NBA – After drafting him, Nico Harrison announces Mavs’ plans for Cooper Flagg: “He’s gonna be…”

Par Joël Pütz | Journaliste sportif

Now that he’s been drafted, Cooper Flagg will have to integrate into Dallas’ roster and, more importantly, into its playing systems. GM Nico Harrison has shared some details on this subject, with the future of the franchise resting on the shoulders of the young big man.

Cooper Flagg has been eagerly awaited in the NBA for months. The Maine Event is heralded as the revival of American basketball, as he has been a huge success for Duke University this season. Capable of playing point forward as well as defending multiple positions, he ticks a lot of boxes.

So it was obvious that the Mavericks would set their sights on him after winning the first pick in the lottery, and that was confirmed on draft night. Now he’s in Texas, where he’ll immediately be standing alongside Anthony Davis in the frontcourt, while also waiting for Kyrie Irving to return from injury. It’s going to be exciting.

Nico Harrison explains the Mavs’ plans for Cooper Flagg

That said, it remains to be determined how to harness his potential. Unlike other first picks in the draft before him, Flagg won’t be Dallas’s primary offensive option. A situation reminiscent, to a lesser extent, of that of Zaccharie Risacher at the Hawks. When asked about this, GM Nico Harrison said:

So that would be a J-Kidd thing, but really he’s a basketball player, he can handle the ball, he can shoot, he can make plays for people, he’s a good passer, he’s gonna be on the floor and the big thing is who can he defend? And he’s a great defender. Positionally, you’re gonna see us play a different style of basketball, with him and P.J. (Washington) on the wings.

By the way, the manager also hopes that the arrival of the rookie will allow the fans to smile again, as they come out of a few very complicated months:

I think it’s been great. I’ve seen the fans react to that since the No.1 pick, and it feels like they’re feeling really good and optimistic about the future. I’m hoping (that they will stop criticizing him), I’m assuming so a little bit, maybe.

Unfortunately for Harrison, it’s not likely his relationship with the home crowd will improve anytime soon. Virtually every Mavs fan still resents him for the Luka Doncic trade, and even if Flagg were to shine in his new colors, it won’t erase the immense controversy surrounding the Slovenian superstar.