The 5 NBA Teams Where Cooper Flagg Would Fit Best

Cooper Flagg had a remarkable freshman season at Duke. In a team of the Blue Devils that secured the number 1 spot in the 2025 NCAA Men's Tournament and made it to the Final Four, he showcased his ability to be one of the primary sources of offense, attacking the rim, playing isolation, and demonstrating a respectable shooting range from the perimeter. He also wreaked havoc on the defensive end, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from three-point range, and 84% from the free-throw line.

Flagg concluded the season with ACC All-Defense honors and was named ACC Player of the Year. Unfortunately for Flagg, his freshman year campaign ended catastrophically as Duke squandered a six-point lead in the final minute of play against Houston in the Final Four.

Flagg is likely to be the number 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Although the lottery balls will determine who picks where, Utah, Washington, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Philadelphia currently hold the five worst records in the league. That said, here's how the aforementioned lottery teams fit for Flagg.

5. Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets possess many attractive young players but remain a franchise going nowhere. Landing Flagg could be the signing that finally turns the tide for Charlotte.

LaMelo Ball is an All-Star-caliber scorer; Brandon Miller has the offensive skill set to be a building block; Mark Williams is a young and productive center. Nonetheless, the Hornets haven't won 30 games in three seasons. Joining Charles Lee's rotation, Flagg wouldn't be relied upon to be the hero as Ball is accustomed to taking the scoring load and Miller has shown his ability to shoot and score consistently.

Flagg would let the game come to him, forcing the issue at the rim and acclimating gradually, giving the Hornets a potentially potent trio around Flagg, Ball, and Miller. The rookie forward could be the spark the Hornets need.

What places Charlotte towards the bottom of the best fits for Flagg, however, is that small forward Miles Bridges also has a contract for the next two years (potential logjam at small forward with Flagg) and the Hornets might consider using their top draft pick to trade for a veteran who substantially improves the team rather than continuing to add rookies.

4. Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are the NBA's biggest disappointment this season, but if they land the top overall pick or trade for it, Flagg creates a fascinating situation regarding his future.

At first glance, adding a stellar talent to a roster already featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George is eye-catching. Flagg would at least be a tertiary scoring source and could potentially serve as Philly's sixth man in a role playing 30 minutes per night. Given Embiid and George's chronic health issues, Flagg's scoring prowess would give the 76ers tremendous frontcourt depth.

There's another way this could play out: Philadelphia drafts Flagg, turns him and Maxey into the faces of the franchise, and looks to offload Embiid and George in trades. If they manage to trade one (if not both, Embiid and George), the Maxey-Flagg duo will allow the Sixers to revamp, not rebuild, as Maxey, 24, is an All-Star-caliber scorer in his own right, and Flagg is built to be plug-and-play. Additionally, Quentin Grimes - who has surged late for Philadelphia, averaging 22.6 points per game over his 26 appearances with the team - could be another long-term piece for the puzzle.

Flagg gives Philadelphia either scandalous scoring depth or offers them the chance to regroup for rapid improvement. Of course, the number of movable pieces that could be part of adding Flagg and the difficulty entailed in moving Embiid and/or George (both due to injury and contract) could hinder Flagg's seamless fit with the Duke star and the Sixers. 

3. New Orleans Pelicans

From injuries to piling up losses, this season has been a trainwreck for the Pelicans. However, this season leading to Flagg could end up putting them back on track.

Without Brandon Ingram (whom New Orleans traded at the deadline), there's a potential void in the Pelicans' starting five. While healthy Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones could fill that void, the Pelicans could also acquire Flagg, manage their roster as if he's their franchise player, and find a team willing to take a chance on the injured Zion Williamson in a trade.

With this signing, Flagg would become the centerpiece of Coach Willie Green's offense, providing the Pelicans with a complete scorer who could become their go-to guy in due time. With everyone healthy next season, Flagg would be joined by the versatile Dejounte Murray, a trio of blossoming wings in Murphy, Jones, and Jordan Hawkins, a veteran scorer in CJ McCollum, and an emerging interior force in Yves Missi. Suddenly, the Pelicans have a complementary core on the same timeline.

However, what prevents the Pelicans from being the number 1 or 2 on this list is that a couple of teams have a clear need in their rotation that Flagg fills, while his fit in New Orleans depends somewhat on moving Williamson.

2. Utah Jazz

With the amount of shuffling the Jazz have done in the last three years, it's hard to get a sense of how they view themselves. And currently, they have the worst record in the NBA. Acquiring Flagg would be a blessing for Utah.

Lauri Markkanen has become one of the premier scorers in Utah, but his scoring has declined each of the past two seasons. Flagg joins the mix and takes some pressure off Markkanen to create offense and reshapes Utah's rotation in the long run.

Keyonte George has quickly become a reliable scorer and facilitator; Walker Kessler is a rock in the paint on both ends of the floor; rookie Isaiah Collier has shown his playmaking ability; second-year player Brice Sensabaugh and forward Johnny Juzang have had scoring streaks. By adding Flagg, the Jazz would incorporate a new face to the franchise that, along with the roster he joins, would give them reason to aspire to at least a spot in the NBA Play-In next season.

What prevents Utah from being the top choice for Flagg is he might view a frontcourt of Flagg-Markkanen-Kessler as too big and/or slowing in execution. 

That said, there's a team with a gap that Flagg would emphatically fill.

1. Washington Wizards

The Wizards are a mess and need a player to point to as a future star. Enter Flagg.

It's not that Washington lacks good pieces. Rookie and former second pick Alex Sarr is a physical specimen on both ends of the floor who is surely a build-around player; Bilal Coulibaly is a tenacious player who is becoming more productive; Corey Kispert is a proven shooter; rookie Kyshawn George has had his moments in a high-minutes role. But that franchise player is still missing.

Flagg gives the Wizards their number 1 scorer. He's the multidimensional scorer. He's the multidimensional scorer who can play isolation and has the superstar potential their roster lacks. Flagg can play his rookie season as their offensive centerpiece, go through the physical rigors of being the defensive focus, and be better for all the bumps along the road he encounters in his rookie year.

After trading Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas - whom Washington just signed to a three-year deal in the offseason - at the trade deadline, Jordan Poole, their top scorer this season, could easily be the next player moved. Either way, a high-level scorer addition is crucial for Washington, and having that player be their first-round selection (Flagg) is financially ideal and fits their timeline.

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