Cooper Flagg's weakness is exposing exactly who the Mavericks must stay away from

The Cooper Flagg experience has been a glimmer of hope for Dallas Mavericks fans. The 19-year-old phenom might not win Rookie of the Year, but he’s arguably been the most impactful rookie, leading the 2025 draft class in points per game while ranking in the top five in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

Yet, there’s one area where Flagg hasn’t excelled: 3-point shooting. That limitation could shape who Dallas targets in the pivotal 2026 NBA Draft, as the team looks to complement its rising star with more perimeter spacing.

Cooper Flagg’s 3-point struggles are shaping the Mavericks’ future

Flagg is shooting just 29.3 percent from three after an abysmal March, when he hit only 18.2 percent of his attempts. He went just 8-of-44 from deep across 15 games that month, underscoring his struggles. It also marked the first full month in which he failed to reach double-digit makes from beyond the arc.

At just 19, Flagg is still developing, something that’s well understood. Dallas likely didn’t expect him to knock down more than 35 percent of his threes as a rookie, especially after shooting at such low volume during his lone season at Duke.

However, a sub-30 percent clip is still concerning. Not to the point that the Mavericks' view of Flagg as a cornerstone has changed, but enough to reinforce the importance of surrounding him with shooting as he continues to develop.

Why the 2026 NBA Draft is crucial for Dallas

Thus, Flagg’s inconsistency from beyond the arc helps clarify which top-tier prospects Dallas should avoid. Before diving into the team’s perceived draft board, it’s important to note just how consequential this class is to the franchise’s future. The Mavericks don’t control their own first-round pick again until 2031. While they do hold a few future pick swaps, they won’t fully control their draft capital for quite some time, making the 2026 Draft especially critical.

Now, onto Dallas’ draft board. Of course, we don’t exactly know what it looks like, but the top four of the 2026 class appear relatively set: Duke’s Cameron Boozer, BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson.

Best and worst fits for the Mavericks among top prospects

Among the four, Boozer and Peterson best complement Flagg’s skill set. Boozer is a do-it-all big man who relies on skill, strength, and coordination, while Peterson stands out as the premier shot-making prospect in the class. In contrast, Dybantsa and Wilson lean more heavily on their elite athleticism. However, neither has shown a consistently reliable 3-point shot, with both shooting 34 percent below from beyond the arc.

Nonetheless, landing a top-four selection isn’t especially likely. Dallas currently has a 37.2 percent chance of moving into that range, making the No. 5–8 range far more plausible. While those prospects may not be on the same tier as the top four, it’s still a very talented and guard-heavy group.

Among this next tier, Darius Acuff Jr., Brayden Burries, and Keaton Wagler make the most sense, while Kingston Flemings and Nate Ament come with more question marks.

The latter two are not the most reliable perimeter marksmen, which makes them both an imperfect fit alongside Flagg. Flemings shot nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc, but on low volume, similar to Flagg’s 3-point profile at Duke. Meanwhile, Ament is billed as a versatile scorer, yet he converted just 33.3 percent of his 3-point attempts at Tennessee.

This isn’t to say the Mavs should pass on a player like Dybantsa if he’s available at No. 3, or Kingston Flemings at No. 9 if they were to fall that far. There’s still a “best player available” philosophy at play. However, what their rookie cornerstone's three-point struggles highlight is the need for Dallas to prioritize a more perimeter-oriented co-star, especially given the team’s broader shooting concerns.