Exploring Mavs' Potential 'Big Ball' Lineup With Cooper Flagg At Shooting Guard

The Dallas Mavericks boast an incredibly deep roster on paper, positioning them as one of the best teams in the league heading into the new season. With rookie phenom Cooper Flagg paired with the capable star duo of Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, the Mavs are a team to look out for next season.

While Dallas' starting lineup would feature Klay Thompson in the starting shooting guard spot with Flagg entering as the new small forward, NBA insider Marc Stein made an interesting suggestion recently. He wrote:

"I do think that at some point that the starting lineup will be tested at some point with Cooper [Flagg] at the 2 and PJ [Washington] at the 3. I feel pretty strongly about that."

The notion of relegating Thompson to the bench and adding Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively II to the starting rotation could be quite interesting, particularly in light of the team's current situation.

With Kyrie Irving recovering from injury, the Mavs could benefit from adding another capable 3-and-D wing to their rotation, effectively embracing a "big ball" rotation. Here's a look at the potential lineup:

Mavs' Potential "Big Ball" Lineup:

PG - D'Angelo Russell 

SG - Cooper Flagg 

SF - PJ Washington 

PF - Anthony Davis 

C - Dereck Lively II

This specific lineup gives the Mavericks a lot of flexibility on length, potentially enhancing their inside presence and their overall defensive efforts.

D'Angelo Russell would be the de facto point guard for Dallas to start the season. As a capable floor general, Russell has the optimal skill set to bring the best out of this rotation.

At 6'3", Russell may be the shortest player on the court in this lineup, but this doesn't make him a liability. As an elite pick-and-roll playmaker and passer, Russell's creativity would shine. With capable rim-runners and lob threats around him, the 29-year-old has the potential to be extremely productive on offense.

Having passing options also allows Russell to facilitate scoring opportunities for himself. With each player drawing some degree of defensive attention, the guard would be able to make the most of his offensive skills as a perimeter and midrange scoring threat.

Last season, the guard posted an average of 12.6 points and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 39.0% from the field and 31.4% from three-point range. In the role of a starter, the 29-year-old could see an uptick in production.

The most significant addition to this rotation would be moving Cooper Flagg to the backcourt. At 6'9", Flagg is already an immensely gifted physical specimen, boasting natural athletic ability and impressive physical tools.  

During his freshman year at Duke, the forward notched an average of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range.

Flagg has an extremely versatile skill set, one that has led many to acknowledge him as an all-around threat. Adding Flagg to the backcourt would create a mismatch situation on virtually every possession. With elite scoring skills, playmaking ability, and athleticism, Flagg is truly the complete package, and in isolation situations, he could be lethal.

The only real shortcoming is Flagg's relative inexperience. At 18 years old, the Duke product is still adjusting to defensive coverages in the NBA. While his slashing ability will be effective early on, his limitations as a jump shooter will be tested, resulting in him hitting an offensive plateau early on.

In addition to this, moving Flagg to the shooting guard spot would require him to guard smaller but quicker players. Despite being a capable defender, Flagg may end up becoming a liability against more athletic guards.

Although Flagg getting blown by will be a concern, the Mavs' frontcourt trio will be crucial in covering up for these errors. Featuring PJ Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, Dallas' frontcourt features a blend of offensive versatility and defensive cohesion.

Washington is a solid wing defender and perimeter shooter. His presence in the starting rotation helped in supporting Dallas' production in rebounding and three-point shooting.

Last season, the forward played a crucial role in the Mavericks' rotation. As the starting forward for the team, Washington posted an average of 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 45.3% shooting from the field and 38.1% shooting from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis will be a crucial element in the Mavs' lineup. As the sole star of the team in Irving's absence, his task as the leader on and off the court is essential to the team's overall success.

On any given day, the Mavericks' big man is one of the best two-way players in the league. Barring injury concerns, his dominance on both ends of the floor has been acknowledged by several players.

While embracing his natural position as a power forward, Davis would be free to operate more flexibly. If Dallas runs the offense through him, it would certainly create more scoring opportunities for the team.

Last season, Davis notched an average of 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. Considering his established chemistry with Russell as former teammates on the Lakers, and being paired with a capable defensive center in Lively, the Mavericks' star could see a significant increase in output on both ends of the floor.

The last piece of the puzzle in this lineup is the addition of Dereck Lively II in place of Daniel Gafford. It is important to note that Gafford only played the role of a starter due to Lively's absence. But with the big man in good health, it is likely for him to cement his position in the starting rotation.

Lively is an extremely talented young center. Standing at 7'1" tall, the 21-year-old has showcased tremendous rim-protection instincts, athletic ability, and rebounding skill. With him and Davis operating in the paint, the Mavs would become an incredibly difficult team to deal with in the low post on both ends of the floor.

In 36 appearances last season, the big man notched an average of 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on 70.2% shooting from the field. Considering that his usage as an offensive player is primarily as a lob threat, Lively could remain effective with Russell in pick-and-roll sets.

Overall, this rotation has its fair share of benefits and flaws. The benefits involve more offensive flexibility and production, especially on the interiors, along with greater contributions on rebounding and rim protection. 

As far as size goes, the Mavs would have the physical upper hand in virtually every matchup, but this could also be a drawback.

With reduced defensive pressure on the ball and on the wings, the Mavericks would become extremely vulnerable to teams implementing perimeter-heavy tactics. Having their rim protectors drawn out to the three-point line would also leave Dallas vulnerable against players cutting from the wing, especially against quicker and more athletic guards. 

While the Mavs' length would create difficulties in completing those passes, the opportunities to exploit these drawbacks would be available.

Kyrie Irving's Role In This Lineup

The offensive integrity of this lineup, as constructed, is dependent upon Davis, Flagg, and Russell to shoulder the scoring load. However, should Kyrie Irving return to the floor and join this rotation, Dallas would see a massive increase in overall production.

Irving is one of the most gifted offensive players in the league. After being sidelined with an ACL injury, the Mavericks saw a drastic drop-off in their performance, even resulting in their decline and eventual exit from the Play-In tournament.

Last season, Irving recorded an average of 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, while shooting 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from three-point territory. Although he's not a pass-first point guard, his scoring ability would create more opportunities for Dallas to overwhelm their opponents.

Without Irving, the Mavs are a solid team. But in a competitive West, it is also clear that the team will need its star back in action. Given the guard's progress with recovery, there is an increased likelihood for him to return to action earlier than expected. With his addition to this rotation, Dallas could even be perceived as a contender.