Former Mavericks Coach Picks Between Cooper Flagg and Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks are heading into a pivotal offseason that could shape the franchise’s direction for years to come. After years of building around Luka Doncic, the Mavericks stunned the league by trading the All-NBA guard to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal that brought Anthony Davis and future assets to Dallas. 

Since then, Dallas has doubled down on retooling the roster, re-signing Kyrie Irving to form what the team hopes is one of the NBA’s strongest lineups once he returns from injury.

A big part of the Mavericks’ optimism hinges on rookie Cooper Flagg, the top overall pick in this year’s draft. Widely regarded as one of the most talented two-way prospects in years, Flagg brings defensive versatility and offensive polish that Dallas hopes will complement its experienced stars. 

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Former Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson added fuel to the conversation when asked which player he would prefer to build around. Speaking candidly, Johnson said he would rather have Flagg on this Dallas roster than Doncic. 

“Man, give me Cooper Flagg,” Johnson said. “This team is gonna be built to be one of the best two-way teams in the league and they didn’t have to sacrifice any of their depth. They have some quality young players. You’re talking about a team, when they are healthy, they have three future Hall of Famers in Kyrie, AD and Klay Thompson. This is really exciting. The Mavericks, their future is bright.”

While Doncic was a perennial MVP candidate in Dallas, the franchise’s new vision is focused on balance, defense and spreading the scoring responsibilities across multiple stars. The Mavericks will hope that Flagg’s defensive instincts and unselfish play will mesh well with Irving’s shot creation and Davis’s inside presence.