NBA Draft, check. NBA Summer League, check. Next up for former Duke Blue Devil Cooper Flagg, Media Day with the Dallas Mavericks.
Expectations around the highly touted prospect were quickly discussed. For Flagg, it’s not about reinventing the wheel, but embracing what’s worked, which is a focus on versatility and making winning contributions.
“I think it’s just about being myself,” Flagg said. “Just going through it and not changing for anybody. Obviously, impacting the game in a lot of different ways, and doing everything I can to impact winning at a high level. But I think as far as J-Kidd, and me have talked about, it’s just being versatile.”
As Flagg continued to address the media, the conversation quickly led to one of the questions many have wondered since it became obvious Flagg would be drafted by the Mavericks. Flagg described what his role will look like according to his early conversations with head coach Jason Kidd, both before and after Kyrie Irving returns.
“We have a bunch of guys that can do a lot of different things, Flagg continued. “So just utilizing that to our advantage, and it doesn’t really matter who gets it off the rim, just getting going and pushing initiate offense. And obviously, that’s something he talked about before summer league, and putting the ball in my hands and letting me bring it up. So I think just those sorts of things are just being versatile and using that to our advantage.”
When questioned further specifically about Kyrie’s return, Flagg clarified that he may not be handling the ball as much as some expect of him. Rather, the team is looking at a committee approach when it comes to bringing the ball up, regardless of position or Kyrie’s status.
“I don’t know if it will be a lot of that,” Flagg continued. “But I think, like I said, between three or four different guys on the court at all times, getting a stop and just getting off the rim and going between me, PJ [Washington], Max [Christie], [Anthony Davis], all of us can bring it up and initiate the offense, and so that’s what we’ve talked about a lot, and just letting that happen organically.”
What’s particularly exciting about this type of approach is the transition opportunities that will be able to be seen with Flagg both on and off the ball. Flagg can operate as the hub on a fast break, finding open players for transition threes, lobs, and everything in between, while he can also operate in the opposite capacity, taking on the role of the scoring threat in those scenarios.
This positionless approach will also play a strong role in the team’s half-court offense, where once again, Flagg can show off his versatility, as he is effectively able to play in any half-court role. Whether initiating the offense, operating out of the corners, post, elbows, or even the dunker’s spot, Flagg’s versatility is what makes him a potentially transcendent player.
Flagg’s Mavericks are in a truly unique position. After trading a generational talent in Luka Doncic for another extremely talented, yet more… experienced… player in Anthony Davis. The Mavericks seemingly narrowed and shortened their window in the deal and that was before Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL. Then, the team’s future changed and jobs were saved after the Mavericks quite literally won the Cooper Flagg lottery.
Now Flagg faces an unusual challenge for a rookie in the NBA as he not only is tasked with finding individual success, but with contributing to team success from his debut. Based on his answers from media day, it sounds like he’s in the right mindset to do so.
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