Image Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

“First Call I’d Make Is to Dallas” – NBA Analyst Suggests Bucks Ship Giannis Antetokounmpo to Mavericks for Cooper Flagg, But Will Dallas Bite?

NBA Analyst lights the Giannis-Cooper Flagg trade fuse, but will the Mavericks even pick up the phone?

Image Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Dallas Mavericks’ Draft Lottery win has spun a new set of trade rumors, with now involving Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks stun the NBA world after they grabbed the number 1 draft pick this year despite being far from favorites. Young sensation Cooper Flagg is likely to get drafted first given his talent and potential.

NBA analyst Charles Barkley, however, has an idea that involves instant shipping of Cooper Flagg. He proposed that the Mavericks should look to trade away their number 1 pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is hot in the trade market, looking to shake things up in the off season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is reportedly ‘intrigued’ by the idea of playing in a state with no income tax, per @AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/OlPZJmr20q
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 12, 2025

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Charles Barkley said, “If I’m Milwaukee, the first call I would make is to Dallas. If Cooper Flagg goes to Dallas, are they contenders next year? That’d be a great way to start the Milwaukee rebuild. Dame’s gonna be out, we get Cooper Flagg, maybe a good player, some draft picks, we can really start our rebuild.”

Dallas Mavericks’ Nico Harrison after making the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade early this year suggested that he is looking for a win now side rather than a rebuild. This was the reason given behind forcefully sending out their Slovenian star. It wouldn’t be out of the world if Nico got some ideas to ship away Cooper Flagg.

Irving, Davis injuries shift Mavericks’ vision

Nico Harrison has assembled a win now side with players like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson being the center stage. However, the comments of win-now were made early this year. And a lot of changes have taken place since then. Kyrie Irving, who has been a consistent performer for the Mavericks had a long term ACL injury.

While Anthony Davis has consistently been injured. The lack of fitness has seen him already miss many games for Dallas, something that was also a recurring theme at the Los Angeles Lakers. So, Mavericks are not really in a win-now mode.

Which is why Nico Harrison and the upper management will not be keen to entertain the Cooper Flagg trade. They have the perfect opportunity in Flagg to start a rebuild in a couple of years. As the veteran trio phase out in a season or two, Cooper Flagg would have gained crucial experience to be the centerpiece of a rebuild.

Keeping Cooper Flagg will be important for the Mavericks. Franchises like Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs have a more clear path to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo after how the Draft lottery has transpired.