Dallas Mavericks Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southwest Notes: Mavericks, Wells, Grizzlies, Biberovic

May 22nd, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Rory Maher

The Mavericks are a prime example of how quickly things can change in sports, writes Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com. The team had been lambasted for trading Luka Doncic and then repeatedly botching the public messaging in the aftermath of arguably the most shocking deal in NBA history, but now there’s suddenly reason for optimism after Dallas won the draft lottery and the right to select consensus top prospect Cooper Flagg.

“Our lives today have no resemblance to the way our lives were before last week,” said CEO Rick Welts. “It’s really quite extraordinary. Just walking around town. Getting high-fives from the doormen at my apartment building when they were looking away when I’d walk by before. … The excitement around this for our fans is just unbelievable. I can’t imagine a more dramatic change in fortune than what we’ve experienced.”

Here are a few more notes from around the Southwest:

The Mavericks will host Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi and Obinna Anochili-Killen for pre-draft workouts next week, sources tell Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com. As Afseth notes, Dallas currently only controls one selection — No. 1 overall — in next month’s draft, but GM Nico Harrison has a history of making trades involving second-round picks. Omoruyi comes in at No. 80 on ESPN’s big board, while Onochili-Killen is unranked, so it’s possible neither player will end up being drafted.
Grizzlies wing Jaylen Wells was recently named to the All-Rookie First Team. The Sacramento native has repeatedly surpassed external expectations over the years, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (subscriber link), going from a 5’6″ freshman in high school to Metro Player of the Year as a senior. Wells started his college career at Division II Sonoma State before transferring to Washington State for his junior season, and wound up being selected No. 39 in 2024 after impressing in the pre-draft process. Now he’s been recognized as one of the top rookies in his class.
Draft-and-stash prospect Tarik Biberovic continues to impress with Turkish club Fenerbahce, which is in the EuroLeague Final Four, according to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Biberovic was selected No. 56 overall in the 2023 draft by the Grizzlies, who hold his NBA rights.
In an interview with Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops, sharpshooter Biberovic discussed the possibility of signing an NBA contract with the Grizzlies. “Right now, I don’t think too much about the NBA and all the rumors that are talked about,” Biberovic said. “I told all my agents and everyone who’s dealing with this topic to stop. Because I have a very important weekend. Everything I was working for this year and my whole life will be summed up in this. I don’t want any distractions.”

Latest On Ty Jerome, Sam Merrill

May 22nd, 2025 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters on Monday at his end-of-season media session, Cavaliers head of basketball operations Koby Altman expressed a desire to re-sign free agents Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill this offseason. While Cleveland projects to operate above the second tax apron next season, the team will have the ability to sign both players using Jerome’s Early Bird rights and Merrill’s Bird rights.

However, the cost of retaining the two key reserves would be significant due to the accompanying luxury tax penalties. Although neither Jerome nor Merrill projects to get a massive payday, both players are due significant raises after earning just $2.6MM and $2.2MM, respectively, in 2024/25.

One Eastern Conference executive who spoke to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required) predicted that Jerome’s market in free agency will be in the neighborhood of $12-14MM annually, which would make him a target for teams with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception available this summer. The full MLE is projected to be worth $14.1MM next season.

As Fedor writes, despite his breakout season this past year, Jerome is still viewed as a backup rather than a starter, especially since he was exploited on defense during the Cavaliers’ second-round series vs. Indiana. That perception figures to limit the 27-year-old’s earning potential to some extent in free agency, reducing the odds that he gets a deal exceeding the mid-level.

Fedor identifies the Spurs, Mavericks, and Warriors as a few of the teams to watch as possible suitors for Jerome and hears from sources that the Nuggets have interest too, though their cap situation could prevent them from getting involved. That may also be the case for the Mavs, barring cost-cutting moves in Dallas.

The Pistons could use backcourt help with Dennis Schröder and Malik Beasley entering free agency, but one source close to Jerome tells Cleveland.com that Detroit is probably a “long shot.” As Fedor writes, the Pistons are expected to focus on re-signing Beasley, while Jerome may not be an ideal fit for J.B. Bickerstaff‘s defense-first approach.

