Tank Wars: The Race for Cooper Flagg Heats Up as Teams Battle for the Top Pick
Edition #232
It’s so obvious that Cooper Flagg will be the 2025 1st Round Pick. It shouldn’t be a question. He led Duke to the Final Four, and could even win them a National Championship. If he does in fact do so, it would be the first time in 10 years they make The Big Dance. The last time they made it, they played Wisconsin and beat them. Now, if Duke does win, they will break the tie between Indiana for the 5th most National Championships in men’s basketball.
Duke Best Finishes:
National Championships: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015
Tournament runner-up: 1964, 1978, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1999
Final Four: 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2022, 2025
Elite Eight: 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025
Sweet Sixteen: 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025
6 teams are competing for the 1st pick and the chance to draft Flagg; the Wizards, Hornets, 76ers, Nets, Jazz, and Pelicans are the only teams that have good chances. This isn’t the NFL though. This is a draft lottery, and even with the Jazz currently (as of March 29th) having the best odds (tied with the Hornets and Wizards because the 3 teams with the worst record get 14% odds), after doing a draft lottery simulation using current records, they finished with the #5 pick, with teams like the Bulls (who are currently in play-in position), finishing 3rd1.
Still, getting the 3 worst records gives you a better chance at the #1 pick, and that’s what all these teams want.
Now, Cooper Flagg is a forward and a big man, but, position-wise, he's very well rounded if you think about it. The Wizards are in desperate need of a #1 option. The Hornets need defensive versatility and connective opportunities. The Nets need any star player they can get. The Jazz are tanking for Cooper Flagg because they need him.
The 76ers and Pelicans are interesting, though, because both of them don’t need Flagg, but would benefit big time. Philadelphia is in some sort of situation, and I don’t even know how to explain it. The Pelicans should have been a playoff team this year, but injuries and bad play have kept them away. Drafting Flagg, when they already have a lot of forwards is kind of an issue.
The best destinations for Flagg to land would be the Spurs and the Blazers, but I have to choose where he would go; it would be the Spurs.
The Spurs season has been over ever since Wembanyama was sidelined. Heck, maybe even ever since Popovich was sidelined with health issues. But, think about this. Flagg and Wembanyama. The dynamic duo. Why aren’t we talking about Stephon Castle, the NBA nerd, and De’Aaron Fox, the athlete? We also left out Grandpa Chris Paul, who helps develop superstars. I mean, that is what Shai-Gilgeous Alexander is, correct?
The Blazers? First off, they still have a shot at the play-in, though it depends on many factors. So, they’re already a playoff team. Now add Cooper Flagg to that, and this team could go places. Toumani Camara is a candidate for All-Defense, Deni Avdija does a little bit of everything on a very team-friendly deal, Donovan Clingan is going to be a Blazer for life as long as they handle him right, and Deandre Ayton will be on his final contract year next season.
That’s not all this team is, though, because when you have people like Scoot Henderson on your team, you’re bound to succeed. He was the number 3 pick in 2023 and has had 8 20 point games this season. Flagg and Henderson would be another great combo, and combine that with Anfernee Simons (who’s in the final year of his contract next year), and this team should be playoff-bound.
There are benefits for each team tanking, and as Duke continues its March Madness run, fans are calling Flagg back to play another year and win another National Championship. Now, he’s not going to, because this is who he would be competing with in the 2026 draft if he were to fall back.
If this year’s draft were to follow recent history, it would not favor the team with the worst losses. Teams like the Hornets and the Wizards have been screwed before in that aspect.
The worst places for Flagg to land would be New Orleans and Philadelphia.
Even with recent history proving that the team with the most losses usually doesn't get the first pick, I have the Jazz getting the 1st pick in the draft. But, I guess, only time will tell. Actually, 13 days will tell.
For reference, here is the simulated draft lottery.
If Philly gets him they can be contenders instantly
I grew up a Utah Jazz fan, and can't help but be interested in them, despite the fact that I live on the other side of the country now. I should also admit that I haven't actually watched any of their games this season (and I don't think I've been missing much).
The thing about the Jazz is that they're basically trying to draft their way into success. They've got a ton of first round draft picks coming up over the next few seasons: 12 in all, not counting whatever they "earn" by sucking. See this Reddit post for details: https://old.reddit.com/r/UtahJazz/comments/1i6y3ih/current_jazz_draft_picks_after_phoenix_trade/
Looking at the current roster (and please remember that I haven't actually watched any of their games this season), I see a 23 year old Walker Kessler who looks like the center that we never could get once Mark Eaton left, a 21 year old Keyonte George who looks like he really was a good first round draft pick in 2023, and a 21 year old Brice Sensabaugh who looks to be a potential star. There are a bunch of other really young players on the roster that could do something in the future.
It's an interesting strategy for sure. If the Jazz somehow managed to get Cooper Flagg, you'd have an obvious potential replacement for Lauri Markkanen. And the crazy thing is that Markkanen is only 27 years old.
This reminds me a lot of how I play Football Manager: sell all the old guys, stick with kids, and keep experimenting until you find the kids who are actually really good.
The other crazy thing is that the Jazz have a lot of trading power with the picks should they be able to put something together, and will almost certainly have a lot of cap space in the future if there's a chance at a playoff run.
It's kind of like going into town and slowly buying up as much real estate as you can. It might not make you rich today, but having that capital under your belt opens up possibilities that nobody else has.
As crazy as it sounds, this .213 team is a lot more exciting to me than the Jazz of the Carlos Boozer era ever were. Maybe I'll eventually start watching them again, lol.