2025 draft thread: THE MAVS SELECT COOPER FLAGG

[Chicagojk]

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.

When the Mavs traded the sixers pick back to Philadelphia he was one of the guys I mentioned who could be there at that pick.  That still may be the case.   

Personally, I am not too keen on trading for a late first or early second.  Unless the asking price is really low.  I don't think Gafford or PJ is good value to get a late first.    Guys like Hardy, Omax, and others probably don't have much value.    Unless you are buying a pick in the second round, I would just be fine not making a move.    There are a few teams with multiple picks and they may or may not take those picks.  It appears there are a lot of options for them if they decide not making those picks.

[F Gump]

Personally, I am not too keen on trading for a late first or early second. Unless the asking price is really low.  I don't think Gafford or PJ is good value to get a late first. Guys like Hardy, Omax, and others probably don't have much value. Unless you are buying a pick in the second round, I would just be fine not making a move. There are a few teams with multiple picks and they may or may not take those picks.  It appears there are a lot of options for them if they decide not making those picks.

Yeah, I really agree with that. I'm not even sure I'd want to have a pick in the 20-45 range (because of the salary you pay, for a player who is unlikely to be much help), but as you outline, it's even more of a MASSIVE NO to the idea they should give up good talent for such iffiness (and "iffiness" is being kind imo).

As is always the case, almost every last one of those guys won't help anytime soon - they are developmental prospects, almost entirely across the board. If you have extra roster room and money, then yeah grab some. But for the Mavs in their situation, with no roster room and money so tight, there's no good reason to pay someone like that to eat up a roster slot (that you don't have idle anyhow) and have them get paid money to just be a body for a few years.

When I look at past drafts, and how such guys in the 20-45 range work out, it's amazing how few there actually have been in any draft who turned out to be worth much of ANYTHING at the NBA level. 

So IMO the place to look for some back-of-the-roster guy to maybe help NOW at the NBA level is the player who has been in GL or two-way or Euro experience for a few years and is starting to figure it out. THAT is the guy you really want to discover. And you use a two-way slot on him, ideally, while you see if he might be the next B Williams.

Back to the draft, I'm mildly interested in Clayton, maybe, perhaps, kinda, but even he has so many question marks (limits due to lack of size and length and athleticism) that I am very leery. Dropping down to an even lower level of player and readiness? Yikes, no thanks. For example, that fancy color chart posted above with someone's OPINION on draft players' value etc -- it's informative that the best ranked ones are found in most mocks in the mid 2nd round. That's partly an indicator of how crappy this draft probably is (where it's hard to tell the best from the worst, except for CF), and also speaks as to how iffy these expert opinions are as to who is better to pick and who should be bypassed. To be real, there surely must be a few out of the top 45 that will eventually be of value, but it's a wild bet on which of them will be able to fix their flaws and enhance their skills the best, vs which will just take the money and never figure anything out, and you really can't tell in advance with any certainty who will be who among those who haven't been doing it already. (The fact that CF has already been on an impressive path of learning and developing and working successfully to get rid of weaknesses since he was about 15, even though he was already way ahead of everyone else, is one more thing that sets him far apart from the rest.)

And even with Clayton, there's another very real issue. Where do you stash him while you try to get him developed further? Right now they only have one unaccounted-for roster slot [assumes Kyrie is re-signed], but in that 1 slot they still to need to add AT LEAST a couple of guards to help this year, and imo they would also want to re-sign Kai Jones as an up-and-coming big, and from past experience they will also want a veteran tone-setter for the locker room and trips (aka a cheerleader) which in the past has been Boban or Markieff. Not sure how you navigate all of that while also having Clayton playing very sparsely, riding your bench, hoping that he will turn into something down the road in another year or three.

[Chicagojk]

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.

I should also note there is another Duke player who should interest.  Sion James.   5th year senior.  Not as good of a shooter as Proctor but a stronger build.  He too also fit in well playing off Flagg and Knueppel.   Maybe he falls because he is more of a finished product, but is probably an early to mid second round pick. Sort of has a Lu Dort build.

[michaeltex]

All valid points. I agree with the concept that a 3rd/4th string guard will not get much development time with the main lineup, but he will be able to participate in pro-level training and can hone skills using G League competition. I do have a few questions though.

Unless you just by a pick for cash, wouldn't you expect to create a spot by trading for the pick? Exum and Dinwiddie are already FAs so there are two spots available, one of which goes to Flagg. FWIW, OMax is a TO, so there is that, depending on your belief in whether he'll turn into something useful. For completeness, DLive is a TO as well, but there is zero chance he isn't picked up.

This draft has really been muddied by so many non-lottery players pulling out to opt for another year and NIL money. That actually may help some of them mature to be a better selection next year. Additionally, a lot of international players have pulled out. So now the later you pick, the more your options are candidates who were originally 2nd round picks or UDFAs. With that in mind, where is the cutoff?

