Bill Simmons believes the Oklahoma City Thunder should make a blockbuster move for Cooper Flagg in the upcoming NBA Draft. The sports analyst suggested that OKC could leverage its massive draft capital to acquire the projected No. 1 pick.
Speaking on The Bill Simmons Podcast, he questioned how the Thunder would use their stockpile of future picks. “What are they gonna do with all these picks?” Simmons asked. He then proposed a trade package centered around multiple first-round selections.
“Could this be the year that they take that seventh, eighth, ninth Philly pick if that’s the pick, add like eight picks to it, and just say, ‘Give us Cooper Flagg’?” Simmons said. He described it as an “all-time motherload of picks” that a rebuilding team could find hard to refuse.
Flagg, an 18-year-old freshman at Duke, is averaging 19.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4 assists in 32 minutes per game. The 6-foot-9 forward is widely regarded as the top prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft due to his elite two-way skills.
OKC currently holds the best record in the Western Conference at 44-10, sitting eight games ahead of the second-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. The Thunder are also tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the league’s top record.
With a young core led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City has established itself as a contender. However, the franchise also controls an unprecedented number of future draft picks, making them a potential trade player in any draft.
Flagg’s defensive versatility, shot-making ability, and high basketball IQ could fit well alongside OKC’s current stars. The challenge would be finding a team willing to part with the No. 1 pick, even for a historic draft haul.
