Where Is Cooper Flagg Going to Fit In the Rotation?
This article examines how the Dallas Mavericks’ recent additions of sharpshooter Malik Beasley and veteran forward Grant Williams interact with the rookie Cooper Flagg, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The piece explores Beasley’s and Williams’s strengths and contracts, how Dallas’ rotation may shape up when the season starts, what risks there are of role conflict, and the benefits of versatility.
Every stat, name, number, and contract detail provided will be used.
Overview of Beasley’s and Williams’ Strengths and Fit With the Mavs’ System
Cooper Flagg’s arrival gives Dallas another versatile forward with defensive chops, but Beasley and Williams bring complementary skills. Their contracts, experience, and skill sets affect how Flagg might be integrated.
Malik Beasley played all 82 regular-season games for the Detroit Pistons in 2024-25, making 18 starts. He averaged 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, while making 41.6% of his three-point attempts. He set a franchise record for Detroit with 319 three-pointers in that season. Beasley’s current contract is a one-year, $6,000,000 deal, fully guaranteed, with a cap hit of $7,200,000. He is 28 years old (born Nov 26, 1996) and has played for multiple teams: Nuggets, Timberwolves, Jazz, Lakers, Bucks, and Pistons.
Grant Williams is known for his defense, ability to guard multiple positions, and decent three-point shooting. He can play as a forward who can stretch the floor and hit open shots while being a tough, no-nonsense big body defender. His contract is a 4-year, $53,341,500 deal (fully guaranteed) with an average annual salary of $13,335,375. For the 2025-26 season, Williams will earn a base salary of $13,645,500, with that as the cap hit and dead cap value.
Cooper Flagg came out of Duke averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from three, and 84% from the free-throw line. He is 6-foot-9, ~225 lbs, with great wingspan and defensive versatility: able to guard multiple positions from guards through bigs. In the Final Four and NCAA Tournament, his numbers remained strong: 21.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.8 blocks, with 44.2% FG and 50.0% 3PT.
How Rotations May Look Once the Season Starts
With the roster the way it is, including Flagg, Davis, Irving (recovering), etc., the Mavericks have choices for starting lineups and bench units.
Flagg is projected by several sources to start at small forward next to Anthony Davis at power forward, and Dereck Lively II at center. Beasley’s role would be off the bench (or in a second unit), spacing the floor as a shooter. He may compete for time at shooting guard or small forward in certain lineups. Williams will serve as a rotation forward (power forward / small forward) who can defend multiple positions, hit threes, rebound, and provide veteran minutes off the bench or spot start.
Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL in March; he is expected to miss the start of the season. That leaves a void in ball handling, playmaking, and scoring that Flagg may partially fill. While Irving is out, Flagg will have more opportunities to initiate offense, drive, and facilitate. He may get more minutes earlier, particularly if Dallas wants to develop his shot creation and spacing.
Veterans like Williams will eat up minutes behind the starters, especially in defensive and matchup calls. Flagg may spell starters to keep them fresh or cover when Davis or Lively need rest. Beasley is likely to be used heavily in bench units to provide instant offense and three-point shooting. That could force rotations to give fewer minutes to non-shooters or less efficient scorers.
Risks of Overcrowding vs. Benefits of Playstyle Versatility
The Mavericks’ frontcourt and wing depth are strong; that creates opportunity but also potential conflicts in roles, touches, and development.
Anthony Davis is naturally a power forward/center but has historically deferred the five when possible; with three bigs (Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford), Flagg may not get much time at PF if Davis and Gafford are healthy. Williams also plays stretch-four/forward positions; he could eat into some of Flagg’s minutes at the wing / forward spots. Beasley’s presence as a shooter may reduce catch-and-shoot opportunities for Flagg or limit easy spacing for him unless rotations are carefully managed.
Flagg’s ability to defend one through five, shoot threes, handle the ball, and pass gives Dallas options. He can be used in switching schemes, in smaller lineups, or in long lineups with Davis and Lively II. Beasley brings gravity off the ball; Williams brings defense and matchups; Flagg can combine aspects of both (spot-up shooter, defender, cutter, facilitator), allowing the team to have varied offensive sets and defensive matchups. Depth gives flexibility: if Davis rests or is injured, if Irving is out or limited, if opponents force switches, Flagg can plug in and play above expectation in multiple spots.
Fantasy Basketball Considerations
Savvy fantasy players who stay up today with everything in the league, including the draft, injuries, trades, and signings, revisit NBA fantasy auction values to reevaluate rotational players’ auction values under the new squad order. Cooper Flagg’s projected role, combined with Beasley’s sharpshooting and Williams’ defensive versatility, will influence how much value fantasy managers place on each.
Those who anticipate Flagg getting starter-level statistical contributions in steals, blocks, assists, and 3-point shots will draft him higher; Beasley’s scoring upside off the bench and Williams’ consistency may offer safer, but lower ceiling options in fantasy.
What Numbers Suggest Flagg May Get Opportunities Despite Competition
Even though there are multiple forwards and wings, several indicators point toward a significant opportunity for Flagg.
The team has committed large sums to Davis, Williams, and others. Flagg’s rookie contract (estimated around $13.8 million for next season, $62.7 million over four years) gives Dallas an incentive to find meaningful minutes for him. Beasley is on a shorter, lower-commitment deal (one year, $6 million), meaning his role is less secured long-term. That gives Dallas flexibility to shift floor-spacings and bench roles.
Williams, in recent seasons, has averaged around 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, and shot 39.5% from 3-point range in one of his better seasons. Beasley averaged—just in 2024-25—16.3 points per game for all 82 games. That scoring load by a bench/shooter role suggests that unless Dallas has multiple players with high scoring off the bench, Beasley will claim a big part of those minutes. That leaves fewer pure scoring duties for Flagg initially.
Where Flagg Will Fit and What Needs to Happen
Putting all the pieces together, here’s how Cooper Flagg is likely to fit in the Mavericks’ rotation and what he will need to watch out for (and leverage).
Flagg will be the primary starting small forward next to Davis at PF and Lively II at center, assuming Davis is healthy. He will get substantial minutes in second units as well, especially when veterans need rest or during matchups favoring his defensive versatility. Early in the season, before Irving returns, Flagg may get extended playing time, initiating offense or handling second or third ball-handling duties, sharing ball-handling duties with guards when necessary.
He must avoid being pigeonholed only as a spot-up shooter or pure defender. His assist, rebounding, turnovers, and shot creation need to make him more than a role player. He should push for consistent three-point shooting percentage and volume; effective spacing helps clear lanes for rim drives and playmaking. Maintaining defensive intensity, especially on switches and helping rim protection, will validate his value next to Davis and Williams.
The upside is that Flagg may become a key two-way player, starter-level, with all-around stats, while allowing the team to field one of the deepest forward/wing rotations in the league. The risk is overcrowding at forward/wing; reduced touches or scoring opportunities; and the possibility of being staked in a second unit that limits fantasy value or perceived impact if minutes are managed conservatively.
Cooper Flagg enters a Mavericks roster that has beefed up the bench with proven players like Malik Beasley (one-year, $6M deal; excellent 3-point shooter, 16.3 PPG in 82 games last season) and Grant Williams (4-year, $53,341,500 contract; defensive versatility; solid floor spacing).
Flagg’s rookie contract, his elite college production (19.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.2 APG; 48.1% FG, 38.5% 3PT), and defensive switchability give him the tools to earn meaningful minutes even in contested spots.
If he maximizes his shot creation, defense, and understands matchups, he could sidestep the risks of overcrowding.
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