Cooper Flagg has had a rollercoaster of a rookie season thus far. He’s shown extreme poise in the face of every challenge thrown his way, and now the Dallas Mavericks need to reciprocate that goodwill by permanently taking him off the trade market as a bargaining chip to potential suitors.
He needs to be untouchable.
It’s true. Anyone can be traded. And the NBA is indeed a business. But if there is one thing that can be gleaned from the Nico Harrison fiasco, it’s that loyalty and integrity matter. Flagg’s mother has already entered the fray, voicing her concern about the cloud of uncertainty that seems to be hovering over Dallas. She doesn’t want her son to become a casualty of indecision by the Dallas front office.
Dallas is currently searching for a new general manager while Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley hold down the fort for the time being, and the first move that his GM needs to make is to make it clear that Flagg is off the table. No matter what.
The Mavericks can't risk losing the one player who will change everything
The Mavericks need to go all in on Flagg being their franchise player for the foreseeable future. He’s shown flashes of brilliance when he’s been able to play his natural forward position. Being forced to play point guard so early in his career slightly stunted his growth. However, he has proven to be a quick learner and lets the game come to him. He doesn’t force things. He picks his spots and keeps the ball moving.
Kyrie Irving’s return should give Flagg even more freedom on the floor. And he’s already proving to be an excellent defender, as he has the best defensive rating among rookies this season at 111.3. His length and versatility allow him to guard multiple positions on the perimeter and contest shots at the rim. But he also has a great motor, and that’s not something you can teach.
There have been debates on what the true ceiling is for Flagg in the NBA. Does he really have superstar potential? Dallas fans hope so. And he’s shown glimpses of things to come against some of the best players in the league. He had a spectacular 26-point, 9-rebound game on November 10 vs Giannis Antetokounmpo (another Jason Kidd protege) and the Milwaukee Bucks in which he displayed an array of spin moves, timely shooting, and strong finishes at the rim in a close 116-114 loss.
Are we forgetting that Flagg is only 18 years old? I think so. But the “Greek Freak” was so impressed, he labeled Flagg a “great player” who has a “high IQ, can read plays, can get downhill. For a guy his size to be able to handle the ball and make plays for himself or his teammates, he’s incredible.”
This sounds like the type of player you build around. You don’t trade a player with these intangibles. Kevin Durant echoed those sentiments after matching up with Flagg earlier this season by saying, “I think he’s going to be a (expletive) of a player. I think that he’s going to be such a nightmare…that…he’ll be considered one of the best of all time.”
Publicly taking Flagg off the trade market will reap immediate dividends for Dallas by instilling confidence in Flagg that he’s “their guy” for the future. No looking over his shoulder. It also shows the Dallas fans that there is a long-term strategy for the team moving forward.
Flagg has already produced respectable splits of 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game this season. And I expect these numbers to improve even more as the season progresses, especially if he’s allowed to play more minutes at his natural forward position like he is right now. Sometimes the best trade is the one that you don’t make.