How Duke Crafted the Blueprint for Bulls to Build Around Cooper Flagg

If he comes, you will build it.

To address the obvious: The Chicago Bulls don’t have an exceptional chance of acquiring Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. The team would need an almost miraculous combination of lottery outcomes to secure the No. 1 pick this summer.

In fact, the Bulls might be preparing for the first round of the playoffs and evaluating opponents like the Cleveland Cavaliers instead of draft prospects.

But miracles have occurred before—just last year.

The Atlanta Hawks, finishing 10th in the East, played the Bulls in the opening round of the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. The Hawks lost, placed 10th in the lottery standings with just a 3 percent chance at the No. 1 pick… and ended up with the No. 1 pick.

This year, that top pick happens to be Flagg, not Zaccharie Risacher.

What if Chicago slips into the Play-In but loses, misses the playoffs, and lands in a similar position as the Hawks last summer with late-lottery odds? It’s a familiar scenario for the Bulls. And if fortune favors them with the No. 1 selection, what follows?

Duke’s Formula for Building Around Cooper Flagg

In a feature on Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer’s approach after Flagg’s commitment, Brendan Marks of The Athletic highlighted how the 37-year-old completely overhauled his roster in one offseason to leverage his new superstar’s strengths.

Seven players, including a group of former five-star recruits, left the program to create space for taller, more versatile players who could shoot from deep. Purdue forward Mason Gillis, who shot 46.8 percent from beyond the arc in 2023-24 with the National Champion Boilermakers, was one of the first to join the Blue Devils.

Maliq Brown, a 6-foot-9 forward from Syracuse, made the ACC All-Defense team before transferring. Sion James, a powerful 6-foot-6 wing, joined the rotation alongside another five-star recruit, center Khaman Maluach.

Flagg’s athleticism, defensive prowess, work ethic, and rim-attacking ability were supported by added length, shooting, experience, and more athleticism.

As a result, the Blue Devils are favorites to win the 2025 National Championship.

Can the Bulls Construct a Team Around Cooper Flagg?

Building a team like Scheyer’s at Duke would require significant adjustments from Arturas Karnisovas, Marc Eversley, and Chicago’s front office.

Josh Giddey, a 6-foot-8 point guard, could be a strong addition, capable of leading fast breaks alongside Flagg. His improved three-point shooting would complement the team’s needs. Coby White, though not as tall as some of Duke’s players, is still young at 24 and would provide valuable floor spacing and scoring to relieve some offensive pressure from Flagg.

Matas Buzelis, likely an NBA sophomore next year, has the size (6-foot-10), athleticism, and defensive grit to fit well with the 18-year-old Flagg, although his shooting is still a work in progress at just 32.0 percent from three this season.

Beyond that, the fit gets more uncertain. Lonzo Ball possesses size, but after multiple knee surgeries and a prolonged absence, his athleticism and shooting haven’t fully recovered. Kevin Huerter, if still on the roster, has struggled with his shooting this season and isn’t known for his defense. Patrick Williams remains the ideal theoretical fit, but many Bulls fans are weary of hearing about the “potential” of Williams.

Julian Phillips and Dalen Terry have not yet proven themselves as rotation-worthy NBA players. Jalen Smith is a floor-spacing center, but he’s shorter, lighter, and less athletic than Maluach.

Ultimately, though, would any of this matter if the Bulls were to miraculously land Flagg?