I had the unique opportunity of covering the Duke vs. UVA game featured on ESPN last night, scouting potential number #1 Cooper Flagg pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Summary
Flagg stuffed the stat sheet against UVA, finishing with 17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.
His rebound stats are a tiny bit inflated this game since a good number of them were uncontested and bounced right to him.
Pros
He battled down low and attacked the glass most of the night. He is a high-motor player.
His passing/playmaking ability was a pleasant surprise. Both of his assists were in tight spaces and came off of beating his man off the dribble and quickly dishing it to his teammates when the help came.
In garbage time with the game out of the reach, he was supportive of his teammates in the game while on the he was on the bench.
Cons
He traveled on a few of his post up moves. He'll need to be more discipline at the next level.
He lacks elite quickness and elite isolation ability. He does have offensive skills but they just didn’t jump out at me against a 12-13 UVA team. Visually, he does slightly stand out athletically over his peers in college. But athleticism is not quite generational.
Player Comparisons
Most websites list him as 6'9" tall with a 7'0" wingspan.
- Andrei Kirilenko, stuffing the stat sheet on both ends every night
- Anthony Davis (before he bulked up), a mobile 3/4, that plays inside-out
Conclusion
If neither the Hawks nor Spurs don't land the #1 overall pick, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I'm not convinced he's even a lock at #1, and I wouldn't be surprise if he slid to spots #3 through #5.
Last edited by kht; 02-18-2025 at 08:10 PM.
I'm confused, who is our enemy here? Duke or UVA?
Since it's college, every school is an "Allie" lol.
I personally think the kid is being overhyped, but I also haven’t watched a single minute of tape on him nor have I even partially read any scouting reports. I actually can’t even read at all. I’m betting he’s a big fat bust in the NBA.
He’s not a franchise changer to a horrible team. But for us he would be the answer to our prayers and would fit in seamlessly. Dude covers all our weaknesses we have at the PF position.
This one made me lol. Appreciate the levity.
Thought he was talking about staying at Duke an extra year?
probably setting up a play to avoid getting picked by a crap team
Might he just be a Gordon Hayward 2.0 ??
that's another good comp. I hadn't thought of nor read. But Gordon was more wing/guard like.
another white player to comp him to
with that said i was always a big fan of Hayward's game. sucks he got hurt in boston
Did whatever injury that Hayward had end/ruin his career? I don't remember what happened. I do remember him being a very good player for a number or years, but don't remember how it played out.another white player to comp him to
with that said i was always a big fan of Hayward's game. sucks he got hurt in boston
Absent an injury or a Giddey poor decision, there's zero chance he's not #1.
In Vecenie's last mock draft Pod they talked about this a little bit, and I agree with their take... unless it's a catastrophic, career threatening injury... Flagg would still go #1. Even if he blew out his knee and had to miss his entire first year, he still goes #1 in their view, that's how much separation there is between him and the rest of the class.
How bad is the rest of the class then... I thought 2024 was supposed to be the "weak" class?
Flagg is really good. Then there are a handful of guys who are also pretty good (but not historically great) prospects (Harper, Edgecomb, Bailey)... then there are a bunch of guys who are probably about as weak as last year's class.
yeah, basically last year's draft would have started at some point between picks 5-7 this year
Austin croshere 2.0
why does he look so pedestrian in the ncaa. obviously his run in vegas against actual pros did wonders for him.
I mean, the Dream Team got beat by a bunch of college guys and it did nothing for Bobby Hurley's career.
I wouldn‘t say that. I think the middle of the pack in this years draft is significantly better. A lot of good role players while last years class made you wonder if they even belong in the league
Scouting is not perfect
Just look at The Joker, Austin Reeves, etc etc
It ended him as a borderline star, made him into a minutes guy off the bench. Now all that said it was right at the start of his 8th season (regular season opener) which he basically sat all of that year and a good portion of the next. He retired last year (august 2024) in the preseason He was under contract with the Thunder but not a great fit for playing time or being featured in any way. Would likely have been trade fodder for salary.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
