Mavs Shift Klay Thompson to Bench as Cooper Flagg Moves into Starting Five
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The Dallas Mavericks altered their rotation on Wednesday, sending veteran guard Klay Thompson to the bench for the first time this season and inserting rookie Cooper Flagg at forward. Head coach Jason Kidd said the decision, made before the home game against the New Orleans Pelicans, is not expected to be permanent.
Thompson, 35, had opened every game since arriving in Dallas but has struggled early in the schedule. In 21 minutes off the bench, he contributed 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting, four rebounds and three assists during the Mavericks’ 115-113 defeat, which dropped the club to 2-6. “I’m going to play, I’m going to do great things—that’s coming,” Thompson told reporters, adding that he finally feels his legs returning after a difficult first five contests.
Flagg, selected first overall in June, was listed at forward for the first time while D’Angelo Russell took Thompson’s former back-court spot. The 18-year-old rookie produced 20 points (8-of-19), nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 35 minutes, though his late jumper that would have tied the game missed the mark. “It’s the most I’ve lost, I think, ever,” Flagg said afterward.
Kidd also provided injury updates on two sidelined big men. Center Anthony Davis, out the last three games with a left calf strain, is considered day-to-day and is reportedly feeling better. Rookie center Dereck Lively, who has missed five games because of a right knee sprain, has returned to on-court activity, and the team is hopeful he can play next week.
With Davis and Lively unavailable, Daniel Gafford logged a productive 24-plus minutes under an ongoing minutes cap, tallying 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Source: HoopsRumors
