2025 draft thread: THE MAVS SELECT COOPER FLAGG

[SleepingHero]

@thedunkcentral

Ace Bailey’s draft stock has been falling due to his unwillingness to visit several teams and the fact that he has yet to conduct a single workout, per @DraftExpress

Bailey believes he’s a top-three player in the draft and wants to be selected by a team that will provide a clear pathway to stardom

“Bailey's predraft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range. Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop.”

[cow]

@thedunkcentral

Ace Bailey’s draft stock has been falling due to his unwillingness to visit several teams and the fact that he has yet to conduct a single workout, per @DraftExpress

Bailey believes he’s a top-three player in the draft and wants to be selected by a team that will provide a clear pathway to stardom

“Bailey's predraft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range. Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop.”

Seems like he is telling Shedeur Sanders to hold his beer.

[KillerLeft]

Watching him in the finals, I'd be hesitant giving him anywhere near that number.  I get that he's the longest tenured player and a good dude, but geez, he's probably not worth half of that in this matchup.

He's hurt right now, which I think is affecting his performance significantly. I'm not taking one side or the other in this conversation, just adding for context.

[cow]

He's hurt right now, which I think is affecting his performance significantly. I'm not taking one side or the other in this conversation, just adding for context.

Is it something beyond his illness?  I'm not downplaying that, but a quick google search shows he had an illness in games 3 & 4 which were some of his better outings in the series.  This might just be a horrible matchup for him, but you really can't afford pay someone 30 million a year if a matchup takes them off the floor which is something we've discussed around here with our big men, just with a smaller pay scale.

[Knutsen]

I really like how Coach Scheyer is projecting Flagg‘s scoring ability in the Ryen Russillo Podcast. Will be fascinating how he will be able to evolve his game month by month and season by season in the coming years!

“His offensive skillset, and I got to see it every day in practice, was more advanced than I expected it to be, but also I thought it grew tremendously throughout the course of the season. When you look at his numbers, I think they can still wow you with what he did this past year.

Keep in mind, we had over 20 games we won by 20+ points, he didn’t play the last five, six minutes of a game a lot. And even in the games we’d get a lead and Cooper’s passing it, doing all this. So he’s so unselfish, that’s his nature, he could’ve averaged 20+ points this year.

Going forward, I think he’s going to be just fine because his ability to get to spots and raise over you, which you need to do in different moments of fourth quarters and playoffs and all that. He’s shiftier than you realize, his ability to beat you off the bounce and obviously as an athlete, he’d go finish above the rim. And then the fact that you have to respect his shooting, he shot 45 [percent] from three [in ACC play] as a 17-year-old, 18-year old at that point, freshman.

So, really, to score from three, at the rim, and then the ability to create his own shot with his shiftiness, handle, and just natural instincts. I think he’s going to be one of the best scorers in the NBA in time.”

The transcription is from this article: https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/du...-mavericks-

[Winter]

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https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/du...-mavericks-

[Mavs2021]

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https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/du...-mavericks-

We all think we know about this guy or that guy, but at the end it´s all just semi-educated guesses and the scouts have a much deeper understanding of players, but with some guys you just know. Only two guys, I´d say in the last decade, I watched five minutes of their HIGHSCHOOL hightlights before they entered college and I´d have tanked the whole season, if the top pick was guaranteed: Anthony Edwards and Cooper Flagg.  Even with Luka, who I wanted as well, you could have some doubts whether his brain works faster than the most athletic guys body, and it did and the rest is history.

I don´t think for one second that the NBA orchestrated the Luka trade, cause if that trade was fixed, Silver would have made sure that the Mavs got properly compensated to avoid this insane backlash. Luckily for Nico he is such a dumb mofo that Silver had almost no choice, but to step in and wave the White Flagg  at Texas. I honestly wonder what would happen, if Luka returned to Dallas as a free agent in 12 months and it turns out that Nico played Adam Silver. He would look like the biggest genius in NBA history. 

[michaeltex]

Apparently a bunch of foreign players have withdrawn from the draft. I don't know any of these guys, so I guess they felt it wasn't worth hanging around to see if they went late in the 2nd round.

The 13 players, along with their current team (country of team) and height:

Mohammad Amini, Nancy (France), 6-7
Alec Anigbata, Ulm (Germany), 6-9
Neoklis Avdalas, Peristeri (Greece), 6-7
Bassala Bagayoko, Bilbao (Spain), 6-10
Asim Djulovic, OKK Beograd (Serbia), 6-9
Mouhamed Faye, Reggio Emilia (Italy), 6-9
Lazar Gacic, OKK Beograd (Serbia), 6-11
Ben Henshall, Perth (Australia), 6-5
Malique Lewis, SE Melbourne (Australia), 6-8
Mathias M'Madi, Moron (Spain), 6-5
Zaion Nebot, Le Havre (France), 6-2
Michael Ruzic, Joventut (Spain), 6-9
David Torresani, Treviso (Italy), 6-1
--Field Level Media

[SleepingHero]

@mcfNBA

With the NBA Draft looming, trying to project out a rookie’s impact can be tricky to do.

