficit of guards. This imbalance will undoubtedly need addressing before the season begins, particularly with Kyrie Irving expected to be out until at least January recovering from a torn ACL. Dallas will need to find a temporary point guard solution. However, unless this is resolved via a trade that moves one of the existing forwards, the Mavericks face tough decisions regarding their starting five.
Fortunately for Dallas, this presents a positive challenge. Many teams would welcome a surplus of wings, but determining the optimal combination of players will be Jason Kidd`s main priority. One potential starting lineup we might see early in the season is:
- PG: TBD/Kyrie Irving (when healthy)
- SG: Klay Thompson
- SF: Cooper Flagg
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: Dereck Lively II
This lineup offers several promising aspects, particularly the potential synergy between Flagg and Lively. At Duke, Flagg thrived playing alongside 7-foot-2 Khaman Maluach, executing pick-and-rolls, finding him for dump-offs against collapsing defenses, and connecting on lobs. Dereck Lively II possesses similar high-level skills in these areas, as does Daniel Gafford, who recently signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension with the Mavericks.
Flagg`s growth as a facilitator and playmaker will also benefit Klay Thompson, who, even past his prime, remains one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Flagg has prior experience playing with an elite shooter, having been teammates with Kon Knueppel at Duke. Knueppel fulfilled a role similar to Thompson`s, receiving passes from Flagg while moving off screens, drifting to the perimeter, and spacing the floor in transition for catch-and-shoot threes. This suggests a natural chemistry with Thompson.
A potential issue with this lineup, or any configuration featuring either Lively or Gafford at center, is the limited floor spacing. While Flagg significantly improved his jump shot at Duke, he is most effective attacking the rim and operating in the paint. Neither Lively nor Gafford offers the shooting threat needed to pull opposing bigs away from the basket, which would restrict Flagg`s driving lanes. Furthermore, Anthony Davis, though capable of shooting threes, primarily operates in the post, potentially exacerbating spacing issues and creating offensive challenges for Dallas.
In the modern NBA, having multiple non-shooting threats on the court simultaneously is far from ideal. Consequently, the Mavericks might quickly realize it makes more sense to start neither Lively nor Gafford. Instead, they could shift Flagg to power forward and insert PJ Washington at small forward. This adjustment might necessitate moving Davis to the center position, which brings us to the next key question.
Could Anthony Davis Shift to Center?
Anthony Davis has publicly stated his preference for playing power forward multiple times. He dislikes the physical demands of defending centers and battling for rebounds. When the Mavericks initially acquired him, pairing him with big men like Lively and Gafford seemed ideal for their frontcourt. However, the dynamic has shifted considerably after drafting Flagg. While Davis may dislike playing center, it might be the most sensible alignment for the current Mavericks roster, positioning him at the 5 while Flagg occupies the other frontcourt spot at power forward.
In today`s fluid basketball landscape, discussing rigid positions might seem outdated compared to 25 years ago. In practice, Flagg is versatile enough to play either forward spot, potentially making his exact designation less critical. Similarly, Davis can function as both a forward and a center. However, positioning becomes crucial on defense. Flagg would be significantly more effective guarding opposing power forwards, with Davis providing interior support, than being tasked with defending quicker small forwards on the perimeter. Flagg`s rim protection and weak-side defense combined with Davis`s presence inside would pose considerable challenges for opponents.
A potential lineup featuring Davis at center could be:
- PG: TBD/Kyrie Irving (when healthy)
- SG: Klay Thompson
- SF: PJ Washington
- PF: Cooper Flagg
- C: Anthony Davis
This lineup offers considerably more versatility on both offense and defense compared to any configuration involving Lively or Gafford. In terms of spacing, having Davis at center permits Dallas to keep PJ Washington in the starting five. Washington provides a reliable 3-point threat, compelling defenses to guard him on the perimeter. This opens up driving lanes for both Davis and Flagg in the paint and creates catch-and-shoot opportunities for Washington and Thompson outside.
