Mavericks to Work Out Cooper Flagg on June 17 — But Is He Really “That Guy”?

Let’s not get carried away.

Yes, Cooper Flagg is scheduled to work out for the Dallas Mavericks on June 17, and yes, that’s a headline.

Anytime a 6-foot-9 phenom with spring-loaded talent, a defensive motor, and elite anticipation walks into your building, you do your homework.

That’s just smart basketball ops.

But let me keep it a buck:

Flagg is not walking through that door to save your franchise. Not this year. Not in Year 2.

Maybe never.

And more importantly, can we stop with this quiet-but-loud campaign to make Cooper Flagg the “next great white hope”?

There’s only one Larry Bird. That’s the bar. That’s the standard. And respectfully, it hasn’t been touched in 30 years.

Bird was the real deal. He wasn't just a great white player. He was one of the greatest players, period. 

Top 10-15 of all time. Won rings. Led dynasties. Changed the game.

You’re not replicating that — not with Flagg, not with anyone in the pipeline right now.

Now let’s focus on what’s real: Cooper Flagg is a piece— not the piece.

And with the way Dallas is quietly reloading? That’s all they need.

Because if Anthony Davis can stay on the floor, Kyrie Irving recovers from his ACL injury, Klay Thompson knocks down open looks, and PJ Washington keeps doing the dirty work… guess what?

That’s a legit squad.

And Flagg?

He’ll most likely be the fourth- or fifth-best player on the team.

Which is a blessing in disguise — no pressure to carry a franchise. No unrealistic comparisons. Just hoop, learn, and grow.

Now imagine if Dallas goes out and makes a swing to bring in Kevin Durant.

If that happens, this convo’s over. Flagg gets to develop in peace behind three Hall of Famers. He wouldn’t need to be great on Day 1.

He could just be useful.

And again — let me be clear: he’s a hell of a prospect.

The motor. The anticipation. The willingness to defend. He reminds me of a younger, bouncier Andrei Kirilenko — and if you know ball, you know that’s not a slight.

But right now? That jumper needs work. That handle is basic. He’s not stretching defenses. He’s not cooking off the bounce. He’s not creating late in the shot clock.

And in today’s NBA, if you’re going to be the guy, you’ve got to have all of that in your bag.

Period.

He’s not LeBron. He’s not KD. He’s not Luka. He’s not Wemby.

He’s Cooper Flagg. And that should be enough.

Dallas should absolutely kick the tires. Get him in the building. Feel the energy. See how he responds to real coaching and real contact.

But let’s stop trying to fast-track this kid into a role he hasn’t earned. Let him earn it. Let him build it. Let him grow into whatever he’s going to be — without the heavy, tired legacy of "saving" the league that’s never truly been kind to players like him unless they were shooting the lights out.

There’s real value in being your fourth-best player.

Just don’t confuse the marketing with the mission.