Mavericks' rumored trade for once-hyped No. 1 pick hinges on Cooper Flagg

The Dallas Mavericks were linked to Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks amid their interest in Anthony Davis, and they have the secret recipe to make Risacher work out in Dallas thanks to Cooper Flagg.

Risacher has had tremendous pressure on his shoulders to be an NBA star ever since the Hawks drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but he hasn't quite lived up to the hype yet. Hawks fans have already started to turn on him, and Atlanta's patience is running out with the young wing.

It seems like he is starting because of his status as a top draft pick rather than his on-court success, and parting ways may be the best idea for both sides.

Flagg would help make Risacher's transition to Dallas smooth

He isn't developing as quickly as Atlanta would've liked, and they're willing to move on if the right deal presents itself. This is where the Mavericks come into play, as they want to trade Davis to the Hawks, and Flagg would help give Risacher a fresh start.

Mavs fans would welcome him with open arms, as they are looking for anything to be excited about amid a nightmare season. Dallas is 12-22 on the year despite preseason hype, and injuries have taken over the season.

Both Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum are out for the entire season, and Kyrie Irving hasn't played a game yet due to the ACL tear he suffered in March. On top of that, Davis has missed more games than he's played, and Mavericks fans are getting tired of his constant injuries.

Atlanta seems to be the most likely trade destination for Davis at this point, and Risacher would probably be part of any deal between the two teams.

If traded to Dallas, Risacher would no longer be the "No. 1 pick" in town that the entire city has under a microscope. Mavericks fans are already doing that with Flagg, and Risacher could develop at his own pace while being a complementary player rather than everyone expecting him to be a star.

It doesn't look like future stardom is in the cards for Risacher, and that's perfectly fine. He has the tools to be a high-level role player, as his defense, cutting, shooting potential, and feel for the game are off the charts, and these skills would be amplified in Dallas.

He wouldn't have to be a star, as Flagg is already the face of the franchise despite being a rookie, and they also have Kyrie Irving around for the next few years. The Mavericks have made it clear that they don't want to trade Irving, and he'd be the perfect mentor to Risacher.

Irving is an incredible leader and teammate, and players from around the league seemingly always gravitate toward him. His best work as a mentor since arriving in Dallas has been with Brandon Williams, as he has improved significantly over the last few seasons, and we could see a similar rise from Risacher if Irving takes him under his wing.

Risacher should thrive the moment that fans stop trying to force the star narrative upon him, and Flagg's presence alone would prevent that from happening in Big D. Dallas badly needs more young players to join the young core alongside Flagg, Max Christie, Ryan Nembhard, and Dereck Lively II, and Risacher would be an exciting youngster that could grow with Flagg rather than being expected to flourish on his own.