2025 NBA Draft Thread, part 1 – Capture the Flagg

[Homerclease]

Would you guys trade 4 starters, JB, White, KP, and Jrue for Cooper Flagg?

Celtics will have JT, Flagg, Queta, Hauser, and PP as starters.

That's heading into the 2025-26 season.

Instantly, but that’s not plausible in the real world. Would be friggin awesome tho

Really?? If the C's win this season and you have the choice to blow it up or go for a 3 peat, you'd really do that?

What if the #1 slot was the 76ers? Imagine that lineup??

Given the future cap situation and how special a talent Flagg is? Wouldn’t think twice about it. You keep Tatum and add one of the best prospects of the last 25 years to the team? No brainer

[redslastlaugh]

Instantly, but that’s not plausible in the real world. Would be friggin awesome tho

Really?? If the C's win this season and you have the choice to blow it up or go for a 3 peat, you'd really do that?

What if the #1 slot was the 76ers? Imagine that lineup??

Given the future cap situation and how special a talent Flagg is? Wouldn’t think twice about it. You keep Tatum and add one of the best prospects of the last 25 years to the team? No brainer

It’d be hard to breakup the Jays coming off the title. They could win two more rings and retire as all-timer Celtics legends like Bird and McHale. It’d be so tough. What if Cooper Flagg is Derrick Rose or Andrew Wiggins? Not an easy choice at all.

[redslastlaugh]

Just did a quick ref on the Duke players in the modern era who went top 3 and setting aside JT.

This is the list:

Zion
Kyrie
Elton Brand
Paolo
Jay Williams
Jabari Parker
Brandon Ingram
Danny Ferry
Marvin Bagley
Okafor
Laettner
Grant Hill
Mike Dunleavy
RJ Barrett

Most of these guys for whatever reason didn’t fulfill the hope.

[Homerclease]

Really?? If the C's win this season and you have the choice to blow it up or go for a 3 peat, you'd really do that?

What if the #1 slot was the 76ers? Imagine that lineup??

Given the future cap situation and how special a talent Flagg is? Wouldn’t think twice about it. You keep Tatum and add one of the best prospects of the last 25 years to the team? No brainer

It’d be hard to breakup the Jays coming off the title. They could win two more rings and retire as all-timer Celtics legends like Bird and McHale. It’d be so tough. What if Cooper Flagg is Derrick Rose or Andrew Wiggins? Not an easy choice at all.

Well this is all hypothetical because there’s a 99.999999999% chance this never happens but, I have no qualms trading away an aging Jrue, injury prone KP, Brown and White for Flagg. Prospect wise he’s in the tier of Wemby, Lebron, AD, Duncan levels.

[24istheLAW]

Given the future cap situation and how special a talent Flagg is? Wouldn’t think twice about it. You keep Tatum and add one of the best prospects of the last 25 years to the team? No brainer

It’d be hard to breakup the Jays coming off the title. They could win two more rings and retire as all-timer Celtics legends like Bird and McHale. It’d be so tough. What if Cooper Flagg is Derrick Rose or Andrew Wiggins? Not an easy choice at all.

Well this is all hypothetical because there’s a 99.999999999% chance this never happens but, I have no qualms trading away an aging Jrue, injury prone KP, Brown and White for Flagg. Prospect wise he’s in the tier of Wemby, Lebron, AD, Duncan levels.

Can you/the people who actually follow college hoops nowadays fill me in on what makes Cooper Flagg so special?

Genuinely curious, not trying to argue or anything because I don't know. I just know that Wemby, AD, LeBron, even someone like Luka etc were all freaks in some way. They are an obvious h/w/s athletic prototype, insanely gifted at handling the ball and distributing the ball... what is it about Cooper Flagg that's freaky and puts him in this company?

[Hal14]

It’d be hard to breakup the Jays coming off the title. They could win two more rings and retire as all-timer Celtics legends like Bird and McHale. It’d be so tough. What if Cooper Flagg is Derrick Rose or Andrew Wiggins? Not an easy choice at all.

Well this is all hypothetical because there’s a 99.999999999% chance this never happens but, I have no qualms trading away an aging Jrue, injury prone KP, Brown and White for Flagg. Prospect wise he’s in the tier of Wemby, Lebron, AD, Duncan levels.

