The Mavericks felt that Doncic didn't give them the best chance to win a title — despite the fact that they made the NBA Finals just a year ago — constantly repeating the phrase "defense wins championships" as the explanation for the deal.

It turned out to be a wild evening for Dallas Mavericks fans. After entering with just a 1.8% chance to win the NBA draft lottery, Dallas made history and secured the No. 1 overall pick. The favorite to be taken with the top selection? Duke superstar Cooper Flagg.

Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey were among the top projected picks in the latest 2025 NBA mock draft from ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo. After the Dallas Mavericks won Monday's draft lottery, the team was expected to add Flagg at No.