Capture the Flagg: The Pelicans should trade Zion Williamson and start over
It’s been a full month since my last Capture the Flagg column, and as you’ll notice in the below tank rankings, not much has changed in the time since. The Washington Wizards still remain my top tankers and four of the top five teams in my tank rankings remain the same.
Two big differences between then and now is the Philadelphia 76ers have played their way out of the top five, going 10-5 since Dec. 2 as they’ve gotten healthier, and the New Orleans Pelicans have closed the gap on the Wizards at the top, er… bottom?
In November, I wrote about how the Pelicans would have to consider blowing up the roster if the losing continued past a certain point in the season. Well, they’re past that point. At 7-29, the Pels are all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs, which is disappointing for a team that had real expectations entering the season. Now, they’re more likely to pick No. 1 than compete for a title, and that should be all the reason they need to commit to a full rebuild, which starts with trading Zion Williamson.
Williamson is, after all, the reason they’re in this situation to begin with. He’s the foundation on which their entire roster was built, and he’s been too unavailable for any structure to survive on. When healthy, Williamson is one of the best players in the NBA, but how long can the Pelicans continue to spin the wheels on a player who’s simply never healthy? A player who’s been available for fewer than 45% of the team’s games since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2019?
Williamson is now in year six, and he’s yet to play in a single playoff game. Though that hasn’t prevented New Orleans from qualifying for the postseason a couple times, the Pels haven’t won a series since 2018 — because their best player is never there. They won’t get a better opportunity to hit the reset button than they have right now. With players like Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper at the top of the 2025 NBA Draft, it’s a great time to part with one franchise cornerstone and replace him with another hopefully more durable one.
Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The latest updates on Cooper Flagg.
Jan. 1 (at SMU): 24 pts (7/12 FG), 2-2 (3-pt FG), 11 reb, 3 ast, 2 blk, 3 to
Dec. 31 (vs. Virginia Tech): 24 pts (9/14 FG), 2/4 3-pt FG, 3 reb, 6 ast, 4 stl
If you wanted to see more scoring from Cooper Flagg, he’s delivered over the last month. After averaging about 16 points in his first seven games through November, the defensive stalwart is scoring 19 points per game in seven games since the start of December. That includes at least 20 points in five games and 24 points in each of his last two.
Coop this week in 62 minutes vs. @Cooper_Flagg
48 PTS
14 REB
9 AST
3 BLK
5 STL
16-26 FG
4-6 3PT
12-12 FTFYI if you're an @accmbb POTW voter pic.twitter.com/z3YvnODVkJ
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) January 5, 2025
Cooper Flagg has looked different over the last few weeks. Feels like the game is slowing down for him. Really controlling the action on the floor and doing whatever he wants. He’s always been excellent but he’s moving to another level right now and it’s fun to watch.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) January 4, 2025
The difference isn’t necessarily in aggressiveness, as he’s only averaging one more shot attempt over the last seven games. It’s that Flagg has been more efficient from three (27% to 33%) and at the free throw line (70% to 85%). Duke is undefeated in the stretch and has climbed to No. 4 in the AP rankings at 10-2.
Former Duke first-round pick Dereck Lively II was in attendance for Wednesday’s win over SMU and interviewed Flagg after the game, and the freshman was talking that talk. “It was a great win, get one on the road. It was a physical game. Came out and busted ’em,” Flagg said.
D Live got up with Coop after the dub! pic.twitter.com/VTo9mzWRX1
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) January 4, 2025
Flagg’s confidence is evidently catching up with his unlimited skill and we’re not even halfway through the season. It’s about to get real scary for the field.
Tank ranking
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
1. Washington Wizards (6-27)
The Wizards were toying with losing their top spot after seeing their win percentage climb above New Orleans’ with a win over the Bulls, so they did the best thing they could do to hold on to No. 1: they dropped consecutive games to the Pelicans, on Friday and Sunday. That’s how you kill two birds with one stone and clip the competition.
2. New Orleans Pelicans (7-29)
The Pelicans aren’t out of it by any means after winning consecutive games for the first time since starting the season 2-0, but they’ll want to consider my advice and trade Zion Williamson if they plan to stay in the Flagg sweepstakes. Videos of Williamson practicing surfaced last week, which would indicate he’s returning soon. And once he does, the wins will soon follow… until he gets hurt again.
Zion Williamson was also getting some work in after today's practice pic.twitter.com/8kjs0Z9kpC
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) January 2, 2025
3. Charlotte Hornets (7-27)
So far, we’ve talked a lot about the Wizards and Pelicans, but the Hornets are coming on strong and look like a team to keep an eye on in this whole thing. They’ve dropped 10 straight games, including two to the Wizards, and have just one win in their last 19 games. It’s all a little disappointing for a team with an all-star like LaMelo Ball, but that roster apparently isn’t ready to compete yet. Flagg could help.
4. Toronto Raptors (8-27)
The Raptors snapped their own 11-game losing streak with a win over the Nets to bring in the New Year, but with the schedule they have coming up, another long losing streak could be on the way. It’ll be welcomed, because coming in at No. 4 isn’t good enough when only the top three losers get the best lottery odds.
5. Utah Jazz (9-25)
The Jazz simply aren’t tanking hard enough, which shouldn’t be a surprise after the way they competed last season. They’re actually riding a two-game winning streak after double-digit road wins over the Heat and Magic over the weekend. That’s plenty momentum to give them a shot at home against the Hawks and Heat in their next two games. Get it together, Utah.
The Week Ahead
Cooper Flagg games
Tuesday: Pittsburgh at 4 Duke, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday: Notre Dame at 4 Duke, Noon ET
NBA games (to avoid)
Monday: Trail Blazers at Pistons
Wednesday: Pistons at Nets, Blazers at Pelicans
Friday: Wizards at Bulls
Sunday: Nets at Jazz