Mar 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Nico Harrison's Mavericks theory to be put to the test with Cooper Flagg

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks were gifted a golden opportunity when they won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, giving them the chance to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg in June if they so choose. All indications point to that being exactly what they'll do.

Flagg should be a perfect fit in Dallas as a two-way prospect, as his elite defensive potential is exactly what Nico Harrison is looking for. All Harrison has said since trading Luka Doncic away is "defense wins championships," and even if Flagg will be much younger than the rest of the team's core, he fits that mantra perfectly.

Kyle Boone of CBS Sports recently published a mock draft for the 2025 NBA Draft, obviously taking Cooper Flagg for the Mavericks, but he put a lot of pressure on Nico Harrison to make sure this works.

"Nico Harrison has insisted time and again that defense wins championships. He'll have a chance to put that theory to the test in adding Flagg, the most dynamic defender and best overall player in the class. Flagg is coming off a Player of the Year campaign at Duke as a freshman and is second only to Victor Wembanyama among prospects since I began evaluating players in 2016."

If the Mavericks still can't have success once Kyrie Irving returns from injury, Nico Harrison will have a lot to answer for, both from ownership and from an already irate fanbase. Landing Flagg has eased the pressure for now, but they have to make the playoffs and likely win a round or two for it to be enough of a proof of concept.

This article first appeared on Dallas Mavericks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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