Mavericks caught snoozing as Cooper Flagg's perfect duo partner slips away

As the Dallas Mavericks opened up a new door to their franchise by picking Cooper Flagg as their No. 1 pick, it's now time to decide who's best fitted to team up with Flagg.

Answering that question won't be hard at all. Anybody would love to play aside Flagg. He's a force off the dribble and can hit 3-pointers at a ridiculous rate. One veteran college player who thrived next to Flagg at Duke was Tyrese Proctor. His name was called by the Cleveland Cavaliers on day two of the 2025 NBA Draft, as he was drafted with the No. 49 pick.

The Duke Blue Devils had one of the best seasons since their last championship run in 2015. Flagg was headlined with Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach as the star freshmen who almost gave Jon Scheyer his first NCAA title. Proctor, a guard known for his knockdown perimeter shooting and playmaking, is now another brutal blow in the NBA Draft for the Mavs, as they didn't trade into the second round to draft him.

A Proctor-Flagg pairing in Dallas would've been a match made in heaven

No player really has control over a draft pick, but especially not an 18-year-old rookie. Although Proctor would've likely been a pick that Flagg secretly wanted. Every season, Proctor increased his field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, and points per game average every season in his three-year Duke career. This could've been an amazing pairing for Flagg to help Proctor get the most out of his NBA minutes.

Proctor had the chance to play with Flagg just for one season, but he had his season yet, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range and scoring 12.4 PPG. Flagg's IQ and passing are what helped Proctor to new heights.

He might've been picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he will thrive as a backup shooter. With Cleveland turning guys like Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill into elite shooters, Proctor's ceiling has potential. Proctor on the Mavericks would've made for an easier transition with Flagg in the NBA. Of course, Flagg will be a star in just a matter of time, but the NBA for any rookie is a giant transition. Having a former Blue Devil with Flagg would've definitely made him more comfortable.

Speaking of Duke guys, Proctor was the last of the main Duke starting five to be picked in this year's draft. With Sion James joining Knueppel with the Charlotte Hornets, this shows how talented Duke really was this season. Sure, Flagg was the main brand for one of the biggest college basketball programs in the world, but the Mavs are missing out on an improved shooter for three years straight.

Walter Clayton Jr. going to the Utah Jazz hurt Dallas' chances of having a chance of having a real ball handler that wouldn't mind taking over until Kyrie Irving got back from his ACL injury. The Mavs still need someone like that, but it looks as if they're going to go out in free agency to get a veteran talent like Chris Paul, D'Angelo Russell, Lonzo Ball, or Malcolm Brogdon.

It didn't seem possible for the Mavs to get him anyway, but this is a missed opportunity for another Blue Devil to join the Dallas Mavericks occurred as Proctor was picked by the Cavs.