Cooper Flagg is ready to obliterate Mavericks' biggest 'problem' immediately

A recent article by Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report titled "1 Thing That Could Implode Every Team's 2025-26 NBA Season" stated that the Dallas Mavericks' biggest issue would be "an unshared rock." Buckley discussed how he believes that Dallas has a "passing problem," listing D'Angelo Russell and Kyrie Irving as players who he doesn't seem to have much faith in passing the ball.

He thinks that Russell forcing up shots combined with "passing (not being) the sharpest tool in Irving's arsenal" will hold the Mavericks back, but they could silence this take right away as the 2025-26 seasson kickss off next week.

The Mavericks' passing isn't poor by any means, as Russell has already proven that he can be a great playmaker in his new role in Dallas, and Irving is a great passer as well, but Cooper Flagg is the one who will make a major impact in this area in his rookie year. He may not be the best passer on the team immediately, but he already looks like a top-tier passer after just two preseason games.

Cooper Flagg's passing can't be overlooked

Flagg's feel for the game is unmatched, as he makes the right play over and over again, and he always seems to know where his teammates are going to be. His passing has easily been one of the biggest takeaways from his first NBA action against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets, and the Mavericks are going to need him to keep this up as the regular season approaches.

With Dante Exum and Irving set to miss time due to injuries, Flagg's passing is going to be needed even more within Jason Kidd's offense early on, and he has the vision, ball handling, and IQ to make everyone around him better. He has already looked comfortable throwing lob passes, which is one of his favorite plays to make, and he loves helping his big men get going.

This was evident during his one year at Duke, as he was always looking to feed Khaman Maluach with an alley-oop pass, and this should help translate to him connecting with Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis. Flagg's lob passing was illustrated before he even played in Summer League, as he connected with Moussa Cisse with a high-arcing pass in one of his first official practices as a Maverick, and this should be a skill that continues to grow this season.

Flagg's selfless passing has helped lead to easy buckets for his teammates in transition, whether that's an open three or a layup as they streak toward the rim, and his passing is going to help Dallas more than anyone realizes.

During the first half of the season, he is likely going to be one of the Mavs' primary ball handlers alongside Russell, and he should thrive in this role. He has already shown an ability to make advanced reads in real time, and his offensive game looks even more polished than expected.

If Flagg can continue to make the defense pay for going under screens with his deadly jumper from downtown off the dribble, this is only going to open up his passing game more, as defenses will be forced to help off of their man more to account for Flagg. As time goes on, he should continue to grow as a passer and decision-maker, which will lead to him making everyone around him's life easier.

The Mavericks' passing won't be an issue by any means next season, and Flagg will be one of the key players to make sure of that.