Jay Bilas doesn't see much suspense in the 2025 NBA Draft. In his eyes, Cooper Flagg is the only real choice at No. 1. Appearing on the "Rich Eisen Show", the veteran college hoops analyst outlines Flagg's skill set and why the Duke standout is an ideal cornerstone for any rebuilding franchise.
"He's 18 years old, and there are not many guys that play that way at 18 very often," Bilas said . "He's as complete a player, and he's the best freshman Duke's ever had, and that's saying something… He's the real deal. His level of competitiveness, especially at that age, is kinda hard to fathom. He impacts the game on both ends."
"He's not only a two-way player; he's a great player on each end of the floor… He's the real prize in this one. There are gonna be other guys that are gonna be great values and I'm sure gonna have great careers, but there is no other player that's gonna go number one," added the North Carolina native.
The interview was filmed before the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, so Eisen and Bilas did not have the slightest idea where Flagg may potentially land. However, after the ping-pong balls dropped, the Dallas Mavericks secured the first overall pick, opening up many interesting future scenarios.
For one, the Mavs are openly in win-now mode. Flagg does not fit Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis 's timeline, and if it still isn't apparent, Nico Harrison is no stranger to pulling off strange deals.
Instead of waiting for a teenager to learn the ropes, the franchise could pursue somebody who could come in and be a force immediately. ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst is throwing Giannis Antetokounmpo's name in the mix as a target, and Flagg's skill ceiling should be enough for Milwaukee to consider parting with "The Greek Freak."
Regardless, a trade scenario becomes realistic if Coop is treated as a final piece, rather than given the space to grow and refine his game.
"If somebody lucks into it that's got a roster where he is the cherry on top, I could see that," Bilas opined on a hypothetical Cooper for Giannis deal.
Still, the Mavs may not be in a hurry to move such a franchise-altering prospect. After all, Harrison declared "defense wins championships" to justify the Luka Doncic trade. Defense is exactly Flagg's calling card, and he might just turn out to be one of the best at that end even as a rookie.
Cooper has all the tools to become a franchise cornerstone — something Dallas could use with Luka gone, Kyrie rehabbing an ACL injury, and AD struggling to stay on the floor.
College scouts and experts often hype prospects up, but this is one of the rare cases where they don't need to. Flagg, who is from Maine, has the game and the accolades to show.
"The Maine Event" averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, appearing in 37 games for Duke. He was named the Associated Press Player of the Year, a consensus All-American, and the recipient of the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award. Even though there are no guarantees on the biggest stage, Coop is the closest to becoming a surefire impact player in the NBA.
Bilas sees Flagg as the safest bet in years, a foundational talent you don't second-guess. Whether Dallas treats Cooper as a trade chip or the face of their future, one move could set the course for years.
