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Disappointing Eastern Conference team projected to land Duke's Cooper Flagg in latest mock draft

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Nov 29, 2024 9:25 PM ET

The Duke Blue Devils find themselves with a 4-2 record on the season following their eventful 75-72 loss to No. 1 Kansas on Tuesday that included the usual display of fireworks from star freshman Cooper Flagg.

Flagg currently leads coach Jon Scheyer's Devils in scoring with 17 points per game on the season.

Flagg's prowess extends far beyond scoring as he also leads the Blue Devils with 8.2 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals per game and 1.5 blocks per game.

The Newport, Maine, native and freshman sensation's LeBron James caliber stat line is expected to be rewarded with the number one overall selection in next summer's 2025 NBA Draft, and one Eastern Conference team is in the pole position to land his services.

"Flagg is a rarity among super prospects in many ways, including that his on-ball scoring is perhaps the weakest part of the package," wrote veteran NBA reporter Ricky O'Donnell in his recent mock draft.

O'Donell predicted that Flagg will be taken by coach Brian Keefe's Washington Wizards with the number one overall pick. The Wizards currently find themselves with the worst record in the NBA at 2-15 and in need of a stalwart big man to shoulder the scoring load alongside Jordan Poole, Kyle Kuzma and others.

"Flagg has ideal size and athleticism for an NBA four, and his game is already impossibly well-rounded for a 17-year-old," O'Donnell continued. "The team that wins the lottery is landing a franchise player for the next decade."

O'Donnell's next four picks included G Dylan Harper of Rutgers to the 76ers, G Egor Demin of BYU to the Pelicans, F Ace Bailey of Rutgers to the Raptors, and C Khaman Maluach of Duke to the Jazz at pick number five.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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