With the 2025 NBA draft just three weeks away, we may soon see several big trades. One potential trade, as proposed by ESPN, would involve a major deal at the top of the draft. ESPN proposes the Dallas Mavericks trade back one spot with the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the second overall pick, the 14th pick, and the Atlanta Hawks' 2027 unprotected first.
The Mavericks have the opportunity to draft Cooper Flagg first overall, and after trading Luka Dončić, they should be leery about making another blockbuster move. Then again, they would be getting plenty of bang for their buck were they to trade down one spot.
They would still have the second overall pick and be able to select Dylan Harper, who is projected to be an All-Star. They, of course, have a big need at point guard both in the short term with Kyrie Irving out with an ACL tear and in the long term with Irving being 33 years old.
The Mavericks also don't have many assets remaining, with them not owning their first-round pick from 2026 to 2030. As a result, getting an extra lottery pick from San Antonio and also picking up what could be another lottery pick from the Hawks via the Spurs might interest them.
Can the San Antonio Spurs land the no. 1 overall pick?
It's a long shot and would largely depend on how the Mavericks feel about both Flagg and Harper. Flagg is a generational prospect, but there are some questions about whether he can be a number one option in the NBA. If he can't, then that would mean that Dallas would have to find another star to pair him with.
Meanwhile, Harper projects to be a star. While he has question marks of his own, particularly surrounding his shaky jump shot, they might not view the gap between the two players to be as large as some expect.
If Mavericks GM Nico Harrison talks himself into that being the case, then his trading back for the second and 14th picks in this year's draft and what could be another high lottery pick in 2027 wouldn't seem that far-fetched. The Spurs certainly hope so, with them likely salivating at the potential of pairing Flagg next to another generational prospect in Victor Wembanyama.
Would the Dallas Mavericks really trade the number one pick?
After the Dončić debacle, Harrison probably won't try to shake the boat and risk another controversial trade. That would seemingly make him unlikely to make this proposed move a reality.
The far safer bet would be for him to draft Flagg and try and build around him. In the short term, they could pair him with Anthony Davis and Irving to try and win next season. In the long term, they would still have an incredibly valuable player that they could build around for years to come.
All told, ESPN's proposed trade isn't completely far-fetched, but it would require the Mavericks to be high on Harper and low on Flag. That's technically possible, but there have been no reports suggesting that to be the case. As a result, this hypothetical trade appears unlikely.