Cooper Flagg 'Surprised' By 'Crazy Draft Lottery,' Going to Mavs a 'Cool Opportunity'
The Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft despite just a 1.8 percent chance to do so, and presumed top pick Cooper Flagg was just as surprised as everyone else.
"I was surprised, like a lot of people," Flagg said, per The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov. "It was kind of a crazy draft lottery."
Nonetheless, Flagg is looking forward to potentially playing for a team that barely missed the playoffs this season.
"They got a lot of really good pieces," he said. "I think it’ll be a really cool opportunity."
Flagg landing with the Mavericks is about as ideal of a situation that a young player could ask for. While Dallas is no longer a top-tier team in the league after trading Luka Dončić, it's not far from it when healthy.
The Mavericks have three veteran players still capable of putting together All-Star-caliber seasons in Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. Add Flagg to the mix, and it wouldn't be shocking to see Dallas emerge as a contender as early as next season.
Flagg is one of the best prospects in recent memory, joining the likes of Victor Wembanyama and other NBA-ready players. No matter who landed the No. 1 pick, Flagg was going to make an impact immediately, but in Dallas, he'll be on a playoff-caliber team from the jump.
