Tanking, ethical or not, doesn’t ensure NBA Draft Lottery success.
The Nets were one of several teams who learned this the hard way on Monday in Chicago. Despite holding the sixth-best odds in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, the ping pong balls didn’t fall in Brooklyn’s favor, leaving it with the No. 8 pick in June.
Reports suggest Flagg was one ping pong ball away from joining the Nets. That’s a gut punch for Nets fans, but they weren’t alone in their frustration.
The NBA’s three worst teams — the Utah Jazz (17-65), Washington Wizards (18-64) and Charlotte Hornets (19-63) — will pick fifth, sixth and seventh in the draft. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks, who finished 39-43 and reached the Play-In Tournament after trading Luka Doncic, defied 1.8% odds to land the No. 1 pick.
The last time the NBA’s worst team won the No. 1 pick was 2018. Last year, the Atlanta Hawks won it despite having the 10th-best odds. It’s certainly not the best look for the league. The rich keep winning, while the poor remain trapped in mediocrity.
Fans claiming the lottery is rigged have fresh fuel. The Cleveland Cavaliers won it right after LeBron James left. The New Orleans Pelicans won after trading Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers and again after Anthony Davis joined the Los Angeles Lakers. And now basketball is saved in Dallas, despite teams with less talent and greater need for Flagg’s skills.
However, pointing out the lottery system’s flaws doesn’t ease the disappointment or change the outcome. Unless Dallas GM Nico Harrison orchestrates another blockbuster trade, Flagg will be a Maverick. The next tier of top talent will go to San Antonio, Philadelphia and Charlotte. Then Brooklyn will need to make do with the best available player at No. 8 overall.
Historically, the No. 8 pick has been a challenging spot. The last 10 players selected eighth overall were Rob Dillingham (Minnesota), Jarace Walker (Indiana), Dyson Daniels (Atlanta), Franz Wagner (Orlando), Obi Toppin (Indiana), Jaxon Hayes (Lakers), Collin Sexton (Utah), Frank Ntilikina (overseas), Marquese Chriss (overseas) and Stanley Johnson (G League).
While it’s too early to judge players like Dillingham, Walker and Daniels, Wagner, a 2022 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection, appears to be the only one listed with realistic All-Star upside. According to Basketball Reference, only four players selected eighth overall have been named All-Stars, and the Nets desperately need star power.
Per ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater, Brooklyn has met with Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears, Duke’s Kon Knueppel, BYU’s Egor Demin and Arizona’s Carter Bryant at the NBA Scouting Combine in Chicago, with more prospect meetings scheduled this week.
Fears, a 6-4 freshman guard who averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists while leading Oklahoma to the NCAA Tournament last season, would be an ideal pick for the Nets at No. 8, addressing their need for a young point guard if he slides down the board.
Despite the Nets’ lottery disappointment, this year’s deep draft class offers hope, with talents like Fears as prime examples. Brooklyn will also pick at Nos. 19 (via Bucks), 26 (via Knicks), 27 (via Rockets) and 36 (own), giving it five picks inside the Top 40 selections.
Although GM Sean Marks is unlikely to roster five rookies in 2025-26, the Nets’ multiple picks could enable them to build a young, balanced and versatile roster. They can take calculated risks on high-upside players while positioning themselves for the talent-rich 2026 draft.
The 2025 picks may not become All-Stars, but with thorough scouting, the Nets can add high-floor contributors now and pursue a star later.
Throw in a wealth of future draft assets and $45-$60 million in projected available cap space this offseason, Brooklyn is poised for a rebuild few teams can rival. Missing out on Flagg stings, no doubt about it. But the chance to construct a true Eastern Conference contender remains, even if it takes time.
