Duke forward Cooper Flagg isn’t as celebrated as the previous prospect who was projected to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama. However, he’s a player who —like former Duke forwards Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson —has been highly popular since high school.
At 6-foot-9, Flagg is a two-way playmaker who stuffs the stat sheet. As a result, it’s not just his high school hype that resembles his predecessors at Duke, but his skillset. Banchero, Williamson, and 2017 No. 3 pick Jayson Tatum were and remain do-it-all players. Like Flagg, Banchero and Tatum have done so without top-end athleticism.
Flagg does have some competition if he wants to be the top pick in the NBA Draft. Rutgers freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper have shades of Kevin Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in their games, respectively. Nonetheless, his all-around ability and the professional success of players he compares favorably to —which includes Banchero’s current running mate, Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner —makes him a relatively safe bet at No. 1.
Cooper Flagg’s Best Draft Fit Isn’t Far From Home
In case you hadn’t heard, Flagg is from Maine, hence his (spectacular) nickname: “The Maine Event.”
After being drafted, he may just end up back in the Northeast. Of course, the Washington Wizards could land the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Because the NBA Draft Lottery, there’s no guarantee having the worst record would lead to the best draft pick. Still, they’re tied with the Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers for the highest odds of landing at No. 1.
Despite their sluggish start, the Sixers are expected to be much better by the end of the 2024-25 season though. The New Orleans Pelicans, who are currently projected to have the No. 4 pick, are as well. If that holds true, the Toronto Raptors could catapult into the top-three.
Like the Wizards, the Raptors might have interest in Flagg, but his fit in Toronto is a bit more stuffy than it would be in Washington. In D.C., Flagg would essentially just be Kyle Kuzma’s replacement. In the North, he would have a lot of overlap with Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. So, they might just be better off replacing Jakob Poeltl, who could become a trade target for contending teams.
With that being said, the Brooklyn Nets are the team that Flagg fits best. Located less than seven hours away from where he grew up, the New York borough might just be his new home. They just have to put themselves in position to draft him.
Cooper Flagg through five games:
17.8 PPG
8.8 RPG
3.8 APGLeads Duke in PTS, REB, AST, STL, & BLK. pic.twitter.com/BCBFa1jKPv
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) November 23, 2024
If they clean house and start with a blank slate, he would be easy to build around because he’s all but a complete player. Flagg’s also an exceptional stand-in for starter Ben Simmons, who is on the final year of his contract.
Getting The Ball Through The Brooklyn Nets
The Nets are pleased with Simmons’s defensive effort, passing ability, and pace. However, they’ve been prodding him to be more aggressive, with mixed results. That being said, Flagg won’t just be a more assertive scorer than Simmons, but the three-level scorer that Simmons is not.
Projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg against No. 17 Arizona:
24 PTS
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) November 23, 2024
Though he’s not always looking to score, Flagg is supremely confident. He’ll take the open opportunities, but if the defense is playing him tight, he believes he can still get to his shot. Players are often criticized for taking tough attempts but, to be honest, that’s what often separates stars from starters.
To that point, up to this point, Flagg has been displaying All-Star potential. Replacing Simmons with him could lead to Brooklyn’s suddenly well-coached team fighting to get into the playoffs rather than to stay out of the lottery. Over time, he might even help lead them to perennial postseason contention.
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