The Boston Celtics are not going to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Assuming he enters the draft this year, the No. 1 pick is where Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg will be taken.
Despite not being able to land him with the No. 1 pick, a plan has been proposed that would see Flagg land with the Celtics.
No, it would not be next season. It would not happen for another four years.
Bill Simmons of The Ringer has suggested a potential master plan that would bring Flagg to Boston. It's a long-term play, but one that would bring him to the Celtics at the start of his prime.
"I'm counting on Kelly Flagg, who's a massive, gigantic Celtics fan," Simmons said. "The Celtics a team that she loves, very very much. We have never seen somebody come into the NBA Draft and just play out their rookie contract... Five years just plays with whoever drafts him. Jumps right to the Celtics by age 24. We're waiting for him; we're gonna have the cap space ready; we got a new owner. Come home, come home, Cooper."
"Come home, Cooper! Come home to Boston!"@BillSimmons has a five-year plan to get Cooper Flagg to the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/pYJrPbh1JX
— The Ringer (@ringer) March 26, 2025
Flagg has lived up to all the hype during the 2024-25 college basketball season. He has led Duke to the Final Four, which will be played this weekend.
In 36 games played this year, Flagg has averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. He has also shot 48.3% from the floor and 37.4% from the 3-point line.
Being born in Newport, Maine, Flagg would be making a return "home" by ending up in Boston at some point. That alone would have to be intriguing to him.
Fans will have another chance to get a look at the Blue Devils' star on Saturday evening at 8:49 p.m. ET when Flagg and Duke face off against the Houston Cougars in the Final Four.
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This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM.