A godsend! The Mavericks use the No. 1 pick plan: Selecting Flagg + is not intended to be used to trade stars

On May 14, Beijing time, according to ESPN, after winning the first-round pick with a probability of 1.8%, the Mavericks plan to use this pick to select Duke University forward Cooper Flagg, and have no intention of using this sign to trade the already famous superstar.

The Mavericks were eliminated in the final game of the Western Conference playoffs this season, ending a tumultuous and injury-plagued season. At the time, the probability of them winning the lotto draw was only 1.8%. The surprise lottery win came months after Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison shocked the NBA and angered the team's fans by trading Luka Doncic, a five-time All-NBA All-NBA team, to the Lakers in exchange for a chip set centered on 10-time All-Star interior Anthony Davis.

As the new owner of the Mavericks, Dumont sees the opportunity to draft a game-making talent like Flagg as a "godsend," sources told ESPN. Although Dumont gave Harrison a great deal of operational autonomy over basketball, he ultimately had to make decisions about all personnel.

The Doncic trade not only poses a major business risk for the Mavericks, but also obscures the team's long-term prospects. In building a roster to reach the NBA Finals in 2024, the Mavericks have already lost first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, either directly or through swaps. And Flagg's arrival is expected to alleviate both of these problems.

Flagg, who is 2.06 meters tall, was regarded as the favorite for the top pick in this draft early on. Flagg exceeded expectations in his freshman year, winning nearly every major Player of the Year award, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game and leading Duke to the NCAA Final Four with a 35-4 record.

"We're not sure who we're going to pick at the moment, but if we do, I think he's a good enough resume," Mavericks CEO Rick Weltz said after receiving the No. 1 pick, "Every time he's in a situation where everybody doubts he's going to make it, he's not only succeeded, he far exceeded expectations." ”