Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Pablo Banchero, and Victor Wembanyama. Five first overall picks who’ve proven to be very good to elite NBA players. Wembanyama aside, all of them made the postseason at different points, and Davis has an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.
All those guys, except maybe Banchero, were what Duke’s Cooper Flagg is now – a lock to be the first overall pick in their drafts. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 points, 4.2 assists per game at Duke. He added 1.5 steals and blocks per game as well.
Cooper Flagg’s two-way versatility has the 6’9” forward compared to people like former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, current Boston Celtic and defending NBA champion Jayson Tatum, and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, amongst others.
14 teams didn’t make these playoffs and 12 of them have a chance at another potential franchise changer. How did they get here? Their odds at getting the first pick will be in parentheses and a quick three-word thought will serve as a bit of a headline.
Utah (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 14%)
Finally, Tanked Right.
It feels like the Jazz wanted to tank since the Wemby draft after trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Sadly for them, Lauri Markkanen turned into an all-star forward, and Walker Kessler turned into a really good rookie. They haven’t been good enough to make the playoffs together, or bad enough to give them these odds… until this past season. Markkanen played 47 games and Kessler played 58. Without them, or the games Collin Sexton missed, the Jazz routinely took beatings on the court. Will they finally get their franchise guy?
Washington (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 14%)
Ovechkin, Daniels, Wood.
One is a Hall of Famer if he does nothing else on the ice. One is a rising star after the greatest rookie season for a quarterback ever and the other is among the leaders in home runs. None of these guys helped the Wizards and it showed. Washington had the fourth-worst offense this past season, and only Utah had a worse defense in points per game. Last year’s second pick, Alex Sarr, had an ok season, but nothing more. The main point is that this team needs a franchise player horribly.
Charlotte (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 14%)
Good Trio But…
It seems like LaMelo Ball (played 47 games), Brandon Miller (played 27 games), and Miles Bridges (played 64 games) simply can’t stay healthy. It also explains why they can’t score. Charlotte had the worst offense in the league this season, and at times, it showed despite Ball being a borderline all-star. Could keeping Marcus Williams after his non-trade to the Lakers be a blessing in disguise for the Hornets as well?
New Orleans (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 12.5%)
More Lottery Luck?
In 2012, the Pelicans went from the fourth pick to the first one and got Davis. Right before trading him to the Lakers, they won the 2019 lottery with the seventh-best odds and drafted Zion Williamson. Zion, when healthy, is great, but that’s the problem. He’s never in optimal playing shape to remain healthy enough to stay on the court. In Zion’s five-year career, he’s only played 60 games twice. Can he get in better shape to help this Pelicans team get back in playoff contention?
Philadelphia (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 10.5%)
Could Get Worse.
A team that went all in and became the first to have three $ 200M+ deals had a season that redefined what all-in disaster looks like. Joel Embiid was never really healthy after the Olympics, and then he waited to get an arthroscopic knee surgery. Paul George had various injuries and was a disaster when in the court. Tyrese Maxey had health issues, too, and regressed after winning the most improved player award last year. Why could this be worse? If they fall to the 7th pick, they lose it to the Thunder. Again, this could get worse.
Brooklyn (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 9%)
Surprisingly Good Defense.
Believe it or not, the Nets tied for 10th best for points allowed and were the best non-playoff team in this statistic. Why didn’t they make the playoffs? Well tying Charlotte for the worst PPG should explain things. Brooklyn has a decision to make with four first-round picks to play with. Do they use the picks and build organically or do they do what they’ve done twice since moving to Brooklyn and go all in on a star if they don’t get Flagg? Maybe if they win the lottery, they can have their cake and eat it too.
Toronto (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 7.5%)
Brandon, Barnes, Barrett
The Raptors may have a killer B’s kind of situation going on with these three. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram both have long-term deals in place, while RJ Barrett is also going to be there for the next two seasons. Add guard Immanuel Quickley to the mix, and that’s 80% of their lineup in place for the next couple of years. Can Barnes take that next step forward as a rising player? If so, Toronto could be a playoff/play-in team quickly.
San Antonio (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 6% and 0.7% at the 14th pick)
Critical Offseason.
The Spurs have had spectacular luck over the last two years. First winning the Wemby lottery, then drafting their 2nd straight rookie of the year in Stephon Castle. Then, not trading the latter player to get De’Aaron Fox to build a potentially dominant trio. But what will the Spurs do this offseason? So they continue building with this young core, or do they use some of their draft capital to get Kevin Durant or Giannis and immediately enter contender status?
Houston (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 3.8%)
Awesome And Awful.
This pick is actually Phoenix’s, but due to the KD trade, it went to Brooklyn, then got rerouted to Houston due to another trade that gave Houston the right to swap with Phoenix. Why awful and awesome? The Suns have no control over their picks, no financial room to improve their roster and no real way forward with their current team. Houston? A young ,talented team that was the second seed this year. Plus, plenty of picks they can trade to get a bona fide star. Houston is just getting started.
