Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently appeared on the team`s podcast and was visibly enthusiastic when discussing the anticipated first overall pick, Cooper Flagg. When questioned about who the Mavericks would select with the top pick in the upcoming June draft, Kidd slyly responded by saying, “We love that kid from Duke.” While he did eventually mention Flagg by name once, he quickly reverted back to referring to him as “that kid from Duke,” almost as if worried about leaking classified information.
This playful evasion, though not revealing any true secret, was reminiscent of the 1985 NBA Draft lottery. Back then, it was so widely known that the Knicks would pick Patrick Ewing first overall that their director of basketball operations famously had a Knicks Ewing jersey ready immediately after they secured the top pick. Similarly, it`s now widely understood that the Mavericks are set to take Flagg with the No. 1 selection.
Initial speculation about whether Dallas might trade the top pick for a more established player was largely put to rest by multiple reports indicating the team would not move the pick, even for a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo, should he become available this summer. This solidifies the expectation that the Mavericks are indeed committed to drafting Flagg.
With the draft still over a month away and the next NBA season even further out, Kidd is already contemplating how to integrate the presumed lottery pick, “that kid from Duke,” into the team for the following season.
During the podcast, Kidd described his early impressions, stating, “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.”
It`s prudent to view these initial comments with caution. Until Flagg is officially drafted and the Mavericks finalize their roster through the offseason, his precise role and fit remain uncertain. However, with players like Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford already on the team, the Mavericks have the potential for a very large lineup. A possible configuration could involve Flagg at small forward, Davis at his preferred power forward position, and Lively at center.
However, simply visualizing that potential lineup presents immediate concerns about spacing. Lively`s presence in the paint could potentially restrict room for scoring opportunities for Davis, Flagg, and Kyrie Irving (upon his return). Ideally, the Mavericks would benefit from a center capable of stretching the floor, perhaps someone like Davis himself. Playing Davis at the five spot would theoretically provide more operating space for everyone on the court by removing a non-shooting big man from the congested paint area. These represent challenging decisions for Coach Kidd, decisions that could potentially clash with player preferences, notably Davis`s publicly known reluctance to play center.
The roles of Lively and Gafford also factor into this equation. If Davis is primarily playing center, where do these two big men fit in the long-term plan? There`s already ongoing discussion about Gafford being a trade candidate, particularly as he`s set to become a free agent next summer and is expected to seek a more lucrative contract.
Ultimately, much remains to be decided regarding the structure of the Dallas Mavericks` roster, including the specific role and impact of Cooper Flagg.
Jasper Hawthorne