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Archives for June 25, 2025

Flagg Day

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BROOKLYN – (Wire Service Report) – The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke phenom Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

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The announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Flagg, who had long been projected as the top pick. The only question was which team would get a chance to take him, and the Mavericks earned that opportunity when they won the NBA Draft lottery last month despite 1.8 percent odds.

Flagg figures to quickly provide a new face of the franchise for the Mavericks, who drew ire from their fan base after trading Luke Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

The 6-foot-8, 221-pound Flagg helped guide Duke to an NCAA FInal Four appearance after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award as the nation’s best player along with taking home other honors including ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC All-Defensive Team.

The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history. They also had the top selection in 1981, when they drafted Mark Aguirre out of DePaul.

–Field Level Media

After Cooper, Who’s Got Next?

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BROOKLYN– (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Here is the challenge for everyone behind the Dallas Mavericks, who will invest the No. 1 pick on purported franchise centerpiece Cooper Flagg: He’s one of one.

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Flagg is the top prospect available Wednesday, but the 2025 NBA Draft pool is not devoid talent.

The San Antonio Spurs pick second. They’re at a fork in the road, equipped with the assets and cap flexibility to choose their own adventure. Victor Wembanyama is already a mainstay in elite player conversations while Stephen Castle, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan round out their youth movement.

The first avenue involves disassembling their young core and surrendering their pick equity in pursuit of premier star power — assuming Giannis Antetokounmpo is amenable to such a pairing. A roster recalibration that prioritizes winning in the immediate term clutters the books with multiple max salary slots. Additionally, it reconciles with the fact that Brian Wright and Co. voluntarily accelerated their timeline by locking down De’Aaron Fox as their lead guard and designated pick and roll ball handler for the foreseeable future.

The second avenue is staying the course. Standing fully behind their current nucleus in hopes of fostering another homegrown superstar to ride shotgun next to Wemby for the long haul. The low cap figure and team control of a burgeoning star on a rookie deal could dovetail nicely into sustained success.

There is no wrong answer. After all, this type of optionality only comes by once in a blue moon.

The history of franchises falling second, or even third, in line for the league’s highest profile, franchise-altering No. 1 picks provides plenty of reassurance. Whether it be Chauncey Billups in 1997, Carmelo Anthony in 2003 or Ja Morant in 2019, the consolation prize in the wake of generational prospects has a glowing track record. 2025 proves to be no different with a three horse race for picks 2 through 4 that requires deep forethought.

Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
Ostensibly the best player available at No. 2, Harper is a 6-foot-6 combo guard with the on-ball dynamism to flourish from day one. In many other draft classes, Harper would be No. 1 with a bullet. He has a command of the offense that is beyond his years, dictates pace with dribble creativity, and is capable of carving his way to the rim at will. With Fox and Castle penciled in as San Antonio’s backcourt of the future, the Spurs would need to redistribute the ball handling duties with the addition of Harper. Naturally, Castle would take a back seat. Harper’s long-term upside, compatibility with Wemby, and ability to pierce defenses on or off the ball may be too enticing to pass up.

Airious “Ace” Bailey, SF/SG, Rutgers
Taking away all of the off-court drama and character critique, Bailey is the best fit for a guard-heavy Spurs core. He possesses show-stopping talent that will need to be harnessed accordingly. An unambiguously elite pull-up shooter as well as a 38.7 percent 3-point shooter off the catch, Bailey’s size and skillset on the wing poses to amplify the Fox and Wemby two-man game. He can be weaponized on the second side by attacking closeouts and getting to his spots off the bounce. Additionally, Bailey has the measurables and tools to confront opposing wings defensively. In a streamlined role alongside both a perimeter and interior force, the possibilities are endless.

The trouble is, there’s no chance in the world the Spurs are willing to entertain a half-committed Bailey as the second pick in the draft if the franchise isn’t convinced he’s all in. At this point, how could they be?

V.J. Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
A preternatural athlete with eye-popping verticality and a serviceable jump shot, V.J. Edgecombe is a high-energy two-guard of the plug-and-play variety. He couples striking physical tools with dogged determination on both sides of the ball. V.J. is a highlight factory who runs the floor with abandon and detonates at the rim, complementing Fox’s transition tendencies perfectly. To top it off, Edgecombe is a day-ruining defender at the point of attack as well as away from the ball. If the Spurs see a world where he can dabble in small forward minutes with his 6-4 frame and 6-7 wingspan, he will be in the mix at No. 2.

– Field Level Media

Filed Under: NBA

Angels in the Afternoon

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ANAHEIM – (Staff and Wire Service Report) The Boston Red Sox will send right-hander Richard Fitts to the mound Wednesday afternoon when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the final contest of a three-game series.

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It will be Fitts’ second career start against the Angels, and he’s undoubtedly hoping it turns out better than his first one.

Fitts (0-3, 4.71 ERA) took the loss when Los Angeles beat host Boston 7-6 on June 2. The Angels hit three home runs during a six-run first inning that night. Fitts exited the game after recording three outs on 39 pitches. He allowed six runs (five earned) and four hits and walked one.

Zach Neto, Mike Trout and Jo Adell hit the first-inning home runs.

Fitts was sent to Triple-A Worcester following that performance. He gave up seven earned runs on 15 hits in 12 innings for Worcester, and was recalled to Boston on Sunday after the Red Sox placed right-hander Hunter Dobbins (strained elbow) on the 15-day injured list.

