The NBA’s annual draft lottery is set for Monday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, where the team with the No. 1 pick in June’s draft will be revealed. This year’s lottery is particularly significant due to Duke’s Cooper Flagg, who is widely considered the top prospect after a standout season with the Blue Devils. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, contributing to Duke’s advancement to the Final Four. His experience includes national team representation, being named to the All-Tournament team during the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup and practicing with the USA Select Team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The teams with the highest odds of securing the top pick to select Flagg include the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets, each at 14%. Other contenders are the New Orleans Pelicans (12.5%), Philadelphia 76ers (10.5%), Brooklyn Nets (9%), and several others with lower probabilities. It’s noteworthy that the 76ers’ pick is top-six protected, meaning they will retain it only if it falls within the first six selections. Similarly, the Kings’ pick is top-12 protected and would go to the Atlanta Hawks if it falls outside that range.
Besides Flagg, other notable prospects such as Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are anticipated to be selected soon after, along with Flagg’s Duke teammates, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach. Teams like the Hornets, Wizards, and Jazz are particularly in need of Flagg, as they have struggled to make playoff appearances in recent years.
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