How does Flagg fit into The Lone Ranger? The American media predicts to play as a small forward: the talent of the champion is comparable to the thick eyebrows

On May 13, Beijing time, the Mavericks drew the top pick with a 1.8% probability, and they are expected to use this pick to get Cooper Flagg. How does the top pick fit into the Mavericks' lineup? The well-known American media The Athletic gave an analysis for the first time.

Ever since Harrison made the world-shocking decision to trade Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for chips led by Bushy Eyebrows, he has been emphasizing his defensive philosophy. Since the 2024 trade deadline, he has been building a strong frontcourt lineup of forwards and centers. Even if it gets complicated from a staffing perspective, adding Flagg to the roster only reinforces the idea.

Flagg could immediately play as a small forward for the Mavericks. He's fast, flexible, and with his athleticism, his defensive performance on the perimeter is worth looking forward to.The Mavericks also boast thick eyebrows, centers Gafford and Lively, and forward PJ Washington. The problem is that getting all five players into the rotation makes it difficult to allocate playing time.

The Mavericks' relatively weak guard line may mean that the team needs to undergo a roster rebuild. The situation will become even more dire if Irving is unable to recover quickly from the injury he suffered in March from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

'It's nice that we're not talking about injuries anymore.' Mavericks CEO Weltz said, "For the past three months, there's been a lot of talk about injuries and player health. It's great to have something positive and exciting to talk about. ”

Mavericks fans have good reason to be upset about the team trading Doncic, and one of the reasons is that it has made the team's age structure age older and the championship window shorter. While that won't make Doncic's time in Dallas forgotten, it will at least make the team's future plans more balanced.

"I'm very happy for the Mavericks fans." "I only came to Dallas in January. On February 2nd, our trade shocked the entire league. I was amazed by the deep affection and strong connection the fans have for the team. What's happening today...... I can't imagine what that means for Mavericks fans. It's going to be very special for sure. I can't wait to come back to Dallas. I think there will be celebrations on the streets of Dallas tonight. ”

In addition to Flagg, the top picks in the 2025 draft are considered to be strong, and players in the lottery are also seen as having the potential to change the team's fortunes. Rutgers University point guard Dylan Harper is also considered one of the top contenders, and at 1.98m, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, he is gifted at breaking to the basket and is also very good at playmaking.

However, Flagg is destined to be the top spot. He's averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game in the NCAA, and he's been even better since January. In his last 25 games, including the ACC Championship against Georgia Tech (where he sprained his ankle at the 15-minute mark), Flagg averaged 20.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field, 45.1 percent from three-point range and 88 percent from the free throw line.

The Athletic points out that Flagg may not have the same potential as Wembanyama has over the past 20 years, but he has enough talent to match the thick eyebrows。 Now, he'll be fighting alongside Busheyebrow. Barring an injury, Flagg is definitely a potential star not to be missed thanks to his technical level, athleticism, ability to create shots and game mentality. On the pitch, he is very competitive and he shows a strong work ethic no matter what the situation. He's hungry for better, and there's no indication that he's going to think too highly of himself.

It's interesting to see how the Mavericks will use Flagg.Flagg is effective at the small forward position, but judging by his defensive impact off the ball, he may be better suited for the role of power forward. But that means Bushy Eyebrows has to return to the center position, while two good players, Drake Lively II and Daniel Gafford may be reduced to the bench. For now, the Mavericks will put Flagg at the No. 3 spot, but it will be interesting to see if the Mavericks' management will use the draft results as a chance to get out of trouble. Will they try to reorient their squad in the long run, or will they continue to strengthen their existing roster?