The Dallas Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of landing Cooper Flagg in the draft. But they’re already reaping the rewards of their good fortune. Yes, I know, the team fell to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night, 120–116, as several starters struggled to keep the offense going, but Flagg wasn’t one of them.

He finished the game with 11 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals on 4/8 shooting in 24 minutes. While he continues adjusting to the team, he understands there is always room for more improvement.

The rookie admitted that his on-court chemistry with Anthony Davis could be better. Although the pair showed moments of promise, including a highlight-reel alley-oop from Flagg to Davis, the connection remains a work in progress. “I think it’s been huge. I think team-wise, just getting a feel, it’s a different game,” he said after the game. “Different spacing… I have to find ways to help AD more, play off him a little better, help him impact the game when he’s posting up, getting his isos and whatnot, so I got to find a way to help him a little bit more.”

The rookie isn’t wrong.

He is part of a team that is built for a championship run. And considering Kyrie Irving is sidelined due to a torn ACL in his left knee, Davis and Flagg will have to lead the team along with other names like D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, and PJ Washington.

So, Flagg’s remarks reflect his awareness of the adjustment required to play alongside a star like Davis. But if someone has to step up to get it done, it is the Mavs’ head coach. Jason Kidd needs to make this happen so that the star players can help each other.

Both AD and Cooper Flagg have had the entire summer to build a certain level of chemistry. While it might not be perfect just yet, that might change soon.

However, as the youngster figures out a way to help out Anthony Davis, it seems like the veteran isn’t himself. Calls to trade him away seem to be piling up pretty quickly.

Trade calls mount on Anthony Davis after his recent preseason performance

Although the regular season is yet to start, it seems like the Dallas Mavericks supporters aren’t happy with Anthony Davis, especially after his performance last night. The veteran forward looked nowhere near his best against the Hornets. In 24 minutes of action, even though AD put up a respectable 12 points along with 4 rebounds and an assist, he looked slow. Even Klay Thompson had 14 points playing just 21 minutes.

Davis struggled big time while defending. He ended the night with the worst +/- among the starters at -24. This terrible performance raised quite a few eyebrows, with several fans urging the franchise to trade Anthony Davis. In fact, the host on ‘Lakers Nation’ on YouTube, Trevor Lane, also shared similar sentiments. He revealed that AD looked slow and sluggish on Saturday night because he had gained around 15 lbs during the offseason.

“AD’s superpower is supposed to be that he can defend on the interior and out on the perimeter. And he was getting jumpers rained on him all game long,” Lane said in his latest video. That’s the same reason Luka Doncic was shown the exit doors, as per reports and sources. So, if the star of the franchise faces the axe, Davis surely doesn’t get much sympathy from the North Texas fans.

With Flagg’s arrival, the franchise will look to structure the roster around him. And if Davis doesn’t complement the young forward, his days might be limited.

That might sound harsh, given it was a preseason game. But Davis needs to do much better. Will this uproar from the fans and analysts prompt Anthony Davis to switch things up in the next game? That’s something we can only wait and watch, as the Mavericks gear up to face Utah at the Delta Center on October 13.