If Cavs owner Dan Gilbert is willing to pay a massive tax bill and Jerome doesn’t get offers that far exceed what the Cavs put on the table, Fedor wouldn’t be surprised to see a reunion, noting that the veteran guard recognizes he’s in a great situation in Cleveland.

As for Merrill, one source tells Fedor that his price point could be in the range of $6-8MM per year. The 29-year-old has never earned more than the veteran’s minimum, but he’s a 38.6% career three-point shooter and has improved as a defender.

Stein’s Latest: Holiday, White, Porzingis, Williamson, Mavs, Dumont

May 18th, 2025 at 8:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The early speculation regarding the Celtics’ offseason is that Jrue Holiday is more likely to be moved than backcourt partner Derrick White, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack article.

Holiday has three years remaining on a four-year, $134MM contract, which includes a $37.2MM player option in the final year of the deal. White’s four-year, $118MM extension, which kicks in next season, includes a $34.8MM player option for 2028/29.

Kristaps Porziņgis‘ $30.7MM expiring contract is viewed by outside executives as the most movable on Boston’s roster, according to Stein. However, Porzingis’ mysterious illness, which lingered during the final month of the regular season through the playoffs, may give potential suitors pause.

It should be noted that the need to make some roster adjustments was anticipated before Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles tendon injury, which will likely sideline him though next season. The Celtics’ brass is confronted by luxury tax concerns and tax apron constraints.

Here’s more from Stein:

League sources tell Stein that Zion Williamson‘s presence at the draft lottery was indeed a signal from the Pelicans’ new front office that they’ll continue to make him the team’s centerpiece, rather than looking to deal him. Williamson represented New Orleans at the lottery, though he didn’t bring good luck — the club slid to the No. 7 pick.
While the Mavericks haven’t been overt about it, they have no plans to field trade offers for the No. 1 overall pick. “Not even for Giannis (Antetokounmpo),” a source briefed on the team’s thinking told Stein. The team’s ownership and front office realize they must rebuild trust with their fan base by drafting Cooper Flagg as the new face of the franchise. The Mavericks are expected to soon secure their first in-person meeting with Flagg.
New majority owner Patrick Dumont, who is based in Las Vegas, has visited Dallas multiple times since the Mavericks’ season ended in early April. That has reinforced the notion that Dumont remains in general manager Nico Harrison’s corner as the franchise’s top decision-maker, says Stein.

Suns Narrow Down Coaching Search To Nine Candidates

May 18th, 2025 at 2:06pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

2:06 pm: Heat assistant Chris Quinn has also moved onto the second stage of Phoenix’s coaching search, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).

1:17 pm: The Suns appear to be narrowing down their search for their fourth head coach in as many seasons.

According to veteran NBA insider Chris Haynes (YouTube video link), new Phoenix general manager Brian Gregory has selected eight candidates to advance to the second round of the process. Previous reporting indicated that the Suns had initial conversations with between 15 and 20 candidates.

As Haynes details, that eight-man group consists of Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, Suns assistant David Fizdale, Pelicans assistant James Borrego, Cavaliers assistants Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott, Nets assistant Steve Hetzel, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, and Thunder assistant Dave Bliss.

Among these eight finalists, only Fizdale and Borrego have prior head coaching experience on their resumes.

As Haynes notes, Fizdale previously turned down a head coaching offer from former Suns owner, Robert Sarver, instead accepting an ill-fated gig as the head coach of the Knicks, which lasted just over a year. All told, Fizdale has a cumulative 71-134 regular season record during his stints with the Grizzlies and Knicks. He led Memphis to one playoff berth during his debut season as the team’s head coach.

Borrego was the interim head coach in Orlando for the end of the 2014/15 season, and served as the head coach with Charlotte from 2018-22. He boasts a 148-183 overall regular season record and has yet to lead a team to the playoffs.

