The Brooklyn Nets (20-34) have exceeded expectations from the beginning of the season as they are 1.5 games out of the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference, the last spot in the play-in tournament. However, Brooklyn had their eyes on the 2025 NBA Draft coming into this season and yet, one player may not be available to be drafted if events go a certain way.
Duke forward Cooper Flagg, widely considered by many to be the presumptive first overall pick for the 2025 NBA Draft, may going back to college for a second year. According to Brendan Quinn and Brendan Marks of The Athletic, Flagg wants to return to Duke next year given that he is having fun playing for one of the best teams in America with the chance of winning the NCAA Tournament.
“(Expletive), I want to come back next year,” Flagg said, per Quinn and Marks, when talking about his experience this season with the Blue Devils. When it comes to the Nets, they, like most of the teams that are rebuilding right now, are hoping that they get lucky in the NBA Draft Lottery by getting the first overall pick so that they have the chance of selecting Flagg.
However, one of the interesting tidbits about this season for the Nets is the fact that Brooklyn may not get close to having the first overall pick given how well they have done this season. Heading into the All-Star Break, the Nets are tied for sixth place in the lottery standings, meaning that they a 8.2% chance of getting the first overall pick and also have a 34.5% chance of getting a pick inside the top-4.
If Brooklyn stays at that spot that they’re in heading into the All-Star Break, they would have the seventh overall pick and would be projected to select Duke guard Kon Knueppel. However, if the Nets get lucky enough to have the first overall pick in the Draft and Flagg ultimately decides to go back to school, Brooklyn could still choose from players like Rutgers freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, and Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis.
