This year’s tanking race has been quite intense with the 2025 NBA Draft Class promising to be very strong. The class is headlined by Duke forward Cooper Flagg, who’s being considered one of the next big talents in the NBA. This year’s tanking teams have often been dubbed to be participating in the ‘Flaggathon,’ so it’s clear he will likely go to the winner of the Draft lottery or at worst, the runners-up.
ESPN BET recently posted an image of Flagg alongside Victor Wembanyama with the caption, “Imagine this duo in San Antonio.” Fans noticed that Flagg had liked the post, leading to excitement over Flagg potentially joining the San Antonio Spurs.
liked by cooper flagg 🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/tJIrNgGHIb
— Wemby Central 👽 (@WembyCentral) February 24, 2025
No matter what Flagg or the fans in San Antonio want, the Duke prospect has no control over his future. If he declares for the 2025 NBA Draft, he’ll likely go to either the team that wins the lottery or at worst, the team that comes third, provided other generational prospects such as Ace Bailey or Dylan Harper climb up.
The Spurs might be in the Draft lottery, but their odds don’t look favorable enough for a chance at a top-three selection. They’re currently No. 12 in the West with a 24-31 record, with many assuming their Playoff hopes died with Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending blood clots.
As currently placed, the Spurs would have the best odds for the No. 10 pick with a 13.9% chance at a top-four selection and a 3.0% chance for the No. 1 pick in the Draft. Funnily, the Atlanta Hawks jumped up from No. 10 in the odds to win the lottery last season, although the prize of the No. 1 pick last season isn’t as coveted as what could happen this season if that fortune falls upon someone else.
Spurs Have A Slim Chance At Landing Cooper Flagg
With Wembanyama’s injury, the rumors of De’Aaron Fox struggling with a finger injury, and the news of head coach Gregg Popovich taking the season off to recover from a stroke, this might be a good chance to take a step back. The competitive incentive for them to make a Playoff push is non-existent with key pieces missing, so they might as well tank to maximize their draft positioning.
They could realistically improve to the sixth-best odds at the lottery, imagining they somehow out-tank the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. A top-six pick gives them a 37.2% chance of jumping into the top four and a 9.0% chance at the No. 1 pick.
The Spurs also have two chips in the lottery if the Atlanta Hawks miss the Playoffs, owning their 2025 first-round pick unprotected. They’re currently better placed in the standings with more winning incentives, so controlling their pick by maximizing its odds might be fruitful.
It still might not be enough to land Flagg, who’s having a transcendent season with Duke, averaging 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.6 steals per game. Unless the Spurs land a miracle and jump up, they’ll likely have to look for a different complementary star that can implement well alongside Wembanyama for the future of the franchise.
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