Mavericks are now one step closer to stealing the perfect Cooper Flagg co-star

The Dallas Mavericks are officially on the clock, well, not literally, as they still need to figure out their draft position. Dallas, though, can now pivot to strengthening its roster through the draft, as it's been tanking for some time now. The team has holes in its depth chart, one of them being a consistent guard who can be a No. 2 option alongside Cooper Flagg.

This is where the draft comes in, as Dallas now has several different options to fix the issue above, as this year's draft class is loaded. Some names to consider include Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, someone who should be high on the Mavs' wishlist due to his dominant freshman season.

Dallas, though, may have their wish granted, assuming the recent rumors that Acuff Jr. ranks ahead of Peterson in some scouts' rankings are true. As mentioned, the Mavs should be high on Peterson; he has all the intangibles to run the tables with Flagg for years to come. Not to mention, he is a two-way guard who can easily elevate their play on both ends with his scoring and defense.

The Mavericks pairing Peterson alongside Cooper Flagg isn't as much of a long shot as it once was, as some teams are starting to have Acuff Jr. ranked ahead of Peterson. This means the chance of Peterson following in Dallas' lap is increasing by the day.

Peterson's recent skid could make Dallas' draft dream a reality

Dallas has the perfect formula to take over the NBA next season. It all starts with drafting Peterson if he's still on the board when he's on the clock. The Kansas guard would easily fit into the Mavs' system and would be the perfect co-star to pair with Flagg.

Although the Mavs would need Peterson to slide down multiple teams' draft boards if they want a chance at the Jayhawks' guard. This means other players like Darius Acuff Jr. would need to be taken ahead of Peterson for Dallas to have a shot at making this dream draft plan come true.

It now seems the scenario might become a reality. Last month, it was reported that Peterson's draft stock had been sliding, as teams had doubts about taking him No. 1 due to his recent injury history.

The league's distrust of Peterson's availability might spell good news for Dallas. The team now has a real shot at taking him with their first-round pick if they somehow jump into the top four, giving them the perfect opportunity to jumpstart the rebuild process with Flagg.

He averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game as a Jayhawk while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from downtown. His balanced scoring attack should have Mavericks fans dreaming of him joining the team's core, as he can create his shot from anywhere on the floor and scores effortlessly.

His big frame at the guard position would give Kyrie Irving, a dynamic backcourt partner, who could eventually take over as the team's long-term point guard if he grows as a playmaker.

Peterson would drastically improve the Mavs' defense

One major reason that the Mavs should look to draft Peterson is his two-way capabilities. He is a savvy defender who is praised for disrupting passing lanes and blowing up big plays. Last season, he excelled in disrupting his opponent's shot attempts, averaging 1.4 steals per game.

This is something Dallas desperately needs. The team currently ranks in the bottom 10 in steals per game, as they average 7.5. It ties them with the Milwaukee Bucks for the sixth-worst in the league. Flagg leads the team with 1.2 steals per game, a number slightly below Peterson's college numbers. The young guard would easily improve the Mavs' defensive pedigree and finally give them a point-of-attack stopper.

His defensive praise can be attributed to his 6-foot-6 frame and massive six-foot-10 wingspan. It is something easily noticeable, allowing him to guard larger wings and switch on the perimeter. Peterson put his big frame to use during Kansas' final game in the NCAA Tournament, as he recorded four blocks and four rebounds.

There is so much to like about Peterson, especially with his high defensive pedigree and strong build. The dream of pairing him with Flagg might not come into existence if other teams beat Dallas to his punch.

However, it seems everything is starting to take place. Peterson's draft stock is starting to slip at the perfect time, giving Dallas the chance to form one of the top young duos heading into next season. Fans can only hope the draft lottery works in their favor once again.