The Dallas Mavericks have the No. 1 pick, and it’s no secret what young star is headed their way.
While the Mavericks have had anything but an ideal past few months, they’ve at least ended up in a solid position moving forward. Of course, that has almost everything to do with getting lucky with some ping-pong balls, landing the top overall pick in this year’s draft.
Well before Dallas landed that top pick, the player who would get selected there was never in doubt. It’s only a matter of time until Duke star Cooper Flagg makes his way to Texas and teams up with Anthony Davis and others to try and make a statement next season.
In a recent ESPN article breaking down the best trait for every top prospect, Jeremy Woo listed Flagg as the best competitor of this draft class. That checks out, given everything that Flagg has shown on the floor thus far.
Along with having a clear ability to be a two-way star at the next level, his drive is never something that has to be questioned on the hardwood. With a Dallas team that comes into next season still reeling from the Luka Doncic trade and Kyrie Irving injury, having a relentless, young star bring new life to the team is crucial.
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Alongside Davis, Flagg should help the Mavericks boast an elite defense, and while the offense could be a work in progress, the foundation should be there for Dallas to have an exciting team next season. While Flagg won’t be able to heal all wounds in Dallas in his first season, he could be the reason for a resurgence of the Mavericks in 2026.
