Cooper Flagg arrives in Dallas with a massive reputation: evaluators and scouts see him as one of the most complete prospects in years. If it weren’t for Victor Wembanyama -whose arrival reshaped the league two seasons ago- Flagg would undoubtedly be the most anticipated rookie in recent memory. The question now is clear: can he contend for MVP and surpass stars like Anthony Edwards or Jayson Tatum?
Tim Bontemps’ poll of 20 coaches, executives, and scouts revealed telling results: Anthony Edwards received 11 votes; Cooper Flagg, 5; Jayson Tatum, 2; and Jalen Williams and Paolo Banchero, one each. The reasoning is sound: Edwards, at 24 years old, with a gold medal and two Western Conference Finals appearances, is the safe bet. As one Western Conference scout put it: “It’s Ant until proven otherwise.” Still, some are already backing Flagg after his No. 1 selection in June: “He can do everything,” said an Eastern Conference executive.
Flagg’s strengths: defense, versatility, and off-ball movement
What fuels this optimism? Flagg combines size, mobility, and game IQ: he’s projected to be an elite defender both on and off the ball, and his ability to cut and create advantages without possession gives him an edge in any offense.
That defensive versatility is exactly what modern teams crave: someone who can guard multiple positions and shift the game’s tempo without needing to be the offensive centerpiece.
What he needs to reach the stratosphere (MVP and shooting)
The big question mark is his shooting and ball-handling creativity. If Flagg develops a consistent long-range shot and improves his off-the-dribble game, his ceiling becomes limitless. Jason Kidd compared his style to a ball-handling Grant Hill: high IQ and passing ability, but he needs to refine his pull-up shooting to become a superstar on the level of Edwards or Tatum. In short: the talent and fundamentals are already there; the rest depends on his development process in Dallas.
Cooper Flagg arrives under a bright spotlight. Projecting him as the next MVP may be premature, but the blend of defense, offensive versatility, and shooting potential makes him a legitimate bet. If everything clicks in the coming years, the Mavericks may have landed not just a good player, but the next big face of the NBA.
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