The Dallas Mavericks improbably earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft on Monday night, giving them the right to select star Duke Blue Devils prospect Cooper Flagg. ESPN analyst Jay Williams surprisingly suggested that the team should trade the pick, leading to a hilarious response from star Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.
The past few months have been a whirlwind for the Mavs, as they faced an immense amount of backlash for their decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. They spiraled down the stretch of the season, and eventually saw their season come to an end in the play-in tournament.
Landing the No. 1 pick could be their saving grace, as they could pair Flagg up with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, which seems like a lethal trio on paper. Williams believes that the team should trade the pick, though, and pursue a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Devin Booker, as it would allow them to maximize their current championship window.
When Young heard that suggestion, he quickly responded to it on social media. The four-time All-Star took aim at Williams, saying this was another ludicrous draft suggestion from him, which he believes is becoming a yearly occurrence.
"The yearly Jay Will terrible draft take. Never gets old," Young said in response to the aforementioned clip of Williams on X.
The yearly Jay Will terrible draft take😂
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 13, 2025
Never gets old
Assuming the Mavericks stay put, the overwhelming expectation is that they would select Flagg, who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 48.1% from the field.
While Dallas managed to land the No. 1 pick, Atlanta didn't have as successful of a night, as they landed the No. 13 pick in the draft lottery. The 2025 NBA draft is scheduled for Wednesday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET.