Could Basketball Prodigy Cooper Flagg Stay at Duke for Another Year? Find Out!

With the regular season winding down—can you believe it’s almost April?—it’s the perfect time to dive into the mailbag. As always, feel free to send your questions via Instagram or X, and for more detailed inquiries, email [email protected]. Let’s dive in:

Do you believe the rumors that Cooper Flagg might stay at Duke for another year? Personally, I wouldn’t want to join the Wizards either, but it still seems unlikely. —Steven, Fairfax, Va.

Quick response, Steven: No. More detailed response: Absolutely not. While I haven’t spoken directly with those close to Flagg, nobody within NBA circles thinks Flagg will skip the upcoming June draft. It’s common for top prospects to feel hesitant about the teams likely to draft them. And the teams in the running for the top pick—like the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and indeed, the Washington Wizards—might not be Flagg’s top choices. But staying in college another year? Highly unlikely.

The reasoning is twofold. Firstly, the risk of injury. While no injury might end his career, an injury at Duke next year could lower his draft position and delay his professional start. Secondly, the financial aspect. Players often leave school early to kickstart their earning potential. The first NBA contract is good, the second is better, and the third can be life-changing. The aim for any NBA player should be to secure as many lucrative contracts as possible.

Moreover, there’s no guarantee Flagg would prefer the teams at the bottom of next year’s draft either.

Mannix! Loved your podcast with [Chris] Fedor. He mentioned that Cleveland needs to win the Evan Mobley/Kristaps Porzingis matchup to beat Boston. Do you agree? —Dave, Brighton, Mass.

It’s a valid point. Consider the two most recent games between the Celtics and Cavs. On February 4, Boston won by seven points, with Porzingis scoring 19 and Mobley only seven. On February 28, in Boston, with Porzingis absent, Mobley scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, leading to a seven-point Cleveland victory.

Clearly, a Cavs-Celtics series involves more than just the Mobley-Porzingis dynamic. However, Fedor is correct. Porzingis, who is nearly unstoppable in the high post and shoots almost 40% from three, poses a huge mismatch. He has also become a formidable defender. If Porzingis outperforms Mobley, Cleveland likely loses. Even if their performance is equal, it’s still a tough situation for Cleveland.

As I mentioned on the podcast, the Cavs are aware of the challenge a playoff-seasoned Boston team presents in the conference finals. They’ve split their season series with Boston 2–2, but the consensus within the team is they haven’t yet seen Boston at their best. Everyone, including Mobley, must elevate their game.

What’s happening with Milwaukee? —Elliott (via Instagram)

Reports of Doc Rivers meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard this week signal trouble. The Bucks are currently ranked 16th in offensive rating according to NBA.com. Over their last seven games, they’ve fallen to 22nd, averaging just 110.4 points per game, ranking them 23rd. They’ve also lost consecutive games to the Oklahoma City Thunder and a Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors, leaving them tied with the Detroit Pistons for the fifth seed. More worrying, Milwaukee has a 0–11 record against teams like OKC, Cleveland, Boston, and New York.

Individually, Antetokounmpo and Lillard continue to perform, but the team’s offensive flow is lacking. Opponents have adapted to Brook Lopez’s three-point shooting; he’s taking nearly half his shots from beyond the arc, and teams are increasingly assigning a wing player to challenge him in the post. This strategy worked for Oklahoma City, with Lopez shooting just 3-of-8. Kyle Kuzma’s shooting slump in Milwaukee—he’s hitting just 30.7% from three in his last 19 games—compounds the issue.

Can this be fixed? It’s uncertain. Time is running out on the season, and although the Bucks face less formidable defenses on their current five-game road trip, their away record is just 14–18. It once seemed likely Milwaukee would at least face Cleveland or Boston in the second round. Now, that’s far from guaranteed.

We’ve almost completed a full season with Karl-Anthony Towns on the Knicks, and I’m still not sure if they’re better than last year. What do you think? —Edward, White Plains, N.Y.

The recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs was a disaster. Whether you blame it on the end of a grueling road trip, Jalen Brunson’s injury, or underestimating a depleted Spurs team, it’s inexcusable to lose to a team with nothing to gain.

The Knicks compare themselves to top teams like Boston and Cleveland, yet they’ve failed to secure a win against either this season. They excel in three-point shooting efficiency (37%) but rank 27th in attempts. Mikal Bridges has been decent, but when you trade five first-round picks for someone, you expect more impact.

However, there are signs of hope. Mitchell Robinson’s return has significantly bolstered the defense. Since rejoining the team last month, the Knicks have climbed to a top-five defensive ranking. Robinson’s presence as a shot-blocking 7-footer alongside Towns (and as his backup) has been crucial.

Despite some pessimistic takes from former players, who suggest the Knicks might exit in the first round, I’m not convinced. New York holds a solid grip on the No. 3 seed, likely facing Milwaukee or Detroit in the first round. I favor the Knicks in those matchups. The real test will come against Boston. A Knicks team without Robinson doesn’t stand a chance, but with him, they might.

I was really frustrated reading Mat Ishbia’s comments in that ESPN piece. While I respect an owner’s drive to win, doubling down on a failing strategy seems illogical. What’s the outlook for Phoenix? —Edward, Long Beach, Calif.

Like you, I appreciate Ishbia’s assertiveness. He’s been proactive since taking over the Suns. However, any moves that don’t involve a full rebuild seem futile. It’s like trying to fix severe damage with minor patches. There’s no transaction in the next few years that will elevate the Suns to the top of the conference.

It’s widely expected that Phoenix will part ways with Kevin Durant this summer. Despite nearing 37, Durant remains highly valuable. My hunch—and it’s just that—is that Durant is eyeing Houston. If the Rockets had wanted Durant before the trade deadline, they probably would have made a move. Durant holds Ime Udoka in high regard, and in Houston, he could be the missing piece for a contender. Keep an eye on this situation post-season.

The big question surrounds Devin Booker. Despite Ishbia’s claims that Booker isn’t available, I’m skeptical. The Suns control Booker’s contract until the 2027–28 season, so there’s no rush. However, Booker, at 28, is at his peak as a scorer. His market value will never be higher than it is this summer. If you trade Durant and keep Booker, what then? The Suns lack the draft assets for a major trade. Bringing Booker back for his age-29 season to a likely lottery-bound team doesn’t make sense.

In my view, the wisest move would be to shop Booker. A bidding war would ensue. Houston, holding some of the Suns’ future draft picks, would be interested. Detroit and Oklahoma City, with their appealing offers, might also join the fray.

I understand—rebuilding is tough. It means years of low attendance and poor performances. But look at the current top teams. Between 2018 and 2021, the Cavs never won more than 22 games. Oklahoma City is three years removed from a 24-win season. Houston was a mess just two seasons ago. Rebuilding is hard, but it’s often effective.