Just three games remain in the Dallas Mavericks' season, but there is still something to watch for, besides Cooper Flagg.
With how Cooper Flagg has been playing over the last week, you'd think his Dallas Mavericks are gearing up for a postseason run, hoping to begin playing their best basketball of the season.
However, that's not the case. While Flagg's heroics have brought fun moments for the Mavs, they remain near the bottom of the conference standings and wouldn't mind losses piling up at the end of the season to improve their lottery odds.
The much-anticipated NBA Draft Lottery will take place on May 10. Last year's event was a metaphorical turning of the page for Mavs fans after Dallas won the rights to draft Flagg first overall after just 1.8 percent odds of that happening going in.
This year, with a record of 25-54 and still three games to play, the Mavericks' odds will be better than that. They're also in a tight race with other teams - many others - who are tanking their way to high odds for a top pick in what many consider a top-heavy draft.
Dallas currently holds the sixth-best odds for a top pick in a tie with the Memphis Grizzlies. Here is the breakdown of teams in the running as of April 8, courtesy of Tankathon.com.
1 - Washington Wizards (17-62)
2 - Indiana Pacers (18-61)
3 - Brooklyn Nets (20-59)
T4 - Utah Jazz (21-59)
T4 - Sacramento Kings (21-59)
T6 - Memphis Grizzlies (25-54)
T6 - Dallas Mavericks (25-54)
8 - New Orleans Pelicans* (26-54) *Pick going to Atlanta Hawks
9 - Chicago Bulls (30-49)
10 - Milwaukee Bucks (31-48)
11 - Golden State Warriors (37-42)
12 - Portland Trail Blazers (40-39)
13 - Miami Heat (41-38)
14 - Charlotte Hornets (43-37)
The Mavericks' last game, a loss at the LA Clippers Tuesday evening, jumped them ahead of New Orleans (who's pick goes to Atlanta following last year's trade involving rookie Derik Queen). The Pelicans returned the favor by beating the Jazz on Tuesday.
It will be a tight finish for the Mavs as they monitor the results from New Orleans and Memphis. The Grizz are on a five-game losing streak and their final three games are against Denver, Utah and Houston - two playoff-bound teams and, well, Utah.
The Pelicans finish the year in just two more outings on the road against contenders Boston and Minnesota.
Assuming two losses for them, the Mavs will need to lose their final three games of the year - at Phoenix on Wednesday, at San Antonio on Friday and home against Chicago on Sunday - as well as hope Memphis wins once to officially claim the No. 6 spot in this year's tank race.
