Mavs Insider Talks 'Abrupt Reversal of Fortune' Getting Cooper Flagg After Luka Trade
The Dallas Mavericks' rollercoaster year is back on the ascent ahead of Wednesday's 2025 NBA draft.
The Mavs are universally expected to use the No. 1 pick to select Duke star and National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg, creating optimism for a franchise that was reeling just a few months ago following the shocking trade of star guard Luka Dončić.
Dallas secured the No. 1 pick despite having just a 1.8 percent chance to win the lottery. ESPN's Baxter Holmes spoke to a team insider who admitted that the Mavs were just as shocked at how things played out.
"We never even considered that the impossible could happen on May 12," the team source said. "I'm not sure there has ever been a more abrupt reversal of fortune."
Sending Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a deal that helped acquire star forward Anthony Davis failed to pay off the way Dallas had hoped.
Davis missed six weeks after suffering an adductor strain in his team debut, and by the time he returned, the Mavs suffered a litany of injuries that hurt their chances of earning a playoff spot. Most notably, star point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending torn ACL, leaving Davis alone to shoulder the load as the team's season came to an end in the play-in tournament.
Adding Flagg to the roster creates hope that the Mavs can remain in title contention for years to come. The 18-year-old is considered the best offensive and defensive player in this year's draft class, and many project him to be a future superstar on both sides of the ball.
After moving on from Dončić, Dallas is ready to turn the page and usher in the Flagg era.