Portland (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 3.7%)
Decent Core, But…
There’s no true star here. Scoot Henderson was supposed to be the true star here, but he hasn’t taken that leap. Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons are solid role players, and DeAndre Ayton is talented, yet a little underwhelming. It also doesn’t help that Ayton missed half the season. These four may have a next level they can individually reach, but can they reach it collectively?
Dallas (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 1.8%)
Clock Is Ticking.
The Luka trade shook several universes, but it also set a timer on the Mavericks’ window with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Thanks to Kyrie’s torn ACL, that clock will tick even faster as both future Hall of Famers get older. It wouldn’t be shocking if Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season. They almost have to pay Kyrie whatever he wants after said Luka trade.
Chicago (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 1.7%)
The Yearly Tradition
The Bulls have become the true definition of mediocre. Every year, they end up in the play-in and more often than not, out of the proper playoffs before they start. At least this time, as they finally moved on from Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, they have their pick back from the Spurs.
Sacramento (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 0.8%)
West Coast Bulls
Speaking of LaVine and DeRozan, both looked solid in Sacramento, but when they were both needed the most, Dallas buried them. The concern here is whether the Kings peaked a couple of seasons ago, the two further Bulls, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, are good. One, maybe two of them have to be great for the Kings to advance in the West. If this pick is 13th or 14th, it goes to…
Atlanta
Bill Is Due
Now comes part one of the Dejounte Murray trade tax. At least in this case, it will be even harder for them to their pick to win the lottery than last year. The other issue is that they were mediocre before they traded their second-best scorer, DeAndre Hunter, to Cleveland. This wasn’t a bad idea because it gives said top pick Zacchaire Risacher more playing time.
The Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes Are Here
Today, the future of one of these teams will instantly change with a few ping pong balls. Some for the better, most potentially for the worst.
Will Flagg, either of the Rutgers talents, Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey, or any other incoming rookie, become franchise players? Time will tell, but one thing is guaranteed: Cooper will be able to plant his Flagg in a brand new city.
About the Author
Michael Anderson is a remote studio producer for SiriusXM and a passionate voice in the world of sports media. Follow him on X and YouTube.
More content like “NBA Draft Lottery: Who Wins the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes?”:
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Become a content creator for SportsE Media? DM our founder on LinkedIn or X.
Want to Start a Podcast? Learn how to launch your own professional podcast: Get Started Now
NBA Draft Lottery: Who Wins the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes?
Anthony Davis, Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham, Pablo Banchero, and Victor Wembanyama. Five first overall picks who’ve proven to be very good to elite NBA players. Wembanyama aside, all of them made the postseason at different points, and Davis has an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020.
All those guys, except maybe Banchero, were what Duke’s Cooper Flagg is now – a lock to be the first overall pick in their drafts. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 points, 4.2 assists per game at Duke. He added 1.5 steals and blocks per game as well.
Cooper Flagg’s two-way versatility has the 6’9” forward compared to people like former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko, current Boston Celtic and defending NBA champion Jayson Tatum, and Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, amongst others.
14 teams didn’t make these playoffs and 12 of them have a chance at another potential franchise changer. How did they get here? Their odds at getting the first pick will be in parentheses and a quick three-word thought will serve as a bit of a headline.
Utah (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 14%)
Finally, Tanked Right.
It feels like the Jazz wanted to tank since the Wemby draft after trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Sadly for them, Lauri Markkanen turned into an all-star forward, and Walker Kessler turned into a really good rookie. They haven’t been good enough to make the playoffs together, or bad enough to give them these odds… until this past season. Markkanen played 47 games and Kessler played 58. Without them, or the games Collin Sexton missed, the Jazz routinely took beatings on the court. Will they finally get their franchise guy?
Washington (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 14%)
Ovechkin, Daniels, Wood.
One is a Hall of Famer if he does nothing else on the ice. One is a rising star after the greatest rookie season for a quarterback ever and the other is among the leaders in home runs. None of these guys helped the Wizards and it showed. Washington had the fourth-worst offense this past season, and only Utah had a worse defense in points per game. Last year’s second pick, Alex Sarr, had an ok season, but nothing more. The main point is that this team needs a franchise player horribly.
Charlotte (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 14%)
Good Trio But…
It seems like LaMelo Ball (played 47 games), Brandon Miller (played 27 games), and Miles Bridges (played 64 games) simply can’t stay healthy. It also explains why they can’t score. Charlotte had the worst offense in the league this season, and at times, it showed despite Ball being a borderline all-star. Could keeping Marcus Williams after his non-trade to the Lakers be a blessing in disguise for the Hornets as well?
New Orleans (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 12.5%)
More Lottery Luck?
In 2012, the Pelicans went from the fourth pick to the first one and got Davis. Right before trading him to the Lakers, they won the 2019 lottery with the seventh-best odds and drafted Zion Williamson. Zion, when healthy, is great, but that’s the problem. He’s never in optimal playing shape to remain healthy enough to stay on the court. In Zion’s five-year career, he’s only played 60 games twice. Can he get in better shape to help this Pelicans team get back in playoff contention?
