Cooper Flagg Reportedly to Play PG for Mavs vs. Jazz with D'Angelo Russell Out

The Dallas Mavericks reportedly are using an interesting lineup in their preseason game on Monday.

Per NBA insider Marc Stein, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg will start at the point guard position with D'Angelo Russell out. PJ Washington will also be in the starting lineup alongside Flagg, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis and Derrick Lively II.

Monday's lineup could be a test run for a lineup the Mavs plan to use at some point this season. Dallas doesn't have much point guard depth with Kyrie Irving out for the start of the season, so it's not inconceivable to see Flagg occasionally filling in as the lead point guard.

Though Flagg wasn't the primary ball handler last year at Duke, he flashed his playmaking ability every now and then and averaged 4.2 assists per game. He's averaging 3.5 assists per game through his first two preseason games.

The move to shift Flagg to point guard seems a bit surprising, but Jason Kidd teased the idea of letting him bring the ball up the court.

"We want to look at him handling the ball, want to put him in different situations," Kidd told reporters after Saturday's game against the Charlotte Hornets. "I thought he made a lot of great reads tonight. There's gonna be some turnovers. I think the only time he turned it over is when he went behind his back."

Kidd also praised Flagg's playmaking skills after his preseason debut earlier this month.

"That's going to be one of our strengths, being able to have him handle the ball, be able to make reads, run the pick and roll," Kidd told reporters. "I thought he did a great job of finding guys… For an 18-year-old, it's kind of special and kind of fun to watch his ability to handle the ball in those situations and he's only going to get better."

Flagg is a gifted scorer and steady rebounder, putting up 19.2 points and 7.5 boards per game last year, but if his playmaking ability proves to be just as good, he could be better than he's already expected to be.