The 2024 NBA Draft lacked pleasure from the very begin of the cycle because of the absence of a consensus No. 1 total participant. The 2024 class wasn’t horrible, but it surely all the time felt extra like a task participant draft than one with future franchise cornerstones. The truth that this was the draft that instantly adopted Victor Wembanyama’s class made it appear much more underwhelming.
Because the NBA turns the web page to subsequent season, draft hype is ready to hit overdrive as soon as once more. Cooper Flagg, an incoming freshman ahead at Duke, is likely one of the strongest No. 1 total picks to hit the league in my decade-plus overlaying the draft. The hype for Flagg solely bought louder after he dominated a scrimmage in opposition to the USA Basketball group for the 2024 Paris Olympics at solely 17 years previous. He might not have alien-like bodily instruments like Wembanyama, however his means to contribute to profitable at each ends might finally be practically as impactful.
With a real franchise expertise on the prime of the 2025 NBA Draft, various have already began tearing down their rosters in hopes of getting fortunate within the lottery. The group that lands Flagg may have top-of-the-line long-term constructing blocks within the NBA shifting ahead. Take a look at our first 2025 NBA mock draft and our elite highschool participant rankings from final 12 months for extra on what makes Flagg so particular. These are the groups that begin the season within the combine for the NBA’s subsequent large factor.
Preseason favorites to land Cooper Flagg in 2025 NBA Draft — aka the worst groups in basketball
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets pivoted to a full rebuild simply in time to get within the Flagg sweepstakes. Brooklyn traded its finest participant (Mikal Bridges) to its crosstown rival, and required its personal future draft picks (initially traded for James Harden in 2021) in a stunning take care of the Houston Rockets. The Nets have a transparent course, and that course is to be as unhealthy as doable. There are a couple of extra gifted gamers who nonetheless have to be dumped — Cameron Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and even Dennis Schroder shouldn’t get too snug — however everybody contained in the Nets appears to be on the identical web page. This group has a two-year window to tank earlier than Houston has swap rights in 2027, and meaning they should maximize their probabilities to get Flagg now.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards’ rebuild continues to be years away from bearing fruit. No. 2 total choose Alex Sarr has loads of long-term potential within the entrance court docket, however his summer time league struggles proved that he gained’t assist Washington win many video games this 12 months. Kyle Kuzma is likely one of the most evident commerce candidates within the league coming into the season, and there might be a marketplace for Corey Kispert too if the Wizards wish to deal him. That is going to be perhaps the one worst group within the league due to the backcourt. Jordan Poole continues to be right here for some purpose, whereas first-round choose Bub Carrington goes to be one of many youngest guards within the NBA. The Wizards did add a pair veterans in Macolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas, however neither goes to maneuver the needle that a lot. This group stinks, and it wants Flagg so, so badly.
Portland Path Blazers
The Trial Blazers are set to be horrible for the fourth straight 12 months, and appear like the worst group within the West by a large margin. Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant are excellent gamers within the prime of their careers, however the way forward for the franchise is extra tied to its earlier three lottery picks: Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Donovan Clingan. Henderson’s rookie 12 months was a serious disappointment, and any uptick in manufacturing from him would usher in some a lot wanted optimistic momentum. Nonetheless, the Blazers have a historical past of brazen tanking after the All-Star break, and it’s onerous to consider that technique will change with Flagg on the prime of this draft. Even after three straight top-7 picks, Portland nonetheless lacks a franchise participant, and Flagg could possibly be the man that helps every thing fall into place.
Second tier of unhealthy NBA groups
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons made a bunch of modifications over the offseason, hiring J.B. Bickerstaff as their new head coach, signing Tobias Harris, buying and selling for Tim Hardaway Jr., re-signing Simone Fontecchio, and taking a flier on Malik Beasley. There’s lastly some actual NBA shooters on this roster now, however the progress of the group will in the end be determined by its present younger core led by Cade Cunningham. The Pistons have some expertise, however in addition they solely gained 14 video games final season. Even when they add 10-15 wins, they are going to nonetheless firmly be within the Flagg zone.
Utah Jazz
Sure, the Jazz re-signed star ahead Lauri Markkanen, and now can’t commerce him till the summer time of 2025. That transfer alone gained’t forestall them from being one of many worst groups within the West. Utah has one of many youngest rosters within the league, with Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh all doubtlessly figuring into the rotation as gamers coming into their first or second years within the league. Will Hardy is an superior head coach, however I’ve a sense the directive from the Danny Ainge-led entrance workplace might be to get within the combine for Flagg late within the season. Don’t be fooled by the Markkanen extension: the Jazz are going to be very unhealthy.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls had the perfect clutch luck of any group over the past decade a 12 months in the past and nonetheless solely gained 39 video games. Chicago traded its two finest gamers over the offseason in DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, and is now set for a gentle reset forward of a robust draft. The Bulls’ large addition over the offseason was Josh Giddey, a participant who gained’t assist repair the capturing woes which have plagued this group over current years. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are nonetheless round till one other group decides to take an opportunity on their bloated contracts. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu are strong NBA gamers, and Patrick Williams can become one if he’s wholesome, but it surely’s nonetheless onerous to see the Bulls as something aside from an Jap Convention bottom-feeder. Chicago’s 2025 draft choose is owed to San Antonio if it falls exterior the top-10, which ought to be all of the motivation it must prioritize draft place on the finish of the season.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets could possibly be fascinating this 12 months … if LaMelo Ball stays wholesome. Ball solely performed 22 video games final 12 months and simply 36 video games the 12 months earlier than that. He’s been top-of-the-line younger guards within the league when he’s really on the ground, however that hasn’t occurred a lot. Charlotte has a second younger star now in Brandon Miller as he enters his sophomore season, and this might very properly turn into his group. If Charlotte needs to climb into the play-in territory, it’ll additionally want from its large man room led by Mark Williams. With Josh Inexperienced, Miles Bridges (yuck!), and Grant Williams round, there are some first rate connective veterans right here. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Hornets make a run on the No. 8 seed, however they’re one Ball damage away from being horrible as soon as once more.
Cooper Flagg darkhorse groups
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are getting some reward for his or her offseason, however I don’t get it. One of the best they might do was 39-year-old Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, and one rookie who can’t shoot after they entered the draft with two top-8 picks? San Antonio ought to have been poised for a giant leap behind Victor Wembanyama, but it surely looks like he nonetheless doesn’t have sufficient assist. The Spurs ought to be pushing to win large proper now, however as an alternative they appear content material to presumably pivot into one other tank if Wembanyama will get hurts for a stretch, or if the supporting forged flatlines. San Antonio additionally owns the Atlanta Hawks’ unprotected first-round choose, which supplies them a number of pictures at No. 1.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors didn’t wish to do a full teardown, and at the moment are caught within the dreaded no-man’s land with some first rate expertise on the roster however no path to actual competitiveness. Scottie Barnes is a superb younger cornerstone, and R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are strong gamers, however there’s simply not a whole lot of upside on this roster. The Raptors would have been higher off taking draft picks for OG Anunoby and attempting to construct by the draft. Proper now, this group appears fairly directionless.
