A year after losing Luka Dončić, the Mavs have brighter days ahead because of Cooper Flagg

HOUSTON — A flummoxed Cooper Flagg was the first Maverick to emerge from the tunnel at halftime, using his right hand to slap against his thigh, visibly frustrated with how his team had turned a one-point game into an eight-point deficit in five minutes.

That the 19-year-old was leading the procession into the Dallas locker room was not lost on the occasion, nor was it out of the ordinary. Leadership and poise are two of the most common words associated with the No. 1 pick when his older, more experienced teammates are asked to describe Flagg. His broad shoulders and body language being the telltale signs of the Mavericks’ mood are no surprise halfway through his rookie season.

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But the sudden presence of everything else — the burning sense of urgency to win, the rapidly developing awareness of momentum, and more profoundly, what’s expected of him — is why Dallas’ newfound direction under Flagg instills hope.

“I feel confident,” Flagg said following his 34-point, 12-rebound, 5-assist performance in a 111-107 loss to Houston, which is fourth in the West. “Getting to my spots, making some shots. When I play with confidence and a downhill mentality, it’s really good for our team. The guys are pushing me to be aggressive, and I’m trying to do what’s best for the team.”

A year ago, the Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers in the middle of the night, undoubtedly the most shocking transaction in NBA history. The foregoing of everything Dončić’ brought to the table — his gravity, otherworldly offensive arsenal and his ability to raise the ceiling of a franchise — ushered in a new era of uncertainty for a Dallas team that was on the cusp of a title less than eight months prior. Anthony Davis, the central returning piece, was immediately thrust into then-general manager Nico Harrison’s grand plans of contention.

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But an extended trip down revisionist lane serves no good purpose. The Mavericks were never able to manifest their plans of a championship triumvirate; Kyrie Irving, offseason addition Klay Thompson and Davis have yet to play a game together. The basketball gods smiled down on the Mavs, however. The ping-pong balls fell their way, and Flagg landed graciously in their lap. Harrison was later relieved of his duties.

Suddenly, Flagg became the symbol of desperation. Desperation of a Mavericks fanbase emotionally torn from the departure of one of their own and the arrival of something new. Desperation of a Dallas front office searching for a centripetal young force. Desperation of the NBA seeking a fresh, exciting storyline.

For a teenager, the weight of expectations and anticipation can be overwhelming. But Flagg, who’s scored 83 points over his last two games and is operating at a 22.2-point, 6.6-rebound, 4.7-assist clip since Dec. 1, it’s evident he’s no ordinary kid.

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“A lot of maturity and poise coming from him,” teammate Max Christie told Yahoo Sports. “He’s 19 years old, already becoming an avid leader on this team. It shows with his play but also with the way he acts in the locker room, practice and what not. He’s been able to endure a lot and he’s been great for us. Very cool to watch him develop and blossom into the player we all know he can be.”

The Mavericks, who are now 13-15 over the last two months, continue to slide further away from the final play-in spot, currently occupied by the Los Angeles Clippers. But Dallas’ goals — or Flagg’s goals, at least — outweigh the potential prospect of a postseason push.

Spend any amount of time around head coach Jason Kidd, and the level of passion, trust and care he’s put in Flagg is evident. During games, Kidd can be seen with both hands in his pockets near midcourt, calmly calling out occasional sets for Flagg to run using his fingers — knowing that ball retention is near the top of the rookie’s to-do list. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Mavericks commit nearly 3% less turnovers when Flagg is on the floor, an impact metric graded in the 95th percentile.

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Flagg is an extremely ball-savvy player who understands spacing, structure and his teammates. But as the weeks and months have progressed, Flagg has become more aware of himself, what he can and can’t do yet — and how best to leverage his unique skill set. His assist-to-turnover ratio is positive, he encourages ball movement and operates within the flow of the offense. He may not be a traditional point guard — Kidd vehemently pushed back on early criticism regarding Flagg’s position and stormed out of Saturday’s postgame news conference — but it’s clear the rookie needs the ball in his hands more often than he doesn’t.