Reports earlier this spring indicated that Phoenix would likely be targeting a younger head coach following brief stints with Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer at the helm. As Haynes observes, this group of names is consistent with that aim — 51-year-old Nori and 50-year-old Fizdale are the oldest of the eight candidates, most of whom are in their 30s and early 40s.

The Suns brass is hoping their next coach can “build a program from scratch,” according to Haynes, who says the team is emphasizing discipline, accountability, and a philosophical alignment with majority owner Mat Ishbia and the front office. Phoenix is also prioritizing coaching candidates with defensive backgrounds.

A coach who can effectively work with star players is another important consideration, even if the Suns ultimately move on from Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and/or even Devin Booker in the near future. According to Haynes, the head coaching decision may have an impact on how the team moves forward with its stars, since it’s possible Budenholzer’s replacement will have a preexisting relationship with one or more of those players or will hit it off quickly with them.

The expectation is that the Suns will eventually reduce their coaching candidate pool from eight candidates to three finalists, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).

Mavs’ Marshall Discusses Losing Doncic, Landing Flagg

May 17th, 2025 at 8:35pm CST by Arthur Hill

Like virtually everyone else in Dallas, Naji Marshall was in disbelief when he heard that the Mavericks had traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (subscription required). For Marshall, the move meant not only losing the cornerstone of the franchise, but also parting with a close friend and someone who impacted his game during their brief time together.

Marshall arrived in Dallas last summer, signing a three-year, $27MM contract in free agency after spending his first four NBA seasons in New Orleans. He wound up playing just 17 games alongside Doncic before the trade, but he said they quickly formed a connection on the court.

“I mean, I understood that, like, business is business as far as the NBA, but I was hurt, man,” Marshall said during a recent appearance on The Old Man and the Three podcast. “Luka’s my dawg, for real. And I love (Anthony Davis). That’s my guy right there. Like, he’s been great with us. You know, he welcomed us with open arms. … But as far as just personally, like, I just was hurt to lose Luka, man.”

Marshall added that Doncic’s welcoming nature became apparent shortly after he joined the Mavericks. He called Doncic a great communicator who knew how to connect with his teammates.

“Luka is just the chillest guy ever, bro. You just feel like his best friend from day one,” Marshall continued. “He’s just a great dude. Never mad, just always happy. And just a Hall of Fame flamethrower when it comes to basketball.”

Marshall also shared his memories of Doncic’s emotional return to Dallas on April 9. After being moved to tears by a pregame tribute video, Doncic proceeded to shred his former team with 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals in a 112-97 victory. Marshall, who led the Mavs with 23 points and eight assists in that game, said it was “beautiful” to watch Doncic back in action at American Airlines Center.

“First game home … Luka wanted to be in Dallas. He probably never thought he was gonna leave,” Marshall said. “To see him cry before the game — like, I don’t know what he was feeling, but I could just imagine what that moment felt like for him.”

Another topic during the podcast was the Mavericks’ remarkable lottery luck, which saw them rise from No. 11 to land the top pick and the chance to draft Cooper Flagg. Marshall said he was overcome with excitement while watching the broadcast as envelopes continued to be opened without Dallas’ logo coming up.

Marshall believes Flagg can be an impact player right away as the Mavs try to establish themselves as contenders again following a disastrous season.

“I love his game, honestly,” Marshall said. “Like, for real… He’s a winner. I love how he hoop. … The dog he has. I’m a dog, so that’s what I’m really looking for, and he’s a dog, too. I’m excited, bro. I’m excited to see him grow—become a star in the league.”

Mavs’ Kidd Talks No. 1 Pick, Flagg, Doncic Trade

May 17th, 2025 at 2:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show this week (YouTube link), Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd admitted he wasn’t watching Monday’s draft lottery live and said he thought there was a “1” missing when he received text messages telling him that Dallas would be drafting in the top four and then that the team had secured the No. 1 overall pick.

“I just felt we were going to stay around 11, if not go backwards, the way things were going for us this year,” Kidd said (hat tip to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal).

