The two players who could take the number 1 spot from Cooper Flagg in the next Draft

Rutgers guard, Dylan Harper, has emerged as the main alternative to Cooper Flagg heading into the upcoming NBA Draft, placing at number 2 for many scouts, even within ESPN's Top 100. Nevertheless, aside from dominating college basketball convincingly enough to shift the conversation, it seems that something unexpected would be needed, like an injury or other unforeseeable circumstance, for Duke's prospect to lose the top spot.

Much of this is due to the already mentioned level of security that teams feel with Flagg, which he has been consistently establishing during his time at Duke. His floor perception is as strong an argument as his ceiling. An East Conference scout estimated Flagg's chances of being chosen as number 1 at 90% and stated, "He has everything to lose. If I pick him at number 1, I feel comfortable knowing the guy, his character, work ethic, and talent, and I can sleep peacefully all summer."

In most drafts, picking number 1 comes with pressure, as it is a high-stakes decision that determines a franchise's fate. Several sources echoed that much of Flagg's appeal lies in his confidence that he will maximize his potential. "I don't think you can pass on him unless there's someone far superior," said an East Conference scout.

The other alternative to Cooper Flagg

There was still considerable love for Harper, who burst onto the scene in November with a couple of stellar performances (36 and 37-point games) in Las Vegas and, in the eyes of many, has positioned himself ahead of his star teammate Ace Bailey, whose name also features in this conversation. Harper has averaged 23.1 points in 11 games, assuming a high-performance role and delivering several spectacular performances. Teams see him as better prepared to adapt to the NBA than Bailey, who has intriguing long-term scoring potential but likely needs more time to develop.

"I don't think Flagg will be the top offensive prospect in the draft, and sometimes that's what happens with the number 1 pick, which is reasonable," said a West Conference scout.

A general manager envisioned a scenario where a team in need of help in the interior game could consider Harper's offensive skills as a selling point.

"Flagg is in the driver's seat and will be for a long time, but I think Dylan Harper will be the rookie of the year," said a general manager. "He may not be better in 10 years, but I think he is the most prepared. If you already have many forwards or young big men on the roster, stick with him. Harper is the only one who could threaten him. But again, I would stick with Cooper at the end of the day, because if all the stars align, he's not close."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los dos jugadores que le podrían quitar el número 1 del próximo Draft a Cooper Flagg