The Boston Celtics, owners of the No. 28 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, made waves this week by interviewing top prospect Cooper Flagg at the NBA Draft Combine. While the possibility of Flagg landing in Boston remains remote, the meeting sparked widespread conversation.
The 6’9″ Duke freshman from Maine led his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, solidifying his place as the projected No. 1 overall pick. Flagg, who has strong roots in New England, has openly declared the Celtics as his favorite team and said he models his game after Boston star Jayson Tatum.
Boston Celtics Stir Speculation by Interviewing Duke Star Cooper Flagg
The Celtics have raised eyebrows across the league by using one of their 13 allotted interviews at the NBA Draft Combine to meet with Flagg, widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
NBA insider Kevin O’Connor revealed the development during a recent episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show, calling the move “interesting” given Boston’s draft position at No. 28.
“This does not mean they’re going to trade up into the top 10,” O’Connor said, “but I do think it’s interesting.”
The Boston Celtics reportedly interviewed Cooper Flagg at the Combine, per @KevinOConnorNBA
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 16, 2025
Along with Flagg, the Celtics also interviewed Tre Johnson, another projected top-five pick, further fueling speculation about Boston’s intentions heading into the offseason.
Flagg has solidified his status as a generational prospect after a dominant freshman year when he led the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks.
Despite Boston’s long-shot odds to land the top pick, the team’s interest in Flagg is especially notable due to his New England roots and well-documented admiration for the Celtics. A July report noted Flagg once binge-watched games from the Celtics’ 1986 championship team.
O’Connor emphasized that while no deal appears imminent, the intrigue is valid—especially considering the hypothetical trade scenarios floated on the show.
“Boston calls [Dallas GM] Nico [Harrison] and they offer Jaylen Brown. And how many first-round picks is it gonna take? … I just wonder if Dallas and their entire decision-making unit would listen,” he said.
Dallas, which landed the top pick despite just a 1.8% chance in the lottery, is widely expected to keep it and select Flagg. All mock drafts and betting odds point toward the Mavericks holding firm.
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“I don’t see Dallas moving Cooper Flagg for a Jaylen Brown at that point,” O’Connor added. “If you have the opportunity to move Cooper Flagg, I don’t think it’s going to be for Jaylen Brown.”
The Celtics are facing a potentially transformative offseason. With Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles tear for the upcoming season,and center Kristaps Porzingis potentially on the move due to cap concerns, trade scenarios involving core players like Brown have become part of the conversation—even if a deal to acquire Flagg remains highly unlikely.
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