Asked by Patrick whether the Mavs plan to use the No. 1 overall pick to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the consensus top prospect in this year’s draft pool, Kidd was hesitant to outright confirm as much or to discuss Flagg directly, explaining that he’s trying “to make sure we don’t get in any trouble.”

When Patrick asked if the NBA would be fine with him commenting on “the kid from Duke,” the Mavs’ coach smiled and replied, “We’re excited about the kid at Duke.”

“I’m just the coach (but) yes, I would say we’re all concentrating on No. 1,” Kidd said. “The draft is deep, but the name you just brought up, I think we’re all focused on.”

If the lottery outcome had been different, Flagg could have ended up as the centerpiece for a rebuilding club like Utah or Washington. Instead, he’ll be joining a team with championship aspirations led by veterans like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. Kidd believes it’ll be an ideal situation for the No. 1 pick.

“He’ll be 18. He doesn’t turn 19 until December, and so just understanding he’s young, but he’s very talented, can play both ends,” Kidd said. “Being able to have older players—and when I say that, out of respect, they’re not dinosaurs—but when you look at the age of 30, Ky, AD, guys that are here, Klay could definitely help him with the process of going through a rookie season.

“… I think this is a great situation for him,” Kidd continued. “(Considering) the different guys that we have already on the team, the pressure of living up to No. 1 will be a lot easier with the talent around him. When you talk about the other clubs (he could’ve ended up with), he would have to produce right away at a high, high level. I think this is a great situation for him to grow his game, where the pressure isn’t as high. But we are playing for a championship.”

Kidd also spoke to Patrick about how he learned about – and reacted to – the Luka Doncic trade in February, explaining that when he got that call from general manager Nico Harrison at a hotel in Cleveland, he immediately began considering how the star guard’s departure and the additions of Davis and Max Christie would affect the Mavericks’ game plan.

According to Kidd, the day of the trade was the last time he spoke to Doncic. Having been unexpectedly traded himself as a player, the Mavs’ head coach knew some of what the 26-year-old was going through.

“I don’t think he was too happy. From the experience of being traded, maybe being surprised, upset, feelings are high,” Kidd said (hat tip to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops). “But I loved the opportunity of coaching Luka. He’s an incredible person, and we all know his talent is one of the best in the world. … I’ve always said this publicly and privately: I wish Luka the best. He’s one of the best players in the world.”

Lakers Notes: Reaves, Offseason, Centers, Streit, Draft

May 17th, 2025 at 12:19pm CST by Rory Maher

There has been speculation that the Lakers might look to trade Austin Reaves this summer to address the team’s needs on the wing and/or frontcourt. He struggled in the Lakers’ first-round loss to Minnesota after a strong regular season and is on a below-market-value contract, which could make it tricky to extend him prior to 2026 free agency — he’s considered likely to decline his $14.9MM player option for 2026/27, per Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group.

However, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka made it clear that the Lakers highly value the shooting guard when he referred to Reaves as one of the team’s three pillars, alongside Luka Doncic and LeBron James, Price writes.

“When your foundation for those three players is that they’re players of high character and a highly competitive nature, that’s the perfect starting point, to have three players like that,” Pelinka responded when asked about the benefit of having training camp ahead of the 2025/26 season.

“LeBron (is) a selfless player, high character. All he cares about is winning. Luka Doncic, the same. Austin Reaves, the same. When you get those three pillars in a training camp environment and you’re starting to build an ethos around them, that’s a great starting point.”

