If the Utah Jazz get the No. 1 pick this year, there's no doubt they would draft Cooper Flagg. Flagg is a sure-thing talent that could potentially bring the Jazz to a level higher than the days of Karl Malone and John Stockton.
He obviously couldn't do it alone, but he would be the primary ingredient on the contending team the Jazz want to build. They have the supporting pieces of a perennial playoff contender. They just need their star, and that's where Flagg comes in.
The Athletic's Tony Jones listed Flagg among the five NCAA prospects the Jazz should closely monitor. Flagg was listed for obvious reasons, but when Jones discussed him, he made a very flattering NBA player comparison with Flagg, but a somewhat troubling one, too, for the Jazz and anyone who wants the Duke prospect.
"I think he has a chance to be another Kawhi Leonard. Flagg’s ability to positively affect almost every possession of a game on both sides of the floor is unmatched in this draft. He’s put up impressive numbers at Duke, but his impact goes well beyond the stat sheet. His superpower is a maniacal ability and his desire to compete on every possession, and an ability to make big plays in big moments," Jones wrote.
Leonard didn't have much hype coming out of college, as he was a late lottery pick in 2011. However, he was drafted mid-first round, which makes him considered one of the best draft steals ever. If there were a 2011 NBA re-draft, Leonard would unquestionably be picked first, with all due respect to Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Klay Thompson.
If Flagg winds up being as good as Leonard was at his peak, not only would the Jazz get one of the NBA's best players for the next decade, but a championship(s) would be on the table, too, as Leonard's success individually and in the postseason speaks for itself.
The Jazz drafting another Kawhi would be fantastic, but a tad risky
Let's start it this way. Comparing Flagg to Leonard is certainly preferable for the Jazz than being compared to Andrei Kirilenko.
From a talent perspective, there would be no issue with Flagg turning into Kawhi 2.0. Leonard will be a Hall of Famer and be remembered as one of the greats of his day. However, he will also be remembered as someone whose prime was squandered by nagging injuries.
In 2019, Leonard was hailed as the NBA's best player following his all-time playoff run with the Raptors. Still, after bolting for the LA Clippers to be in his hometown, Leonard's career has since sadly been overtaken with one injury after the other.
In the six years he's played for the Clippers, there's been a good case that they had the best team in the NBA. However, injuries always got in their way. Leonard himself typically got hurt at the worst time, and the team has never made it past the Western Conference Finals, which they've only reached once.
At the same time, the Clippers still have the exact same aspirations all these years later, and it's because of how good Leonard still is when he takes the floor. Injuries aside, that's a franchise player contenders want, and exactly who the Jazz need.
Of course, Jones is only discussing Flagg's talent and skillset in this comparison and not Leonard's concerning injury history. Obviously, it would be ridiculous to think they are the exact same player, but if Flagg turns out to be the healthier version of Leonard, man, it would be difficult not to think fantastic times are ahead for Utah.