Mavericks could make risky decision regarding their superstar big man

In a matter of days, Cooper Flagg will presumably join the Dallas Mavericks as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The 18-year-old prodigy is one of the more talented draft prospects in recent memory, and should have an immediate impact for the Mavericks alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.

However, could the Mavericks dangle Davis in trade talks? Well, many in NBA circles think it’s possible, and even reasonable. 

ESPN’s Shams Charania recently speculated that Davis could be traded for as many as four or five first-round picks right now. While it is pure speculation, some think that this would actually benefit Dallas, allowing them to stock up on picks to retool the roster around Cooper Flagg instead of attempting to manage two separate timelines. 

CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn is one of those that believes the Mavericks should explore this route, noting the timeline difference, and also the difficulty that comes with trying to win next year while Kyrie Irving misses significant time due to a torn ACL.

“More likely, the Thunder remain strong conference favorites, and the Mavericks, even at their best, are in a tier with the Lakers, Rockets, Nuggets, Warriors and whoever else bulks up this offseason,” Quinn wrote. “However, Irving's early season absence means they'll almost certainly face all of those teams without home-court advantage as a lower seed.” 

“This organization was gifted the best 18-year-old in the world, and with him, a chance to build a team capable of winning at a high level for a decade or more,” he added. “Davis isn't just 32. He's 32 with an extensive injury history, a playing style that's heavily reliant on athleticism that is likely to decline soon, and, despite what we saw in the Orlando bubble, on reliable jump shot. He shouldn't be on a team that has an 18-year-old wunderkind to consider. He should be on a team betting everything on winning here and now.”

Davis only appeared in nine games last season for the Mavericks after being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in those nine appearances. Davis has three years and roughly $175 million remaining on his current contract.