Cooper Flagg injury is a clear warning Mavericks can't afford to ignore

Cooper Flagg has faced every challenge imaginable this season and handled it with the grace and poise of a grizzled NBA veteran. Now he’s facing a different kind of challenge, and he’s going to have to be very careful.

The injury bug has been known to take no prisoners, and it seems to be coming for Dallas’ newest on-court basketball ambassador. Flagg’s recent foot injury kept him from the NBA All-Star Weekend, including the Rising Stars game. But the recent injury could be a dark omen unless Dallas creates a contingency plan to help Flagg manage his injuries and temper his competitive instincts.

Flagg suffered a left midfoot sprain during the Dallas Mavericks’ game against the Phoenix Suns on February 10, a game in which he scored 27 points in 36 minutes in a tough 120-111 loss.

The injury was confirmed via MRI, and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that Flagg is expected to return immediately after the break against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, February 20.

The Mavericks need to manage Cooper Flagg's injuries very carefully

But why the rush? If anything, Dallas has the flexibility to keep Flagg out long enough to ensure he’s at least 110% before he returns. We’re not talking about tanking here. Even though Flagg's missing games would probably help Dallas’ positioning in the upcoming NBA Draft.

But the Mavs front office has an obligation to consider the long-term durability of a player like Flagg, especially a guy who takes pride in being a two-way player. That’s twice the risk. That’s twice the wear and tear. Not to mention, Flagg is a high flyer who finishes with the best of them at the rim.

High-altitude players also experience harder landings. Those landings add up over time.

Flagg also dealt with wrist and ankle injuries this season that resulted in a few missed games and limited minutes upon his return. These are the types of injuries that need to be managed carefully early on so they don’t become lingering issues in the long term.

Flagg has already shown a proclivity for playing through pain. But that has to be balanced with reason. And it's the Dallas Mavericks front office's job to make Flagg see the other side of the coin like Harvey Dent.

Flagg’s teammate Derek Lively II has already become a cautionary tale in his own backyard. Lively II is just 22 years old and is out for the season due to season-ending surgery on a troublesome right foot that has been causing him recurring discomfort.

Dallas and Flagg must tread lightly and be careful not to overlook any warning signs. The Mavs roster is already beset with injuries, and adding Flagg to the injured reserves makes it harder for Dallas to see which pieces fit around Flagg best moving forward.

But the Rookie of the Year candidate has taken his game to another level in recent weeks and is averaging 20.4 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field for the season.

Dallas co-interim general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi have the task of putting a competitive product on the floor while helping Flagg see the long game. Flagg is a gamer. He wants to play. And he’s played 49 of Dallas’ 54 games this season. He’s been durable.

However, Flagg’s youthful sensibilities may lead him to overlook some of his minor injuries for the good of the team, but Father Time always demands his tax to be paid in due time. And he’s very patient. The Mavs are still dealing with the aftermath of the Luka Doncic debacle, and they don’t want a repeat performance.

Doncic’s injuries seemed minor early in his career. He played 72 games in his rookie year in the 2018-19 season. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t play at least 70 games again in a season until the 2023-24 season. That downward trend eventually spiraled out of control, and you could say that this is the very reason why Flagg is in a Dallas uniform today.

Flagg has shown incredible poise and gravitas at just 19 years of age. He wants to be great and seems destined for superstardom. I don’t foresee him having the same issues with his training regimen as his predecessor, Doncic. But I do see a fierce competitor that Dallas will sometimes have to protect from himself for the long-term betterment of the team.

It’s best to set that precedent now, early in Flagg’s career, so the blueprint for his and the Mavericks’ success is etched in stone.