Dallas Mavericks Are “Dream Landing Spot” for Top Pick Cooper Flagg

Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green talked openly about his new podcast in which he praised the Dallas Mavericks' choice of Duke star Cooper Flagg with the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, calling it a "great situation" for the 6'8" forward.

Green said that Flagg, who is currently the national college player of the year, will gain a lot by joining the Mavericks, who narrowly missed the playoffs last year but still have a talented roster. "As the first pick, I do not think he could have asked for anything better," Green said, pointing out that Flagg is going to an established team, while many first picks go to teams that are rebuilding.

The Warriors star said that Flagg will not have to carry the team as quickly now that head coach Jason Kidd has brought in experienced veterans and a competitive squad. Green said, "You get to go compete and learn from some of the best." He said this was different from what many young stars on struggling teams typically face.

Green and his co-host Baron Davis talked about how Flagg's arrival might change Dallas' frontcourt rotation, since the Mavericks already have big guys in Dereck Lively and Daniel Gafford. Draymond said Flagg is not a wing player, but he emphasized that the Mavericks would need to adjust their lineup to accommodate Flagg's skills.

Before the Mavericks picked Flagg, they made a controversial trade in February that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. In return, Dallas got the draft pick they used to pick Flagg. Green was aware of the adverse reactions, but he said that the Mavericks' "great organization" makes Flagg likely to succeed, which is not the case for many other top picks.

Flagg had an excellent one-season average of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists at Duke. The chance to start his NBA career in Dallas could mean fighting for wins right away, rather than having to put up big numbers on a struggling team.

Green finally said, "Coop's in a great spot." "He is lucky." I believe he will accomplish great things in Dallas.