Cooper Flagg threatening to overtake Mavericks vets in way fans only dream about

After trading away Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers and being eliminated in the Play-In Tournament by the Memphis Grizzlies to conclude the 2024-25 season, the Dallas Mavericks needed a franchise-changing move to get back on track. Then, it happened in the blink of an eye.

With a 1.8 percent chance to win the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, the basketball gods smiled down upon the Mavericks. With winning the lottery, the Mavericks were able to select Duke sensation Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Drafting Flagg has brought excitement and buzz around Dallas. After needing to be held back in a good way before Summer League play by trying to get in the gym on the Fourth of July, Flagg showed his talents and sparkled in July. Even before the 2025-26 season arrives, more pressure was placed on Flagg in what some might find shocking, but it's one way that Mavs fans can dream of.

Cooper Flagg could be the closer for Dallas right away

Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz recently wrote an article titled "Who Is Taking the Last Shot for Every NBA Team In 2025-26?" For the Mavericks, Swartz chose Flagg to take the last shot.

One reason why Flagg is an option to take the last shot at the end of a game when it matters is because of Kyrie Irving being out for a large chunk of the season. This past March, Irving tore his ACL and won't be ready to play when the season starts. Irving is one of the most clutch fourth-quarter players in the NBA, and Swartz likely would've chosen him if he wasn't injured to begin the season.

Irving's 7.7 fourth-quarter points were second in the NBA last season in fourth-quarter scoring behind LaMelo Ball. Irving also shot over 49 percent overall and just under 43 percent from three in the fourth quarter, having solid efficiency and proving that he is one of the most dangerous closers in the league.

With Irving out of the lineup for some time, that is where Flagg could become relied on early from the Mavericks on taking the last shot when they need a bucket. Having Flagg getting used to taking the last shot of a game in the fourth quarter and being one of the closers will help him get used to crunch time and teach him how to raise his game in the clutch.

However, two veterans on the team could have an edge to take the last shot over Flagg to begin the year. That would be Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson.

Both Davis and Thompson can have an edge to take the last shot over Flagg because of their experience and having made clutch shots in the past. Thompson has knocked down clutch shots in his career and played solidly in the fourth quarter, especially during his time in the Bay. One of Thompson's best performances in the clutch came in the 2016 Western Conference Finals in Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Davis has also knocked down clutch shots in the past. Davis's top clutch moment came when he hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer against the Denver Nuggets in the 2020 Western Conference Finals.

Having a rookie be placed under pressure immediately to take the final shot can be immense for any player. For Flagg, he has two other veterans that the Mavericks can look to for a last-minute shot if needed, and if he can turn into one of the team's closers, that will be a huge added bonus.

Thompson can shoot the three more efficiently than both Davis and Flagg if the Mavericks need a 3-pointer. Davis can use his height and size in order to generate clutch shots over Flagg as well. Having Flagg on the court could force teams to pay more attention drawn to him, and it can help Davis create a shot attempt.

If Flagg is able to surpass Davis and Thompson when it comes to being the player that Jason Kidd wants to take the final shot for Dallas, that would be a dream come true for Mavericks fans. That would mean that Flagg is further along in his development than anyone could've expected, and his slashing, 3-point shooting off the catch, and offensive awareness will be crucial for the Mavs as time ticks off the clock in the fourth quarter.