Now, the Dallas Mavericks have pulled off the upset of all drafts, winning the NBA draft lottery despite having just a 1.8% chance. This win means that the Mavericks will almost certainly get to draft Connecticut’s own Cooper Flagg, the University’s superstar freshman. They’ll select him with their No. 1 overall choice in the highly anticipated draft set for June 25-26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Mavericks’ victory is nothing short of historic. It’s indicative of their leap forward since dealing away star player Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.
Flagg’s productive career saw him average 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He was a major part of the Blue Devils, helping them reach a Final Four appearance this season. His impressive performance has solidified his position as a top prospect, making him an appealing choice for the Mavericks as they look to rebuild their roster and regain competitive momentum.
The upside for the Mavericks was an 18% chance at winning the draft lottery, an advantage that’s very much been tilted towards the bad over the years. Amid expectations that it might not, this year the lottery truly delivered the drama. Both Utah and Washington, two of the league’s worst records, fell to fifth and sixth place, respectively. It’s a great draft class this year, no doubt, but the top of this class is especially strong, particularly the first three picks.
Rick Welts, then the newly formed NBA president of basketball operations, called it a great day for the Mavericks and the lottery.
“I am so happy for Mavericks fans.” – Rick Welts
The Mavericks’ victory continues a pattern of recent shockers at the top of the draft. Last year, the Atlanta Hawks won the lottery with just 3% odds, demonstrating how unpredictable these events can be under the current lottery system implemented in 2019. This new format has so far failed to reward the team with the worst record across the board.
Mitch Johnson, who has been following the draft intently, emphasized the importance of making the jump into prime selection position.
“When you jump into the top four again, you put yourself as an organization in a place to make a really big acquisition with a really good player.” – Mitch Johnson
Welts’ other comment was about Flagg’s possible influence on the Mavericks if they go as far as choosing him.
“I don’t know who we’re going to take, but should we take him, I think his résumé is pretty strong.” – Rick Welts
The Mavericks’ win in the lottery represents an integral inflection point for the franchise. This win is magnified even more after they dealt away one of their most talented stars. Flagg, who has an impressive legacy at Duke. Needless to say, the Mavericks are banking on his development to turn him into a franchise cornerstone and are understandably giddy about their future.
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