Can you/the people who actually follow college hoops nowadays fill me in on what makes Cooper Flagg so special?

Genuinely curious, not trying to argue or anything because I don't know. I just know that Wemby, AD, LeBron, even someone like Luka etc were all freaks in some way. They are an obvious h/w/s athletic prototype, insanely gifted at handling the ball and distributing the ball... what is it about Cooper Flagg that's freaky and puts him in this company?

Flagg is really good. But imo he's more in the Chet/Paolo type of tier as far as the level of prospect he is. A notch below guys like LeBron, Wemby, Luka..

There's been some debates on Twitter lately about Flagg vs Chet..

Read on Twitter

A lot of the comments are saying if you're OKC or a contending team, you go with the proven commodity - Chet but if you're a rebuilding team, you may take a chance on the younger player with perhaps more upside in Flagg..

[Homerclease]

It’d be hard to breakup the Jays coming off the title. They could win two more rings and retire as all-timer Celtics legends like Bird and McHale. It’d be so tough. What if Cooper Flagg is Derrick Rose or Andrew Wiggins? Not an easy choice at all.

Well this is all hypothetical because there’s a 99.999999999% chance this never happens but, I have no qualms trading away an aging Jrue, injury prone KP, Brown and White for Flagg. Prospect wise he’s in the tier of Wemby, Lebron, AD, Duncan levels.

Can you/the people who actually follow college hoops nowadays fill me in on what makes Cooper Flagg so special?

Genuinely curious, not trying to argue or anything because I don't know. I just know that Wemby, AD, LeBron, even someone like Luka etc were all freaks in some way. They are an obvious h/w/s athletic prototype, insanely gifted at handling the ball and distributing the ball... what is it about Cooper Flagg that's freaky and puts him in this company?

Flagg is an insane athlete for his size. Maybe not top 1% but this isn’t a case of sneaky athleticism. DPOY level defender and already advanced BBIQ who can carry the load offensively for you. If there’s a knock it’s outside shooting, which is getting better.

[Hal14]

Here's my current big board:

Read on Twitter

[djFan71]

Here's my current big board:

Read on Twitter

A lot of leftovers / new guys I like in that 13-21 range. I'm also still holding out hope for Proctor to jump a few colors by end of tournament.

[djFan71]

https://www.theringer.com/nba-draft/2024/11/12/24294469/2025-nba-draft-cooper-flagg

[playa-hater]

I personally would compare Cooper flag to a white version of j.T..

As far as the trade proposal, even if Cooper Flag reaches his vast potential. I just don't see the chemistry working out well with Flag and Tatum. It is very hard for 2 players who want to be the franchise player to coexist.

And I want my titles..

But with all of that said it would be very is interesting to watch..

[165bows]

Well this is all hypothetical because there’s a 99.999999999% chance this never happens but, I have no qualms trading away an aging Jrue, injury prone KP, Brown and White for Flagg. Prospect wise he’s in the tier of Wemby, Lebron, AD, Duncan levels.

Can you/the people who actually follow college hoops nowadays fill me in on what makes Cooper Flagg so special?

Genuinely curious, not trying to argue or anything because I don't know. I just know that Wemby, AD, LeBron, even someone like Luka etc were all freaks in some way. They are an obvious h/w/s athletic prototype, insanely gifted at handling the ball and distributing the ball... what is it about Cooper Flagg that's freaky and puts him in this company?

Flagg is an insane athlete for his size. Maybe not top 1% but this isn’t a case of sneaky athleticism. DPOY level defender and already advanced BBIQ who can carry the load offensively for you. If there’s a knock it’s outside shooting, which is getting better.

Other piece about him is he is super young - youngest guy on the draft board while being an elite defensive player and good offensive guy with upside. Might also be KG level intense competitor or near that.

Plus it's a fun wrinkle that he's a C's fan and from our own back yard.

[winsomme2]

I would be very happy with Alex Karaban especially since we passed on Johnny Furphy in this past draft.

Tall shooters who can play team oriented ball are essential in our system. And having one on a rookie deal is a good option if we need to move Hauser for money reasons.

