Mavericks Prematurely Announce Cooper Flagg Draft Pick

The Dallas Mavericks, after trading away Luka Doncic midseason and winning the NBA Draft lottery, are widely expected to select Duke freshman Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. Flagg, who led Duke to the Final Four and averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, is praised for his elite two-way abilities and has drawn comparisons to NBA forward Andrei Kirilenko. The Mavericks caused controversy by posting a 'Welcome to Dallas' graphic for Flagg on their website 12 days before the draft, which the team later said was a publishing error. Analysts question Flagg's fit in Dallas's crowded frontcourt but view his defensive skills as a major asset. The move to draft Flagg is widely seen as an effort to rebuild the franchise's image after the criticized Doncic trade. The early announcement and high expectations for Flagg have made him the focal point of the Mavericks' future plans.