Boston Celtics Interview Cooper Flagg At NBA Draft Combine

At the NBA Draft Combine, the top prospect, Cooper Flagg, drew the eyes of many. The Duke Blue Devil is the heavy favorite to be the first overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft on June 25. Many teams interviewed him, but interestingly, one of them was the Boston Celtics. The Celtics’ pick is nowhere near the lottery and has seemingly little chance of landing Cooper Flagg, so the interview caught many by surprise. Flagg is from Maine and grew up a Celtics fan, and this development has some believing the interest could go both ways.

An Elite Prospect

Cooper Flagg is one of the most highly touted prospects since Victor Wembanyama. At 6’9”, Flagg is a long, athletic forward. In his freshman season at Duke, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game with 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. He received many honors in his one season, including the AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Award, the Wooden Award, and the ACC Player of the Year. Flagg had one of the most prolific seasons in college basketball, but came up short in the quest for an NCAA Championship. Duke made it to the Final Four but lost to Houston.

Still, Cooper Flagg is NBA-bound. There was some brief speculation that he would return to Duke for another season to try and win a title, but it was soon put to rest as he declared for the draft. He is expected to be the first pick, which shockingly went to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Draft Lottery. Dallas had a very slim chance to get the #1 pick, but an unprecedented lottery turnout led to them getting the prized spot and the chance to take Cooper Flagg. Teams like the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets, who struggled all season, missed out on the potential franchise cornerstone.

Cooper Flagg and the Celtics

Since he is the most highly touted prospect, Cooper Flagg and the Celtics should have no reason to be linked. Boston will pick near the end of the first round, so unless Flagg decides to hold out or an outrageous trade is made, the chances of this are impossible. Teams interview many players leading up to every draft, and there are many interviewees that teams pass or do not get the chance to pick. Flagg will likely be chosen by the Mavericks, joining Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, suddenly making them a playoff threat again after the controversial Luka Doncic trade last season.

One of the reasons this interview has drawn attention is because of Cooper Flagg’s connection with the Celtics. Flagg grew up in Maine and is a Boston fan. He has stated in the past that Jayson Tatum is an idol of his, and Celtics fans dreamed of the possibilities from there. Boston is primed for an eventful offseason. With a high luxury tax bill coming, the new ownership may look to move off expensive assets to cheapen the roster.

Because of these looming roster changes, some have suggested that the Celtics could package some of their talented but expensive players in a trade with Dallas. But the Mavericks agreeing to a move like that is highly unlikely. Every team in the NBA is high on Cooper Flagg, but it doesn’t mean they’ll get him. Boston’s best and most realistic hope is waiting until Flagg eventually becomes a free agent.

Final Thoughts

The Celtics interviewing Cooper Flagg at the NBA Draft Combine is an intriguing element, but unlikely to yield results. Flagg may have ties with Boston from his Maine roots, but he is not someone the Mavericks would pass up on.