Mavericks Make Cooper Flagg Decision After News on Monday

This decision also should not come as much of a surprise. Back in June, head coach Jason Kidd made it clear that he wants Flagg to play point guard. Additionally, he compared the Maine native to Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who he coached from 2014 to 2018, who is another ball-dominant forward who is often tasked with point guard duties.

“I want to put him at point guard,” Kidd said about Flagg in June. “I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts being able to run the show. Being able to play the 2, play the 3, he’s comfortable playing that. But we want to push, and I think he’s going to respond in a positive way.”

“It’s all right to fail, it’s all right to turn the ball over. We’ve talked about that. Just understanding the guys that I’ve been around that have been young from Giannis, giving him the ball and he failed, but he wanted to come back and have the ball. I’m excited to give him the ball against the Lakers and see what happens,” he added.

Why Cooper Flagg at Point Guard Can Work for the Dallas Mavericks

Flagg is a player who excels with the ball in his hands, and allowing him to run the point would maximize his usage for the Mavericks. Furthermore, he had experience initiating the offense and facilitating at Duke, and he often brought the ball up the court for the team and was the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations.

While he was never traditionally a point guard, Flagg showcased the ability to run the position if needed, which Dallas will try to utilize during his rookie season.

It also helps Dallas' case that Flagg is 6-foot-9 and would be a defensive mismatch for most of the league at point guard. Given that the Mavericks are already a big team with Davis and Lively in the frontcourt, this could be a big advantage for them throughout the season.

Flagg can also be a plus-defender at the NBA level. He is versatile, tall, and has a 7-foot wingspan. If the Mavericks regularly use him at point guard, this could give him and the team another defensive advantage.

Once the regular season starts, it is safe to assume that the Mavericks will start Russell at the point until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL injury. However, it seems that Kidd is willing to experiment with his team's lineup, meaning that this likely will not be the last time Flagg runs the point for the Mavericks.

There is already a lot to like about the 18-year-old's outlook ahead of his rookie season. However, if the Mavericks can fully unlock his potential in a point forward-type role, then he could be in line for a bigger immediate impact than many may expect.

Flagg will have a great opportunity to showcase what he brings to the table for Dallas against the Jazz. If he can make the most of this opportunity, this could influence what the Mavericks' rotations look like for the entire season as they look to re-enter the playoff picture.