Here’s more on the Lakers:

In a subscriber-only column for The Los Angeles Times, Bill Plaschke explains why he believes it’s in the team’s best interest to trade Reaves for a center, despite the impressive strides he’s made over the years. Plaschke is a big fan of Reaves’ game, toughness and story, but says his skill set isn’t an ideal complement for Doncic and argues he’s the team’s best remaining trade chip outside of Doncic and James, who aren’t going anywhere. If they want to make a major upgrade in the middle, moving Reaves is the Lakers’ best option to do so, Plaschke contends.
The Lakers were at the center of attention last spring and summer amid a coaching change, but there hasn’t been much buzz about them this offseason, writes Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times (subscriber link). According to Woike, the Lakers have shown “no interest” in trading Reaves unless they receive a “top-tier” big man in return, and there aren’t any centers like that on the market right now. Nic Claxton of the Nets and Daniel Gafford of the Mavericks have been linked to the Lakers, Woike notes, but neither is an elite center or a lock to be heading to L.A., for various reasons.
The Lakers parted ways with strength coach Ed Streit last week, people with knowledge of the situation tell Woike. Streit, whom Woike describes as a “well-liked” member of the franchise, was initially hired as an assistant strength coach in 2019 before being promoted in 2021.
Los Angeles controls the 55th pick in next month’s draft. LZ Granderson of The Los Angeles Times would like to see the Lakers draft a mature, experienced center prospect with their lone selection.

2025 NBA Draft Picks By Team

May 16th, 2025 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets and Jazz were among the teams who left Monday’s draft lottery disappointed, as Brooklyn slipped two spots to No. 8 while Utah, the NBA’s worst team during the 2024/25 season, ended up at No. 6.

Still, while they won’t be picking as high in the lottery as they might like, the Nets and Jazz will enter this year’s draft armed with plenty of ammunition. Brooklyn controls a league-high five 2025 draft picks, including four first-rounders and an early second-rounder. Utah, meanwhile, is one of just two teams (along with the Magic) controlling four picks in this year’s draft, including a pair of first-rounders.

Four other clubs – the Spurs, Hornets, Wizards, and Thunder – own three picks apiece, so those seven teams combine to control 25 of the 59 selections in the 2025 draft.

In addition to those teams with three or more picks, 12 more clubs own a pair of 2025 draft selections, while another 10 control one apiece. That latter group includes the Mavericks, whose No. 1 overall pick is their only selection in this year’s draft.

That leaves just a single NBA team without a draft pick this year: the Nuggets. Denver traded its 2025 first-rounder to Orlando back in 2021 as part of a package for Aaron Gordon in a deal that has worked out exceedingly well for the 2023 champions and sent out its 2025 second-rounder last offseason in a Reggie Jackson salary-dump. The Nuggets could still trade into this draft, but for now they’re the only team on track to sit it out.

To present a clearer picture of which teams are most – and least – stocked with picks for the 2025 NBA draft, we’ve rounded up all 59 selections by team in the space below. Let’s dive in…

Teams with more than two picks:

Brooklyn Nets (5): 8, 19, 26, 27, 36
Utah Jazz (4): 5, 21, 43, 53
Orlando Magic (4): 16, 25, 46, 57
San Antonio Spurs (3): 2, 14, 38
Charlotte Hornets (3): 4, 33, 34
Washington Wizards (3): 6, 18, 40
Oklahoma City Thunder (3): 15, 24, 44

Teams with two picks:

Philadelphia 76ers: 3, 35
Toronto Raptors: 9, 39
Houston Rockets: 10, 59
Chicago Bulls: 12, 45
Atlanta Hawks: 13, 22
Minnesota Timberwolves: 17, 31
Indiana Pacers: 23, 54
Boston Celtics: 28, 32
Phoenix Suns: 29, 52
Los Angeles Clippers: 30, 51
Memphis Grizzlies: 48, 56
Cleveland Cavaliers: 49, 58

Teams with one pick:

Dallas Mavericks: 1
New Orleans Pelicans: 7
Portland Trail Blazers: 11
Miami Heat: 20
Detroit Pistons: 37
Golden State Warriors: 41
Sacramento Kings: 42
Milwaukee Bucks: 47
New York Knicks: 50
Los Angeles Lakers: 55

Teams with no picks:

Denver Nuggets

Southwest Notes: Mavs, Flagg, Spurs, Harper, Pelicans

May 15th, 2025 at 7:16pm CST by Earnest Marshall

The Mavericks realize how fortunate they are to have won Monday’s draft lottery that all but guaranteed Cooper Flagg will land in Dallas. According to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (subscriber link), CEO Rick Welts said the business staff received an overwhelming number of ticket and sponsor requests shortly after winning the lottery.

