Words have the power to topple an empire. This ancient sentiment’s value suddenly skyrocketed again, and it’s hard to believe an 18-year-old is behind it. Cooper Flagg is the man (boy) in question, and his straightforward admission is enough to spoil the sleep of seasoned front offices in the NBA. But one team in particular should be on high alert as the need to be all-in is palpable.

Cooper Flagg is probably the most sought-after talent since LeBron James in 2003. With him projected as the first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the plans of landing him are in motion for a while. But according to Bill Simmons, it’s not the usual suspects who should be considering Flagg’s availability. It should be the OKC Thunder. The Oklahoma team has 29 future draft picks stacked up till 2031. And Simmons believes, giving some of those away for Flagg is the ultimate money move. “What are they going to do with all these picks?” the podcaster asked co-host Rob Mahoney on Ringer’s podcast.

“Could this be the year that they take that 7th, 8th, 9th Philly pick, if that’s the pick. Add like eight picks to it and just say, give us Cooper Flagg. Here’s the all-time mother load of picks,” Simmons added.

The Sixers don’t fully own their first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft. If the pick falls outside of the top six, it will go to the OKC Thunder. Explaining further, the veteran analyst said, “Let’s say Charlotte gets the first pick and just get a war chest of the all-time most picks ever in a trade from OKC just to move back six spots. You’d have to have like a four-hour meeting about that. I feel like Cooper Flagg’s really good, but you’d have to really think about it because it’s not a Wembanyama pick.”

Flagg might not be Wemby, but the Duke star is having a season of a lifetime. The freshman is averaging 19.8 points while cleaning the board 7.6 times per game. His 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks are also enough to solidify his all-rounder potential. But if he desires to run it back once again with the No.3 side of the nation, then you can bin all the plans.

Cooper Flagg’s love for Duke could cause chaos in the NBA

It’s almost that time of the year when one can handpick the teams going into tank mode. The age-old habit of buffing draft prospects by prolonging the suffering on the court will be more widespread than ever this time around. Everyone wants to reach the Flagg after all. But now, it’s the best time for some second-guessing.

“S—, I want to come back next year,” the Duke freshman said during a recent interview with The Athletic. That rings major alarm bells in the big boys’ league.

Beginning in 2019, the NBA capped the odds of landing the No. 1 pick at 14% for the bottom three teams. This makes the Raptors, Hornets, Wizards, Blazers, Jazz, and Pelicans the prime contenders for Flagg. But the question remains—will all the suffering be for naught? Share your thoughts with us!