“I was really focused on what I needed to work on, and the build-up was a big part of that,” Fitts told MassLive. “I was redefining my shapes of my pitches and it feels really good. I feel really confident and feel like I’m in a really good spot.

“I’m here to do whatever they need me to do. I want to pitch and help the team win.”

Fitts will try to prevent the Angels from sweeping the Red Sox. Los Angeles prevailed 9-5 on Monday and won 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday.

Christian Moore, the eighth overall pick in last July’s MLB draft, hit two home runs for Los Angeles in Tuesday’s win, which extended Boston’s losing streak to four games. The Angels have a 4-1 record against the Red Sox this season.

Boston is 9-19 in one-run games and 5-9 in extra-inning games. The Red Sox are winless in six extra-inning road games.

“Losing is not fun,” Boston shortstop Trevor Story said. “Winning is fun. We have half the season to play, so to this point we’ve been one game under (.500). I think that’s the frustrating part, is we know how good we can be. We’ve shown flashes of that, but you have to find a way to do it on a more consistent basis.

“We’re gonna stay positive about it,” Story continued. “We’re not gonna give up, I know that. We know the type of team we have and I feel good about us showing that in the second half.”

Neto, the Angels’ starting shortstop, left Tuesday’s game after making an error in the ninth inning. Los Angeles bench coach Ray Montgomery said Neto jammed his right shoulder during a stolen base attempt in the eighth inning.

“It’s feeling good,” Neto said. “I mean, it’s not great. But you know, we’re gonna see how I feel (Wednesday) morning, and hopefully — hopefully — you know, I come (in) feeling great, and be back in the lineup.”

Lefty Yusei Kikuchi (2-6, 3.01) is Los Angeles’ probable starter Wednesday. Kikuchi is 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA in 42 2/3 innings over 10 career appearances against Boston. He allowed three runs in five innings when the Angels beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings on June 3.

–Field Level Media

The Line Forms Behind Cooper Flagg

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BROOKLYN – A whirlwind four months for the Dallas Mavericks begins anew Wednesday with the launch of the Cooper Flagg era.

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The draft lottery in May turned into an unexpected gift for the Mavericks when they jumped the line of teams with the NBA’s worst records. Against the odds, they went from the playoff play-in tournament to the top of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Embattled Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, and a fan base miffed by the decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers midseason, found immediate optimism.

Not only was there a direct path to land Flagg, his arrival would make him a team centerpiece along with center Anthony Davis, who was acquired from the Lakers in the Doncic deal. Point guard and former Duke product Kyrie Irving is on the mend from a torn ACL but re-upped with a new three-year deal, giving Dallas three No. 1 overall selections at the core of its roster.

Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward with franchise-altering skill and qualities, is only 18 but often looked like a man among boys in guiding Duke to the Final Four. A combo-forward with ball skills, positional size and boundless versatility, Flagg slots in to a menacing frontline next to Davis and Dereck Lively II, another Duke product.

Flagg was the Wooden Player of the Year in his only college season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game for the Blue Devils.

“Cooper has the kind of talent that can elevate a franchise,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said of Flagg’s NBA potential.

Flagg left Davis and other U.S. Olympic team members with a strong impression during scrimmages with the team last summer. One of the players raving about Flagg was LeBron James, who said this week on the “Mind the Game” podcast that Flagg couldn’t have picked a better situation to start his NBA career.

“A guy that can do so many different things out on the floor. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump,” James said. “And also, he has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that’s established with Hall of Fame guys — Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving — right off the bat. Hall of Fame coach, Jason Kidd.

“You know, these guys … can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be. And I think that will be an incredible thing to have that type of presence, that type of leadership, that type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day from those pieces. So, I think he’s going to be amazing.”

San Antonio had only a 6.3 percent chance of a top two selection when the draft lottery took place but the Spurs also beat the odds. San Antonio has lived in the draft lottery for several years and have hit more often than they’ve missed with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan selected in the top 10 since 2022.

Rutgers guard Dylan Harper is a favorite to wind up as the next piece of the puzzle in the San Antonio rebuild over in-state option V.J. Edgecombe, who starred in his only season at Baylor and appears destined to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.

“His length is crazy, and I don’t think you can undervalue how important length and athleticism are in the NBA. He’s strong, really has a great court sense,” ESPN analyst Jay Bilas said of Harper. “In my view, he’s the second-best prospect in this draft. He’s a clear choice after Cooper Flagg for the Spurs.”

Either team could be prepared to pull a surprise and commit to another Rutgers product in Ace Bailey, who has raised criticism and concern by refusing to work out in traditional pre-draft sessions.

76ers forward Paul George said this week Bailey is putting his future on the line and taking a senseless risk in trying to dictate his landing spot in the draft.

“You’re not in a position to be making those commands. Make it to the league first,” George said of Bailey’s decision not to work out for teams.

Flagg’s college teammates and fellow freshmen at Duke, sharpshooter Kon Knueppel and 7-footer Khaman Maluach, are likely to find homes in the lottery with two freshman point guards and Texas wildcard Tre Johnson figuring prominently in the top-10 conversation.

Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis and Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears are natural scorers with playmaking skills attractive to the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards, who select Nos. 4, 5 and 6, respectively .

New Orleans has the seventh pick with the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns rounding out the top 10.

Portland (11th), the Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks and a second pick for the Spurs complete the lottery (non-playoff) picks.

–Field Level Media