The idea of the Dallas Mavericks trading for Cooper Flagg is both fascinating and improbable—one that combines ambition, risk, and long-term vision in a league where short-term success often takes precedence. Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is widely viewed as a generational prospect, drawing comparisons to players like Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, and even LeBron James in terms of hype and potential two-way impact. If the Mavericks were to entertain the idea of trading for him, it would require not just creativity, but also a total redefinition of their current organizational trajectory.
To explore whether Dallas could trade for Flagg, we must first consider a fundamental reality: teams that own the top pick in the NBA Draft seldom trade it, especially when the incoming player is regarded as a possible franchise cornerstone. Historically, the No. 1 pick is kept unless there’s a pressing internal reason to trade down—be it a lack of faith in the draft class or overwhelming compensation offered. Flagg, by all accounts, does not belong to a weak draft class. He is the shining crown jewel of it. So for Dallas to even enter the conversation, the trade package would have to be not just compelling—it would need to be unprecedented.
From a strategic standpoint, the Mavericks are currently built around Luka Dončić, one of the most skilled offensive players the league has ever seen. They also have Kyrie Irving, an elite scorer and ball handler, albeit with a history of volatility. This core has pushed Dallas into playoff relevance, and even deep playoff contention when healthy and properly supported. Trading for Flagg would suggest a pivot—either to complement Luka with the next great forward talent or, more radically, to prepare for a future where Dončić is no longer the centerpiece.
The only realistic way Dallas could land Flagg is via trade, and that would mean targeting the team that holds the No. 1 pick in 2025. As of now, that pick is still unknown, but it’s likely to go to a rebuilding team—possibly one like the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, or San Antonio Spurs, depending on the 2025 draft lottery. These are franchises building through youth, cap flexibility, and long-term potential. That makes it even harder to envision them giving up a chance at Flagg for any package, unless it accelerates their rebuild in a dramatic way.
Let’s imagine a scenario where Dallas offers an aggressive trade: multiple unprotected first-round picks, young talent like Josh Green, and even someone like Dereck Lively II, who has shown significant promise as a rim-protecting center. Is that enough? Probably not. A team trading away the right to draft Flagg would likely demand a foundational player in return—perhaps even Dončić himself. That’s where things become controversial and emotional.
Would Dallas ever consider trading Luka Dončić? It’s difficult to imagine. He is still under contract through 2027 (with a player option for 2026), and while there have been whispers of long-term dissatisfaction if the team underperforms, he has not formally requested a trade. Still, in the NBA, stars move quickly when patience runs out, and franchises that fail to prepare for change often end up with diminished returns. If Dončić were to ever show serious signs of disengagement, and Flagg were on the board as a once-in-a-decade kind of talent, Dallas might feel forced to think creatively.
A Luka-for-Flagg trade would send shockwaves through the league. It would be a trade-off of present certainty for future upside. Dallas would essentially be gambling that Flagg becomes the kind of player that Dončić already is—if not better. That’s a monumental risk, even for a player as polished and mature as Flagg. While scouts rave about his athleticism, basketball IQ, and two-way prowess, he is still unproven at the NBA level. In contrast, Dončić is a perennial MVP candidate.
If Dallas tried to acquire Flagg without giving up Luka, the deal would need to be overwhelming in other ways. Think: three or four unprotected first-rounders, pick swaps, young rotation players, and perhaps cap relief for the other team. The problem with that is Dallas has already leveraged some of its future draft capital in recent trades, including the move to acquire Kyrie Irving. Their cupboard isn’t bare, but it’s far from full. That limits what they can realistically offer.
There’s also the issue of timeline. Flagg will likely need at least two to three years to reach his peak. During that time, Luka and Kyrie will be older, and the Mavericks’ current championship window may have passed. That forces the front office into a philosophical debate: should they try to win now, or recalibrate around a younger superstar-in-waiting? Most teams in Dallas’s situation opt for the former. The Western Conference is stacked, but Dallas has proven it can contend when healthy. Breaking that up for a prospect, no matter how elite, is a massive roll of the dice.
That said, teams that have successfully rebuilt around elite youth have often done so through fearless moves. The Boston Celtics traded established veterans to move up in the draft and acquire Jayson Tatum. The Oklahoma City Thunder have built a juggernaut of future assets and young stars by making forward-thinking trades and drafting well. If Dallas sees Flagg not just as a star, but the future face of the NBA, they might be tempted to make a similarly bold move.
There’s also a marketing angle to this. Cooper Flagg is not just a basketball player—he’s already a brand. His popularity is exploding thanks to his highlight-reel plays, social media presence, and clean-cut image. Adding him would inject youthful excitement into the Mavericks’ brand and potentially bring in a new generation of fans. Mark Cuban (or whoever holds control if ownership changes are finalized) would surely take that into consideration.
But fans and analysts alike would scrutinize any such deal endlessly. The pressure on Flagg to succeed would be enormous. He would not only have to live up to his potential, but also justify the loss of assets—or perhaps even Luka—depending on the terms of the trade. Not every young player thrives under that kind of weight. Dallas would need to build carefully around him, provide the right veteran support, and be patient through early growing pains.
Financially, trading for Flagg would give Dallas a few years of cap flexibility. Rookie-scale contracts are a massive asset for contending teams, allowing them to add expensive veterans while developing star talent. This could theoretically allow the Mavericks to reshape their roster more efficiently than they could while paying max salaries to both Luka and Kyrie. But again, that assumes Flagg hits his ceiling fast enough to make the most of that window.
There’s also the league-wide context to consider. If Dallas were to aggressively pursue the No. 1 pick, other teams would almost certainly get involved. A team like the Thunder—with their war chest of picks—or the Spurs, already loaded with Victor Wembanyama, might offer even more compelling packages. Dallas doesn’t just need to be bold; it would need to outbid everyone. That’s a tough ask without either trading Dončić or mortgaging the future to an extreme degree.
Ultimately, trading for Cooper Flagg is not impossible, but it’s extraordinarily unlikely under normal circumstances. It would take a perfect storm: a willing trade partner, a massive offer from Dallas, and a clear organizational shift in vision. More importantly, it would require a willingness to embrace uncertainty in a league that tends to reward known commodities over hypothetical greatness.
In a vacuum, adding Flagg to Luka and Kyrie would be ideal. But constructing a deal to make that happen might be more trouble than it’s worth, especially with limited assets. And moving Luka for Flagg would be one of the most controversial trades in NBA history—regardless of the outcome.
So can Dallas trade for Cooper Flagg? Yes. But should they? Only if they believe, beyond all doubt, that he is not just the future—but a future better than the present.
