Dirk Nowitzki quietly makes peace with Mavericks before anyone even knew it

The Dallas Mavericks are set to begin a new era of basketball next month, as they start the season with Cooper Flagg on their roster. Dallas drafted Flagg with the No. 1 pick this past offseason, as they had a 1.8 percent chance to secure the top pick. The Mavs, though, beat the odds and secured Flagg to be the new cornerstone of their franchise.

Flagg now joins a fortunate Dallas team equipped with multiple all-stars and defensive anchors. He'll be looking towards teammates Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving for help, as they, too, were No. 1 picks who played college ball at Blue Blood schools. They are the perfect mentors to help guide and mentor Flagg in his first season in Dallas.

Another mentor Flagg will be looking to is Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavs' franchise leader would be the perfect person to help guide and lead Flagg, as he understands the pressure of leading the Mavericks franchise and has been an elite example on and off the floor.

Nowitzki seems to have made the wish above come true, as he recently reached out to Flagg, welcoming him to Dallas.

Nowitzki's latest move welcomes Flagg and mends old wounds

Last week, the Dallas Morning News (subscription required) sat down with Nowitzki to ask him questions about the upcoming season and his preparation for his seventh annual Tennis Classic. One question that got brought up was his relationship with Flagg and whether the two players had crossed paths.

Nowitzki mentioned that the two texted after draft night. In simple terms, the legend welcomed Flagg to the team and extended a hand to the future star.

"I wanted to welcome him to the city and let him know if there's anything he needs that I'm here for him and happy to help. I'm just a phone call away," Nowitzki said.

This was a change of scenery for Nowitzki, as he remained silent and distant with the organization since the Luka Doncic trade. It was suspected he had some animosity with the team after they unexpectedly fired Casey Smith, and then became more distant after the infamous trade. It was unusual behavior, as the Mavs' legend was usually very vocal about changes within the team.

However, during draft night, Nowitzki began to amend his relationship with Dallas. He was seen on a Jumbotron, along with other former Mavericks, welcoming Flagg to the team. It was the first step in fixing a relationship that Dallas desperately needed to resolve. It's clear Dallas needs Nowitzki to be around when the Flagg era begins, and it seems the organization is close to making their wish come true.

Recently, Nowitzki spoke on the "DLLS Mavs" podcast, discussing his outlook on Dallas' upcoming season. He mentioned that the team, when "healthy," was "one of the deepest teams in the league next season." Again, this is a positive sign, even though he has no clear role with the organization. It shows he still has a special bond with the team and follows them with a passion.

So, it seems the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki are headed in a positive direction. The Mavs great will always be connected to the organization, and the team needs to ensure their relationship is amended. Dallas will need Nowitzki to help guide and mentor Flagg, just as he did with Luka Doncic.

Nowitzki's recent gestures show he is closing in on making amends with an organization that jump-started his career. He, like every other fan, may not be over the Doncic trade, but must move on and welcome Flagg with open arms. It seems he has done that, and Mavs' fans must hope he continues to rebuild his relationship with the team, as his recent moves prove the statement above.