The Dallas Mavericks have a brand new franchise cornerstone. As anticipated, the Mavs decided on 18-year-old Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick out.
Flagg was once a sensation in his most effective yr taking part in faculty basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Flagg was once the consensus faculty participant of the yr, most effective the fourth freshman to win the Wood Award after averaging 19.2 issues and seven.5 rebounds whilst main Duke to the Ultimate 4.
The 6-foot-8 ahead led the Blue Devils in all 5 primary statistical classes, and has already confirmed his recreation can cling up in opposition to the professionals when he performed neatly final summer season right through an invitation to the U.S. Olympic group’s coaching camp.
Flagg will sign up for a Mavericks roster already loaded with skill, together with ahead Anthony Davis and guard Kyrie Irving, who has reportedly signed a brand new 3-year contract with Dallas.
Flagg will put on No. 32 for the Mavericks.
Mavs normal supervisor Nico Harrison mentioned right through a information convention after the draft that Flagg “has the whole thing you wish to have in a basketball participant.”
The roster additionally options long term Corridor-of-Famer Klay Thompson, wing P.J. Washington, and facilities Derrick Full of life II and Daniel Gafford, who simply signed a freelance extension.
Harrison showed right through the post-draft information convention that Jason Kidd would be the Mavs’ head trainer subsequent yr.
A brand new technology for the Dallas Mavericks
The addition of Flagg will have to assist Mavericks enthusiasts flip the web page at the Luka Doncic technology. Not up to 5 months earlier than the NBA Draft, the Mavericks shocked the basketball global through sending Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in change for a bundle that incorporated Davis, guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick out.
Within the resulting weeks, enthusiasts protested out of doors the American Airways Heart and known as for Harrison to be fired.
A brutal string of accidents, which noticed Davis, Irving, Full of life and Gafford to all pass over prolonged time, contributed to the Mavericks dropping within the NBA Play-In Match only one yr after making it to the NBA Finals.
There was once a way of pessimism across the group, however that each one modified on Might 12. The Mavericks received the NBA Draft Lottery, regardless of having only a 1.8% probability, and with it the chance to choose Flagg.
