The Mavericks just avoided a catastrophic trade error because to Cooper Flagg’s bold strategy.

The Dallas Mavericks, reeling from the universally condemned Luka Dončić trade that sent their franchise cornerstone to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025, have reportedly avoided a potentially catastrophic follow-up error thanks in large part to the bold and strategically astute approach of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. After trading Dončić for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick – a move widely graded as an “F” for Dallas – the Mavericks’ reputation for sound roster management was in tatters. Their stated goal of improving defense, while partially achieved with Davis, came at the cost of offensive dynamism and created a significant void in secondary playmaking and versatile wing defense. The subsequent season-ending ACL tear for Kyrie Irving further exacerbated their woes.

Against this backdrop of desperation and skepticism, the Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery despite just a 1.8% chance, landing the highly coveted Cooper Flagg. While the selection of Flagg itself was a no-brainer, the real strategic brilliance, or rather, the avoidance of further missteps, has come from how the Mavericks, guided by Flagg’s own confidence and versatility, are now approaching their roster construction around him.

The Dončić-Davis trade was a gamble by Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison, who asserted that “defense wins championships.” While Anthony Davis is an elite defender and an All-NBA talent, the departure of Dončić, a five-time All-Star at just 25, left the Mavericks’ offense disjointed.¹ Dončić was the engine of their offense, orchestrating plays, creating shots for himself and others, and commanding double-teams that opened up the floor. Without him, and then with Irving’s injury, Dallas plummeted in offensive and net ratings.

The trade created several glaring needs that, if mismanaged, could have led to even more regrettable decisions:

• Primary Playmaking and Shot Creation: While Kyrie Irving is a brilliant scorer, his injury history and natural inclination as an off-guard meant the Mavericks desperately needed another player who could reliably initiate offense, especially against top defenses.
• Two-Way Wing/Forward: The roster, post-Dončić, lacked a versatile forward who could defend multiple positions at a high level and contribute meaningfully on offense without being a ball-stopper.
• Roster Cohesion and Identity: The team needed a new face to rally around, someone who could help forge a winning identity beyond just individual talent.

Following the Dončić trade and Irving’s injury, there was intense speculation that the Mavericks would feel compelled to trade for another high-usage guard or playmaker to alleviate the pressure on Irving (once healthy) and fill the void left by Dončić. Names like Lonzo Ball (despite injury history), Collin Sexton (who lacked playoff experience), or even veteran holiday-type players with large contracts were rumored. To acquire such players, the Mavericks would likely have had to:

1. Sacrifice Valuable Assets: This could have meant trading away crucial young talent like Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford, or perhaps even future draft capital (which they already significantly depleted in past “win-now” moves for Christian Wood and Grant Williams, and the trade that sent them Quentin Grimes). Trading away either of their centers, Lively or Gafford, who are vital for their defensive scheme alongside Davis, would have been a significant step backward.
2. Take on Risky Contracts: Many available guards came with either substantial injury concerns (Ball), questionable playoff performance (Sexton), or inflated contracts for their age/role (Holiday). Taking on another problematic contract would further cripple their salary cap flexibility, especially with their hard cap at the second apron.
3. Compromise Roster Balance: Adding another ball-dominant guard might have created a “too many cooks” situation once Irving returned, or pushed Anthony Davis into a less preferred center role too often. It could have led to further chemistry issues and redundant skill sets.

The Mavericks’ avoidance of this potential trade error can be directly attributed to Cooper Flagg’s inherent versatility and, crucially, the Mavericks’ immediate and profound trust in his ability to handle the ball and orchestrate offense. From the moment Flagg was drafted, General Manager Nico Harrison and Head Coach Jason Kidd publicly articulated their vision for him beyond just a scoring forward or defensive stopper.

• Kidd’s Vision: Jason Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard himself, immediately expressed his desire to let Flagg play point guard, stating he wanted to put the ball in Flagg’s hands early and “make him uncomfortable” to accelerate his growth as a playmaker and distributor.² Kidd, known for helping Giannis Antetokounmpo develop as a ball-handler in Milwaukee, sees similar potential in Flagg.³ This wasn’t just coach-speak; it was a clear signal that the Mavericks believed Flagg could address their playmaking void internally.
• Flagg’s Skillset: Flagg’s college tape from Duke supports this audacious plan. He led Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks per game – a testament to his all-around impact and high basketball IQ. He demonstrates elite passing vision, the ability to run pick-and-rolls, and the composure to make intelligent reads from both the perimeter and the high post. He’s not a traditional point guard, but a “point forward” in the mold of a young LeBron James or Scottie Pippen, capable of initiating offense and facilitating for others while also being a defensive menace.
• The Trust Factor: The Mavericks’ front office and coaching staff have shown “enormous trust” in Flagg from day one. This confidence allowed them to resist the urge to panic-trade for a less ideal solution at guard. Instead, they opted for a more complementary piece like D’Angelo Russell (reportedly signed to fill in for Irving temporarily), who provides scoring and shooting without demanding the long-term playmaking burden that Flagg is now expected to shoulder.

1. Internal Playmaking Solution: By believing in Flagg as a primary ball-handler and playmaker, the Mavericks mitigated the desperate need to trade for an external solution. This meant they didn’t have to give up crucial assets for a potentially ill-fitting or high-risk guard.
2. Roster Stability: This confidence allowed the Mavericks to retain key defensive players like P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, who are vital for their defensive identity alongside Anthony Davis. Losing either of them would have been “heartbreaking for fans” and significantly weakened their frontcourt depth.
3. Optimized AD’s Role: Flagg’s ability to play the “three” (small forward) and initiate offense allows Anthony Davis to consistently play his preferred power forward position, where he is arguably most effective defensively and offensively. This optimizes the utilization of their highest-paid player.
4. Accelerated Development: By thrusting Flagg into a significant playmaking role early, the Mavericks are committing to accelerating his development. This “uncomfortable” challenge, as Kidd calls it, could unlock his full potential much faster than if he were simply relegated to an off-ball scoring role.
5. Long-Term Vision: This strategy demonstrates a rare foresight from a team that recently made a highly criticized trade. Instead of patching holes with short-term, potentially costly fixes, they are leveraging the unparalleled versatility of their No. 1 pick to address multiple needs for the foreseeable future, creating a more balanced and sustainable roster.

In essence, Cooper Flagg’s bold strategy is simply being who he is – a hyper-talented, highly versatile basketball player with a rare combination of defensive prowess, playmaking acumen, and scoring ability. The Mavericks, by recognizing and trusting in these multifaceted talents, particularly his capacity to handle the ball and create, have deftly navigated a treacherous post-Dončić landscape. They’ve not only avoided another potentially catastrophic trade error but have also set the stage for a new, exciting, and potentially more balanced era of Mavericks basketball, built around the dynamic talents of their new franchise cornerstone.