'Fortune favors the bold'... Nico Harrison's reaction to Mavs landing Cooper Flagg

The Dallas Mavericks GM thinks the pressure from the Luka Doncic-Lakers trade will start to settle.

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks lucked into the first overall pick when they won the NBA Draft Lottery on a 1.8% chance, and they concluded that by making the extremely obvious choice of Duke's Cooper Flagg. It was a saving grace for a franchise that needed a life raft after the Luka Doncic trade was set to cost them close to a billion dollars over the next few years.

Nothing Dallas did was out of the ordinary in terms of the Draft. In fact, they likely had a much easier process than most once they knew what pick they had.

READ MORE: Mavericks star Anthony Davis sends message to Cooper Flagg after NBA Draft

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Cooper Flagg looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

So, when Nico Harrison sits down for his post-draft press conference and says he thinks landing the first pick will make the fanbase less upset at him, it comes off in a certain type of way; the wrong way.

“I was extremely surprised [we landed the first pick],” he said. “All my draft prep up to that point was us being in the 11th position... But, things happen. Fortune favors the bold. Exciting things fell our way...

"I’ve seen the fans react to that since we got the No. 1 pick. It feels like they’re feeling really good and optimistic about the future,” he said. “I’m hoping so [that fans won't be as angry at him]. I’m assuming so — a little bit maybe.”

Harrison clearly hasn't seen the fans' reaction overall, because a vast majority of the fanbase is still upset. They're willing to welcome Cooper Flagg to Dallas, but that doesn't make up for February's disastrous trade. He was booed in the American Airlines Center during the draft watch party when he was shown on the screen right before the pick was announced.

Mavericks fans are allowed to be more optimistic about the future because of Flagg and bouncing ping pong balls, not Harrison. A month ago, before the Lottery results were drawn, the Mavericks simply didn't have a future. Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis are both in their 30s with injury histories. Their young pieces, like Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington, are good players but don't project to be able to be the top player on a good team. Cooper Flagg can be.

It is a little aggravating that he thinks he was rewarded for the Doncic trade, essentially, when he said, "Fortune favors the bold." Tell that to Kyrie Irving's ACL, Anthony Davis' adductor, and every other injury they suffered last year. Fortune favored a suffering Mavericks fanbase, not a power-hungry GM.

READ MORE: Mavericks fans go crazy for Cooper Flagg pick in NBA Draft

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the offseason

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

More Dallas Mavericks News

• Mavericks land first overall pick in 2025 NBA Draft

• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver takes subtle jab at other teams after Mavs win Lottery

• Mavericks listed among favorites to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant

• Mavericks Championship winning coach headed back to NBA Finals