The 2025 NBA Draft Lottery is set for May 12 and will determine the order of the top 14 picks. The Utah Jazz (17-65), Washington Wizards (18-64), and Charlotte Hornets (19-63) enter the lottery with the highest odds—each holding a 14% chance at the No. 1 overall pick.
Other lottery teams—like New Orleans (11%), Philadelphia (10.5%), Brooklyn (9%), and Toronto (7.5%)—also have hopes of striking gold. The San Antonio Spurs hold 6% odds through their own pick, plus an additional 0.7% chance via Atlanta, while Houston (via Phoenix), Portland, Dallas, Chicago, and Atlanta (via Sacramento) round out the field with smaller chances.
Whoever lands that top selection is almost certain to draft Duke phenom star. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward is widely regarded as a franchise-changing talent.
According to ESPN, the Spurs would be the most ideal landing spot for top star. NBA insider Bobby Marks sees an elite defensive trio forming with Flagg, Victor Wembanyama, and De’Aaron Fox, calling it a “formidable big three.” With two lottery picks in hand, San Antonio has a legitimate chance to secure Flagg and continue building a powerhouse around Wemby.
ESPN’s Marc Spears, however, made a more unconventional pick, choosing the Wizards as Flagg’s best fit. Spears argued that the struggling franchise is in desperate need of a spark and compared Flagg’s potential impact to what Jayden Daniels has done for the Washington Commanders—reigniting hope and relevance. Washington hasn’t reached the conference finals or NBA Finals since 1979, and Spears believes Flagg could finally help reverse that narrative.
With the lottery looming, all eyes will be on which team gets the chance to draft the next big thing in Cooper Flagg.
Chiney Ogwumike threw her support behind the idea of Cooper Flagg landing with the Philadelphia 76ers, calling it the perfect culmination of “The Process.”
“Wouldn’t that be ‘The Process’ truly coming into full effect?” Ogwumike said, pointing to how the Sixers—who endured a turbulent season filled with injuries and uncertainty—could benefit immensely from a foundational player like Flagg.
Philadelphia’s 2024–25 campaign was marred by health issues and off-court drama, with stars Joel Embiid, Paul George, Eric Gordon, Tyrese Maxey, and rookie Jared McCain all spending time on the injury report to end the year. Ogwumike believes that Flagg’s arrival could not only stabilize the franchise but also signal a new era of hope and consistency—something the Sixers have long sought since the early days of their rebuilding efforts.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid’s long-term future in Philadelphia, landing Cooper Flagg would give the 76ers a potential franchise cornerstone to build around for years to come. Flagg’s versatility, defensive instincts, and two-way upside make him an ideal foundational piece—especially for a team that may soon be shifting into a new era.
If Embiid remains with the Sixers, Flagg could develop alongside a former MVP and learn under one of the game’s most dominant bigs. If not, Flagg provides the team with a fresh start and a new identity to rally around. Either way, his arrival would offer Philadelphia a path forward, whether it’s as a co-star or the face of a retooled roster.