archiveCooper Flagg

DHJ Quick Take: Mike Schmitz Says Mavericks Are Hunting a 'Difference Maker' With No. 9 Pick Core Piece Search: General manager Mike Schmitz said the Mavericks are approaching the No. 9 pick as an opportunity to add a "difference maker" and a long-term core piece for the franchise. Looking Outside...

DHJ Quick Take: Kyrie Irving Says He's Nearing Full Strength as Mavericks Back His Return Encouraging Recovery Update: Speaking on a Twitch stream, Kyrie Irving said he is nearing full strength from his torn left ACL and is close to being "over at 100%" healthy, now more than 14 months...

DHJ Quick Take: Mike Schmitz Says Mavericks Coaching Search Will Stick to Process With No Timeline Set No Timeline, Process First: General manager Mike Schmitz said the Mavericks have no exact timeline for their head coaching hire and are focused on identifying the right traits and making the best long-term...

DHJ Quick Take: Mike Schmitz Says Kyrie Irving 'Completely Locked In' as Mavericks Eye ACL Return, Cooper Flagg Fit Everything Humanly Possible: General manager Mike Schmitz said Kyrie Irving has been a near-constant presence at the Mavericks' practice facility this offseason and is doing "everything humanly possible" to return at...

DHJ Quick Take: ESPN Pitches Daniel Gafford Trade Involving Los Angeles Lakers The Roster Realignment: As the Mavericks lean heavily into a long-term development strategy anchored around 19-year-old cornerstone Cooper Flagg, moving productive veteran pieces for younger floor-mappers is becoming a clear priority. The Trade Architecture: A new proposal sends...

DHJ Quick Take: ESPN Trade Mock Sends Kyrie Irving to Pistons in Cooper Flagg Timeline Pivot Navigating the Cooper Flagg Era: While no organizational bad blood exists between Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks, Dallas faces a timeline crunch. With 19-year-old cornerstone Cooper Flagg cementing himself as the franchise anchor, balancing...

DHJ Quick Take: Masai Ujiri’s Arrival Signals a Bold, Plus-Size Draft Philosophy at No. 9 The Masai Ujiri Identity Shift: The blockbuster hiring of Masai Ujiri as team president instantly establishes a clear, structural blueprint for the franchise. Renowned for prioritizing elite positional length, raw physical size, and high-intensity defense,...

DHJ Quick Take: Timeline Alignment Concerns Executive Scrutiny: NBA executives are closely monitoring the long-term dynamic between Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, questioning how well the two stars can co-exist given the vastly different stages of their respective careers. Contrasting Timelines: The 34-year-old Irving—who missed the entire 2025-26 season recovering...

DHJ Quick Take: Assessing the Spacing Dilemma of Karim López at No. 9 The Curveball Lottery Projection: Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor slatted the New Zealand Breakers' 19-year-old forward Karim López to Dallas at No. 9. While flashing lottery-level length and multi-positional defense, López remains a highly debated offensive fit for...

DHJ Quick Take: Mavericks Trade Down Targets to Consider The Asset Conundrum Meet Cooper Flagg: Empty draft cupboards following the heavy win-now roster adjustments around the historic Luka Dončić trade completely reset Dallas' front-office strategy. The arrival of 19-year-old centerpiece Cooper Flagg changes everything, forcing management to address a glaring...