NBA – Carmelo Anthony’s concern about Cooper Flagg: “He doesn’t do anything in a grandiose way”

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Cooper Flagg, futur n°1 de Draft
Bleacher Report (DR)

Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif

Unlike last season and the duel between Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, there’s absolutely no doubt about the first pick in the next draft. Cooper Flagg will be the first name called by Adam Silver next month, and Carmelo Anthony has one concern about him.

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For the time being, the NBA microcosm only has eyes for the playoffs and the title race. After 4 games in each of the conference finals, the final series of the season promises to be exciting. Barring a huge turnaround in fortunes, there should be the Thunder’s stifling defense on one side, and the Pacers’ magical offense on the other.

And then, as soon as one of these two franchises lifts the Larry O’Brien trophy, it will already be time to turn the page and think about what’s next, i.e. the draft. While Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper are sure to leave with the first two picks, their destinations are still up in the air. This year more than ever, there could be major swaps in the top 3.

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Carmelo Anthony’s concern about Cooper Flagg

In short, whether Dallas decides to keep the first pick or trade him, how will Cooper Flagg fare in his debut? Presented as a prodigy, as a player capable of changing the face of a franchise, he’ll have to live up to high expectations. Carmelo Anthony was in the same situation in 2003, and in Paul George’s podcast, he gave his take on the situation:

I haven’t seen an NCAA player dominate like Cooper Flagg in a while. To me, he doesn’t do anything great, but he does a lot of things very well. He can take offensive rebounds, he can cut off passing lines, he can provide weak-side help. I want to see him against Kevin Durant, against Luka Doncic, against Anthony Edwards. But he has to develop his offensive game. He’s got to have moves that work. He’s got to have at least one thing he can rely on.

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For Carmelo Anthony, Cooper Flagg’s versatility is a huge asset for his early career, but also his weakness. Defensively, he will be able to contribute immediately to the Mavericks or another franchise, either on the man or in a supporting role. Offensively, on the other hand, his lack of mastery of one aspect of the game could render him ineffective, especially in hot moments. Finally, his talent remains undeniable.

Carmelo Anthony Draft NBA Statements