[165bows]

Weak comp so far but currently 24/12/4/2/2 per 36 at 17 years old, that's a very solid production line.

[phincsfan]

I'm in my late 40's so early 90's through 2010 was when I was all in on college basketball. The best college basketball player that I saw during that stretch was Melo. As an NBA player I can't stand him, but as a college basketball player IMO, he was the best. If you're able to take away how he did in the NBA, I can't make an argument for anyone else during that time. There were great players in the last 30 years and they won the dance, but they also had really good players surrounding them.

Out of his draft class I'd put him 4th behind Lebron, Wade and Bosh though. But as a college player he was the best IMO.

As for Flagg, I see a very talented player, but if he is the best in college basketball then I want to see him carry Duke all the way. That will tell me alot as far as how he can translate to the NBA. I want to see Flagg dominate college basketball this year.

If there's one team that I would love to see them get him is San Antonio. IMO, Was, Tor and Utah won't benefit from his skillset. Wemby and Flagg could be a special duo.

[Hal14]

I would be very happy with Alex Karaban especially since we passed on Johnny Furphy in this past draft.

Tall shooters who can play team oriented ball are essential in our system. And having one on a rookie deal is a good option if we need to move Hauser for money reasons.

Maybe..but we just drafted Scheierman, who's 6'7". Karaban is only 1" taller at 6'8". I'm not sure Karaban would add much more than what we already have in Scheierman. Plus we still have Hauser..and Peterson at 6'9"..

[playa-hater]

Weak comp so far but currently 24/12/4/2/2 per 36 at 17 years old, that's a very solid production line.

Yeah, I am still blown away with CF being still only 17.. even better that JT being just 19..

[playa-hater]

I'm in my late 40's so early 90's through 2010 was when I was all in on college basketball. The best college basketball player that I saw during that stretch was Melo. As an NBA player I can't stand him, but as a college basketball player IMO, he was the best. If you're able to take away how he did in the NBA, I can't make an argument for anyone else during that time. There were great players in the last 30 years and they won the dance, but they also had really good players surrounding them.

Out of his draft class I'd put him 4th behind Lebron, Wade and Bosh though. But as a college player he was the best IMO.

As for Flagg, I see a very talented player, but if he is the best in college basketball then I want to see him carry Duke all the way. That will tell me alot as far as how he can translate to the NBA. I want to see Flagg dominate college basketball this year.

If there's one team that I would love to see them get him is San Antonio. IMO, Was, Tor and Utah won't benefit from his skillset. Wemby and Flagg could be a special duo.

Melo is way up there. But I still have Christin Laettner as top player in that time period.. just making conversation. But yeah, you make good points overall.

[phincsfan]

I'm in my late 40's so early 90's through 2010 was when I was all in on college basketball. The best college basketball player that I saw during that stretch was Melo. As an NBA player I can't stand him, but as a college basketball player IMO, he was the best. If you're able to take away how he did in the NBA, I can't make an argument for anyone else during that time. There were great players in the last 30 years and they won the dance, but they also had really good players surrounding them.

Out of his draft class I'd put him 4th behind Lebron, Wade and Bosh though. But as a college player he was the best IMO.

As for Flagg, I see a very talented player, but if he is the best in college basketball then I want to see him carry Duke all the way. That will tell me alot as far as how he can translate to the NBA. I want to see Flagg dominate college basketball this year.

If there's one team that I would love to see them get him is San Antonio. IMO, Was, Tor and Utah won't benefit from his skillset. Wemby and Flagg could be a special duo.

Melo is way up there. But I still have Christin Laettner as top player in that time period.. just making conversation. But yeah, you make good points overall.

I hear you, Laettner is always brought up as the best during that time. My thing is Melo did it all as a true freshman. Lose the first game of the year and win the last game of the year when it all counted. Complete player for one full year and he had very little help.

My thing with Laetner was he won it all with Grant, he got there as a soph but couldn't seal the deal. As a full career yes Laettner was great.

[redslastlaugh]

Kevin Durant at Texas. They didn’t win the dance like Melo and the Cuse did, but 2006-07 Durant was probably IMO the best freshman of he 21st century

EDIT: I was a student at UT at that time, so I could be biased. Great time in Austin, Texas tho, for what it’s worth, lol