“In the past 24 hours alone,” Welts said earlier in the week, “we’ve had 28 times more inbound calls for season tickets and 35 times more daily additions to the season-ticket waitlist. Also, six times more inbound sponsorship communications from brands and prospective clients.”

According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, Flagg also understands how great a situation Dallas can be for him and is excited about the prospect of joining a playoff-caliber roster and getting the chance to be a significant part of the offensive scheme.

We have more from the Southwest Division:

After the shocking Luka Doncic trade in February sent uproars throughout the Mavericks fanbase, winning the lottery gives those same fans a reason to be hopeful, Christian Clark of The Athletic writes. In a similar story, Mark Medina of Athlon Sports writes that Flagg can help the Mavericks jump back into contention in year one.
After landing the second overall pick in the lottery, the Spurs appear primed to select Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. He spoke about the chance of playing alongside ball-dominant players like De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, according to San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Orsborn (Twitter link). “The NBA is really positionless basketball, so I mean you could play with a bunch of ball-handlers and a bunch of people that could get opportunities for themselves, but let other people get opportunities for them,” Harper said.
After finishing with the fourth-worst record in the league, the Pelicans fell three spots in the draft lottery to No. 7. Rod Walker of NOLA.com analyzes seven prospects who could make sense for New Orleans after the lottery didn’t go their way. Walker writes that Duke’s Kon Knueppel would be his pick at No. 7 if he had to choose a favorite, given the spacing that he would add. Another intriguing pick could be South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles, whom new basketball operations head Joe Dumars might favor due to his toughness.

Cooper Flagg Comments On Fit With Mavericks

May 14th, 2025 at 6:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

Cooper Flagg, who’s almost certainly headed to the Mavericks after the surprising results of Monday’s lottery, commented on the process for the first time today at the draft combine in Chicago, according to Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal (subscription required).

“I’m grateful to get this opportunity, or any opportunity to hear my name called on draft night,” Flagg said. “I’m just really excited for this whole experience. Not everybody gets to go through this, so I just feel really blessed. As far as Dallas goes, they’ve got a lot of really good pieces.”

Flagg was the consensus No. 1 pick in this year’s draft even before he arrived at Duke. He solidified that status with an outstanding freshman season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. He led the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record and a spot in the Final Four.

With Utah, Washington and Charlotte holding the best odds coming into the lottery, Flagg could have easily ended up in a rebuilding situation. Instead, he joins a Dallas team with a strong veteran core in Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington.

Flagg is excited to be teaming up with another Duke alum, Dereck Lively, who was drafted by the Mavericks two years ago.

“To be able to learn from D-Live — that’s pretty cool,” Flagg said. “So I think it would be a really cool opportunity.”

Flagg was in the audience as the envelopes were opened Monday night, attending the event with Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, another likely lottery pick. Flagg didn’t directly address the results, which came down to Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia and Charlotte as the four finalists, but he indicated some surprise at the outcome.

“It was a crazy draft lottery,” he said. “It was a cool experience to be there and go through that experience.”

Flagg isn’t expected to do much at the combine outside of the mandatory measurements and testing. Afseth reports that he measured 6 feet, 7.75 inches without shoes with a wingspan of 7 feet and a standing reach of 8 feet, 10.5 inches. He weighs 221 pounds and recorded a 40-inch vertical leap.

It’s unlikely that Flagg will work out for any teams other than Dallas, so his schedule will be relatively light until the first round of the draft on June 25. He says his approach to his rookie season would have been the same no matter which team won the right to draft him.

“Wherever it is, I’m just gonna try and be me to the best of my ability,” Flagg said. “Try to do whatever the team needs — play both sides of the ball and just play really hard in every single possession.”