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The Dallas Mavericks are shutting down Cooper Flagg for the rest of Summer League, confirmed Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Flagg appeared in two games, scoring 31 points on Saturday night in a matchup against Dylan Harper.

Flagg struggled in his Summer League debut, scoring 10 points. 

The decision to shut down Flagg was initially reported by Marc Stein of The Stein Line. 

Via ESPN

I just saw him and another player talking at the airport in LAS. Guess he's going home.

I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

right. I was saying this to some guy on X. They are way too overprotective of these players. This kid needs all the burn he can get before he gets to the big boy league and have to put his body against guys that are just as athletic and skilled. This is a perfect time for him to warm up.

ReddOktober wrote:

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

right. I was saying this to some guy on X. They are way too overprotective of these players. This kid needs all the burn he can get before he gets to the big boy league and have to put his body against guys that are just as athletic and skilled. This is a perfect time for him to warm up.

Yes and no. It's true it may be beneficial for him to go the rounds and get a bit of a warm-up, however...

1) You are not considering the financial and brand implications, backlash and outright outrage which will unleash if god forbid he gets seriously injured in Summer League. It could cost them millions and millions of dollars.
2) He is playing WITH total bums AGAINST total bums - so literally there is zero resemblance of the real NBA, so what's the point in it?
3) They don't play anyone from the team's starter and bench - it's some random dudes, so it has zero contribution to building chemistry, knowledge for the coach's system and tactics, sets, etc.
4) It's completely meaningless basketball with zero incentive for a player like him to even try - he would get more competitive games at the local school playground

When you factor all these, it literally makes zero sense to play a player of his caliber in Summer League. The cons far, far, far, far outweigh any pros.

ReddOktober wrote:

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

right. I was saying this to some guy on X. They are way too overprotective of these players. This kid needs all the burn he can get before he gets to the big boy league and have to put his body against guys that are just as athletic and skilled. This is a perfect time for him to warm up.

You care about him playing meaningless games? If so, can't he just play some basketball against guys at his local YMCA? What if you found out that he torn an ACL in one of those pickup games? You would probably say "Oh, that was stupid to play a meaningless game at the Y". That's pretty much what the Summer League is to him.

Load Management Summer Edition

CaHgO wrote:

ReddOktober wrote:

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

right. I was saying this to some guy on X. They are way too overprotective of these players. This kid needs all the burn he can get before he gets to the big boy league and have to put his body against guys that are just as athletic and skilled. This is a perfect time for him to warm up.

Yes and no. It's true it may be beneficial for him to go the rounds and get a bit of a warm-up, however...

1) You are not considering the financial and brand implications, backlash and outright outrage which will unleash if god forbid he gets seriously injured in Summer League. It could cost them millions and millions of dollars.
2) He is playing WITH total bums AGAINST total bums - so literally there is zero resemblance of the real NBA, so what's the point in it?
3) They don't play anyone from the team's starter and bench - it's some random dudes, so it has zero contribution to building chemistry, knowledge for the coach's system and tactics, sets, etc.
4) It's completely meaningless basketball with zero incentive for a player like him to even try - he would get more competitive games at the local school playground

When you factor all these, it literally makes zero sense to play a player of his caliber in Summer League. The cons far, far, far, far outweigh any pros.

good take

Shut down? So he's a robot?

CaHgO wrote:

ReddOktober wrote:

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

right. I was saying this to some guy on X. They are way too overprotective of these players. This kid needs all the burn he can get before he gets to the big boy league and have to put his body against guys that are just as athletic and skilled. This is a perfect time for him to warm up.

Yes and no. It's true it may be beneficial for him to go the rounds and get a bit of a warm-up, however...

1) You are not considering the financial and brand implications, backlash and outright outrage which will unleash if god forbid he gets seriously injured in Summer League. It could cost them millions and millions of dollars.
2) He is playing WITH total bums AGAINST total bums - so literally there is zero resemblance of the real NBA, so what's the point in it?
3) They don't play anyone from the team's starter and bench - it's some random dudes, so it has zero contribution to building chemistry, knowledge for the coach's system and tactics, sets, etc.
4) It's completely meaningless basketball with zero incentive for a player like him to even try - he would get more competitive games at the local school playground

When you factor all these, it literally makes zero sense to play a player of his caliber in Summer League. The cons far, far, far, far outweigh any pros.

These are good points, but why even bother at all then. To me this feels like half measures and all they're really doing is cheating the system, which seems to always be the deal in the NBA. They probably can't sit him out completely as the league probably forces them to play if healthy. Its called summer league but really its a rookie showcase, fans are excited to see these guys for the first time. Sure there's money at stake, but there's money at stake everytime these guys touch the floor. Their purpose is to play ball and entertain the fans, you know, the people who pay to see these guys play. This trend od sitting players has started a long time ago and has just gotten worse and worse over the years, its at a point where its expected, and it's really sad

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

Yeah totally agree.. Flagg in the role they want to use him in needs to play a lot more.. He seems durable just play.. I wouldn't say he has to play all 82 in the nba season necessarily though..

CaHgO wrote:

ReddOktober wrote:

CheezeSteak215 wrote:I am so tired .. just let basketball players play basketball

right. I was saying this to some guy on X. They are way too overprotective of these players. This kid needs all the burn he can get before he gets to the big boy league and have to put his body against guys that are just as athletic and skilled. This is a perfect time for him to warm up.

Yes and no. It's true it may be beneficial for him to go the rounds and get a bit of a warm-up, however...

1) You are not considering the financial and brand implications, backlash and outright outrage which will unleash if god forbid he gets seriously injured in Summer League. It could cost them millions and millions of dollars.
2) He is playing WITH total bums AGAINST total bums - so literally there is zero resemblance of the real NBA, so what's the point in it?
3) They don't play anyone from the team's starter and bench - it's some random dudes, so it has zero contribution to building chemistry, knowledge for the coach's system and tactics, sets, etc.
4) It's completely meaningless basketball with zero incentive for a player like him to even try - he would get more competitive games at the local school playground

When you factor all these, it literally makes zero sense to play a player of his caliber in Summer League. The cons far, far, far, far outweigh any pros.

He wasn't the best player in Summer League.. He wasn't even setting the world on fire.. Plenty of those bums were playing better than him because he has much to lea