Latest news with #NBALottery
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fire Nico chants ring out at Mavericks 2025 Draft party
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images. The post Fire Nico chants ring out at Mavericks 2025 Draft party appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Dallas Mavericks landing the No. 1 pick in the NBA Lottery back in May gave fans plenty of reason to celebrate tonight's 2025 NBA Draft watch party at American Airlines Center — but not everyone was ready to move on. Despite the upbeat atmosphere, chants of 'Fire Nico' echoed throughout the arena, signaling that frustration with general manager Nico Harrison still lingers months after the Luka Doncic trade. Advertisement The mood turned mixed once the pick was officially announced. The Mavericks used the No. 1 overall selection on Cooper Flagg, a generational prospect out of Duke. Cheers echoed through the crowd — fans excited about Flagg's arrival, his potential stardom, and the future of the franchise. But even in a moment of optimism, not all wounds were healed. While many now see the potential upside of building around Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving, the front office had no way of knowing they'd win the draft lottery at the time of the deal. For a large portion of the fanbase, giving up a generational talent without that guarantee felt reckless — and the chants Wednesday showed that frustration still runs deep. Noah Webber of The Smoking Gun shared a clip of the reaction on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing Mavericks fans are still furious about the Doncic trade. ''Fire Nico' chants at the AAC for the Dallas Mavericks Draft Watch Party.' The crowd's energy reflected the complexity of the night. Yes, fans were excited about drafting Flagg — but they made it clear that trust in Harrison hasn't just been shaken, it may be broken for good. There were cheers, high-fives, and hope for the future, but also a collective reminder that the anger over February's trade hasn't faded — and for many, it likely never will. Advertisement Harrison, hired in 2021, helped the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and made bold moves in the years since. His trades for Irving, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford reshaped the roster, but none stirred controversy like trading away Doncic. With Flagg now officially a Maverick, Dallas turns the page toward a new era. The talent is there, and fans are eager to see Flagg's rise in the spotlight. But if Wednesday's Draft Party proved anything, it's that drafting a superstar won't erase past mistakes. For many in Dallas, Harrison still has a long way to go to win back their trust. 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
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Draymond Green Makes Admission on NBA's 'Suspicious' Cooper Flagg Behavior
Draymond Green Makes Admission on NBA's 'Suspicious' Cooper Flagg Behavior originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There have been multiple instances throughout the league's history that has led to NBA fans assuming that the draft lottery has been rigged. Advertisement Whether it was the alleged freezing of the New York Knicks' envelope in 1985 so they could get the top pick and select future Hall of Fame center, Patrick Ewing, or the Cleveland Cavaliers happening to get the No. 1 pick in 2003 to select Akron native LeBron James. There has never been proof that the NBA has tampered with the draft in any way, but this year's lottery certainly didn't help silence the conspiracies. Despite having just a 1.8% chance of getting the top pick, the Dallas Mavericks walked away with the No. 1 pick, which is widely expected to be Duke's perceived generational star, Cooper Flagg. Now the conspiracy surrounding this miraculous jump to the top pick has occured due to the fact that some fans think it was the NBA's form of repaying a Dallas franchise that traded away 25-year-old All-NBA guard, Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Advertisement While this conspiracy was frequently suggested by fans, Golden State Warriors star and four-time NBA Champion, Draymond Green, revealed he also felt the lottery results were fishy on a recent appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) prepares to warm up before a Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images When asked by Kimmel if it was just luck or if he felt there was foul play, Green said something that those at the NBA head office may not love. "Although he suspend me often and fine me often, I still consider Adam Silver a friend," Green said. "So I'm not gonna do him like that. But it may be a little bit suspicious. Just a tad." Green then attempted to backtrack, but at that point it was a bit too late. Advertisement "Anything that's supposed to happen 1.8% of the time...I may just not be that lucky," Green added. "Because that never happens for me." Only time will tell, but Green may be on the receiving end of a stern message from his friend Silver, or maybe even one of those aforementioned fines he's already received so many of. According to Spotrac, Green has been fined 229 times throughout his career, totaling $992,000. Related: Dallas Mavericks Make Big Cooper Flagg Decision Ahead of NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Mavericks Trade Proposal Sees Team Move on From Anthony Davis
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After a very long year, the Dallas Mavericks are entering the NBA offseason with a ton of momentum. Despite not making the playoffs, the Mavericks did win the 2025 NBA Draft lottery. More NBA news: Thunder Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Speaks Out Following NBA Finals Game 1 Collapse Dallas will now have a chance to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg, giving them an expected generational talent for years to come. But with the likelihood of them drafting Flagg, the Mavericks now have a logjam in the frontcourt. But one new trade proposal would help the Mavericks break up the frontcourt by moving on from star big man Anthony Davis. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report put together trades for all teams and had Dallas land a strong package for the All-Star. Here is what the deal looks like: Hornets receive: Anthony Davis Mavericks receive: Miles Bridges, Jusuf Nurkić, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick and a 2031 first-round pick MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 18: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of the Play-In Tournament at FedExForum on April 18, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 18: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks reacts against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of the Play-In Tournament at FedExForum on April 18, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo byTrading away Davis right after the team landed him for star guard Luka Doncic would certainly be an interesting decision. But the team didn't get enough value from the Doncic deal, and this could be a way to help rectify that. This trade would likely be about getting off the large contract of Davis, mostly due to his long injury history. Dallas could net some extra draft capital as well, giving them some ammo for a larger move down the line. Bridges could slot into the rotation as a solid wing player, offering athleticism and shooting. His contract is also team-friendly, with Bridges only making a little more than $20 million in each of the next two seasons. More NBA news: Shaquille O'Neal Shares Harsh Criticism for Thunder After NBA Finals Loss Nurkić could help replace Davis in the frontcourt, while giving the Mavericks a decent expiring contract. Dallas could look to move Nurkić at the trade deadline for more future assets. All in all, a deal like this could help Dallas in the future. But if the team wants to contend for a title next season, keeping Davis around helps in that regard. Davis is one of the better big men in the entire NBA, and the Mavericks targeted him for Doncic for a reason. The Mavericks aren't likely to move Davis anytime soon, unless a deal that the team can't turn down falls into their lap. More NBA news: Former NBA Lottery Pick Joining Rockets in Surprising Role: Report Jon Gruden Makes Shocking Pick in Pacers-Thunder NBA Finals Clippers Seen as Sleeper Team to Land Former NBA MVP: Report For more on Mavericks and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
24-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New USA TODAY Sports 2025 NBA Mock Draft locks former Longhorn in as fifth pick
New USA TODAY Sports 2025 NBA Mock Draft locks former Longhorn in as fifth pick Now that the NBA Draft Lottery has been completed and the NBA Combine is over, most pre-draft information has been gathered on the 2025 NBA Draft class. We're starting to get a pretty clear picture of where former Texas Longhorns guard Tre Johnson is going to end up. In some mock drafts published right after the lottery, Johnson was mostly projected to go sixth to the Washington Wizards. A couple had him fifth to the Utah Jazz. One mock had him falling to the Toronto Raptors at ninth. The decision will really come down to Utah. If the Jazz don't take Johnson at No. 5, he will likely be snatched up by Washington at No. 6. Now, USA TODAY Sports has added information from the NBA Combine for a more definitive 2025 NBA Mock Draft. They believe Johnson is too good for the Jazz to pass up. "Johnson is a natural shooter and scorer. He does well when scoring on the move and is a decent playmaker for his size. He still needs to work on his ability to make plays for others. He must also work on his strength and his explosiveness in order to assert himself as a finisher at the rim. He had three 30-point games in the past two months, including 39 against Arkansas on Feb. 26. He had 23 points and six rebounds in an NCAA Tournament loss to Xavier." - USA TODAY Sports Utah has been a perennial playoff team for most of the past decade. But this year, the 17-65 Jazz had the worst record in the NBA. The worst record gave the Jazz the best odds in the NBA Lottery, but luck wasn't on Utah's side, who slide down to the fifth pick. That "bad luck" might turn out alright if they do pick Johnson and he grows into an NBA star. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Shaquille O'Neal sparks 'rigged' NBA conspiracy theories after revealing his secret talks before draft lottery
NBA conspiracy theorists got more ammunition this week when Shaquille O'Neal was asked about the long-running suspicions over the draft lottery. Since its inception in 1985, when some believe Patrick Ewing was awarded to the New York Knicks with the help of a secretly frozen envelope, the lottery has been a somewhat lacking effort to combat tanking. The early lottery system was unweighted, with all teams that failed to make the postseason getting an even chance at that year's top pick. That has since been replaced with a weighted lottery system, which gives the three worst teams a 14-percent chance of getting the first selection. So, when Dallas Mavericks won this year's lottery, and the chance to pick Duke sensation Cooper Flagg, despite a 39-43 record and a 1.8-percent chance at the top pick, many saw it as hard to believe. Enter Shaquille O'Neal, who was asked about his own suspicions by podcaster Ashley Nevel. 'In 1992... I meet [then-commissioner David Stern],' O'Neal told Nevel of his own NBA Draft experience. 'He pulled me to the side: "You want to play where it's cold or where it's hot?" NBA Commissioner David Stern and vice president Pat Williams of the Orlando Magic during the 1992 NBA Draft Lottery held in Secaucus, New Jersey Naturally, the Louisiana State product preferred his climate 'hot,' as he explained to Nevel. 'And he smiled and I smiled,' O'Neal continued. O'Neal got his wish soon after as the top picks were revealed for the 1992 NBA Draft. 'Minnesota was No. 3. Charlotte was No. 2 and then Orlando, Florida, was No. 1,' O'Neal said. 'I was like (makes a questioning face). I didn't think much about it. You hear a lot of these conspiracy theories. There are a lot of situations that can make these things sound good.' O'Neal didn't completely agree that a conspiracy was at play, but said the memory remains 'very interesting.' Of course, Orlando had the second fewest wins in the NBA in 1991-92, so it wasn't a complete shock that the team would win the lottery. The bigger surprise would come a year later, when the Magic nearly reached the playoffs at 41-41, only to win the lottery for a second consecutive year in the spring of 1993. Orlando would ultimately swap the top pick for the second selection with the Golden State Warriors, who would take Chris Webber, leaving future All-Star Anfernee Hardaway for the Magic at No. 2. But as surprising as the 1993 lottery was, it's not often discussed by NBA conspiracy theorists, who instead focus on the 2011, 2012 and 2019 drafts, where teams were able to replace well-known stars with top picks. This year, the Mavs were hoping to quiet uproar over the controversial decision to trade franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package of players that included Anthony Davis. So when Dallas ended up with the top pick, even NBA players couldn't help but react. LeBron James tweeted out a number of laughing emojis. Meanwhile, James' former Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love posted, 'I mean come on man' with similar laughs.
