Cooper Flagg

[165bows]

The thing about Flagg is that Duke asks so much of him. He's not just the lead scorer, rebounder, and defensive anchor, but he also holds the offensive keys, especially when things get tight. The press comes, he's the guy who inbounds. Then he's the guy who gets the return pass and brings it up under pressure. Then he's the guy who is the decision maker in the half court set -- the one motioning to his teammates and setting up the play. His role is much larger & broader than the typical #1 pick, who is either an inside scorer/rebounder (AD, Paolo, Zion, KAT) or a slasher/scorer (Ant, Cade, Fultz). For Duke, he plays the Pippen '94 role -- the year that Pip led the Bulls in everything, when Mike was playing baseball.

It's ok to use the Tatum comp, 6'9" wing who is super versatile defensively and leads his team in scoring, assists and rebounds.

[Special_Puppy]

Only pushback I would have is that Wemby was only two years ago and he was a better prospect. So in literal terms, “generational” is tough, unless you just stretch the definition to include multiple players per “generation”. I would just prefer to not use the word at all, it’s impossible to properly define and just leads to arguments. Just say he’s fantastic and incredible and all the other words.

Flagg is that level of rare talent though obviously

There are certain exceptions to this. Flagg being how young he is...to me at least, puts him over the top as far as generational. If he was a year older maybe not. Queen is 2 years older than Flagg for reference.

It’s all semantics.



But obviously the same was true of Magic/Bird and no one would say only one was generational while the other wasn’t.

Same thing with Duncan/Garnett or (to change sports) JJ Watt/Aaron Donald or Mike Trout/Ohtani. It all depends on how you define generational. If you are taking the word literally then you are talking about players that only come around every 25 years and only literal GOAT candidates like Russell+Kareem+Jordan+LeBron qualify. I don't think that's how its used colloquially though. Usually people just use it to mean clear cut ATG players or prospects. Describing a prospect as "generational" seems to gets some people very annoyed though which is why I personally avoid using the word unless I'm super confident in a prospect

[JustBuzzin]

Get your Hornets jokes out while you can. Flagg is gonna make us a powerhouse moving forward.

Charlotte stand up our time has finally come.

[165bows]

There are certain exceptions to this. Flagg being how young he is...to me at least, puts him over the top as far as generational. If he was a year older maybe not. Queen is 2 years older than Flagg for reference.

It’s all semantics.



But obviously the same was true of Magic/Bird and no one would say only one was generational while the other wasn’t.

Same thing with Duncan/Garnett or (to change sports) JJ Watt/Aaron Donald or Mike Trout/Ohtani. It all depends on how you define generational. If you are taking the word literally then you are talking about players that only come around every 25 years and only literal GOAT candidates like Russell+Kareem+Jordan+LeBron qualify. I don't think that's how its used colloquially though. Usually people just use it to mean clear cut ATG players or prospects. Describing a prospect as "generational" seems to gets some people very annoyed though which is why I personally avoid using the word unless I'm super confident in a prospect

Right generational in drafting it means every ~3 years lol.

[liquidswords]

Coop's skill is so noticeable in the tournament. There's levels to this - Almost every other player on the court is rushed, anxious and out of control. He looks like an NBA player among high schoolers.

[Bernman]

Coop's skill is so noticeable in the tournament. There's levels to this - Almost every other player on the court is rushed, anxious and out of control. He looks like an NBA player among high schoolers.

Yet he's a high school-aged player among NBA-aged players.

[wegotthabeet]

The thing about Flagg is that Duke asks so much of him. He's not just the lead scorer, rebounder, and defensive anchor, but he also holds the offensive keys, especially when things get tight. The press comes, he's the guy who inbounds. Then he's the guy who gets the return pass and brings it up under pressure. Then he's the guy who is the decision maker in the half court set -- the one motioning to his teammates and setting up the play. His role is much larger & broader than the typical #1 pick, who is either an inside scorer/rebounder (AD, Paolo, Zion, KAT) or a slasher/scorer (Ant, Cade, Fultz). For Duke, he plays the Pippen '94 role -- the year that Pip led the Bulls in everything, when Mike was playing baseball.

It's ok to use the Tatum comp, 6'9" wing who is super versatile defensively and leads his team in scoring, assists and rebounds.

Sure, but why compare him to someone he projects to be better than?

[165bows]

The thing about Flagg is that Duke asks so much of him. He's not just the lead scorer, rebounder, and defensive anchor, but he also holds the offensive keys, especially when things get tight. The press comes, he's the guy who inbounds. Then he's the guy who gets the return pass and brings it up under pressure. Then he's the guy who is the decision maker in the half court set -- the one motioning to his teammates and setting up the play. His role is much larger & broader than the typical #1 pick, who is either an inside scorer/rebounder (AD, Paolo, Zion, KAT) or a slasher/scorer (Ant, Cade, Fultz). For Duke, he plays the Pippen '94 role -- the year that Pip led the Bulls in everything, when Mike was playing baseball.

It's ok to use the Tatum comp, 6'9" wing who is super versatile defensively and leads his team in scoring, assists and rebounds.

Sure, but why compare him to someone he projects to be better than?

Because of the innumerable similarities maybe? Anyways he projects better than Pippen did as a college player as comped above so maybe go back up thread with this stuff.

