Mavericks to Draft Cooper Flagg, Pair With Stars

The Dallas Mavericks, after improbably winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery with a 1.8% chance, are expected to select Duke standout Cooper Flagg first overall and have declared they will not trade the pick. The team plans to pair Flagg with veterans Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, signaling a new direction following the recent trade of Luka Doncic. While the Boston Celtics interviewed Flagg at the NBA Combine, president Brad Stevens stated these interviews are standard practice and dismissed speculation of a trade up as unrealistic. Shaquille O’Neal's recent comments about past draft lottery conspiracies have reignited skepticism about the Mavericks' lottery luck, though no wrongdoing is substantiated. Scouts project Flagg as an All-Star or better, and reports indicate he is excited to join Dallas. The 2025 NBA Draft will take place on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.