Cooper Flagg's pre-draft move should have Mavericks chasing a second dream pick

With the 2025 NBA Draft being less than a month away, the Dallas Mavericks are nearing the day when they will add Cooper Flagg to their already stacked roster. This was the one way that the franchise could win fans back following the controversial Luka Doncic trade, and they struck gold after only having a 1.8 percent chance of landing the first overall pick.

It has already been confirmed that Dallas plans to draft Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick as they have no plans of trading it for a star player, and Flagg just made an important decision ahead of the draft that could lead to Dallas landing a close friend and former teammate of his.

With Flagg officially signed with CAA Basketball as his agency ahead of the draft, the Mavs could also explore bringing on his Duke teammate and soon-to-be rookie guard Tyrese Proctor, as he is also signed with CAA.

Flagg and Proctor's shared agency gives Mavericks a golden opportunity

Connections are everything in today’s NBA, and with Proctor and Flagg sharing the same agency, it could set the table for them to team up once again on the Mavericks. Dallas's casual communication with Flagg's agent, Austin Brown, could lead the Mavs to consider pursuing a trade to gain another draft pick to select Proctor.

Dallas only has one pick in the entire draft, and if they want to get their hands on Proctor, they'd likely have to trade into the second round or even the end of the first round. The odds of Proctor falling out of the second round and into undrafted free agency seem slim, and the only way to get him would require the Mavs to make some sort of trade.

Flagg and Proctor were phenomenal together at Duke, and with Dallas searching for a guard to replace Kyrie Irving until he returns, Proctor would be a great option.

While he wouldn’t be the starting-caliber point guard they are looking for, his size, shooting, and playmaking would fit some of the Mavericks’ desperate needs right away. Dallas is reportedly eyeing guards who are good playmakers and ball handlers to help fill the void that was left by trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, and Proctor would bring all of that and more.

At 6-foot-6, Proctor has the ability to play either guard spot, and that seems to be exactly what the Mavericks are looking for. They want to add someone this summer who can help run the show while Irving is out, while being able to play alongside him, and combo guards are invaluable in today's NBA.

Proctor's shooting off the catch and feel for the game will make him a good player off the ball, and his ability to be a secondary playmaker is what really stands out. While Proctor could develop into a lead ball handler one day, as he has grown tremendously as a pick-and-roll ball decision maker, he seems like he'll be best as a complementary player to start his career.

He is always ready to make the extra pass when needed and is a good connector, making him an attractive asset to a team loaded with stars like Flagg, Anthony Davis, and Irving. Proctor and Flagg both are good playmakers with great basketball minds, and they should be able to build off the chemistry they built last season at Duke in the NBA together if the Mavs were to draft them both.

Flagg's selflessness and superb court vision often resulted in open 3-point jumpers for Proctor after he created some sort of advantage or was double-teamed, and Duke even threw them in some actions together from time to time. The bond that Flagg and Proctor built as teammates for one of the best teams in college basketball is undeniable, but Flagg isn't the only friend that Proctor would have on the Mavs.

Proctor and Dereck Lively II were freshmen together at Duke, and Lively II is likely another player who would vouch for Nico Harrison to consider adding Proctor to their young core. Proctor could be seen throwing lobs to Lively II once again as Mavericks if Harrison pulls the trigger, and his fit makes too much sense to ignore.

Using one of their two-way spots on Proctor seems like a great move on and off the floor as the Mavericks start the Flagg era, and having another familiar face in the locker room would only make things easier on Flagg. Dallas' needs and Proctor's skill set happen to be the perfect match, and Mavericks fans will be crossing their fingers about this potential pairing heading into next month's draft.