Mavericks Move Cooper Flagg to Point Guard

Merlin sees Dallas experimenting with Cooper Flagg as the point guard in Monday’s preseason with D'Angelo Russell out and Kyrie Irving sidelined. The reported starters — Flagg, PJ Washington, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis and Derrick Lively II — suggest the Mavs are auditioning a lineup to cover thin guard depth. Flagg flashed playmaking at Duke (4.2 APG) and is averaging 3.5 assists in preseason, and Jason Kidd said, "We want to look at him handling the ball..." An 18-year-old running the offense is both risk and promise — a young sorcerer who can bend plays but also miscast spells. Merlin notes Kidd warned, "there's gonna be some turnovers," yet praised Flagg's reads and pick-and-roll IQ. If Flagg trims mistakes, Dallas gains a versatile option while Kyrie is out; if not, the experiment will be short-lived.