Mavericks' perfect Cooper Flagg running mate could slip to them if draft night breaks right

The Dallas Mavericks are entirely resetting their timeline around newly-crowned NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who just completed one of the most statistically dominant individual rookie campaigns in modern basketball history. 

After a disappointing 26-56 season that unraveled due to injuries, a massive midseason roster reconstruction, and a deliberate late-season pivot toward the future, the front office faces an offseason defined by asset management and the building of a cohesive roster from scratch and who will line up next to Flagg. 

The answer Dallas wants might not cost them a trade. Illinois Fighting Illini freshman Keaton Wagler is the name generating the most buzz as a Flagg running mate. Intel suggests a small opportunity to get him may be opening up. Recently, Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor reported that league sources indicate the Los Angeles Clippers, holding the No. 5 pick, aren't "head over heels" in love with Wagler. 

"Inevitably, someone will slip on draft night," O'Connor wrote. "And it could be Wagler, since league sources say the Clippers aren't head over heels in love with him for the fifth pick." Dallas picks ninth. The math gets interesting.

The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 44.5% shooting and 39.7% from three in his lone season at Illinois, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten honors while helping the Fighting Illini reach the Final Four. 

Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman projects Wagler as a 10-year NBA starter. He can control an offense like Luka Doncic or play a supporting role like CJ McCollum or Coby White. This versatility makes him an ideal partner for Flagg's all-around game.

His fit also makes sense on paper because Flagg's most significant weakness entering his second year is his three-point shooting. Just to recap, he connected at just 29.7% from deep as a rookie. Putting a nearly 40% shooter in the backcourt next to him relieves offensive pressure immediately and creates the spacing Flagg needs to operate in the mid-range and paint.

Wagler’s main drawback is his athleticism. He lacks elite lateral quickness and a fast first step, finishing the college season without a single dunk. While scouts usually praise his skill, his athletic limits might cause him to slide on draft night. 

At the NBA Combine, he measured 6-foot-5 barefoot and just 188 pounds. Teams in the top ten are heavily scrutinizing this light frame and lack of burst.

That hesitation is Dallas's opportunity. If the Los Angeles Clippers pass at number five and Wagler clears the next few spots, the Mavs could land a highly skilled, high-IQ shooter without trading any assets.

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