NBA Season 2025-26

[Moranis]

I look at last year?s No. 1 overall pick in Cooper Flagg,? Mashburn said. ?If I was to put him on that list [of 2026 draftees if Flagg hadn't reclassified] he would be sixth? Just from a skill set and also elevation, a level of where they can get to? I just think this freshman class and you contribute everybody from last year, those guys would still be at the top of the list. Cooper Flagg has some holes in his game.?

Hot take culture, presumably mixed with a healthy dose of racism.

I don't know if that is true.  A lot of people have the top of this draft much higher than they had Flagg and they have a lot more of them ranked that highly.  6 seems low, but Flagg at 4 in this upcoming draft class is entirely reasonable all things equal.  I think that is one of the main reasons Flagg reclassified.  This draft is projected to be awesome.  See if it holds true, but it is being projected as the best draft class since Lebron's by many people (no Lebron in the class, but potentially several Anthony/Wade/Bosh level players).

That is the main reason I was willing to tank this year.  Obviously not now, but I thought Boston would more like a play in level team and if that was the case, thought tanking was the way to go given the projected quality of this draft.

I mean here is Kevin O'Connor from November

"To put it into perspective, some executives around the NBA say that if Flagg had never reclassified and were instead part of this 2026 group, he probably would be the third pick at best but could go as low as fifth or sixth," O'Connor reported Friday. "That is how special this group could be, so the chance to acquire one of them is why we're already seeing teams bottom out so hard."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25294436-nba-execs-discuss-where-cooper-flagg-would-be-picked-special-2026-draft-class

Obviously some people feel better about Flagg than the guys next summer, but it is far from a sure thing he would have even been a top 3 pick.

There are some really interesting players in this draft, but I would have taken Cooper Flagg first.

Cooper Flagg, as a proven producer in the NBA at age 18/19, is head and shoulders over any pick in the 2026 draft.  He's neck and neck with LeBron for the best age 18 season ever.

Well we've seen him in the NBA, but that isn't what would have happened if he hadn't reclassified.  Before the last draft, right after the draft, and early in this season A LOT of people would not have had Flagg first in the 26 draft.  Obviously he just dropped 40+ in the NBA and is doing quite well, but that doesn't mean he would have gone 1st if he was in the 26 draft.  It also doesn't mean Peterson, Dybantsa, or Boozer won't be better than Flagg throughout their NBA careers either. 

[Who]

The NBA named the 2026 All-Star reserves as voted on by the NBA coaches.

Eastern Conference

    Scottie Barnes - Toronto Raptors
    Jalen Duren - Detroit Pistons
    Jalen Johnson - Atlanta Hawks
    Donovan Mitchell - Cleveland Cavaliers
    Norman Powell - Miami Heat
    Pascal Siakam - Indiana Pacers
    Karl-Anthony Towns - New York Knicks

Western Conference

    Deni Avdija - Portland Trail Blazers
    Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns
    Kevin Durant - Houston Rockets
    Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves
    Chet Holmgren - Oklahoma City Thunder
    LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers
    Jamal Murray - Denver Nuggets

Avdija, Duren, Holmgren, Johnson, Murray and Powell are all first-time All-Stars. LeBron James was selected to a record 22nd All-Star team.

[Roy H.]

I look at last year?s No. 1 overall pick in Cooper Flagg,? Mashburn said. ?If I was to put him on that list [of 2026 draftees if Flagg hadn't reclassified] he would be sixth? Just from a skill set and also elevation, a level of where they can get to? I just think this freshman class and you contribute everybody from last year, those guys would still be at the top of the list. Cooper Flagg has some holes in his game.?

Hot take culture, presumably mixed with a healthy dose of racism.

I don't know if that is true.  A lot of people have the top of this draft much higher than they had Flagg and they have a lot more of them ranked that highly.  6 seems low, but Flagg at 4 in this upcoming draft class is entirely reasonable all things equal.  I think that is one of the main reasons Flagg reclassified.  This draft is projected to be awesome.  See if it holds true, but it is being projected as the best draft class since Lebron's by many people (no Lebron in the class, but potentially several Anthony/Wade/Bosh level players).

That is the main reason I was willing to tank this year.  Obviously not now, but I thought Boston would more like a play in level team and if that was the case, thought tanking was the way to go given the projected quality of this draft.

I mean here is Kevin O'Connor from November

"To put it into perspective, some executives around the NBA say that if Flagg had never reclassified and were instead part of this 2026 group, he probably would be the third pick at best but could go as low as fifth or sixth," O'Connor reported Friday. "That is how special this group could be, so the chance to acquire one of them is why we're already seeing teams bottom out so hard."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25294436-nba-execs-discuss-where-cooper-flagg-would-be-picked-special-2026-draft-class

Obviously some people feel better about Flagg than the guys next summer, but it is far from a sure thing he would have even been a top 3 pick.

There are some really interesting players in this draft, but I would have taken Cooper Flagg first.

Cooper Flagg, as a proven producer in the NBA at age 18/19, is head and shoulders over any pick in the 2026 draft.  He's neck and neck with LeBron for the best age 18 season ever.

