ESPN is already predicting Mavericks to pull a Luka Doncic with Cooper Flagg

Last season, the Dallas Mavericks traded their franchise cornerstone piece, Luka Doncic, for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Los Angeles Lakers' 2029 first-round pick. It was a move that baffled many fans and critics, as they expected Doncic to replicate Dirk Nowitzki's tenure with the team. Nico Harrison had other plans, focusing on creating a defensive pedigree with Davis at the center of it all.

Harrison's actions further perpetuated the idea that loyalty does not exist in the NBA. He set the tone that sometimes franchise players and teams don't always last. Yet, this isn't the only example of broken loyalty. Back in 2016, Kevin Durant left the only team he had ever played for, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and joined forces with the Golden State Warriors. His actions further set the tone that nothing lasts forever. So what could all this mean for upcoming rookies like Cooper Flagg?

If you recall, Flagg was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by Dallas. It's a move that was a no-brainer, as he is expected to be the future of the Mavs' organization. The only question is for how long? Could Dallas trade Flagg like they did Doncic, or could he leave the team in free agency? ESPN seems to think one of those things might happen one day. They believe Dallas won't be Flagg's only team during his NBA career.

ESPN believes Cooper Flagg's time in Dallas will be cut short

In a recent survey compiled by ESPN, various reporters, analysts, and editors were asked to answer how many teams Cooper Flagg will play for. The vast majority of responses selected that Flagg would play for two or more teams in his career. 53.8 percent of voters had two teams, and 34.6 percent had three teams. Only 3.8 percent of voters believed he would play for one team.

This means that a majority of ESPN personnel do not believe Flagg will stay in Dallas long-term. There is a reason for their belief. The Doncic trade further escalated their lost faith in the Mavs' organization. Yet, there is also the possibility that Flagg could leave in free agency down the road.

However, keeping Flagg might be in the team's best interest. As mentioned, Dallas traded Doncic. This left a bad taste in many people's mouths, as it was something no one expected. Basically, trading Doncic should prompt the Mavs to keep Flagg so they can have another star player that fans can attach themselves to forever. Knowing how things turned out with last season's trade should be all the reason to hold on to Flagg.

Plus, it's one of the few ways to restore the Dallas franchise. If the team wants to build towards the future, then keeping Flagg long-term will be crucial. Holding onto Flagg will also break the idea of players moving around. Not to mention, staying in Dallas will place him with some elite company.

One of ESPN's main reasons for Flagg leaving was that it's foolish to believe current players will finish their careers with one team. They listed that Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic were the exceptions. The four players above were the only top 50 scorers from the 21st century to had not changed teams.

Yet, nothing says any of the players could be moved or leave soon. Either way, Dallas must make Flagg their future and learn from their past mistakes.

So, the Mavs must break the stigma of players joining multiple teams and prove ESPN wrong. As stated, most of their personnel think Flagg will be in another uniform sometime in the future. Other choosers, such as the 7.7 percent of voters, believe Flagg will join four or more teams.

The lack of people entrusting that Flagg will stay with the Dallas Mavericks is low. There are plenty of reasons to believe the notion that Flagg leaves Dallas. For starters, NBA history suggests players bounce around from various teams. Plus, Dallas' history with certain players further elevates ESPN's claim.

So, how much truth does ESPN's idea hold? Could Dallas really trade away Cooper Flagg like they did Luka Doncic? Will Flagg play for multiple teams in the future? Mavs fans will have to wait and see what his future holds.