The Dallas Mavericks made the expected move on Wednesday night by selecting Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With that pick, Dallas is signaling the start of a new era while still trying to contend with veterans like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis still in the fold. The two-timeline approach isn’t necessarily a strategic choice—it’s more of a necessity given their current roster makeup. Assuming Davis remains with the team, the Mavericks are looking at a balancing act: maximize Flagg’s development while putting a competitive product on the court.

Flagg is expected to start right away. There’s little doubt about that. The bigger challenge lies in how to integrate him into a lineup that was initially designed to support Luka Dončić before his stunning trade earlier this year. While there aren’t serious concerns about fit, there are multiple paths the Mavericks could take, and each presents its own complications.

If Dallas keeps their current frontcourt intact, a likely starting lineup looks like this:

Flagg’s chemistry with bigs was evident at Duke, especially in pick-and-roll scenarios with Khaman Maluach. In Dallas, he’ll likely find similar synergy with Lively and Daniel Gafford, who just signed a three-year, $54 million extension. Flagg’s ability to find cutters and bigs in tight windows will be a boost for the Mavs’ interior game. His presence should also benefit Thompson, who can still shoot the lights out even if his best years are behind him. Flagg already has experience feeding perimeter sharpshooters, having played alongside Kon Knueppel in a Thompson-style role at Duke.

The concern with this setup is spacing. Flagg thrives slashing into the lane, but Lively and Gafford don’t stretch the floor. Even though Davis can shoot from deep, he’ll often be stationed in the post, which could jam up the paint. A more spread-out alternative might involve Flagg shifting to power forward, with PJ Washington sliding into the small forward slot and Davis playing center:

  • PG: TBD/Kyrie Irving
  • SG: Klay Thompson
  • SF: PJ Washington
  • PF: Cooper Flagg
  • C: Anthony Davis

Washington adds valuable spacing and defensive versatility. This configuration gives the Mavericks more size and flexibility, especially defensively, with Washington, Flagg, and Davis able to guard across multiple positions. However, convincing Davis to play center—a role he’s historically resisted—could be a stumbling block. It also raises questions about what to do with Lively and Gafford, who both figure into the Mavs’ long-term plans.

One out-of-the-box idea would be to experiment with Flagg in the backcourt. It’s unconventional, but not impossible. A starting five like this could offer defensive nightmares for opposing teams:

  • PG: TBD/Kyrie Irving
  • SG: Cooper Flagg
  • SF: PJ Washington
  • PF: Anthony Davis
  • C: Dereck Lively II

This setup floods the court with length and switchability. Flagg would create mismatches against smaller guards, especially if paired with Davis or Lively in the pick-and-roll. The tradeoff is offensive spacing—something Thompson would help, but he’d likely be coming off the bench in this version. Still, defensively, this unit could smother teams. The only weak link might be Irving, but he’s improved his effort on that end since arriving in Dallas.

Head coach Jason Kidd has hinted at such possibilities. During a recent appearance on the DLLS Mavericks podcast, Kidd described Flagg as someone who could play “2 through 4” and maybe even some small-ball 5. “He won’t be 19 until December, which is really surprising,” Kidd said of Flagg. “You talk about his ability to shoot the ball and put it on the floor… we can have a big group out there that could start.”

Ultimately, drafting Flagg was the straightforward move. Now Dallas has to navigate the hard part—building a coherent roster around him. Whether it means shifting Davis to a position he doesn’t love, rethinking Washington’s role, or eventually trading a big man for backcourt depth, the Mavericks need to prioritize what works for Flagg long-term. He’s the franchise now. Making him comfortable, empowered, and productive should be the team’s guiding principle—even if that means shaking up the rest of the locker room.