When the Dallas Mavericks won the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the basketball world collectively raised its eyebrows. With just a 1.8% chance, the Mavericks’ surprise leap to the top of the lottery means one thing: Cooper Flagg, a versatile 6’9″ forward with star potential, is all but guaranteed to be wearing a Mavs jersey next season.
But with that coveted pick comes a hefty price tag, and the Mavericks now face a familiar problem: how to balance their roster without crossing into financial peril.
GM Nico Harrison has five months to make it all work, but he’s staring down some tough decisions. Do the Mavs shed veteran contracts? Restructure deals? Shop role players? No move will be easy, but Flagg’s talent makes it worthwhile.
Cooper Flagg’s Arrival Will Be a Costly Affair for the Mavericks
Flagg’s arrival in Dallas will come with a caveat. The Duke phenom is expected to earn $13.82 million in his rookie season. That figure is 120% of the rookie scale slot — completely legal, totally expected, and undeniably steep. For a Mavericks team already brushing the edges of the salary cap, that extra $8 million over the base scale could tip them past the second tax apron. And if that happens, they’ll face stiff financial penalties and roster-building limitations, including restrictions on signing buyout players and aggregating salaries in trades.
The Mavericks will likely need to make a few difficult roster moves to accommodate Flagg’s salary without sacrificing their future. One potential avenue could involve dealing with some frontcourt players. P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, both entering the final year of their contracts, could be moved, especially considering that Flagg’s best position is power forward, a position already crowded with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Lively II.
Despite the importance of Washington and Gafford in last year’s playoff run, Dallas now faces a frontcourt logjam, and they may be forced to make room for their new star.
Jaden Hardy is another potential candidate for a move. His extension kicks in this season, but after a disappointing 2024 campaign(8.7 PPG), his trade value may not be as high as Dallas hoped. Likewise, Caleb Martin could find himself on the move, though Harrison may hesitate to part with him too soon, considering the assets they gave up to acquire him last season—trading both Quentin Grimes and the 35th overall pick in this year’s draft to bring him on board.
Flagg’s Arrival Could Give a Balanced Core to the Mavericks
Flagg can give the Mavs their most balanced core in years. With Luka Dončić now in Los Angeles—a seismic trade that still has Mavs fans torn—Dallas was supposed to be in rebuild mode, and they landed the No. 1 pick, which ultimately translates to Flagg.
Whether conspiracy or coincidence, Dallas can now have a rookie who could anchor both ends of the floor. Flagg’s defensive instincts are elite. His ability to block shots from the weak side turned heads at Duke. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks—a stat line that’s hard to ignore. And he’s not just a defender. He spaces the floor and scores with range, making him an ideal fit alongside Davis, Lively II, and Kyrie Irving — once Kyrie returns from his ACL tear, likely after New Year’s.
If Flagg slots into the starting lineup and delivers 16-17 points per game, as projected, the Mavs might finally have the scoring balance it’s lacked since Dončić’s prime.
There’s more. Flagg and P.J. Washington could rotate between the 3 and 4 spots, giving coach Jason Kidd lineup flexibility rarely seen in this league. Add a healthy Irving and a dominant Davis, and Dallas could look like a real contender, not just a team with draft luck. Still, the money looms. The Mavs have one of the most expensive rosters in the NBA right now. Adding Flagg without adjustments could restrict their trade options and impact their long-term plans.
