Armed with simply 1.8% likelihood of successful the NBA Draft Lottery, the Dallas Mavericks walked away with the highest total choice on Monday evening, clearing the trail for them to choose Duke star Cooper Flagg.
This marks a extremely surprising finish of the season for the Mavericks, who traded celebrity Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1. Now armed with the No. 1 total decide and a few stars in various states of well being on its roster, Dallas has some choices — and a few essential selections to make.
Cooper Flagg is an elite prospect, however the Mavs have already got a star energy ahead. (Picture by Lance King/Getty Pictures)
(Lance King by way of Getty Pictures)
Will the Mavericks hitch their wagon to Flagg?
With the Mavericks buying Anthony Davis within the Dončić commerce, the staff shortened its championship window considerably, that means you now should marvel if the group continues to be on that path, or if it’ll pivot towards a rebuild.
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The logical alternative — deciding on Flagg and initiating a rebuild — is not set in stone, particularly after Mavericks basic supervisor Nico Harrison has constantly voiced his perception in how shut Dallas is to creating an actual run at a championship regardless of start line guard Kyrie Irving’s ACL tear, which possible will depart him sidelined for many of subsequent season.
If the group insists upon remaining aggressive, it’s going to be troublesome to justify conserving Flagg after pivoting off Dončić and arguing the commerce bought them nearer to a championship.
On the very least, pairing an 18-year-old energy ahead with a former All-NBA large man who’s 32 will probably be an odd and suboptimal match, with Davis making it well-known he prefers enjoying energy ahead. Even when the Mavs give it a while, will a 12 months 2 or 3 Flagg have reached the extent the place he can characteristic as a key championship element?
And extra importantly, will Davis and Irving nonetheless be influence contributors to spice up Flagg’s rise?
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The Giannis Antetokounmpo angle
With the ability to dangle the attract and potential of Flagg to a staff with a longtime star is likely to be considered as enticing for Harrison. Would he name up, say, the Milwaukee Bucks and supply them Flagg and contracts for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The Bucks clearly must conform to any such deal, and whereas Antetokounmpo is lastly opening as much as the thought of enjoying elsewhere, nobody is aware of what particulars Milwaukee is on the lookout for in return. Maybe the Bucks are aiming for an even bigger return or a cope with extra hooked up draft picks.
Time will inform what Dallas is pondering right here, however this does not less than give the Mavs an infinite quantity of flexibility, of which that they had little or no earlier than the lottery.
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Ought to they use Flagg because the core of an official roster reset, it all of a sudden opens up commerce eventualities involving Davis and Irving.
This implies they might get youthful and construct an outstanding protection round Flagg and Dereck Full of life, which is what Harrison believes is the recipe to successful a championship.
The equity of all of it
It is value noting how this lottery possible will probably be considered as an unjust reward for Dallas.
The blowback for the Dončić commerce was unhealthy sufficient, however it was additionally a nasty look within the following weeks and months, when the group repeatedly threw its former celebrity beneath the bus within the media.
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The karma police are already in full drive on social media, which given the circumstances is likely to be truthful.
For a corporation that acted unprofessionally and immaturely, it is a powerful capsule to swallow for NBA followers who felt the Mavericks deserved to wallow in distress for some time.
As an alternative they now have Flagg in hand if they need him, which solely underlines how the lottery is a merciless mistress certainly.
