A New Era 🏀
I need to see if Cooper Flagg is indeed a No. 1-type offensive option… – League Executive
The latest NBA news reveals that team executives are already attempting to spark the debate on who will be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. I thought Montverde’s Cooper Flagg was a lock to be the top selection. Here’s what one NBA exec told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
“I’m going into this year with an open mind about who the No. 1 pick might be,” a league executive noted.
“… I need to see if Cooper Flagg is indeed a No. 1-type offensive option who can be expected to carry a team at some point in his career, or if he’s more of a superstar role player who is better suited as your second- or third-best player. Every year there are surprises, new players pop up and others take an unexpected leap.”
An anonymous NBA executive says he’s not dead set on Cooper Flagg being the No. 1 pick
“I need to see if Cooper Flagg is indeed a No. 1-type offensive option who can be expected to carry a team at some point in his career, or if he’s more of a superstar role player who is better… pic.twitter.com/c48J4NK1B3
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 2, 2024
Okay, anonymous NBA exec, but what about the important issues like Flagg having the coolest name of any of the top prospects? This is the hard hitting journalism we need to cover.
Who is Cooper Flagg’s NBA comparison? The 6’9 forward reclassed yesterday and will now be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft 👀 pic.twitter.com/TAa6CCe9oK
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) August 12, 2023
Interesting Prospects
Full disclosure: there is still a great deal of time that needs to pass before any of these players suit up for NBA games. If Flagg does get surpassed, chances are it will be by “Ace” Bailey who is headed to Rutgers.
I was today years old when I realized Rutgers has two of the top players in the 2025 NBA Draft odds. Rutgers has Dylan Harper who appears to also be an absolute baller. Bailey still is the safer bet to gain some momentum on Flagg.
Watched Rutgers practice alongside several NBA scouts today. Projected top-3 picks Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper looked just as good as advertised. Going to be a really fun year for Steve Pikiell and co in Piscataway. More coming on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/SmcdrE7EgD
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) September 27, 2024
Here’s what Givony (also with a great first name) has to say about Bailey catching Flagg.
“Some NBA scouts think Ace Bailey has the best chance of supplanting Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 pick with his tantalizing combination of size, explosiveness, shot-creation, shotmaking prowess, defensive versatility and competitive, intense approach,” Givony noted in an October 2 message on X.
If you’re looking for France to pull off a three-peat with three straight players as the No. 1 pick, point guard Nolan Traore
Who Will Be the No. 1 Pick?
All things considered (shouts to NPR), I still think Flagg will hear his name called first in the 2025 draft. The star has already played against NBA superstars leading up to the Paris Olympics by being featured on the Team USA Select team.
Players like LeBron James have already gushed over Flagg. Chances are we will see Flagg’s stats turn heads while at Duke.
LeBron and Cooper Flagg 🤞 pic.twitter.com/QDbZqkxnx5
— Overtime (@overtime) July 7, 2023
This feels like something mentioned to create chatter, but look for Flagg to, well, plant his flag to be the No. 1 pick in 2025 during the upcoming college basketball season.
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