Philadelphia (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 10.5%)
Could Get Worse.
A team that went all in and became the first to have three $ 200M+ deals had a season that redefined what all-in disaster looks like. Joel Embiid was never really healthy after the Olympics, and then he waited to get an arthroscopic knee surgery. Paul George had various injuries and was a disaster when in the court. Tyrese Maxey had health issues, too, and regressed after winning the most improved player award last year. Why could this be worse? If they fall to the 7th pick, they lose it to the Thunder. Again, this could get worse.
Brooklyn (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 9%)
Surprisingly Good Defense.
Believe it or not, the Nets tied for 10th best for points allowed and were the best non-playoff team in this statistic. Why didn’t they make the playoffs? Well tying Charlotte for the worst PPG should explain things. Brooklyn has a decision to make with four first-round picks to play with. Do they use the picks and build organically or do they do what they’ve done twice since moving to Brooklyn and go all in on a star if they don’t get Flagg? Maybe if they win the lottery, they can have their cake and eat it too.
Toronto (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 7.5%)
Brandon, Barnes, Barrett
The Raptors may have a killer B’s kind of situation going on with these three. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram both have long-term deals in place, while RJ Barrett is also going to be there for the next two seasons. Add guard Immanuel Quickley to the mix, and that’s 80% of their lineup in place for the next couple of years. Can Barnes take that next step forward as a rising player? If so, Toronto could be a playoff/play-in team quickly.
San Antonio (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 6% and 0.7% at the 14th pick)
Critical Offseason.
The Spurs have had spectacular luck over the last two years. First winning the Wemby lottery, then drafting their 2nd straight rookie of the year in Stephon Castle. Then, not trading the latter player to get De’Aaron Fox to build a potentially dominant trio. But what will the Spurs do this offseason? So they continue building with this young core, or do they use some of their draft capital to get Kevin Durant or Giannis and immediately enter contender status?
Houston (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 3.8%)
Awesome And Awful.
This pick is actually Phoenix’s, but due to the KD trade, it went to Brooklyn, then got rerouted to Houston due to another trade that gave Houston the right to swap with Phoenix. Why awful and awesome? The Suns have no control over their picks, no financial room to improve their roster and no real way forward with their current team. Houston? A young ,talented team that was the second seed this year. Plus, plenty of picks they can trade to get a bona fide star. Houston is just getting started.
Portland (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 3.7%)
Decent Core, But…
There’s no true star here. Scoot Henderson was supposed to be the true star here, but he hasn’t taken that leap. Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons are solid role players, and DeAndre Ayton is talented, yet a little underwhelming. It also doesn’t help that Ayton missed half the season. These four may have a next level they can individually reach, but can they reach it collectively?
Dallas (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 1.8%)
Clock Is Ticking.
The Luka trade shook several universes, but it also set a timer on the Mavericks’ window with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Thanks to Kyrie’s torn ACL, that clock will tick even faster as both future Hall of Famers get older. It wouldn’t be shocking if Irving missed the entire 2025-26 season. They almost have to pay Kyrie whatever he wants after said Luka trade.
Chicago (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 1.7%)
The Yearly Tradition
The Bulls have become the true definition of mediocre. Every year, they end up in the play-in and more often than not, out of the proper playoffs before they start. At least this time, as they finally moved on from Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, they have their pick back from the Spurs.
Sacramento (NBA Draft Lottery odds: 0.8%)
West Coast Bulls
Speaking of LaVine and DeRozan, both looked solid in Sacramento, but when they were both needed the most, Dallas buried them. The concern here is whether the Kings peaked a couple of seasons ago, the two further Bulls, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray, are good. One, maybe two of them have to be great for the Kings to advance in the West. If this pick is 13th or 14th, it goes to…
Atlanta
Bill Is Due
Now comes part one of the Dejounte Murray trade tax. At least in this case, it will be even harder for them to their pick to win the lottery than last year. The other issue is that they were mediocre before they traded their second-best scorer, DeAndre Hunter, to Cleveland. This wasn’t a bad idea because it gives said top pick Zacchaire Risacher more playing time.
The Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes Are Here
Today, the future of one of these teams will instantly change with a few ping pong balls. Some for the better, most potentially for the worst.
Will Flagg, either of the Rutgers talents, Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey, or any other incoming rookie, become franchise players? Time will tell, but one thing is guaranteed: Cooper will be able to plant his Flagg in a brand new city.
About the Author
Michael Anderson is a remote studio producer for SiriusXM and a passionate voice in the world of sports media. Follow him on X and YouTube.
More content like “NBA Draft Lottery: Who Wins the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes?”:
Why We Watch When We Know Who’ll Win
NBA Social Media Soars as Ratings Matter Less
Anthony Edwards Is a Superstar, Now
Become a content creator for SportsE Media? DM our founder on LinkedIn or X.
Want to Start a Podcast? Learn how to launch your own professional podcast: Get Started Now