How Mavericks’ Luka Doncic trade to Lakers led to Cooper Flagg’s draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The basketball gods decided to give the Dallas Mavericks a second chance.
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It’s hard to come up with a better explanation for the good fortune the Mavericks got from trading Luka Doncic to draft picks for Cooper Flagg.
In February 2025, they shocked the entire NBA by trading Doncic from the Los Angeles Lakers for a package of contracts led by Anthony Davis.
Doncic is a generational superstar who just led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. He is the kind of player you would never trade.
The Mavericks demonstrated this with their consideration of Doncic’s body and defense. But it was quickly viewed as a bad deal.
This should doom the Mavericks as a franchise for years to come.
Instead, the Mavericks got lucky in the lottery and landed the No. 1 pick, taking Flagg away from Duke.
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How the Luka Doncic trade led to Cooper Flagg
The Mavericks didn’t have great lottery odds to begin with.
But somehow, they got the No. 1 pick through the back door.
That wouldn’t have happened if they had kept Doncic.
Davis was injured in the first game against Dallas, and they missed the playoffs.
If Doncic stays, he will likely lead the Mavericks into the second half of the playoffs. They won’t have lottery ping pong at all. They would never get Flagg.
Of course, they’ll still have Doncic. But at least, somehow, they got a do-over.
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