Potential Celtics-Mavericks Trade Emerges After Cooper Flagg News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt John | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 3:52 PM ET

After getting the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, it would be the twist of the century if the Dallas Mavericks don't end up with Cooper Flagg. Based on the Mavericks' most recent meeting with Flagg, as reported by Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, it doesn't appear as though they'll make any surprises.

"Flagg had dinner Tuesday night... with several Mavericks officials," they wrote. "General manager Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd essentially served as co-chairs of a welcoming committee that also included new team CEO Rick Welts and former Mavericks All-Star-turned-assistant GM Michael Finley... By this time next week, Flagg will officially be a Maverick."

Flagg will be added to a team that will have Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis at full strength. That alone restores hope that the Mavericks will be a contender again after the Luka Doncic trade.

Last word on Cooper Flagg's visit: After Tuesday's dinner with team officials at Bob's Steak & Chop House, he grabbed one more meal Wednesday night at Nick & Sam's with some future Mavs teammates ... completing quite a Dallas steakhouse double.

More: https://t.co/HmbVApFaaF https://t.co/rEwmdx849A
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 19, 2025

However, Flagg may not only help form a contender in Dallas, but also might form a defensive juggernaut with the Mavericks. Just one day after the news of Flagg's meeting in Dallas, The Athletic's Christian Clark and Jay King reported on the Boston Celtics potentially trading Jrue Holiday to the Mavericks.

"As I have dug into the trade market for Holiday, league sources have pointed to the Mavericks as one potential fit," King began.

He added, "Even at Holiday’s age, I’m not sure any guard has more defensive versatility," King wrote. "Good luck scoring against lineups with Anthony Davis, Flagg and Holiday. (Yes, I’m putting Flagg in that group already. He will walk into the NBA as a top-shelf defender)."

The last piece of a potential trade will be what the Mavericks trade for Holiday. Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington are candidates, but the Celtics want to save money, so they may have to re-route one of them elsewhere.

For now, it's clear Flagg is Dallas-bound. The question remaining, is who will meet him there?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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