Mavs Land Top Draft Pick Cooper Flagg

Dallas team built to win now secures lottery's top prospect

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Dallas Mavericks, a team built to win now, unexpectedly landed the top pick in the NBA draft lottery, securing the rights to highly touted prospect Cooper Flagg. This stroke of luck came despite the Mavericks' 1.8% odds of winning the lottery.

Why it matters

The addition of Cooper Flagg, considered one of the top young talents in basketball, could be a game-changer for the Mavericks, who have struggled to find consistent success in recent seasons despite having veteran star power on the roster.

The details

The Mavericks, who were expected to be a contender this season, instead found themselves in the draft lottery after a disappointing campaign. However, their misfortune turned into a stroke of luck, as they defied the odds and secured the top overall pick, which they will use to select the highly touted Cooper Flagg.

  • The Mavericks won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on February 12, 2026.

The players

Cooper Flagg

A highly touted prospect considered one of the top young talents in basketball.

Dallas Mavericks

An NBA team based in Dallas, Texas that was built to win now but struggled this season, unexpectedly landing the top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

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What’s next

The Mavericks will now have the opportunity to select Cooper Flagg with the top overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which is scheduled for June.

The takeaway

The Mavericks' unexpected lottery win could be a franchise-altering moment, as they now have the chance to build around the highly touted Cooper Flagg and potentially return to contention in the NBA.