Nico Harrison didn’t have much to say when asked if Mavericks fans might finally forgive him: “I’m hoping so,” the GM said with a shrug. “Maybe a little bit.”
Hard to blame him for keeping it light. After all, it’s been a rough five months since Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers-a move that lit NBA Twitter on fire and had Mavs fans ready to revolt. The return? Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a single first-rounder. It wasn’t just unpopular. It was historic in its backlash.
Things didn’t get easier from there. Davis got hurt in his first game in a Mavs jersey. Kyrie Irving went down in March with a torn ACL. The team tumbled out of the playoff picture and landed in the play-in, only to get bounced early. Just ten months after reaching the NBA Finals, Dallas was back to square one.
The Lottery That Changed Everything
But in the NBA, rock bottom sometimes brings lottery magic.
Despite a slim 1.8% chance, Dallas won the draft lottery and landed Cooper Flagg-perhaps the most hyped prospect since Zion Williamson. Just like that, the Luka trade narrative got a lot more complicated.
Flagg isn’t just a good pick. He’s the pick. A 6’9″ wing with elite instincts, a killer motor, and a defensive IQ that scouts drool over. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony called him “a franchise-changer” and compared his defensive impact to a young Kevin Garnett.
Now, the Mavericks have their next centerpiece-and a second chance. “We’re not going to rush him, and we’re not going to slow him down,”Harrison said. “The timeline will be his.”
Dallas still has pieces. A healthy Anthony Davis. Kyrie (eventually). Klay Thompson for shooting and spacing. P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford bringing toughness. Suddenly, the roster doesn’t scream rebuild-it whispers contender, if things break right.
Still, Luka Doncic isn’t just gone. He’s thriving. He averaged over 30 a game for the Lakers, helped them reach the West Finals, and reminded the league why trading him was borderline unthinkable. So no, Mavs fans aren’t over it. Not yet.
But if Cooper Flagg becomes what Dallas thinks he can be, they might just start to understand what Nico Harrison saw all along.
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