Harper #1?
- Thread starter RUich
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All three of those guys are going to have long NBA careers if they stay healthy. But Dylan has definitely raised a lot of eyebrows and gotten a lot of buzz going that he’s the best player in college BB right now.
he's better than either of them, but I'd think their length would make them more desirable as prospects given that its such a wing-driven league and everyone is looking for the next Tatum type of uber athletic super tall wing with shooting and handling skills.
Not necessarily. There is some buzz out there that Dylan is the best guard prospect to come out of HS in decades. That’s pretty high praise. And says a lot about how valuable he could be to any NBA franchise.
Btw - Flagg doesn’t create his own shot anywhere near as well as Dylan or Ace.
He has pretty much done everything he could to raise his stock outside of improving his 3pt%, which he still has time to do.
Think teams see a bigger, stronger Jalen Brunson in him and are salivating.
The book is far from being written on all 3...plus there are others than can sneak in to the Top 3.
some rando at the end of this article had Harper 1 and Flagg 3
www.si.com
Projecting the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery
We’re still months away from the 2025 NBA Draft, but draft stock is starting to materialize before our eyes. Cooper Flagg — Duke’s 17-year-old phenom — has been
I would take Dylan #1 overall. He is a taller/bigger Jalen Brunson.
Flagg had 24 points in his game last night.. on 7 - 20 shooting. He did have 9 rebounds to his credit. Flagg took more than 2x the amount of shots as his next closest teammate.
Dylan had 24 points in his last game, on 8-13 shooting.
Dylan just seems to be more efficient and as a PG to me, he has a higher value.
Flagg had 24 points in his game last night.. on 7 - 20 shooting. He did have 9 rebounds to his credit. Flagg took more than 2x the amount of shots as his next closest teammate.
Dylan had 24 points in his last game, on 8-13 shooting.
Dylan just seems to be more efficient and as a PG to me, he has a higher value.
Dylan has the most mature game and is the most NBA ready right now....Ace has the most ceiling, but he is by far the most unfinished product of the 3.
Of the 3 Dylan has demonstrated he is the most NBA ready offensive player. The other two may have higher ceilings. NBA teams love guys who can score. Dylan has shown he can score when needed and has done it against some very good college competition. I think some would say he has had periods of time where he has been downright unstoppable offensively. It will be interesting to see how the season progresses and where he lands
Why not over Flagg? Are you buying the ESPiN hype? NBA will have the last day and being able to create your own shots is very important at that level. Flagg hasn't shown he can do that... at least for now.
Agreed, ESPN will tell you all season how Flagg is the #1 player for the draft as they show ACC games. There will be no change in their spin this year, if Dylan gets his average up over 30 a game they will still promote Flagg as the #1 pick. There is not a doubt in my mind that Dylan has been the best player, Dylan is better than Flagg and Dylan should be drafted ahead of Flagg. To each his own, I assume the #1 pick gets made based upon the team’s need and not hype, but who knows.
6-7 Jalen Brunson is a great get for any team
I agree regarding ESPN hype. That being said the draft is not about how the players are performing now, but generally about how the team front offices, scouts and coaches evaluate future potential. Top of Draft picks tend to go based on "best available" rather than team needs. Even though Dylan may actually turn out to be the best pro he might not be drafted first. Teams might be more intrigued by Flagg or even Ace based on their size, length and how they feel they might develop in terms of potential ceiling. What may help Dylan to get him to #1 in the the draft is he's drawing comparisons to Cade Cunningham, Brunson and even SGA.
Because Flagg is the better overall player. Better defender, rebounder, comparable playmaker - dominates within the flow of the team. Plus has the size and strength to hold up at 4 positions. Flagg makes everyone on the floor better, on both ends of the floor. Him being an off ball scorer, won't concern any team
Swap Dylan for Flagg -- I'd have a hard time believing Rutgers has 4 losses right now.
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The NBA is a shot maker’s league, and Flagg is only shooting 41.8% overall and just 24.4% (10-44) from 3-pt range. He does everything else really well, with 9.0 rpg, 3.6 apg (leads the team), 1.4 bpg, and plays very good defense both inside and on the perimeter.
I just don’t know if this type of all-around type of player — without high level shooting ability — screams number 1 pick. Lottery pick? Absolutely. But consensus #1 pick?
I just don’t know if this type of all-around type of player — without high level shooting ability — screams number 1 pick. Lottery pick? Absolutely. But consensus #1 pick?
A lot easier to show out when the other 4 guys are all top 150 players.
Ultimately it’s the performance with tUSA and other camps that really show the potential and likely why Ace was thought of as the better prospect.
I am personally bias to Dylan.
Flagg, unlike Dylan or Harper, can't create his shot. Being able to score either pick & roll or iso is still key to being a lottery pick. Flagg will be an exceptional role player, but not likely to be a player you build a team around.
Decide for yourself, assuming you’ve watched Dylans games all year, here’s a snippet of Flagg’s best game
We’ll agree to disagree on this one, Dylan already has an ability to break down his man and a defense before he even enters the league. He can create his own shot or set up teammates. Flagg is a nice player, like a Andre Kirilenko type who played with the Jazz who will do great things for a team, but I don’t see a generational talent to build a franchise around. Dylan looks like someone a franchise can be built around.
