The Dallas Mavericks won the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes earlier this week when they secured the first overall selection of this year's NBA Draft.The Mavs have already insinuated the pick is not available in a trade, and all signs point to them taking the Duke star.It amounts to a bailout for Dallas, which traded away Luka Doni during the season.Because the Mavericks had only a 1.8% chance of getting the first pick, there has been speculation the lottery was rigged.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMEither way, it's a huge boost for the Mavs, who are getting just the fourth player to win the Wooden Award as a freshman, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.However, Stephen A. Smith said Flagg's skill wasn't the only reason to select him."When youve got somebody with that kind of potential, and theyre White and you are in America, you keep that dude. Im telling you right now," Smith said on Wednesday's edition of "First Take."Smith backtracked a tad, noting the Mavs shouldn't pick Flagg strictly because he is White."The first order of business is he can ball," Smith added. "Its because he can play, but the fact that hes White, marketable even his name makes him more marketable. Im not passing that up at all."Smith's comments echo some made about Caitlin Clark last year, notably WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson."I think its a huge thing. I think a lot of people may say its not about Black and White, but, to me, it is," Wilson said at the time. "It really is because you can be top-notch at what you are as a Black woman, but yet maybe thats something that people dont want to see."They dont see it as marketable, so it doesnt matter how hard I work. It doesnt matter what we all do as Black women, were still going to be swept underneath the rug. Thats why it boils my blood when people say its not about race, because it is."The NBA Draft, where Flagg will formally find out his professional destination, is scheduled for June 25.