Not all NBA Draft lotteries are created equal. A yr in the past, when the Atlanta Hawks jumped from up from No. 10 to win the lottery, there was no sure-fire No. 1 total participant sitting there as the apparent prize. That’s not the case this yr: the groups getting into the lottery are all praying for the rights to Cooper Flagg, the no-brainer high prospect and a possible franchise-changing participant.
Flagg was billed as a generational prospect getting into Duke, and he lived as much as each ounce of hype. The freshman was the easiest participant in school basketball this yr regardless of solely spending three years in highschool and enjoying half the season as a 17-year-old. Flagg led Duke to the Closing 4, the place his season resulted in heartbreak towards Houston, however he’s a tier above some other participant on this draft class.
Flagg has the expertise to be a transformational star for the franchise fortunate sufficient to win his draft rights. Which franchise deserves to land him? These are the perfect touchdown spots for Flagg, decided by a mix of how it could affect the general well being of the league panorama, his greatest spots for improvement, and private desire. We’ll lastly know the place he lands when the lottery is drawn on Monday, Could 12.
6. Dallas Mavericks
Lottery place: No. 11 | Probabilities at No. 1 choose: 1.8%
Nico Harrison doesn’t deserve Cooper Flagg, however Dallas followers do. The Mavs missed the playoffs a yr after reaching the NBA Finals following Harrison’s terrible Luka Doncic commerce, and the group’s future appears to be like bleak with Kyrie Irving sidelined for many or all of subsequent season as he rehabs his torn ACL. Harrison was proper about a few of Doncic’s shortcomings, however he didn’t come near recouping truthful worth within the deal. Profitable the rights to Flagg would instantly make up for it and breathe new life into an extremely pissed off fanbase. The Mavs would have their entrance courtroom of the longer term locked down with Flagg and Dereck Vigorous II, however they’d nonetheless have so as to add a lot extra younger expertise on the perimeter. A Dallas win from the No. 11 spot would increase some eyebrows from conspiracy theorists who imagine the lottery is sometimes rigged. Regardless, it could be good for Mavs followers to have their group land a brand new star on this draft. Asking for Flagg simply seems like a bit an excessive amount of.
5. Portland Path Blazers
Lottery place: No. 10 | Probabilities at No. 1 choose: 3.7%
The Path Blazers’ post-Damian Lillard rebuild lastly began to bear fruit this season by making a 15-win enchancment from final yr. Portland is reportedly able to push for the playoffs subsequent season, however it nonetheless doesn’t have a franchise star. There are plenty of good position gamers right here like Deni Avdija (one of many league’s sharpest offseason pickups), Tourmani Camara (an elite defensive ahead who simply turned 24 years previous), and final yr’s first spherical choose, Donovan Clingan. Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe are making strides, too, however don’t appear to be future All-Stars but. With a loaded 2026 draft class getting into the league subsequent yr, the Blazers danger getting out of their rebuild a yr too early in the event that they don’t come away with some lottery luck this yr. With Flagg becoming a member of Camara and Clingan, Portland would instantly have a nasty defensive identification and a brand new star to energy the offense. Add Flagg and this abruptly appears to be like like top-of-the-line younger cores within the league.
4. Charlotte Hornets
Lottery place: No. 3 | Probabilities at No. 1 choose: 14%
The Hornets are all the time the bridesmaid with regards to the draft lottery. The franchise has by no means gained the NBA draft lottery because it relaunched because the Bobcats in 2004, ending second for each Anthony Davis in 2012 and Victor Wembanyama in 2023. It seems like Charlotte wants a stroke of luck greater than ever getting into the lottery this yr. The Hornets are trending the mistaken manner after going from 27 to 21 to 19 wins over the past three years. LaMelo Ball isn’t dependable sufficient along with his well being or method to be a franchise star, Brandon Miller stays greatest fitted to a secondary scoring position coming off main wrist surgical procedure, and final yr’s first-round choose Tidjane Salaun appears to be like years away from contributing to place it kindly. One factor Charlotte does have going for it’s surplus future first-round picks in its again pocket, together with the Mavs’ top-2 protected 2027 choose and a Warmth choose that could possibly be unprotected in 2028. If the Hornets do win the rights to Flagg, their greatest transfer may be shifting off Ball and beginning recent. Charlotte hasn’t had a lot to root for over the past couple many years, however getting Flagg would instantly give them the famous person they’ve been lacking.