[Bernman]

It is especially hard to call Flagg generational, when there are several highly anticipated prospects in next year class that are on his level

Yea, I'm sure there are several prospects who'd be in the running for college player of the year as re-classified hs seniors. Cuz that's happened. Only 3 regular freshmen even have ever won it.

[wegotthabeet]

It's ok to use the Tatum comp, 6'9" wing who is super versatile defensively and leads his team in scoring, assists and rebounds.

Sure, but why compare him to someone he projects to be better than?

Because of the innumerable similarities maybe? Anyways he projects better than Pippen did as a college player as comped above so maybe go back up thread with this stuff.

Trade Tatum for Flagg if you can. He's from the region roughly and way more marketable. Plus he'll end up a much better player too.

Flagg has the mentality where he wants his opponents soul. Tatum prefers to defer when the games get important. I don't see the comp personally.

[165bows]

Sure, but why compare him to someone he projects to be better than?

Because of the innumerable similarities maybe? Anyways he projects better than Pippen did as a college player as comped above so maybe go back up thread with this stuff.

Trade Tatum for Flagg if you can. He's from the region roughly and way more marketable. Plus he'll end up a much better player too.

Flagg has the mentality where he wants his opponents soul. Tatum prefers to defer when the games get important. I don't see the comp personally.

Comp police people are hilarious lol

[JLei]

I'm seeing tons of Scottie in him.

Scottie Barnes that is. He's Scottie Barnes with a jumper.

Similar size. Similar strengths and intangibles. Most impressive offensive part is the passing and ball handling at the size and versatility on defense.

Obviously not a knock. Scottie Barnes with a jumper is a perennial all-star. Scottie is already averaging 20-8-6-1.5-1.5 without a jumper.

[VFX]

I'm seeing tons of Scottie in him.

Scottie Barnes that is. He's Scottie Barnes with a jumper.

Similar size. Similar strengths and intangibles. Most impressive offensive part is the passing and ball handling at the size and versatility on defense.

Obviously not a knock. Scottie Barnes with a jumper is a perennial all-star. Scottie is already averaging 20-8-6-1.5-1.5 without a jumper.

Thats a slight to Flagg to be honest.

Barnes wasn't doing any of this in college and definitely not at 18. Not even close. Flagg's defense is next level.

[VFX]

It is especially hard to call Flagg generational, when there are several highly anticipated prospects in next year class that are on his level

[The Master]

I'm seeing tons of Scottie in him. Scottie Barnes that is. He's Scottie Barnes with a jumper. Similar size. Similar strengths and intangibles. Most impressive offensive part is the passing and ball handling at the size and versatility on defense.

Obviously not a knock. Scottie Barnes with a jumper is a perennial all-star. Scottie is already averaging 20-8-6-1.5-1.5 without a jumper.

Flagg despite being younger has better free throw rate than players like Tatum, Edwards or Banchero in college, right now Tatum and Edwards are at +6FTA, Banchero is at +8FTA in the NBA - Barnes never reached 5 FTA. Flagg will be a lethal functional athlete on NBA level.

I see what you are saying, but people are (were?) clearly underestimating skillset of Flagg on offense because he's not this naturally talented shot creator, at least esthetically, but he checks in all the boxes as an offensive player. He has shooting splits like college Tatum (37% 3PT, 83% FT), he's more efficient scorer than almost all of top tier perimeter prospects (19PPG on 60TS%), his playmaking skills are really advanced (>2:1 AST-TO ratio, 11.6 TOV%), he's great at attacking rim (6 FTA in 30 minutes), all that while Duke team has the best offense in NCAA. Oh, and he's very good offball as well.

Basically, the only argument against Flagg that I can think of is that he has so great team alongside in terms of fit (shooting and vertical spacing) - but again, raising them to the level of the best offense in country and championship-level team as an 18yo is such a great projection for his NBA career.

[Handlez]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

[Ice Man]

skip

[Ice Man]

It's ok to use the Tatum comp, 6'9" wing who is super versatile defensively and leads his team in scoring, assists and rebounds.

I used Pippen '94 because Pippen also led his team in steals and blocks, which made him a 5-category leader, same as Flagg is doing for Duke this year. But sure, Tatum is a good comp, too.

[The Master]

I love Flagg, but don't get crazy.

It'd be amazing if he could get to Tatum's level.

It would be objectively an amazing career if he gets one day to the level of Tatum - but he's at least a tier better as a prospect than Tatum was in college. So saying Flagg plays Tatum-like role for Duke is simultaneously very correct and funny considering that Tatum at Duke wasn't nearly as good as Flagg despite being almost a year older (and Tatum himself being a top prospect in his draft class).

It doesn't mean Flagg will for sure become a top5 player in the league, but it clearly shows how freakishly good he's as a prospect.

[wegotthabeet]

Because of the innumerable similarities maybe? Anyways he projects better than Pippen did as a college player as comped above so maybe go back up thread with this stuff.

Trade Tatum for Flagg if you can. He's from the region roughly and way more marketable. Plus he'll end up a much better player too.

Flagg has the mentality where he wants his opponents soul. Tatum prefers to defer when the games get important. I don't see the comp personally.

Comp police people are hilarious lol

Cope police people are even more hilarious. He's a much better prospect than Tatum. It's ok to admit.