At just 18 years old, Flagg was named the National Player of the Year in men's college basketball. The forward came into the NCAA as a defensive standout, but steadily built up an offensive game that looks like it'll translate smoothly into the NBA, where he'll see a bit more space on the court.

LaMelo Ball has five NBA seasons under his belt, and only one of them produced a winning record. Even more worrisome for the Hornets, their win rate is trapped in a three-year spiral that has taken it to a dismal .232.

The Dallas Mavericks beat the odds on Monday night, jumping from the 11th-best odds to land the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. They entered the night with a 1.8% chance of winning the lottery, and now leave with the option to select Cooper Flagg if they want him.