3. Chicago Bulls
Lottery place: No. 12 | Probabilities at No. 1 choose: 1.7%
It seems like nearly some other group within the Bulls’ place would select to tank. As an alternative, Chicago was decided to stay “aggressive,” profitable 39 video games for the second straight season even after shifting on from DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Alex Caruso over the past yr. The Bulls’ entrance workplace has little interest in shedding on objective to raised their lottery odds, even when the perfect case state of affairs is chasing the No. 8 seed within the East with out a franchise participant on the roster. Chicago did effectively with its first-round choose final yr by discovering Matas Buzelis at No. 11, and his improvement is essentially the most thrilling factor across the group proper now. Josh Giddey and Coby White regarded nice within the second half as opposing groups have been both tanking or resting their starters, however the pairing nonetheless feels too flawed to be constructed for playoff success. Chicago badly wants a foundational star to revive the nationwide relevancy of an enormous market sleeping big, and Flagg would accomplish that immediately. If the NBA actually desires to discourage tanking, rewarding Chicago for treating each sport with dignity is one solution to do it. Lead government Arturas Karnisovas seems like he’s main the Bulls on a shortcut to nowhere, and the one manner this group is absolutely turning round is with some lottery luck. Full disclose: I used to be raised in Chicagoland as a Bulls fan. Sliding them to No. 3 right here counts as exhibiting restraint.
2. Brooklyn Nets
Lottery place: No. 6 | Probabilities at No. 1 choose: 9%
The Nets have been feisty all through this season earlier than ending 5-21 down the stretch as they prioritized lottery place. Brooklyn has some stable younger veterans in place with Cameron Johnson on the wing and Nic Claxton at heart, however there’s nonetheless nothing resembling a franchise participant right here. Touchdown Flagg would change that and instantly make Brooklyn one of the crucial intriguing younger groups within the East. The Nets seem to have a pointy head coach after a powerful debut yr for Jordi Fernandez. Additionally they have a ton of future first-round picks coming their manner from different groups. Brooklyn’s greatest guess is to remain the course and hunt for stars within the draft reasonably than entering into the Giannis Antetokounmpo derby. Brooklyn profitable the lottery would put Flagg within the East (which desperately wants star-power) in a significant market. The Nets have been near constructing one thing particular with Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving till it blew up of their face. Touchdown Flagg would usher within the begin of a long-term construct in direction of competition, and wipe away the ache of that final period falling brief.
1. Washington Wizards
Lottery place: No. 2 | Probabilities at No. 1 choose: 14%
Wizards followers haven’t had a lot to get enthusiastic about over the past 40 years. The John Wall-Bradley Beal period was the closest factor to a sustainable contender this franchise has constructed over that point interval, and it petered out with out ever profitable a number of playoff collection in the identical season. The Wizards have operated with loads of endurance within the present rebuild, however their haul thus far (Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, AJ Johnson, and Kyshawn George) is lacking a star participant who can slot everybody else into an acceptable position. Placing Flagg in DC would rebuild an Jap Convention doormat and provides them somebody with the potential to develop into essentially the most iconic participant in franchise historical past. It will additionally give Flagg a gentle touchdown spot the place he might develop into being a main offensive engine with out quick stress to win straight away. The Wizards nonetheless really feel like a clean slate, and touchdown a participant like Flagg would give them a objective and timeline for profitable video games. If the NBA desires Flagg on a franchise he can name his personal, Washington D.C. seems like the perfect touchdown spot.