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17 hours ago
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Mavericks' Cooper Flagg asked about Jason Kidd rumors after going No. 1
The post Mavericks' Cooper Flagg asked about Jason Kidd rumors after going No. 1 appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Dallas Mavericks completed what was a near formality on Wednesday night, officially sending the card in and drafting Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. The move has been assumed for months now after Dallas improbably won the NBA Draft Lottery, and now it is official. Advertisement Shortly after the selection was made, Flagg went to speak with the media for the first time as a Maverick. It didn't take long for him to get asked about his head coach, Jason Kidd, who has been rumored to be involved in the New York Knicks' coaching search. Flagg was asked if he had received assurances that Kidd would be around for his rookie season, but the former Duke star talked about Kidd's potential vision for him instead via Zach Gelb. 'I haven't had those conversations yet at all,' Flagg said. 'I think talking with Coach Kidd in the workout and even after I got picked on the phone for a minute, I think he's just excited. He has a good vision for me and what I can do and how I can impact the game, so I'm just excited to talk to him more.' Advertisement It shouldn't be too difficult for Kidd, or whoever else is coaching the Mavericks next season, to help find a role where Flagg can fit in and be one of the most impactful rookies in basketball next season. The one-and-done phenom can do it all on the court on both ends of the floor and should immediately be an impact player in Dallas. Flagg is one of the best off-ball defenders in this draft, which should make him a lethal partner on that end of the floor with Anthony Davis. Offensively, he can score from all three levels and is a great playmaker capable of making his teammates better while he is on the court. Flagg will be asked to do some heavy lifting at the start of his career while Kyrie Irving makes it back from an ACL injury, but if his Duke tape is any indication, he is more than capable of carrying the load. Related: Mavericks' Nico Harrison makes 'bold' claim on winning Cooper Flagg sweepstakes Related: Mavericks' Nico Harrison officially puts Jason Kidd-Knicks rumors to bed
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17 hours ago
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Mavericks' Nico Harrison makes ‘bold' claim on winning Cooper Flagg sweepstakes
The post Mavericks' Nico Harrison makes 'bold' claim on winning Cooper Flagg sweepstakes appeared first on ClutchPoints. DALLAS, TX — On Wednesday, Cooper Flagg was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft. Dallas was in the position to select Flagg as a result of winning the NBA Draft Lottery. General manager Nico Harrison spoke to reporters on Wednesday night following the conclusion of the first round of the draft and made an intriguing comment about the lottery victory. Advertisement 'Things happen, fortune favors the bold,' Harrison told reporters. 'Exciting things fell our way.' The 'bold' comment stands out, as the Mavericks won the lottery because of luck. They entered the draft with a 1.8 percent chance of earning the No. 1 pick. Nevertheless, Harrison was certainly content with the result. Of course, Harrison has been the subject of fan frustration ever since Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. Does the Mavs GM believe that drafting Flagg will heal the relationship with the fans? 'I'm hoping so. I'm assuming so a little bit, maybe,' Harrison said. Either way, the fact is that Flagg is now part of the Dallas Mavericks' organization. Cooper Flagg ready to join Mavericks Flagg features the ceiling of an NBA superstar. He offers a balanced approach as a scorer, play-maker and defender. Flagg still has room to improve overall, but there is no question that he deserved to be a No. 1 overall pick despite still being just 18 years old. Advertisement Flagg, who spent one season at Duke before declaring for the NBA Draft, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per outing while also shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point land. The Mavericks' fanbase has dealt with a whirlwind of emotions in recent seasons. In 2022-23, the Mavs acquired Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets but ultimately missed the postseason. Dallas' Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic-led roster reached the NBA Finals in 2023-24, however. They were defeated in five games by the Boston Celtics, but the future appeared bright. In February of the 2024-25 season, though, Doncic was traded to the Lakers in a shocking move. A few months later — after the Mavericks missed the playoffs — Dallas won the NBA Draft Lottery as mentioned. Now, Cooper Flagg is on the roster. Excitement is back in Dallas. The Mavericks should have a realistic opportunity to compete at a high level during the 2025-26 campaign. Advertisement Related: Mavericks' Nico Harrison officially puts Jason Kidd-Knicks rumors to bed Related: Mavericks' Cooper Flagg asked about Jason Kidd rumors after going No. 1
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17 hours ago
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Dylan Harper mural pops up in San Antonio before 2025 NBA Draft
The post Dylan Harper mural pops up in San Antonio before 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. The San Antonio Spurs do not have Dylan Harper on their roster, but the city seems to be embracing him already. A mural of Harper popped up on the side of a building in the Texas city. It was reportedly painted by local artist Nik Soupe, per KENS-TV. Advertisement Video footage of the mural was posted online by San Antonio TV reporter Nate Ryan. 'Local artist Nik Soupe famously painted Victor Wembanyama before the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, and now is banking on Harper's selection,' Ryan said on X, formerly Twitter. Harper is considered one of the best prospects in this year's draft. The Spurs have the second overall pick, and Harper is considered to be available at that spot. The Dallas Mavericks have the first overall selection, with Cooper Flagg considered a lock for that pick. Harper played college basketball this past season at Rutgers. He is a one-and-done player, like Flagg. At Rutgers, Harper averaged 19.4 points per game. The Spurs are looking to build a championship roster The Spurs have two first round picks this year. Both of them are in the top 15 overall selections. San Antonio's second pick is the 14th overall in the 2025 draft. Advertisement The Spurs are hoping to build around their star center, Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama had a great season for the club, averaging more than 24 points and 11 rebounds a game. Harper would certainly make an interesting addition. Not only does San Antonio have Wemby, but the club also has veteran point guard Chris Paul. A Spurs backcourt of Paul and Harper would certainly add some firepower to the roster. Time will tell if the Spurs do select Harper, or another player. There is also a massive amount of smoke coming out of San Antonio that Paul is leaving the Spurs. The Spurs missed the playoffs this past NBA season, but improved their win total from 2023-24. San Antonio finished this last year with a 34-48 record. Related: NBA rumors: Spurs linked to Kristaps Porzingis trade, but there's a catch Related: Why the Spurs made right decision to pass up on Kevin Durant trade
