A Bugs’ Life: It’s time to tank for a chance at Cooper Flagg

NCAA

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, who was named Associated Press college player of the year April 4, is considered a lock as the top overall pick in the NBA draft should he declare. The Charlotte Hornets are in position to have the best odds of winning the top pick as one of the league's worst teams.

The quest to land Cooper Flagg is on.

The Charlotte Hornets are in a familiar spot; they are in the hunt for the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Since the Hornets shut down guard LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the season, they should be in full tank mode the last few games of the season.

Charlotte has five games left, two at home and three on the road before they learn their draft position. For coach Charles Lee, defining success at this point in the season is showing effort.

“I think that we’re focused on what competitiveness is like,” he said. “That’s not a statistical measure; it’s just when you’re watching games, are you in your shift activity? Are you participating? Are you helping on the glass? Are you sprinting the floor offensively? Are you doing things that just show competitiveness and overall togetherness and trying to impact the game as best as possible with or without the ball?...
“I think the communication from the assistant coaches to the players of what’s expected from them has been really good. Just talking to players individually, they have goals of what they want to try to accomplish.”

It has been all but a foregone conclusion that the presumptive top pick will be Duke forward Cooper Flagg, who leads the Blue Devils in all major statistical categories: 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. He is a do-it-all unicorn that any NBA bottom feeder could utilize.

The Hornets are third from the bottom and have a 14% chance to land the top pick along with the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz. In the past, Charlotte has not had the best luck in the draft lottery, so they need all the help they can get. Losing the last five games would go a long way.

The past two seasons, the Hornets have been among the NBA’s bottom four teams and have yet to land the top pick. In 2023, they missed out on Victor Wembanyama, who averaged 24.3 points and 11 rebounds per game this season with San Antonio. Needless to say, the Bugs are due for some good luck.

Where does Flagg fit in with the Hornets?

Based on the current roster, Charlotte could easily shift a few players around to insert Flagg directly into the starting five. Ball would remain at point guard. Shift Brandon Miller to shooting guard. Slide Miles Bridges over to small forward and keep Mark Williams at center so 6-9 Flagg can play power forward.

Flagg — being able to stretch the floor as a shooter — could even play small forward if the Hornets wish to keep Bridges at power forward. Flagg is finishing his freshman season with the Blue Devils in San Antonio for the Final Four.

As with any top prospect, there are mutterings about whether Flagg will choose to stay in school.

This won’t happen.

Duke coach Jon Scheyer was on “The Dan Patrick Show” ahead of the Final Four, and he was pretty clear about what he feels Flagg’s intentions are.

“No,” Scheyer said when asked if he had talked to Flagg about returning for his sophomore year.

Scheyer was then asked if that conversation was going to be had.

“I can dream about that,” he said. “I think that is all it is in this case, it’s a dream. I think [Flagg] has got to take the next dream in his life and that is to be the top pick in the NBA draft and start his professional career.”

So, cross your fingers and toes Hornets fans. The NBA draft lottery is May 12. The bottom three teams — which includes the Hornets — all have a 14% chance of securing the first pick. No fan usually would want their team to lose, but with the Hornets having been eliminated from playoff contention for several weeks now, you don’t want them to bother winning another game.

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