The Dallas Mavericks landed the coveted number one pick this season. It may be a deep draft, but Cooper Flagg seems to be the unanimous pick at the top of the ladder. However, the Mavs have been dealt a confusing card. They traded for Anthony Davis, essentially starting the timer on the championship window. And with such a valuable asset missing in their possession, they could practically ask for any superstar. Recently, that name has been Giannis Antetokounmpo, who, for the first time, is looking beyond Milwaukee.

Getting Antetokounmpo satisfies all that Nico Harrison has dreamed of. He brings a stupendous defender who can bully any opposition, no matter how great the defense. But Flagg gives them the opportunity to not only possibly contend but also secure a future talisman. So, which way do they go?

According to Jay Bilas, a man who served as an assistant coach for Duke and is now an analyst, it’s a no-brainer.

“He’s the prize in this one. And I don’t know anybody that thinks otherwise. And if I’m Dallas, I’m not trading that. Uh, I understand that, you know, Giannis may want out of Milwaukee and all that, but I’m not trading a future star like Cooper Flagg for anything,” he said about the Duke star.

But that wasn’t all. Bilas doesn’t just project Cooper Flagg to be the “real deal” in the future. He also thinks Duke University has never produced a better talent than the 18-year-old.

“Cooper Flag’s the real deal. Like he’s the best freshman player Duke’s ever had, at least since Coach K got there, since I got there in the early, you know, early 80s. Um, you know, he’s a complete player. Uh, he impacts the game at both ends almost equally, and he can shoot it,” he said about the highly rated prospect on The Young Man and The Three.

A 6’9″ forward from Newport, Maine, Flagg played his last three years of high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida. Further, he made the decision to pick Duke over Connecticut. And in his freshman season at Duke, he started all 37 games he played with an average of 30.6 minutes on the hardwood. Further, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, with 84% free throws and 48.1% field goals.

Beyond this, he was also the USA Basketball’s male athlete of the year in 2022, where he led the Americans to gold at the U17 World Cup. His resume further boasts of honors, like the Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year, and a McDonald’s All-American in his final high school season.

The Dallas Mavericks still have time to make their decision. But it’s hard to disagree. No matter how tempting an exchange looks, with Flagg, there’s the potential of developing a generational talent.

Cooper Flagg is the answer for the Mavericks

Cooper Flagg has more than enough buzz around his name since he was a high school kid. However, Bilas doesn’t evaluate him from the outside praise. He truly sees the value in having a player like Flagg because of the way he plays the game. The Duke juggernaut is a bona fide two-way player who is tested against the best.

Before the Paris Olympics, when the ‘Avengers’ Team USA prepared for the tournament, they faced off against the coveted prospect. He didn’t just look ready for the pros, but Flagg has some eye-opening possessions. He faced off against elite defenders and looked as if he were a veteran. A 3-pointer over Anthony Davis? Yes. A baseline turnaround over Jrue Holiday? You got it. That all was back in July of last year for the teenage sensation when he hadn’t even played his first game for Duke University.

That fearlessness is what Bilas finds astounding. “He’s got this, uh, competitive streak that is unlike most players you see, especially at that age. I mean, he’s barely 18 years old. I think he turned 18 in December,” Bilas says about Flagg.

For the Mavericks, it’s really not a simple decision. But there’s also a clear answer at the same time. Looking at the readiness that Cooper Flagg possesses, he isn’t going to take much time to get incorporated into the NBA game. Furthermore, he’s a scoring win who will contribute immensely on both sides of the floor.

As far as championship aspirations as concerned, Flagg is going to be an asset. You can argue that Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the needle closer. But keeping the future in mind and the fact that Cooper Flagg could be an attraction, it really is a no-brainer. Such prospects don’t come around every year. And honestly, the only way the Mavs can make up for losing Luka Doncic is by housing another terrific young player of his caliber.