GOOD TIMES AHEAD: Cooper Flagg Draft Preview + Another Dallas Mavericks Trade Idea

As of July 1, 2025, it appears the Dallas Mavericks could be mostly finished with their offseason plans after drafting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, re-signing Kyrie Irving to a new three-year contract, signing Daniel Gafford to a three-year extension, and signing D’Angelo Russell to a two-year, $12 million contract using the Taxpayer MLE. However… there’s some drama brewing in Hollywood, as LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be heading for a break-up… and the Mavs find themselves in the middle of trade/free agency rumors and speculation when it comes to where the league’s all-time leading scorer could play next. On the latest episode of our Mavs Step Back podcast, we break down Russell’s fit in Dallas and why he’s likely poised to surpass most fans’ expectations. We also touch on the LeBron drama, discussing the only trade/free agency scenarios we’d be ok with when it comes to the possibility of him joining the Mavs. Thanks for listening, and be sure to hit that subscribe button!

The Dallas Mavericks officially drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, effectively jumpstarting a new era of basketball in Dallas. If you missed our Mavs Step Back NBA Draft LIVE stream, no worries! You can now go back and watch it here. As the second-youngest No. 1 overall pick in NBA history (LeBron James was the youngest in 2003), Flagg is bringing a lot of hype with him to the Mavs, but it’s hype we believe he’ll be able to live up to. Flagg is a potential two-way star who should be able to hit the ground running alongside his new frontcourt teammates, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington. Our friends Jay and Vinay over at Mavs Film Room joined us on this episode to break down the Mavs selecting Flagg, as well as some potential moves the Mavs could still make before the end of the offseason. Thanks for watching/listening, and be sure to subscribe!

We are less than one week away from the Dallas Mavericks officially drafting Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. On this episode, we break down what Flagg brings to Dallas, including a flattering comparison made by his soon-to-be head coach, Jason Kidd. From there, we discuss another Mavs trade scenario that would not only address the team's immediate need for guard help, but it would also help Dallas acquire an additional first-round pick in this year's draft.

The Dallas Mavericks have several ways they could enhance their roster via trades this summer. Today, we propose some trade ideas in the first part of our multi-part series this month.

After defying their 1.8% odds in the lottery, the Dallas Mavericks plan on selecting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft next month, according to multiple reports. What moves should the Mavs make after that, though? Could they trade back into what will be a stacked first round? What do they do with Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington, who are both on expiring contracts heading into next season? What point-guard options are available for Dallas until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL injury sometime after New Year's? We discuss all these topics at length on today's episode!

Despite having just a 1.8% chance of winning the NBA Draft Lottery, the Dallas Mavericks ended up doing just that on Monday night. It was the first time the Mavs moved up in the lottery in franchise history, and it was tied for the second-largest jump in NBA Lottery history. Now, with the No. 1 pick in their possession, the question is: Will the Mavs draft 19-year-old Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, or will general manager Nico Harrison try to trade the pick for a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo? On the latest episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we give our instant reactions to what went down on Monday night.

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at FedExForum with the Western Conference playoffs’ 8-seed on the line, I (Dalton Trigg) recapped the inspiring performance we witnessed on Wednesday when Dallas kept its season alive by blowing out the Sacramento Kings on the road, 120-106. I’ve been on record saying that, although I’m generally an optimistic person by nature, I didn’t have a good feeling about these Play-In Tournament games for the Mavs. I truly believed the season was going to end on Wednesday. Shout out to them for proving me wrong and showing a ton of pride and grit. Can they do it one more time to punch their ticket to the NBA Playoffs? I’m still skeptical, but I will say… if the Mavs do end up playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in round one… the return of “obnoxiously irrational confident” Dalton will re-enter the chat. Thanks for watching/reading as always, and stay tuned!

After having a few days to digest what happened, Dalton and Drew recap their feelings while watching Luka Doncic's first return to American Airlines Center since the trade last Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks. As the Mavs prepare for a tough Play-In Tournament game against the Sacramento Kings this Wednesday night, the guys are left pondering whether Doncic will ever consider returning to Dallas one day to once again play in front of the fan base that loves him so much.

As the Dallas Mavericks fight to lock up their spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, they'll face Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center for the first time since the massive trade on Wednesday night. In addition to previewing that game, we talk about the Mavs planning to sign two-way guard Brandon Williams to a standard contract later this week and what that could mean for their postseason chances.

The Dallas Mavericks are in a weird situation, as they flirt with making the NBA Play-In Tournament as well as falling into the NBA Lottery. Here's our latest thoughts on where the Mavs currently sit with 15 games remaining.