Former NBA Champ Drops Bold Cooper Flagg, Mavericks Prediction

The Dallas Mavericks landed another potential franchise superstar in Cooper Flagg, after winning the NBA Draft lottery and selecting the Duke star with the first overall pick.

Landing that big of a player first overall seemingly renewed optimism around Dallas’ chances to contend in the Western Conference following the surprising Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers.

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However, the West is rather stacked in terms of talented teams capable of competing for the championship, including the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

There’s also the Minnesota Timberwolves, led by star Anthony Edwards, who have been on the verge of reaching the NBA Finals in their past two postseasons. In addition, it’s hard to count out Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets or overlook the Houston Rockets with their newly acquired superstar, Kevin Durant.

Many believe that more experienced teams will have the advantage. Oklahoma City and Minnesota will bring back most of their talented core rosters. However, a former NBA champion still believes the Dallas Mavericks could enter that conversation about contenders.

While speaking to Kevin Gray with DDLS Mavs, NBA Champion Matt Barnes shared some intriguing thoughts about Dallas’ chances to compete in the upcoming season.

Barnes praised Flagg, saying the 6-foot-9 rookie’s “motor and energy” stood out the most when he watched him play at AU.

“I came from an era where effort was a must, and now it’s a skillset. He definitely has one of the best motors I’ve seen on both sides of the ball. What excites me more is his defensive prowess,” he said, suggesting Flagg could become a lot like former NBA star Andrei Kirelenko defensively.

Barnes suggested that Flagg has the potential to guard all five positions. He also said the rookie continues to develop his jumper and is “freakishly athletic.”

Asked about Dallas’s possibility of contending with other Western Conference powerhouses like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Rockets, Barnes said he liked their chances. However, he cautioned, “if they can stay healthy.”

“This team is a loaded team, and if healthy, I love [Jason] Kidd. This team is a team that can easily represent the Western Conference in the Finals, in my opinion,” he said.

The Mavericks are currently +3000 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to win the NBA Championship, with the Rockets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Thunder all ahead of them. In addition, two of Barnes’ former teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, are ahead of them in terms of odds to win it all.

Barnes, who won an NBA Championship with the 2017 Warriors, mentioned the Mavericks have a lot of talent, including the rookie Flagg, big man Anthony Davis, and guard Kyrie Irving. However, they’ll need their floor general back to really contend.

Irving, also a former NBA Champion, tore the ACL in his left knee in March, ending his season. As of this report, there’s no official timeline for his return, although early 2026 could be possible.

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