Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison had been operating with a compressed championship window around Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis after trading Luka Doncic before the 2025 deadline. However, winning the NBA Draft Lottery and selecting Cooper Flagg has fundamentally altered the franchise's strategic approach.

The unexpected lottery victory allows Dallas to pursue immediate contention while simultaneously building for the future around a potential franchise cornerstone. Harrison acknowledged this dual timeline represents a significant shift from his previous win-now mentality.

"I think it's two things," said Harrison. "I think it's win now, it's also win in the future, and we don't know when. Eventually it's gonna be Cooper's team. We don't know when that transition will happen. So I think it's win now and then set yourself up to win in the future as well."

Lottery Win Changes Everything for Dallas

Harrison admitted the lottery results caught him completely off guard given Dallas's projected draft position. The general manager had spent months preparing for a mid-lottery selection rather than the top overall pick.

"I was extremely surprised," said Harrison. "All my draft prep up to that point was us being in the 11th position, so that's just. But you know, things happen, fortune favors the bold, so exciting things fell our way."

The franchise now faces the challenge of balancing immediate playoff aspirations with long-term development of their prized rookie.