Mavericks can't afford to ignore this glaring Cooper Flagg truth as tank race brews

It's an open secret that the Dallas Mavericks need to lose as many games as possible this season to better position themselves in this summer's upcoming draft. Losing games will not only give the team a better shot at the first overall pick, but it also almost guarantees that the Mavericks can draft a young superstar for Cooper Flagg to develop alongside; however, Flagg may have other plans in mind.

Even though Flagg just turned 19 years old just a few months ago and is still in his rookie season, he has shattered just about every wall any fan or expert expected of him during his first full professional season, which has resulted in some wins. With a competitive drive to succeed, such as Flagg's, it's almost guaranteed that the Mavericks will pick up a few more wins this season despite the franchise's No. 1 need being to tank.

Mavericks need to accept that Cooper Flagg alone will win them games

When it came to the conversation of Anthony Davis or Kyrie Irving, fans and even the Mavericks front office were quick to shut down those veterans for the season or trade them away to ensure a better draft pick this summer and a brighter future. However, that can be a sensitive subject when it comes to a rookie of Flagg's caliber.

Flagg has already proven that he can be a bona fide superstar in the NBA and Dallas' number one guy for years to come, which is why keeping him healthy and on the floor so he can continue to develop should trump any attempt at trying to lose games.

Fans have already seen games where the Mavericks are single-handedly hanging on late into the fourth quarter due to Flagg's presence, and while most of the time Dallas will still lose by a few points, one marquee clutch win that Flagg has his fingerprints on may be all fans need going into a long offseason.

Even if the Mavericks catch a small winning streak with Flagg on the floor, fans should take that as an amazing sign for what can come in the future, as the team is still not trying to stack wins or push for the playoffs. Flagg needs to finish out the season on a hot note, and allowing him to flourish and experience clutch time in games may be one of the best ways the 19-year-old can find his rhythm.

Mavericks shouldn't even consider shutting down Cooper Flagg

As it often happens in the modern NBA, teams will find ways to bench their best players if wins aren't falling their way, but because Flagg is a rookie, this shouldn't even be a thought that crosses through Dallas' front office. Wins matter, and losses matter even more in this stage of the season for the Mavericks, but shutting down your future franchise star would be one of the worst decisions anyone could make.

As it currently stands, Dallas has the seventh-best odds to win the first overall pick and their chance at Flagg's next running mate. Assuming the Mavericks continue to lose games, fans still only believe they can fall to the sixth or fifth spot, which is why it would be pointless to shut down anyone who gives the Mavericks a slight chance at winning a few ball games.