Well we've seen him in the NBA, but that isn't what would have happened if he hadn't reclassified.  Before the last draft, right after the draft, and early in this season A LOT of people would not have had Flagg first in the 26 draft.  Obviously he just dropped 40+ in the NBA and is doing quite well, but that doesn't mean he would have gone 1st if he was in the 26 draft.  It also doesn't mean Peterson, Dybantsa, or Boozer won't be better than Flagg throughout their NBA careers either.

The same Cooper Flagg that swept the Player of the Year awards as a 17 year old and led Duke to the Final Four?  Even disregarding his performance in the NBA, who in this class is matching that?

It's just a hot take.  The equivalent of "Jaylen Brown doesn't contribute to winning", etc.  People say outrageous things to seek attention

[Moranis]

I look at last year?s No. 1 overall pick in Cooper Flagg,? Mashburn said. ?If I was to put him on that list [of 2026 draftees if Flagg hadn't reclassified] he would be sixth? Just from a skill set and also elevation, a level of where they can get to? I just think this freshman class and you contribute everybody from last year, those guys would still be at the top of the list. Cooper Flagg has some holes in his game.?

Hot take culture, presumably mixed with a healthy dose of racism.

I don't know if that is true.  A lot of people have the top of this draft much higher than they had Flagg and they have a lot more of them ranked that highly.  6 seems low, but Flagg at 4 in this upcoming draft class is entirely reasonable all things equal.  I think that is one of the main reasons Flagg reclassified.  This draft is projected to be awesome.  See if it holds true, but it is being projected as the best draft class since Lebron's by many people (no Lebron in the class, but potentially several Anthony/Wade/Bosh level players).

That is the main reason I was willing to tank this year.  Obviously not now, but I thought Boston would more like a play in level team and if that was the case, thought tanking was the way to go given the projected quality of this draft.

I mean here is Kevin O'Connor from November

"To put it into perspective, some executives around the NBA say that if Flagg had never reclassified and were instead part of this 2026 group, he probably would be the third pick at best but could go as low as fifth or sixth," O'Connor reported Friday. "That is how special this group could be, so the chance to acquire one of them is why we're already seeing teams bottom out so hard."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25294436-nba-execs-discuss-where-cooper-flagg-would-be-picked-special-2026-draft-class

Obviously some people feel better about Flagg than the guys next summer, but it is far from a sure thing he would have even been a top 3 pick.

There are some really interesting players in this draft, but I would have taken Cooper Flagg first.

Cooper Flagg, as a proven producer in the NBA at age 18/19, is head and shoulders over any pick in the 2026 draft.  He's neck and neck with LeBron for the best age 18 season ever.

Well we've seen him in the NBA, but that isn't what would have happened if he hadn't reclassified.  Before the last draft, right after the draft, and early in this season A LOT of people would not have had Flagg first in the 26 draft.  Obviously he just dropped 40+ in the NBA and is doing quite well, but that doesn't mean he would have gone 1st if he was in the 26 draft.  It also doesn't mean Peterson, Dybantsa, or Boozer won't be better than Flagg throughout their NBA careers either.

The same Cooper Flagg that swept the Player of the Year awards as a 17 year old and led Duke to the Final Four?  Even disregarding his performance in the NBA, who in this class is matching that?

It's just a hot take.  The equivalent of "Jaylen Brown doesn't contribute to winning", etc.  People say outrageous things to seek attention

I'll take the draft experts opinion on this one over the fanboy from Maine.

And for the record, Boozer is leading Duke to a 20-1 record averaging 23.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg, and 4.1 apg.  Flagg had 4.2 apg, but didn't score or rebound like Boozer.  And Boozer is a similar shooter from deep, but a much better interior scorer.  Dybantsa has BYU at 17-4 scoring 23.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, and 3.5 apg, playing on a team with far less overall talent than Duke either of the prior 2 years.  Peterson has missed a bunch of time (played just 11 games), but is still scoring 21.1 ppg on excellent shooting percentages (43.2% from 3, 57.3% from 2).  These guys aren't scrubs.  They are high level players with much better athleticism than Flagg.  It isn't a hot take to say they would have been better prospects than Flagg if he hadn't reclassified.  He reclassified to avoid those guys and have an easy path to the #1 pick.

[Moranis]

Caleb Wilson isn't exactly a scrub either, leading UNC at basically 20/10 with great size and wing span.  I'd have him behind Flagg, but I don't think it is crazy to think a true big man with his skill set, won't be an awesome pro player.  Koa Peat is a hot take (which is the other guy Mashburn was talking about), the top 3 is not and you aren't insane on Wilson either.

[Goldstar88]

Well, it will be really interesting to see how the rookies next season stack up against Flagg, Harper, VJ, Kon and Ace. A lot of talent coming into the league.

[Moranis]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/cooper-flagg-vs-aj-dybantsa-which-no-1-player-in-his-recruiting-class-is-the-better-nba-draft-prospect/

247 Sports is a well-respected recruiting publication.  Their director of scouting and national analyst, both would have taken Dybantsa ahead of Flagg, 10 games into Flagg's Duke career while Dybantsa was still a high school senior.

Maybe all these guys are wrong, or maybe they are not.  Time will tell.  Heck, you could make a pretty compelling case that Kon Knueppel should be the rookie of the year over Flagg this year.  Flagg will win the award because of his name and hype, but Knueppel plays on a slightly better team, has more efficiency, and better advanced metrics basically across the board with only slightly lower totals (WS, VORP, BPM, etc. all favor Knueppel and they aren't particularly close).