Celtics Could Make Play For Cooper Flagg

With six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum out for probably most of next year, recuperating from an Achilles tendon tear, the team seems unlikely to make a championship push in 2026.

“Boston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take?" O'Connor said. "I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen.”

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Per O'Connor, chatter around the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago suggested that the Celtics were considering making a move for a top lottery pick. Without a lottery pick to the team credit, Boston would need to make a trade.

“At the Draft Combine this week, Tre Johnson openly said the Celtics interviewed him," O'Connor said. "I have multiple sources telling me the Celtics also interviewed Cooper Flagg. Now, this does not mean they’re going to trade up into the top 10, but I do think it’s interesting.”

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Johnson and Flagg are both considered to be top-10 prospects in next June's 2025 NBA Draft, with Flagg expected to be the top selection.

In 37 games for the Final Four-bound Blue Devils (who finished with a 35-4 record), Flagg averaged 19.2 points on .481/.385/.840 shooting splits, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks a night.

Flagg, perhaps the best college prospect in a half decade, earned pretty much every accolade it's possible to earn during his one-and-done 2024-25 freshman season. The 6-foot-9 forward was a consensus First Team All-American, the 2025 Associated Press Player of the Year, the 2025 ACC Player of the Year, and an ACC All-Defense honoree. He also claimed the Wooden and Naismith awards.

Losing the 28-year-old Brown for the 18-year-old Flagg could represent a short-term qualitative dip, but the upside of a Flagg/Tatum tandem going forward is pretty appetizing.

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