To explore this idea, I calculated pre-NBA Value over Replacement Player (VORP) numbers for the 2025 NBA Draft class to help conceptualize potential value.

What stands out to you most here?

[Winter]

What stands out to me is how far down the list most of the top 10 draft picks are... with the exception of CF.

[michaeltex]

Based on the above analysis, I see that Walter Clayton, Jr., might not be as much of a stretch as some think. I also see that Tyrese Proctor might be worth a 2nd round flyer to see if the synergy with Flagg continues into the pros.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

edit: someone beat me to the punchline about Shadeur

[Mavs2021]

What stands out to me....

....that it has no conceptual integration of level of opposition. 

Bottom seven players are all playing professionally abroad in France, Serbia, Spain and Australia which has levels in itself just like college.

Doesn´t bode well for Bailey and Denim, if you just take a broad college comparison approach?

[Chicagojk]

Based on the above analysis, I see that Walter Clayton, Jr., might not be as much of a stretch as some think. I also see that Tyrese Proctor might be worth a 2nd round flyer to see if the synergy with Flagg continues into the pros.

I know college and pro are different games and Proctor will need to fight to stick around the NBA.    Although, I think his prototype is someone we should be looking out for.   A taller guard who can dribble (may not be a very good point guard) and can really hit open threes.   I think that is the type of player they will be looking for as a backup.

[Winter]

I know college and pro are different games and Proctor will need to fight to stick around the NBA.    Although, I think his prototype is someone we should be looking out for.   A taller guard who can dribble (may not be a very good point guard) and can really hit open threes.   I think that is the type of player they will be looking for as a backup.

Agree about Proctor. He looks like a rotation guy that wouldn't hurt you in any way. Most evaluators think he's not a PG, but he could develop into a good rotation SG.

I'm guessing though he's still pretty much a second-rounder on most lists. The draft evaluators I've seen though say they could see someone taking him as a late firsr-rounder

[Chicagojk]

Agree about Proctor. He looks like a rotation guy that wouldn't hurt you in any way. Most evaluators think he's not a PG, but he could develop into a good rotation SG.

I'm guessing though he's still pretty much a second-rounder on most lists. The draft evaluators I've seen though say they could see someone taking him as a late firsr-rounder

Yeah I don’t think he is a point guard.  As a freshman he was pegged as a one and done point guard.  He never really found his footing until Palio g with two bigger guys who could create and he could stretch the floor.

I agree, he is probably a second rounder.  Could be a guy that helps a good team off the bench.

[MaxiThreeba]

I wouldn't mind the Mavs taking a flyer on Micah Peavy as a 3 and D wing prospect. Older draftee for sure but flashed an improved offensive game after transferring from TCU to Georgetown for his last season. I've seen him everywhere from mid 2nd to undrafted. The defense has always been a plus but if the shooting jump from 3 is real, he could be a nice pickup. The poor FT shooting is a concern when it comes to trusting the volume and percentage bump he posted from 3.

Not exciting but the type of cheap piece that's nice to have on the back end of your roster.

[SleepingHero]

Tyrese Proctor as a name has really started to pique my interest.

Not only is there the Flagg/Duke connection. But he is a lethal spot up 3pt shooter. This team needs that. Doesn't hurt that he also happens to be 6'6 AND can pass the ball relatively well.

Mavs would be freakishly tall.

Until Kyrie returns the lineup looks like:
Proctor (6'6')
Klay (6'7)
Flagg (6'9)
AD (7'1)
Lively (7'1)

With guys like Naji, PJ, Gafford, and even Christie + OMax. All over 6'6. In fact the Mavs hypothetically would only have 3 guys below 6'5 and that'd be Kyrie, Hardy, and B-Will.

[DL2RimRocker]

AD 7'1 ?

[Winter]

Tyrese Proctor as a name has really started to pique my interest.

Not only is there the Flagg/Duke connection. But he is a lethal spot up 3pt shooter. This team needs that. Doesn't hurt that he also happens to be 6'6 AND can pass the ball relatively well.

Mavs would be freakishly tall.

Until Kyrie returns the lineup looks like:
Proctor (6'6')
Klay (6'7)
Flagg (6'9)
AD (7'1)
Lively (7'1)

With guys like Naji, PJ, Gafford, and even Christie + OMax. All over 6'6. In fact the Mavs hypothetically would only have 3 guys below 6'5 and that'd be Kyrie, Hardy, and B-Will.

From the videos and discussions on Proctor, he is not a PG by most accounts and he is not a strong playmaker. As I mentioned above, he is almost certainly going in the second round. But I think all this is just fine. He won't be a stud, but he does feel like a quick contributor off the bench, good on defense, and a very good 3-point shooter. And yes, we need that. He's about the same size as Dante Exum, but about 25 lbs lighter, a bit quicker, and perhaps a better shooter on the perimeter.

If the Mavs got back into the late first round, there might be some things we could do. Probably too many to speculate.