Dwyane Wade may have hung up his sneakers, but he’s not done making moves. Life after the NBA hasn’t slowed him down—it’s just shifted courts. Now a minority owner of the Utah Jazz, Wade is building his legacy in a whole new way. But funny how life works—because once again, it’s Dallas standing in his path. Yep, the same Dallas he torched for 42 points in that unforgettable 2006 Finals comeback. And now? The Mavericks might be finding their way back to Wade—not on the hardwood, but in the boardroom.

That’s because on Monday night, the Mavericks hit the jackpot. They won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place in Chicago, earning the No. 1 overall pick for the first time in franchise history. And with that pick? They’re almost certainly taking Cooper Flagg, the 6-foot-9 freshman phenom who carried Duke to the Final Four and swept player of the year honors. The NBA Draft is set for June 25 and 26 at Barclays Center—and the Mavs just flipped the script. For a franchise reeling from the “still-inexplicable trade” that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers, this lottery win is a golden reset button.

Meanwhile, in Salt Lake City, that lottery outcome hit a little different. No Flagg flying in Utah this year. The Jazz had a 14% shot at the No. 1 pick—same as Dallas—but fell all the way to No. 5, the lowest possible outcome. It stung, no doubt. Even Wade couldn’t help but react, posting a meme of himself with the caption, “But…… There has been some great players drafted with the 5th pick!” Optimistic? Sure. A little salty? Maybe. He followed it up with another tweet that said simply: “BILLIONAIRE BUSINESS!” Translation: it’s a long game, and Wade’s not losing sleep yet.

Still, the Jazz just can’t seem to catch a break with the draft lottery gods. The Jazz still have never had the top pick in the draft. And with no clear No. 1-level prospect left on the board, Utah might just run it back and aim for the top of the 2026 lottery—because let’s be real, the rebuild is far from over. The fifth pick isn’t nothing, but it’s also not Cooper Flagg.

Speaking of whom—Dallas didn’t just win the pick, they won a shot at a new era. With just a 1.8% chance to land the top spot, they jumped from No. 11 to No. 1 and now have the first chance to take Flagg, who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 48% from the field, 39% from 3, and 84% from the foul line. For a team looking to rebound from losing Luka, Flagg could be the future they’ve been praying for.

Of course, Flagg isn’t exactly Wemby 2.0—but “falling short of a 7-foot-4 hoops alien is no indignity, ”mentioned Chron in one of its articles. The Duke star is still a game-changer: an exceptional defender…savvy, pass-first point-forward who can fit in seamlessly alongside veterans like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. He’s a plug-and-play prospect with massive upside, and under Jason Kidd’s watch, he might just grow into the franchise’s new face. Dallas fans? Time to dream again—this kid could carry them deep into the 2030s.

And just to round out the Texas trio—San Antonio’s on the rise again. The Spurs jumped up to grab the No. 2 overall pick, meanwhile, the Houston Rockets? They slid down to No. 10—a tough break after notching 50 wins in the 2024-25 season. The Lone Star State is buzzing, but it’s Dallas that just made the loudest noise.

Dwyane Wade: A perfect fit for Utah Jazz

If there’s one word for Wade’s post-retirement pivot, it’s strategic. Sure, he didn’t end up owning a piece of his beloved Miami Heat—Heat owner Micky Arison once said Wade just wasn’t ready to commit at the time—but that didn’t stop him. In April 2021, Wade made his move and became a minority owner of the Utah Jazz. The percentage? Still undisclosed, but NBA rules require at least a one-percent stake, so we know it’s at least that much. And for Wade, this wasn’t just a business play—it was a dream fulfilled. “This goes way beyond the dream I had to just play basketball in the NBA,” he once said. “I’ve seen Shaq do it in Sacramento… Jordan in Charlotte… Grant Hill in Atlanta.”

But this wasn’t a solo act. The Jazz had already changed hands in 2020 when billionaire Ryan Smith bought the team from the Miller family for $1.66 billion. Wade joined the ownership group the following year, and the two instantly clicked. Smith, the Qualtrics co-founder who sold his company to SAP for $8 billion, welcomed Wade with open arms: “Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being.” Together, they’ve built a shared vision around not just winning championships, but pushing for inclusivity and impact. “Partnering with Ryan and the Utah Jazz is the perfect fit,” Wade said. “We share a lot of the same goals and are trying to go to the same places in life.”

And clearly, it’s working. When Wade joined in 2021, the Jazz were valued at $1.75 billion. Today? That number has jumped to a whopping $3.46 billion. That’s almost a $2 billion rise since Wade came on board. Coincidence? Maybe. But Wade’s influence—alongside Smith’s business acumen—has undoubtedly helped reshape the franchise’s identity, reach, and value. His net worth has also reportedly reached $170 million as of 2024. And to think, all of this began with a chance meeting on a golf course back in 2019.

The fifth pick might not have the same sparkle as Flagg, but Wade didn’t join Utah for just one draft night. He joined to build something that lasts. And Wade knows a thing or two about turning chances into championships.