Rookies Dallas Mavericks Should Target to Pair With Cooper Flagg in Trade Scenario

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Rookies Dallas Mavericks Should Target to Pair With Cooper Flagg in Trade Scenario originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
This Wednesday, players from all over the world will be waiting with bated breath to find out if their name will be called to join the elite in the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks own the first overall pick and are widely expected to draft the most talented player in this year's draft, Cooper Flagg from Duke.
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However, the Mavericks have not been shy about their need for a point guard. Moreover, if they are taking a page out of the success of the Indiana Pacers, they are going to look for a guard who can create shots for both his teammates and himself.
Rafael Barlowe, the co-host of the Locked On NBA Big Board podcast, said on a recent episode of their podcast that the Mavericks may be exploring ways to get back into the first round. If they are able to do this, they may consider drafting one of the following, should they be available.
Nolan Traore, G France
Nolan Traore, a 6-3 guard out of France, is widely considered to be one of the top prospects in this draft. If you take his stats from this past year, where he played for Saint-Quentin, and look at them per 36 minutes of play, he would have averaged 18.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 2.8 rebounds.
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Two of the drawbacks with Traore are his shooting percentage from 3, and his turnover numbers. He struggled to shoot the ball from deep last year, logging a mere 30.4 percent from behind the arc. He also averaged 2.5 turnovers per game.
These are areas that the Mavericks coaching staff would need to work with him on if he is going to take the reins until the possible return of Kyrie Irving.
Nique Clifford, G/F Colorado State
Nique Clifford is an intriguing prospect. A 6-6 guard from Colorado State is both a playmaker and a shooter. Last season, he averaged a career-high 18.9 points per game.
He also contributed with 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He proved he can score at any level, averaging 49.6 percent from the floor as a whole and 37.7 percent from behind the arc.
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Clifford could definitely be a great fit for the Mavericks as either a tall guard or if the opposing team is playing a small-ball lineup, he could slide down and play the small forward position and still be effective on the defensive end.
He is also one of the older players in the draft, and his maturity may make him an instant plug-and-play type of player.
Walter Clayton Jr, G Florida
Walter Clayton Jr, fresh off the Florida Gators' national championship run, is another intriguing prospect that the Mavericks could target late in the first round.
He is a 6-3 guard who can score at will, but also can facilitate the offense. He will do whatever is necessary for the team to win.
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He averaged 18.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, while shooting a scorching 44.8 percent from the floor. He also shot nearly 38..6 percent from deep.
He is a guard who could contribute and fit what the Mavericks need right away as someone to facilitate the offense, but occasionally knock down shots if needed.
The Dallas Mavericks' offense last season, especially after the injury to Kyrie Irving, looked very stagnant at times. There seemed to be a thought process of getting Anthony Davis the ball, and then standing around and watching him try to score.
They have to find someone who can get open shots for their scorers like Klay Thompson and PJ Washington Jr. Clayton Jr could very well fit that mold.
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Related: Why Dallas Mavericks Must Think Twice Before Trading for Jrue Holiday
Related: Fresh Intel Reveals Mavericks' Strong Stance on Cooper Flagg
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.