Mavericks are dangerously gambling with Cooper Flagg's future at the worst time

With just three games left in the Dallas Mavericks' season, the team still appears to be fully putting their foot down on the gas pedal to try and get wins. After beating the Los Angeles Lakers behind Cooper Flagg's 51-point display, fans are now concerned the Mavericks have gotten cocky and are expecting more of the same luck as they had in last year's draft lottery to carry them to a good pick this summer.

With the Mavericks tied for the sixth-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick with the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas simply needs to tank the rest of their season to ensure their draft odds. While to many fans it would be an easy decision to shut down some of the team's veterans to achieve that goal, Jason Kidd isn't listening to any outside noise as Dallas' 'ethical tanking' still appears to be in full motion.

Dallas can't expect lottery luck to save them again

A major concern amongst fans this season is that the Mavericks believe they can get lucky once again and move up in this year's draft, which is why they are continuing to be competitive in meaningless games. After beating the Lakers, Dallas fell to eighth in the lottery odds before losing to the LA Clippers (and sitting a few key players such as P.J. Washington and Brandon Williams) and moving up after a New Orleans Pelicans victory.

Dallas isn't just messing with their odds for a potential top-10 pick, but they are tampering with Flagg's future, whether they know it or not. Chances are the Mavericks won't get lucky again, as last summer was the first time in franchise history Dallas was able to move up in the lottery, and it doesn't make sense why the Mavs believe they can repeat that luck.

With 20 games left in the regular season, the franchise should have been pulling back their competitiveness and focusing on its draft positions, but even still, Dallas won't listen.

It may be better late than never, but the Mavericks must remain focused on their future even with just three games left on the schedule.

Losing has never been more important for the Mavericks

With just three games left on Dallas' regular-season schedule, they remain in a tie with the Grizzlies, which is why losing has never been more important. With the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs left to play, fans can almost guarantee the team will have two more losses, but with a regular-season finale against a fellow lottery team in the Chicago Bulls, fans are nervous the Mavs won't listen to their pleas.

Setting Flagg up for future success should be at the top of the franchise's priority list, and by continuing to win games or put themselves in a position to compete, the Mavericks are jeopardizing their last chance at pairing Flagg with a young co-star.

If the Mavericks can lose out, it would almost ensure they would get a solid draft pick, but in the case that the Mavericks win one of their three regular-season games left, the team may be shooting itself in the foot by allowing Memphis, a division rival, to secure the sixth-best odds.