The Dallas Mavericks just won the NBA Draft lottery, and with their trading history, the Phoenix Suns may now have a chance to trade for Cooper Flagg and save their franchise. After dealing Luka Doncic at the deadline, moving the first pick for Devin Booker or Kevin Durant could complete the 2018-style Big 3 Nico Harrison may be dreaming of.
With Durant looking like he'll be on the way out and the Suns without any of their own draft picks for a long while, they need to be brainstorming what their next moves may be. Securing a blue-chip prospect would certainly help with that.
And while it may seem outlandish for Harrison and the Mavs to make such a move, that didn't stop him before.
What would Cooper Flagg do for the Suns?
Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg is far and away the most hyped-up prospect. The Duke star is a defensive monster with all the tools to become a lead offensive star in the league, drawing comparisons to Jayson Tatum, Kawhi Leonard, and Scottie Pippen, among others.
Even though the Suns would have to give up Booker or Durant, the potential trade would leave them with a 19-year-old prospect to build around. They may struggle for a few years, meaning their pick situation wouldn't be ideal still, but having 'The Guy' would make it all worth it.
In an ideal world, trading Durant would allow the Suns to pair Flagg with Booker in Phoenix, but even though the latter has devoted his career to the organization, resetting the team's future should be a top priority.
And if they won't have a great chance to put a competitive roster around Booker anyway, giving him up for the chance to land Flagg would like be well worth it.
Why would the Mavs make this deal?
Trading Doncic opened the door to any and all possiblities for any team around the league, but especially for the Mavs. There is no more, 'That doesn't make sense,' because they already made the deal that made the least sense.
Though Kyrie Irving will likely miss a good chunk of next season due to an ACL injury, Dallas still has Anthony Davis (and a GM who wants to win championships). Pairing him with Durant or Booker would certainly make the Mavs a serious playoff threat, and maybe he likes that pathway better than one Flagg could provide.