Was Cooper Flagg ever going to stay back for another season? This is a question many Duke fans will have in their hearts as their superstar departs for the big leagues. It was almost certain that Flagg was a one-and-done prospect right from his high school days, leading the Montverde Academy to a perfect 34-0 record and the program’s eighth national title. For fans of the Blue Devils, as disappointing as it may be to bid adieu to such an electrifying player, the decision hardly came as a surprise.

Flagg had a season to remember with Duke this year, with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. In other words, he was a machine. His output not only resonated with fans but also positioned him among the elite of NCAA Division I history, with comparisons being made between him and NBA stars like Kawhi Leonard and Jayson Tatum. But his dream season ended in a nightmare with a heartbreaking Final Four loss against Houston that will circle in his mind for some time. It can’t be easy, missing the clutch shot in the last few seconds that could have won them the game. So maybe, just maybe, it might’ve crossed Flagg’s mind to stick on and finish the job?

Well, DeShaun Tate crushed the Blue Devils community as he flatly said  on the Locked on College Basketball podcast when asked about this, “No, I don’t think so, actually. It just didn’t really make a whole lot of sense to even consider such things. When you’re talking about going for a lock for the first round, if there’s even such a thing as that anymore. I think if you are having realistic conversations about being a lottery pick or even potentially slightly after a lottery pick. Anything within that, I think you gotta go. Numero uno? I don’t think there’s much conversation to really need to have.”

Tate also mentioned that the amount he would be receiving was too big to ignore, saying, “If we were having conversations about guys who could potentially make the same amount of money and maybe wouldn’t be guaranteed the same type of opportunities or maybe even potential to be in the face of a franchise, anytime you have “generation” title attached to you, that puts a different perspective on things. If that was an exception, I could probably see him coming back. But much like Zion [Williamson] who probably wanted to stay too, there was no way he was going to be able to come back.”

The reported $62.7 million 4-year rookie deal Cooper Flagg is expected to sign might have just stopped him from making a rash decision after that emotional exit against Houston. If it were not for this huge amount of money, Flagg might have seriously considered staying back for the title next season. But as Tate mentioned, there was no way Flagg was going to risk the contract or his lottery pick status just to have another shot at collegiate redemption. So, with everything at stake, the only logical option was to move and do what was right for his career by entering the draft.

Diving into the teams that could land Cooper Flagg

The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery will determine the draft order for the top 14 picks on May 12. The three worst-performing teams of last season, the Utah Jazz (17-65), Washington Wizards (18-64), and Charlotte Hornets (19-63), each have 14% odds of landing the top overall pick. These teams require the firepower to improve for next season and naturally offer more opportunities for Flagg to showcase his skills in his debut season.

In Bleacher Report’s recent mock draft after Flagg declared, their simulation resulted in the Charlotte Hornets landing the No. 1 draft pick and selecting Cooper Flagg. Should this simulation reflect reality, Flagg would pair well with the young Hornets core consisting of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, as they hope to turn things around with these three running the play.

However, ESPN’s NBA insider Bobby Marks believed the best spot for Flagg would be neither of these 3 teams but rather the San Antonio Spurs. Marks explained that pairing Flagg with Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox would create a “formidable big three, certainly from a defensive standpoint.” San Antonio has a 6% chance of getting the top draft pick, so they will have to defy all odds in order to land Cooper. Flagg, Wembanyama, and Fox on one team will certainly give many of the teams in the NBA nightmares considering their defensive solidity.

Then ESPN’s Marc Spears did a 180 pivot to his colleague’s opinion as he chose the Wizards as the best spot for Flagg. He mentioned that Flagg could be a turning point for the franchise, as it has been “dormant for too long,” thus sparking it back to life.

Wherever the basketball phenom lands, he will take time to adapt; the NBA is not for the weak, and Cooper Flagg has to be ready to face the big dogs. There will be no concessions for the newcomer, as everyone is a fierce competitor on the court. Flagg has to let go of his college regrets and face the NBA head-on and take everything in stride, regardless of which team he ends up playing on.