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17 hours ago
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Why Spurs strike NBA Draft gold again with Carter Bryant
The post Why Spurs strike NBA Draft gold again with Carter Bryant appeared first on ClutchPoints. After an NBA Draft Lottery night that went the best the San Antonio Spurs could've realistically expected as they beat odds to climb all the way to number two, NBA Draft Night proved the best they could've realistically expected because of Carter Bryant. Advertisement The Silver and Black knew they were taking Dylan Harper with the second overall pick because there was no doubt Cooper Flagg was going to the Dallas Mavericks. Their second selection of the first round, at 14 overall, was the mystery. In need of a big man who could help and complement Victor Wembanyama, Khaman Maluach proved a tantalizing want. But the chances that he'd still be there for the last pick of the lottery represented, at best, a dream scenario. Of the players who could be there at 14, Bryant stood out. Yet, like Maluach, the chance that he'd still be around seemed slim. Many mock drafts had him at 10 or 11. And yet, he fell to 14 and right into the lap of a Spurs team that could use every one of his emerging talents and abilities. Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images The Carter Bryant player profile What is Carter Bryant's game? At the risk of exaggeration, think of the modern NBA. Now think of the type of player who typically stands out in today's game. That's Carter Bryant. Advertisement Extremely athletic, the former Arizona Wildcat stands 6-foot-8 with a wingspan that reaches seven feet. He can run. He can jump. He's a defensive menace. Offensively, he can move without the ball. He can shoot. He put it up at 37% from 3-point range and 46% from the field in college. And he can leap. Often, he finds creases and makes his way to the basket for easy buckets, often dunks. Perhaps, most importantly, he's just 19 years old and came off the bench as a freshman. A projected 3-and-D wing, he has plenty of room to grow. Steven Bisig-Imagn Images How Carter Bryant fits with the Spurs Leading up to the draft, analysts wondered how Harper would fit with the Spurs given that they already had guard De'Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, on the roster. No need to wonder how Bryant fits: The Spurs don't have anyone on the roster like him. Advertisement Devin Vassell's focus is on offense. While athletic, Jeremy Sochan is still finding his stroke. In different ways, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson find ways to score, but neither is a defensive dynamo nor possesses physical traits that jump off the page in the NBA. Blake Wesley isn't a big point guard, while Malaki Branham fell out of the rotation this past season. The lack of another big may be San Antonio's biggest weakness. Their lack of athleticism, mainly for defensive purposes, on the wing is an area that comes in a close second. Bryant begins the path to repairing that. In the meantime, Wemby's presence as a defensive anchor isn't a bad consolation as the Silver and Black will look to free agency or possibly a trade to fill that need. Add that Bryant can shoot, and he helps to plug another gap for a team that struggled from behind the arc. All in all, he fits. And the Spurs fit the tag of the team that drafts well annually. Related: Dylan Harper's mom goes viral at 2025 NBA Draft after Spurs selection Related: Victor Wembanyama calls Dylan Harper after Spurs' No. 2 pick
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20 hours ago
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Mavericks officially select Cooper Flagg in 2025 NBA Draft
The post Mavericks officially select Cooper Flagg in 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Dallas Mavericks have officially selected former Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Advertisement Flagg was immediately linked to the Mavericks after Dallas won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. The 18-year-old enjoyed an outstanding freshman season at Duke and ultimately declared for the draft as a result. Although there was some trade speculation immediately after they won the lottery, the Mavericks were always expected to select Flagg first overall. Sure enough, Dallas drafted the versatile forward. Flagg is set to join superstars Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving in Dallas, with Irving agreeing to a new $119 million contract despite a torn ACL The Mavs feature enough talent to emerge as a true contender as soon as the 2025-26 campaign. With Flagg on the roster, though, Dallas could contend for years to come. Meet Mavericks' first overall pick Cooper Flagg © David Banks-Imagn Images Flagg was born in Maine. He spent the first portion of his high school basketball career at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine, before later transferring to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida. In 2024, Flagg took home the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award. Advertisement Throughout his high school career it became clear that Flagg featured the talent of a future college basketball star. The only question was which program he would attend. He received plenty of interest but ended up committing to Duke. Flagg was a highly recruited prospect but did not let the pressure negatively impact his performance at Duke. Flagg, who did not turn 18 years old until Dec. 21, 2024, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per outing. He displayed his all-around basketball prowess with the Blue Devils, establishing himself as the clear front-runner to be selected first in the NBA Draft. Although Duke fell short of its national championship goa by losing in heartbreaking fashion in the Final Four, Flagg was clearly ready for the next level. After declaring for the draft, the Duke phenom saw the Mavericks land the No. 1 overall pick in a lottery stunner. He answered questions about it with humility, making it clear he knew nothing was guaranteed. However, the NBA world all expected Dallas to select Flagg first overall. With that now becoming official, Mavs fans are excited for the future with Cooper Flagg on the roster. Related: Mavericks' Cooper Flagg's message to fans after going No. 1 Related: Fire Nico chants ring out at Mavericks 2025 Draft party
