The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly planning to keep the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and are expected to select Duke freshman Cooper Flagg.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Mavericks received the top overall selection in the draft despite entering the night with just a 1.8% chance to move up to first, marking one of the biggest jumps recorded since the lottery was introduced.
Shortly after the team landed the top overall selection, people began to speculate about trades that the pick could be used in to acquire another top-tier talent prepared to compete for an NBA championship.
Potential targets for the Mavericks could include Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo or Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant.
Durant is widely expected to be moved at some point in the offseason following a disappointing season with the Suns, and Antetokounmpo is seen as a dark horse candidate to be traded if a team can create a package that is large enough to obtain an MVP-caliber player.
However, the Mavericks are reportedly keeping the selection and are planning to draft Flagg with their pick.
Sources informed ESPN that Mavericks’ Governor Patrick Dumont views this selection as a “gift,” and he has the final decision on all personnel-related decisions.
Flagg exceeded expectations during his lone season with the Blue Devils, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while leading Duke to an appearance in the Final Four.
The 6-foot-9-inch forward is viewed as one of the best prospects to enter the NBA in decades, and multiple teams are prepared to offer the Mavericks monstrous packages in exchange for the top selection.
Despite the potential packages, the Mavericks are now prepared to remain in their spot and take a generational prospect to lead the franchise for the foreseeable future.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts spoke about the lottery and said the team has not made any decisions to this point, though he spoke highly of Flagg and his accomplishments with the Blue Devils.
“I don’t know who we’re going to take, but should we take him, I think his résumé is pretty strong. Every time he’s put in a situation that everyone wondered if he could succeed, he’s succeeded and then some,” said Welts, per ESPN.
Flagg is reportedly also excited about the opportunity to join the Mavericks next month, with Jonathan Givony of ESPN stating that Flagg’s camp “realized how fortunate he is to land in Dallas.”
“Flagg is said to be thrilled by the idea of joining a playoff-caliber roster with strong veterans and a team that has a void at the small forward position. The Mavericks have a need for shot creators and will need Flagg to shoulder significant offensive responsibility as a rookie (similar to what we saw at Duke), which will be great for his long-term development,” he wrote.