Nico Harrison’s Dallas Mavericks Legacy: Defined by the Doncic Trade and Flagg Pick?

How sure are we that the Dallas Mavericks are going to take Duke's Cooper Flagg with the top overall pick in the NBA Draft this month? Barring a scandal or arrest, its a 100% lock.

Actually, Nico Harrison is still the General Manager of the Mavericks, so we're going to make that a 98% chance.

The Unquestionable Talent of Cooper Flagg

In reality, the Mavericks are going to take Flagg with the top overall pick. He's been considered the top pick before any team even qualified for the NBA Draft Lottery. No matter who had that pick, it was going to be Flagg. That's not hyperbole either, most experts have been saying the same thing.

ESPN draft analysts Jeremy Woo recently said:

"No matter which team won the lottery, Flagg was always going to be the No. 1 pick. Value at the top of the draft is relative to who's available -- you're simply targeting the best prospect -- but it's worth noting that Flagg profiles as a No. 1-worthy player in nearly any draft."

The only reason that it could even be a question if the Mavericks would take Flagg with the top pick has to do with the controversial actions that got them that pick. Including the midseason trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Controversial Luka Doncic Trade: A Stain on Mavericks History

That trade will likely remain a stain on Nico Harrison's front office career, and the Mavericks franchise. Doncic dragged the Mavericks into the Finals in 2024, and established himself as one of the top players in the world while doing it. The 26-year-old is a 5-time All NBA First Team selection, 5-time All Star, was NBA Rookie of the Year, and led the league in scoring in 2024.

Beyond his ability on the floor, Doncic had become a Texas sports icon.

But all of that came crashing down in one of the most shocking trades in NBA...actually, in ALL of sports history. Doncic was randomly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2nd, 2025. It became increasingly difficult for fans and onlookers to understand, as it was revealed that the Mavericks were the ones who initiated the trade. It was then compounded when it was revealed that Doncic was blindsided by the trade.

The Maverick's General Manager, Nico Harrison, DID NOT TRY TO REACH OUT TO DONCIC UNTIL AFTER THE NEWS OF THE TRADE BROKE. One of the best players in franchise history, a current fan-favorite, the defending NBA scoring leader...ignored by the GM trying to trade him.

NBA Conspiracy Theories Surround Mavericks' Lottery Win

The trade was so awkward, a large number of NBA followers were starting to wonder about a conspiracy. Not just was one of the best players on the planet randomly traded, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most prominent franchises in all of sports. The second largest media market in the US is going to be losing their worldwide superstar LeBron James in the next few years, so many thought it would benefit the NBA to have another worldwide superstar in place already. Basically saying the NBA orchestrated this trade.

But what would the Mavericks get in exchange for making this deal? What could the NBA give them? Well, when the NBA Draft Lottery came around, the Mavericks beat extraordinary odds to win the #1 overall pick in the draft. In a "lottery" that is handled by the NBA. Causing more people to buy into the conspiracy.

So if they were given this draft pick lottery win by the NBA as a gift for giving Doncic away, the NBA expects them to take Flagg with the top overall pick. But again, Nico Harrison is still the General Manager, so we can only be so certain.