Furthermore, this lineup wouldn`t significantly compromise the Mavericks` size or rim protection. Across positions 3 through 5, they would field the 6-foot-7 Washington, the 6-foot-8 Flagg, and the 6-foot-10 Davis. This represents tremendous size, and more importantly, a highly versatile defensive frontcourt. Washington is capable of guarding positions down to center, while Flagg could effectively defend at least three different spots.
The main hurdle, however, is that implementing this lineup necessitates buy-in from Davis, who has historically resisted playing center. Moreover, it might be impractical now that Dallas has extended Gafford, potentially limiting Davis`s minutes at the 5, at least for the foreseeable future. If Davis becomes more amenable to playing center, or if Dallas alleviates their frontcourt depth issue, this configuration could be the Mavericks` best option as they pursue the “two-timeline” strategy.
Another possibility is trading someone like Washington to acquire a point guard and perhaps a more cost-effective small forward off the bench, thus accommodating Davis`s preference for power forward. However, ultimately, the Mavericks must make decisions that prioritize Flagg, who is expected to be the franchise`s cornerstone for at least the next decade, even if it means slightly inconveniencing Davis.
Could Flagg Potentially Start in the Backcourt?
Okay, it`s clear Flagg isn`t a guard, despite his multifaceted skills. But is it completely unreasonable to consider the Mavericks experimenting with this idea next season? Imagine if they deployed this lineup:
- PG: TBD/Kyrie Irving (when healthy)
- SG: Cooper Flagg
- SF: PJ Washington
- PF: Anthony Davis
- C: Dereck Lively II
This particular combination of players feels like a concept born from a Jason Kidd (and Nico Harrison) fever dream: a lineup focused entirely on defense. Bringing Klay Thompson off the bench instead of Washington might be a palatable move, though it would further constrain the team`s spacing. Defensively, however, Thompson isn`t the player he once was, and if Washington remains with the Mavericks, his crucial defensive contributions make a strong case for him starting.
This alignment also accommodates Davis`s preference for playing power forward. From Flagg`s viewpoint, however, playing shooting guard would be unconventional. He initiated much of Duke`s offense, but he isn`t a natural two-guard, despite significant improvement in his 3-point shooting. Yet, consider the mismatch potential this lineup creates across the board. Flagg could physically overpower smaller defenders driving to the basket, or find Davis or Lively for dump-offs against their own potential mismatches. Opponents would face serious challenges setting defensive assignments, as the sheer size at every position would likely present an exploitable weakness for the Mavericks.
Defensively, the primary target for opponents would be Irving upon his return, although he has shown increased commitment on that end since joining Dallas. While he isn`t a lockdown defender, if a quick guard manages to get past him, they would immediately confront the imposing length of Flagg, Washington, Davis, and Lively.
While this backcourt idea might seem far-fetched, Jason Kidd has already contemplated utilizing Flagg in a jumbo lineup.
Speaking on the DLLS Mavericks podcast in May after the team secured the top pick, Kidd remarked about Flagg: “I see a young man who is only 18 years old who can do a lot of things. He won’t be 19 until December, which is really surprising, but I think when you talk about being able to play 2 through 4, and in today’s game, you might be able to sneak him around the five, if we’re going to label him as a position player. Maybe there’s still some growth, only being 18, he could still grow. But I think you can play him at the two, his ability to shoot the ball, to be able to put on the floor. Again, as I talked about, we can have a big group out there that could start.”
Ultimately, Flagg provides the Mavericks with numerous strategic possibilities. Identifying the ideal player combinations will likely take time, but Dallas is undeniably in a stronger position with Flagg on the roster than they were just months ago, when they were widely criticized for trading Dončić.
Drafting Flagg was the straightforward step. The challenge now for the Mavericks is determining how best to surround him with players who complement and enhance his strengths, even if it means potentially making some existing players uncomfortable.
Jasper Hawthorne