Karma Power Rankings: Who Deserves Cooper Flagg?

Karma Power Rankings: Who Deserves Cooper Flagg?

Any time there is a generational prospect coming to the NBA, it feels like a good time to do the Karma Power Rankings. I’d argue the last time we did this, it worked out pretty well. Unless you’re Paul George, Cooper Flagg is pretty much a lock to go first overall during the 2025 NBA Draft.

With the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery set to air tonight, let’s give a quick rundown on how the karma gods may or may not view things tonight. Feel free to comment if you believe I have it wrong.

By the way, before I begin, let’s also recognize NHL > NBA. The NBA lottery is so damn corrupt, they would never do what the NHL just did airing the ping pong balls live.

14: Dallas Mavericks (39-43): 1.8%

No.

Absolutely not.

Do I even need to explain why?

If you have been living under a rock, here you go.

13: New Orleans Pelicans (21-61): 12.5%

Nope.

Can’t happen.

The league already bailed this franchise multiple times and it’s so damn obvious it was corrupt both times. It was called, team doesn’t have an owner, let’s gift wrap them Anthony Davis. Oh, and when he’s not on the team anymore, let’s also give them Zion.

Would be a travesty is this worthless team gets another top pick.

12: Philadelphia 76ers (24-58): 10.5%

"This isn't like the Phoenix Suns putting this big three together last year that was flawed from the start. This is a group that fits together perfectly."@timbontemps says adding Paul George makes the 76ers a title contender 👀 pic.twitter.com/vIgGpY9Z6h

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 1, 2024

Do I need to say anything else?

Oh, other than the fact that if this pick falls outside the top six it goes to OKC as part of the Al Horford trade. I’d argue the 76ers deserve to lose their pick more than they deserve to move up in the lottery.

11: Chicago Bulls (39-43): 1.7%

Team loves being in the middle. Total con job. They don’t deserve this pick based on giving the entire fan base blue balls as they waste their time to watch a team sniff the play-in and nothing more. This team deserves a few more years of pain for speeding up the tear down process unnecessarily when Michael Jordan was there alone.

10: Sacramento Kings (40-42): 0.8%

I’d argue they should be lower on this list based on what happened with Mike Brown. This team doesn’t deserve this pick, and even the rational fans who root for the team can acknowledge that.

9: Toronto Raptors (30-52): 7.5%

Masai Ujiri doesn’t deserve positive karma, and you know it. Have you seen the cap sheet this idiot put together? Team is beyond screwed. He got them into this mess and doesn’t deserve a bailout special in any way. Let’s also mention the fact that they gave up the pick that became Stephon Castle last draft for Jakob Poeltl. They deserve all the pain imaginable.

8: Charlotte Hornets (19-63): 14%

Miles Bridges is a bad person, Brandon Miller likes to act stupid with firearms, and LaMelo Ball is a bad teammate.

No, thanks.

7: Portland Trail Blazers (36-46): 3.7%

Other than doing the right thing with the Lame Time trade, I’m not sure how anyone can argue this team deserves that pick. They gave Jerami Grant way too much money and took on turd Deandre Ayton. Scoot Henderson doesn’t look like he’s going to live up to his draft status either. Frankly, I’m not sure what’s exciting about this team.

6: Washington Wizards (18-64): 14%

I would go higher here, but I can’t.

A: The owner wants to move the team to Virginia. Capturing the flag in DC sounds cool, except when you remember this point.

B: Nobody should get rewarded for having Jordan Poole jack up bad shots for 82 games.

Oh, and this.

5: Brooklyn Nets (26-56): 9%

Not sure, I have a ton of sympathy for the Nets. Their big 3 of Durant, Kyrie, and Harden had a chance to work, except the latter two went sour puss mode when it mattered again. Based on how that thing went, it just feels wrong to give them Flagg, especially when you consider the fact that they had to make that weird trade just to get their own picks back.

4: Houston Rockets (pick via Phoenix Suns): 3.8%

I think the top three/four here are all worthy. Having the Suns win the lottery, only to have it transfer over to Houston, would be hilarious. Having them be rewarded for moving off the James Harden era would appease the Karma gods. It’s also a fun team that has some pieces. Karma gods don’t hate this outcome.

3: San Antonio Spurs (pick via Atlanta Hawks): 0.7%

The Hawks won the lottery last year, and it would be hilarious if they won it again, only to watch the pick head to the Spurs. Keep in mind, this pick comes from the Dejounte Murray trade, who isn’t even on the team anymore. Spurs made a great trade here and should be rewarded for it.

2: San Antonio Spurs (34-48): 6%

Landing Flagg would mean off to the races mode for the Spurs. Argue with clouds all you want. This team built the first dynasty the right way and never intentionally tanked. One more gift to kick off the post-Pop era feels right. What if we can go Castle, Vassell, Flagg, Wemby, and… ZION?

2025 NBA Draft: There is no legitimate argument that Cooper Flagg shouldn’t go No. 1 overall

1: Utah Jazz (17-65): 14%

The Jazz have never held the first overall pick. If you’re going to give the Jazz the first pick for the first time ever, giving them a generational American white guy, sure seems like the time to do it.

Will Hardy was given an extension through 2031.

Danny Ainge built the champion Celtics team and never got credit for it.

They nailed the Mitchell and Gobert trades. Everyone questioned them on Markkanen, and they picked Walker Kessler with one of the T-Wolves picks late in the draft.

The owner deserves good karma for saving the Coyotes and now turning them into the Mammoth.

The karma gods have been watching, and Utah sure feels poised to land Cooper Flagg.

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