ITS HAPPENING: Mavericks just handed Heat the Giannis Antetokounmpo gift they dreamed of
Dallas entered the lottery with just 1.8 percent odds of landing the No. 1 overall draft pick. A shot at Luka Doncic redemption arrived earlier than anticipated, however, when the Mavericks made a scrutinized leap to No. 1.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the Mavericks will draft Cooper Flagg and won’t even consider trading the No. 1 pick—for Antetokounmpo or anyone else.
“After making the biggest leap in NBA draft lottery history to land the No. 1 overall pick, the Dallas Mavericks plan to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg and will not entertain the possibility of trading away the pick for a proven superstar, sources told ESPN.”
MacMahon continued:
Flagg isn’t just the consensus No. 1 overall selection, but is widely regarded as a generational talent. He’s a 6’9″ forward with positional versatility, NBA-caliber athleticism, a well-rounded skill set as a scorer, the willingness and ability to facilitate, and high-level defensive acumen.
Thankfully, the Mavericks have opted against offering the Bucks a new franchise player—meaning the Heat remain alive in the race for Antetokounmpo.
What can the Heat offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Miami has an intriguing collection of assets that can be offered in a potential move for the two-time MVP. That includes All-Star scoring guard Tyler Herro, who would give Milwaukee an early building block in its expedited rebuild.
the Mavericks have opted against offering the Bucks a new franchise player—meaning the Heat remain alive in the race for Antetokounmpo.
“Sources told ESPN that Patrick Dumont, who just finished his first year as the Mavs’ governor, considers the opportunity to be in position to draft a generational talent such as Flagg a ‘gift.'”
The true gift, however, is the one that Dallas has inadvertently handed to the Heat: An opportunity to pursue Antetokounmpo without their most obvious competitor standing in their way.
Mavericks will not trade No. 1 pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Had Dallas offered the No. 1 overall selection for Antetokounmpo, it would’ve been hard to defend Milwaukee declining the trade. Assuming Antetokounmpo formally requests a trade, then the Bucks will immediately be sent into a rebuilding phase.
Perhaps Milwaukee believes it can acquire a star-caliber talent, but with limited resources to build for the now, no offer would be more appealing than the No. 1 pick
