Capture the Flagg: The Bucks are accidentally tanking with absolutely nothing to gain from it
The Milwaukee Bucks have no business being as bad as they are.
They have two all-time great players on their roster — one a former league MVP — and a decent enough supporting cast that you would think they could at least beat teams like the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets. Instead, the Bucks can count losses to those teams among the five straight they’ve suffered going into Monday’s game against the Cavaliers.
If it wasn’t for those two greats, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the Bucks would almost be a prime tank candidate considering their No. 26 net rating to go alongside the 1-5 record. They haven’t even been a little good. The only problem is the Bucks have nothing to tank for. They don’t own their first-round pick in next summer’s draft.
If the Bucks somehow find a way to finish the season as a lottery team, and their ping pong ball lands a top-four draft pick, it would go to the New Orleans Pelicans. Any pick between five and 30 would go to the Brooklyn Nets.
In other words, Doc Rivers better figure something out. Barring a trade for draft compensation, a shot at Cooper Flagg doesn’t await the Bucks for being this bad.
Now, let’s get into the latest on Flagg and the teams that actually do have a shot at landing the talented Duke prospect.