The Dallas Mavericks defied the odds in the NBA Draft Lottery nearly two months ago, securing the number 1 pick, which they subsequently turned into the nation’s consensus top-player Cooper Flagg. On Draft night, former Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson was with CBS Sports for analysis and commentary. Before any selections were made, Johnson stood, mic in hand, and received a straightforward question from the in-studio team: “Avery, would you still rather have Luka [Doncic] over Cooper Flagg?” The answer, as only Johnson could deliver it, was “Man, give me Cooper Flagg!”
Johnson is obviously no stranger to basketball, so his words carry weight despite how polarizing they may be to some listeners. He played in the NBA from 1988-89 through 2003-04 for 6 different franchises (3 of which he had multiple stints with), though he is most well-known for his time with the San Antonio Spurs. He got himself an NBA Championship in the 1998-99 season and forever etched himself into San Antonio lore when he drilled a baseline jumper in Game 5 of the Finals that year, a shot that would prove to be the difference maker in the series-clinching game. Following his playing career, Johnson quickly transitioned to coaching, where he succeeded Don Nelson on the Mavericks’ sideline, winning NBA Coach of the Year in 2006 while guiding the Mavericks to their first ever Finals appearance. Suffice it to say, he’s knows a thing or two about the game and isn’t necessarily prone to hyperbole like some pundits. So why is he choosing Flagg over a superstar like Doncic?
Somewhat surprisingly, his rationale isn’t all about Flagg. Johnson sees the Mavericks’ frontcourt as one of the best and envisions the team as a dominant two-way squad once Kyrie Irving returns from injury. Although he didn’t know of the D’Angelo Russell signing at the time, he aptly pointed out that Dallas has yet to really give up anything to get what they have gotten thus far in the Offseason. Flagg was the result of a 1.8% chance, Gafford was extended and they didn’t need to swap any assets to acquire Russell. Behind three future Hall-of-Famers (Irving, Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis), Johnson sees good things for the Mavs both immediately and in the future. “Their future is bright, but they have a window when they’re healthy, of the next two to three years, with this roster as currently constructed.”
Aside from “when they’re healthy” potentially being a big question mark, Johnson seems to be confident in a multiple-timeline approach where Flagg essentially replaces Doncic as the future of the franchise. Flagg developing under multiple NBA Champions who can shield him from the bad spotlights while allowing him to embrace the good ones could work out well both on the court and financially. The elder statesmen on the team will be finishing off their current contracts around the same time Flagg is coming up on his rookie extension, affording Dallas in that respect as they potentially seek out a new star to pair with Flagg. Time will tell how it will all work out, but for now at least one former NBA Champion is a fan of Flagg taking the reigns in Dallas.
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