Mavericks' moves sending clear signal about Cooper Flagg's future

Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg showed off a versatile set of skills his first seasons and proved he could play all over the court. Based on new Dallas Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri's first moves with the team, one of those places is not power forward.

After giving a contract extension to Naji Marshall last week, the Mavericks have built a formidable array of power forward talent. It suggests they see Flagg as a small forward or shooting guard — at least for now.

Dallas Mavericks keep adding talent at the four

Ujiri took over the Mavericks after the season, hiring University of Michigan coach Dusty May as head coach. Since then, the majority of his moves have involved loading up on power forwards, including drafting May's former Wolverine forward Morez Johnson with the No. 9 pick in this year's draft.

In the second round, Dallas drafted 6-foot-8 Tobi Lawal with the No. 48 pick. Then, in July, they traded for seven-foot forward Santi Aldama from the Memphis Grizzlies. Two weeks later, they picked up 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher from the Atlanta Hawks.

All these moves happened with P.J. Washington still entrenched as the team's starting 4 and Caleb Martin on the bench. It gives the Mavericks a glut of power forwards on the depth chart, most of whom aren't particularly strong three-point shooters.

Dallas Mavericks are shielding Cooper Flagg

What the focus on power forwards gets the Mavericks is the ability to keep their prized young phenom out of harm's way. Flagg may later develop more strength and the ability to bang inside with NBA forwards, but he's only 19 years old and won't turn 20 until two months into next season.

The Mavericks are protecting Flagg and letting him develop his offensive skills without forcing him to wrestle with larger players. It may limit the team's upside for 2026-27, especially after they made the fourth-fewest threes in the NBA last season, but it should let Flagg play a freer style.

Eventually, some or all of those power forwards should become trade bait. Until then, there's apparently no end to Ujiri's appetite for power forwards.