Mavericks land crucial free agency commitment to begin Cooper Flagg era

All eyes will be on the Dallas Mavericks in just a few days, as Cooper Flagg is set to become a Maverick on June 25, the night of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Mavericks fans can't wait for Flagg to arrive in Dallas, and the hype surrounding him just rose to another level after his incredible workout with the Mavericks earlier this week.

Right before the Mavericks draft Flagg on Wednesday, they got their first commitment of the summer, as Dwight Powell will opt into his $4 million player option rather than opting out to test the open waters of free agency, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. This move was expected, as Powell is a true Maverick through and through, and now Dallas just has to wait on Kyrie Irving's answer when it comes to his player option.

Powell had until the day before the draft to opt in or out of his player option, and while he has become someone who has been heavily scrutinized by Mavericks fans over the years, he is quietly a key piece to start the Flagg era on the right note.

Dwight Powell opts into $4 million player option to remain in Dallas

While Powell shouldn't be expected to be on the floor much next season, as Dallas has Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford holding down the paint and he only played 10 minutes per game last season, his presence on the bench and in the locker room is what's important as they bring in Flagg.

Powell is the ultimate vibes guy and a true pro. His teammates and staffers within the Mavericks organization love him, and every team needs someone like Powell who can lead by example and show the younger players the ropes of what it takes to win in the NBA.

As Mavericks fans know better than anyone due to Dallas' deep runs through the playoffs in 2022 and 2024, chemistry matters, and Powell has been a key part of Mavericks culture for years.

Powell is also the longest-tenured player on the team, as he joined the Mavericks in 2014 and has played in 700 regular-season games for the Mavericks over his career (No. 5 on the games played list in Mavs history). He has been a franchise cornerstone for years, regardless of what his production has looked like on the floor, and Flagg should be walking into a great environment on day one.

League sources told The Smoking Cuban that Flagg thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Dallas earlier this week, specifically noting the time spent with the front office and players. The Mavericks are already doing what they can to make Flagg feel at home, and that camaraderie should only increase after he walks across the stage and shakes Adam Silver's hand.

Relationships will be key to begin Flagg's career in Dallas, and while Powell may not be his best friend off the bat, he is definitely someone who will make sure he is comfortable in his new environment and give him any advice when needed.

Flagg joining a locker room that includes future Hall-of-Fame players like Irving, Davis, and Klay Thompson is going to be huge for him, and having a great teammate like Powell around to begin this new era is only fitting. Powell was around for the Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic eras, and now he has a front row seat to see how the Flagg era unfolds.