OKC originally had 4(!) FRPs this draft, but since UTA and PHI are now top 5 pick teams it is down to two, #15 and #24. They don't really have any roster spots available, although Jaylin Williams is not fully guaranteed next season and there are 5 TOs. But if they win the Finals, then there will be a lot of pressure to just keep the gang together and try to ride to another one next season. At one point, I thought it would be possible to do a trade for one of OKC's FRPs vs a DAL pick or pick swap down the road. That may still be possible, but I'm not sure how deep into the non-lottery candidate pool do you go when the contract is guaranteed for 2 years.

Maybe it's better to trade or buy into the 2nd, but now you may be looking at players who are G-League level at best.

[Chicagojk]

Ace Bailey has cancelled his workout with Philadelphia. There is no known workouts that he has done. Mavs have the #1 pick. For anyone else, there would be nothing to worry about....but.......

[ballsrchr]

Ace Bailey has cancelled his workout with Philadelphia.  There is no known workouts that he has done.  Mavs have the #1 pick.  For anyone else, there would be nothing to worry about....but.......

Bite your tongue!

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Ace Bailey has cancelled his workout with Philadelphia.  There is no known workouts that he has done.  Mavs have the #1 pick.  For anyone else, there would be nothing to worry about....but.......

He's gonna Cam Whitmore himself into the 20s. Nobody wants to deal with that kinda drama.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

Can you imagine the Mavs getting something like #19 from the Nets or #15 from the Thunder for the Lakers pick, l (top 12 protected) in a pre-Draft trade and then Ace just falling in their laps?

Cra-cra!!!

[SleepingHero]

AD 7'1 ?

I always thought he was 7ft and meant to type 7’0 but misclicked.

But after your message I went to go look and apparently he’s only 6’10 without shoes??? I suppose with shoes he’s 7’0. 

Still, pretty surprising.

[SleepingHero]

Ace Bailey has cancelled his workout with Philadelphia.  There is no known workouts that he has done.  Mavs have the #1 pick.  For anyone else, there would be nothing to worry about....but.......

I know you’re most likely being tongue in cheek, but it’s silly to even joke about. From all the reports, Mavs haven’t even met with any other top prospect aside from Flagg since the lotto. 

It’s guaranteed. Mostly because Dumbont has already overruled Nico and his tendencies and has come out and said the Mavs are taking Flagg no matter what.

[SleepingHero]

He's gonna Cam Whitmore himself into the 20s. Nobody wants to deal with that kinda drama.

At pick 20 he’s worth the risk. But Houston already is trying to move Whitmore because he’s unhappy being a bench piece and has complained about playing time.

Ace is an interesting prospect. But if I was a team with a pick between 3-15, I have to wonder why he’s being so guarded about working out for anyone. I think he’s hiding his real weakness and is afraid if he does have a bad workout he’s going to fall quite a few spots

[DallasMaverick]

At pick 20 he’s worth the risk. But Houston already is trying to move Whitmore because he’s unhappy being a bench piece and has complained about playing time.

Ace is an interesting prospect. But if I was a team with a pick between 3-15, I have to wonder why he’s being so guarded about working out for anyone. I think he’s hiding his real weakness and is afraid if he does have a bad workout he’s going to fall quite a few spots

It sounds like it’s all about himself and his personal brand. 

A me-first guy. Maybe a talent, but not a great teammate.

A mini-Anthony Edwards??

[cow]

I know you’re most likely being tongue in cheek, but it’s silly to even joke about. From all the reports, Mavs haven’t even met with any other top prospect aside from Flagg since the lotto. 

It’s guaranteed. Mostly because Dumbont has already overruled Nico and his tendencies and has come out and said the Mavs are taking Flagg no matter what.

I agree it's guaranteed, but nothing Nico could do would surprise me either.

[SleepingHero]

@Grant_Shirley4
The 3 most notable players that haven’t gotten one of the 24 green room invites IMO are Jase Richardson, Rasheer Fleming, and Maxime Raynaud

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Ace Bailey has cancelled his workout with Philadelphia.  There is no known workouts that he has done.  Mavs have the #1 pick.  For anyone else, there would be nothing to worry about....but.......

In related news, NYK has asked Rutgers permission to speak to Ace Bailey for their head coach vacancy...

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Wasn't Flagg supposed to visit Dallas on the 17th?

edit: weird. I hadn't seen it mentioned anywhere.

https://bsky.app/profile/firecobra.bsky....yb6mfsic2p

[michaeltex]

Wasn't Flagg supposed to visit Dallas on the 17th?

edit: weird.  I hadn't seen it mentioned anywhere.

https://bsky.app/profile/firecobra.bsky....yb6mfsic2p

A few comments in the "Mavs News" thread

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/193499...0?ref_src=



It seems Ace Bailey acts entitled, cancelled his workout with the Sixers
and has rubbed teams the wrong way.

[Jmaciscool]

https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/193499...0?ref_src=



It seems Ace Bailey acts entitled, cancelled his workout with the Sixers
and has rubbed teams the wrong way.

And on the flip side you have Flagg, a guy that could legitimately skip every single activity and still go #1 yet insists on attending/participating in every event.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Flagg is a special guy, i don't where is ceiling but he seems a 30yo pro athlete.