In one of the most surprising outcomes of the 2025 NBA offseason, the Dallas Mavericks secured the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft—despite having just a 1.8 percent chance of doing so. This stunning lottery victory has given the franchise an unexpected opportunity to reset and rebuild after trading franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. With that top pick, Dallas now has the option to select Duke Blue Devils phenom Cooper Flagg, a player widely touted as a generational talent and long presumed to be the consensus No. 1 overall selection.
Flagg, who has been under the spotlight since his high school days, entered college as one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. He delivered a strong freshman season at Duke, appearing in 37 games and posting impressive averages: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. He also showed his versatility and skill with shooting splits of 48.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three-point range—numbers that solidified his status as the top prospect in the eyes of many scouts and analysts.
However, not everyone is convinced that Cooper Flagg should be the Mavericks’ choice—or even the No. 1 pick at all. Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins recently voiced a bold and controversial opinion during an appearance on the show Run It Back. According to Cousins, Flagg is not the best player in this year’s draft class. Instead, he believes Rutgers standout Ace Bailey deserves to be selected first overall.
“I think Ace Bailey is the closest thing we’ve seen to Tracy McGrady,” Cousins said, offering high praise and a powerful comparison to one of the most gifted scorers in NBA history. Cousins’ stance directly challenges the prevailing view among draft experts, many of whom have long regarded Flagg as the clear top choice. Flagg’s combination of size, basketball IQ, defensive versatility, and shooting touch has had scouts raving for over a year, well before he ever took the floor for Duke.
Ace Bailey, though perhaps a step behind Flagg in terms of media attention, had a stellar freshman campaign of his own. In 30 appearances for Rutgers, Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and one steal per game. He shot 46 percent from the field and hit 34.6 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. Though slightly less efficient than Flagg, Bailey’s athleticism and offensive creativity have drawn significant attention, and some teams reportedly view him as having the higher ceiling.
Now, the pressure is on Dallas’ front office, led by general manager Nico Harrison, to make the best decision for the future of the franchise. Selecting Flagg could be a move to lay the foundation for a long-term rebuild centered around a player with franchise-altering potential. On the other hand, the team might consider trading the top pick in exchange for an established veteran star who can help the Mavericks remain competitive in the short term.
Speculation about the Mavericks’ plans has only intensified since winning the lottery, and while Cousins’ perspective adds intrigue to the debate, most indications still point toward Flagg being the top pick. Ace Bailey is widely projected to go No. 2 if things proceed as expected.
Ultimately, all eyes are now on Dallas and what course of action they will take. With the 2025 NBA Draft scheduled to begin on June 25, fans won’t have to wait much longer to see whether the Mavericks will crown Cooper Flagg as the new face of their franchise—or make a blockbuster move that shakes up the entire league.
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