The NBA Draft Lottery rarely feels like destiny. But for Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, Monday night didn’t just deliver a pick—it handed him a lifeline.

When the Mavericks logo was the last one standing on screen in Chicago, securing the franchise’s first-ever No. 1 pick, Harrison and the team executives erupted. Hugs. Yells. A kind of cathartic chaos unfolded in the war room. For those watching the clip of Harrison’s reaction, it was more than front office joy—it was visible, visceral relief.

You could hear the celebration before you saw it. The moment the camera panned to the Mavs contingent, Harrison was already in motion, jumping up and grabbing colleagues in elation. For a front office so recently scorched by public criticism, it was the kind of reaction you’d expect from a man who’d just escaped a fire.

That fire, of course, was Luka Dončić.

Just a few months ago, Harrison orchestrated what is still being called the most controversial trade in NBA history: sending the Mavericks’ franchise cornerstone to the Los Angeles Lakers. The return? Anthony Davis, a 2029 first-round pick, and a tidal wave of backlash. Dončić wasn’t just a generational player—he was the soul of the Mavericks, the heir to Dirk Nowitzki’s throne, and a near-unanimous fan favorite. His sudden exit was met with fury. Jerseys were burned. Chants of “Fire Nico” echoed through the American Airlines Center.

Even Dončić himself expressed shock and heartbreak. In a sit-down with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, he admitted, “I was surprised. I didn’t know it was coming. I really thought I’d play my whole career in Dallas.” The pain lingered. “It was hard, really hard,” he continued. “Dallas was home. The fans were family. I don’t think you ever really get over something like that.”

And then came the moment that went viral—a jersey reading “Fire Nico” signed by Dončić surfaced at auction. Whether the signature is real or not, the message it represents is impossible to ignore. The GM’s own insistence on building a defense-first roster in a league increasingly powered by scorers didn’t help his case. When Dallas limped to the Play-In, then flamed out in the second game, the city was ready to light the torches. So when the ping-pong balls aligned in Dallas’ favor—despite just a 1.8% chance at the top spot—it felt like divine intervention. For Harrison, it was a moment to reclaim control of the narrative.

Cooper Flagg, the Duke prodigy and presumed No. 1 pick, isn’t just a talent. He’s a marketing dream. The kind of player you can build a rebrand around. In a different timeline, he and Luka could have shared the floor. In this one, Flagg becomes Harrison’s shot at redemption. But not everyone is ready to let go of the past. Just minutes after the Mavs secured the pick, former All-Star Rolando Blackman—on stage as the franchise’s representative—threw subtle shade in an ESPN interview, reminding fans that it had been a “rough year.” He didn’t name Harrison. He didn’t have to.

However, for now, Harrison gets to breathe. The video of his unfiltered celebration is going viral. His bet, however flawed, has bought him time. Cooper Flagg will arrive in Dallas as a beacon. But what Harrison does with this moment will decide whether it marks the start of a new era—or just a temporary pause before the storm returns.

How Nico Harrison played chess while everyone watched checkers

Cooper Flagg hasn’t played a second in the NBA, but the stakes wrapped around his name now feel dynastic.

The Mavericks didn’t just land a talented prospect—they may have crash-landed into their next era. Duke’s 6-foot-9 phenom brings much more than highlight tapes and projected stats. In a post-Luka world, Flagg represents a symbolic reset: a rare two-way wing with an obsessive motor, elite anticipation, and flashes of half-court playmaking that hint at something greater than just a “first option.” ESPN’s scouting team notes his “unusual focus” and “competitive wiring,” while others inside front offices frame him as “a Kawhi with more offensive reps this early.” He may not have Doncic’s heliocentric brilliance, but he brings a style Dallas hasn’t built around in over a decade: gritty, versatile, defense-first, and unscripted.

And the Mavericks’ context is quietly unique.

Nico Harrison may have torched his public goodwill by trading Doncic, but in the boardrooms and analytics chambers of Dallas, there’s long been a sense that timelines were misaligned. Anthony Davis is aging. Kyrie Irving is recovering from another ACL tear. The team’s roster, while talented, was built on borrowed time. With Flagg, they just found their bridge. More importantly, they found an excuse. The No. 1 pick buys Harrison something precious: strategic time.

Flagg can defend multiple positions now. He can spot-shoot. He can handle. If Kyrie takes longer to return or AD begins to decline, Flagg becomes not just a pick but a pivot—toward a new identity, a new marketing engine, and, most of all, a new front-facing era that doesn’t have Luka Doncic’s name stamped on it.

But Dallas isn’t done moving pieces.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo watch has begun in earnest, and the Mavericks, against all odds, have leapt into that conversation. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, any serious Giannis suitor must bring four things to the table: tradeable picks, desirable contracts, win-now players, and financial maneuverability. Dallas now quietly checks more boxes than expected.

They hold the No. 1 overall pick (i.e., Cooper Flagg), possess multiple swap options, and still retain the unprotected 2029 Lakers pick. If needed, they can package Klay Thompson’s expiring, PJ Washington’s team-friendly deal, or even dangle the promise of Flagg himself—though doing so would be a massive philosophical pivot.

Would Milwaukee entertain a “Flagg + picks” rebuild? Too early to tell. But what’s clear is that Dallas, long considered capped out and futureless after the Luka trade, is now being whispered about in the same breath as Brooklyn, Houston, and San Antonio—teams known for their draft equity and young stars. It’s not about chasing Giannis today. It’s about being in the room when that table gets set.

Meanwhile, Flagg continues workouts at the NBA Combine in Chicago, where scouts have marveled at his fluidity in 5-on-5 scrimmages. His ability to switch defensively, handle the ball under pressure, and remain emotionally steady during high-stakes drills has only bolstered his standing. He knows he’s likely heading to Dallas.