Flagg will never carry an NBA franchise and be a #1 option the way Dylan can. Flagg is a great #2 or 3
If you're the #1 pick, you should be the #1 option that gets the ball in crunch time and carry a team offensively like Dylan has already proven
Flagg needs to up his percentages
If you're the #1 pick, you should be the #1 option that gets the ball in crunch time and carry a team offensively like Dylan has already proven
Flagg needs to up his percentages
I agree that Flagg is the more polished player than Bailey, better defensively and rebounding. And I would love to see Bailey improve his consistency on 3's. But Bailey is hitting about 34% or better from 3 I think. Flagg is shooting 22% from 3. Bailey is shooting 46%-47% overall FG... Flagg is shooting 42%.
Just saying...
P.S. Flagg and Bailey really play different positions, having different strengths and weaknesses. Flagg is sort of a stretch forward, more of a power forward with post moves... But also 3-point range and good passing skills. Bailey is a pure WF... With the perimeter and mid-range game that comes with that. He is not a post player like Flagg.
A guy who's impactful in and every facet of the game, on both ends of the floor. And makes everyone's job easier. Can't be a franchise player? This thread will be funny when it's upped.
I assure you, no GM is going to make the same move that Michael Colangelo did. He drafted a tunnel vision (can't miss prospect) point guard, who was a high volume scoring machine. Fultz was talked up just like Dylan, scoring points in bunches. Meanwhile Jason Tatum was like Flagg. Playin within the team (avg 16pts) but impactful all over, on both ends
I assure you, no GM is going to make the same move that Michael Colangelo did. He drafted a tunnel vision (can't miss prospect) point guard, who was a high volume scoring machine. Fultz was talked up just like Dylan, scoring points in bunches. Meanwhile Jason Tatum was like Flagg. Playin within the team (avg 16pts) but impactful all over, on both ends
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Fultz is an outlier and Colangelo was a joke as a GM. Tatum was far more accomplished as an athlete and a guy who could create his own shots. Flagg's best offensive move is back to the basket taking 7 to 8 seconds to complete his shit. If you have ability to take a defender off the bounce, you'll have limited opportunities to play. Offense is so important in the NBA than defense get pushed to the background.
Doesn't sound like #1 pick numbers....right now. Still a long ways to go. Still, 24.4% in a 3 pt league?Not a great stat.
Are you a Duke fan or something with the Flagg love and Tatum references? If not, disparaging Dylan by essentially saying he will turn into a bust like Fultz is really odd. Why not say he could turn into Cade or SGA or a bigger version of Brunson? No way of knowing for sure, except odd that you chose to go in that direction.
Also, Flagg's game is nothing like Tatum at this point. Have you also considered that Flagg plays "within the team" because he has a better overall team...and that Dylan is being asked to do more.
Flagg is a superior defender and athletic. He is not a polished shooter/scorer (yet). He often plays with his back to the basket in the post which is really no longer a thing in the NBA especially for a non-center at 6'8". He'll do really well in the NBA but most "A" type NBA superstars are able to take over a game offensively with the ball in their hands. That includes Tatum. Not sure Flagg has shown that (yet). He will need to become more efficient in 3 point range and this will open up his game by having to keep defenders honest. If he does evolve in that sense, I see him more as Jimmy Butler.
Not sure about this. Are any lead guards that aren't lightening quick and can't shoot well above average leading teams? James Harden? Been the 3rd best player on most of his good teams. I'm not sure Flagg is a successful team leading guy either.
See the thing is, it wasn't just Colangelo. Everyone had Fultz as the consensus #1, and can't miss prospect. Personally I didn't, because I know better than to overvalue - high volume shot hunting. Flagg overall, is further along than Tatum was. Tatum was a little bit better offensively, but Flagg is very good offensively too. He's an off ball player- who can score around the rim, mid range, and gett his teammates good shots. Even without the 3 ball - he's going to be a major problem for defenders. Flagg will be the rookie of the year too
Maybe I'm a basketball observer. If I'm a fan of a players game, than I'll watch. Just how people are watching Rutgers games this year. Flagg and Tatum - just happen to players I was fans of. Very similar how they dominated within the team, and people confused it with them being role players at the next level. Harper is not Fultz, and I never said he was. I said he's a high volume shot hunter, like Fultz. People are falling in love with it, but doesn't mean he's better than Flagg. He's not. And if you actually watch basketball, you would know Flagg has always played within his team. Even before Duke.. On the other hand.. Dylan has shown even in all star games, he's out for his. At Rutgers same thing, with a top 3 lotto pick next to him. He's a very good player, but he's not better than Flagg
Lol. Out of touch because I know better than to overrate high volume shot hunters? If I'm out of touch. Bet money on it. I'll take the Flagg side as ROY
You did it again. “I know better” the reality is it’s your opinion. You don’t know better. Maybe your right or maybe your not. It’s not a fact as you, for some wild reason, believe.
Fultz would’ve been a good player in the league if it weren’t for shoulder / knee injuries
Tatum showed flashes of being a #1 scoring option at the next level in college, Flagg has shown none of that. Yes, he’ll likely be an All-Defensive team player at the next level (which is nothing to sneeze at), but more of a complimentary scoring piece. Don’t see him as a legit go-to scorer on a contender — see his ceiling around 23-24ppg
Are you calling Harper a high volume shooter? Someone explained that Harper is averaging 1.7 more shoots than Flagg, but Harper's shooting percentage is like 10% higher. What does that say about your theory? Flagg's FG % is 41.8. Harper FG % is 52
Btw, Flagg is 24.4% from 3
Harper is 36.4% from 3
