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On Monday night, after what has been a disastrous three months for Dallas' NBA franchise, a stroke of luck struck as the Mavericks, with just 1.8% odds to land the No. 1 overall pick and the right to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg, managed to come out on top of the Flagg sweepstakes.
The Mavs now have the opportunity to add a two-way star who fits GM Nico Harrison's vision for defense first. Problem is, of course, that Flagg is a rookie, and just an 18-year-old one at that. For a team built around 32-year-old Anthony Davis and 33-year-old Kyrie Irving, adding a supremely talented young player is tempting, but would leave Dallas with a confused timeline.
And so former Duke star Jason Williams, himself a No. 2 overall pick before suffering a career-ending injury, says the way to go here is for the Mavericks to take a major gamble and make another blockbuster trade on the heels of February's controversial Luka Doncic deal.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Fiserv Forum.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
"This is going to be controversial but if I'm Nico Harrison, I am trading the pick," Williams said on ESPN's "Get Up."
"I am not sure for a guy like Cooper Flagg, I think he needs reps, I think he needs a lot of room to grow. I am not sure about champinoship aspirations right away for him. Now, look, the basketball part of me loves the thought of AD, Cooper Flagg, Derreck Lively and the backcourt. But when I look at the value, could you package in a 1-on-1 trade to get a Giannis, could you package in a 1-on-1 trade to get a Devin Booker?"
WIlliams and his co-panelists on the show drilled down on the notion of making a deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is 30 years old and is seeking a possible exit from Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo has a championship on his resume, and averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists.
Drop him onto the Mavericks roster in a swap for Flagg and filler contracts (Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin), and Dallas is a ready-made contender.
Said Williams: "If your championship window is in the next two or three years, could you package some assets to get somebody who can help you right now, with the pressure in the Western Conference?
"As soon as the pick came out, I said, 'Hey, Giannis to Dallas.' That was the first thing I said. That was the first thing I said to everyone on our show. ... I would do it."
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