In less than two weeks, the Dallas Mavericks will select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. While there was initially some skepticism about whether Dallas would keep their pick or not, it's clear that the Mavs plan to keep this selection and draft Flagg, as it was reported shortly after Dallas won the lottery that they will draft him while not entertaining trade offers.
On top of the reporting, the Mavericks have also planned a draft party at the American Airlines Center on the night of the draft to celebrate them having the first pick for the second time in franchise history, and fans can't wait to welcome Flagg to Dallas with open arms. With Flagg set to join the Mavericks later this month, fans have already speculated about his fit into Jason Kidd's scheme, and one offensive preference he has will make him a dream fit on day one.
On The Deep 3 Podcast, Flagg said that one of his favorite plays to do in games is throw lobs, and he happens to be stepping into a situation where he can do that on a nightly basis with some of the best alley-oop dunkers in the Western Conference.
Flagg's lob obsession makes him a dream fit for Dallas' bigs
In Dallas, Flagg will have multiple high-level lob finishers to throw alley-oops to, such as Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis, and his potentially increased role as a playmaker with the Mavericks is bound to put him in a position where he can throw plenty of alley-oops right away.
If Jason Kidd ends up rolling with a lineup that includes Flagg playing the two, like he teased less than a month ago, he is going to have even more opportunities to dish out alley-oops than he did at Duke. Flagg thrived when getting downhill at Duke, as he always made the right pass in transition or in the half-court, and many of these passes ended up being lobs.
Someone with whom Flagg had great chemistry as a Blue Devil was 7-foot-2 big man Khaman Maluach, as they connected for countless lobs throughout the course of the season, and the Mavericks will be hoping for more of the same when he starts working out with Lively II, Gafford, and Davis. Throughout the pre-draft process, Maluach has even been compared to Lively II, and it won't be too much of a change for Flagg to get used to playing with his new big man (who also happened to go to Duke).
What made Flagg so deadly as a lob passer at Duke was the on-ball gravity he had as a screener in the pick and roll, as the defense would almost always collapse on him when he caught the ball in the middle of the paint after he rolled to the basket. This left Maluach wide open in the dunker's spot, and Flagg would put the ball on a string for Maluach to throw down a slam.
"I think playing alongside Maluach was good for him because Maluach is an NBA big," an anonymous ACC coach said. "
Flagg even showed potential as a ball handler out of the pick and roll, and if he and Dallas' bigs can get on the same page, the rest of the league should be terrified. All three of the Mavericks' centers are exceptional lob finishers, and Flagg is going to have plenty of chances to connect with them.
"(Flagg) will be an elite connector and versatile piece than can set ball screens for Kyrie but also run PnR with AD," an anonymous coach that coached against Flagg last season said.
With the potential to use Flagg as a screener or a ball handler in the pick and roll, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the ways Kidd and the Mavs can use him. His dynamic with Maluach showcased that he is one of the more underrated playmakers in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he truly doesn't have any holes in his game.
As the anonymous coach said, Flagg's connectivity is elite for his age, and he doesn't always need the ball in his hands to make an impact on the game. Flagg keeps the ball moving when needed and elevating the stars around him will make him a monster next to Kyrie Irving and Davis,
When the ball finds Flagg, he makes the right play. Whether that is making the extra swing pass, driving and kicking to a shooter on the perimeter, or throwing a lob. This type of instinctive playmaking that Flagg possesses will help him succeed in Dallas right away, and his fit is much better than anyone has given him credit for.
Flagg's passing on day one will set him apart, and Mavericks fans should be excited as the new "Lob City" may be at the American Airlines Center once Flagg gets to town.