Losing in the NBA is painful, but often, amid the depths of defeat, there lies a reward that renders all the mediocrity worthwhile.
NBA Draft Lottery night, ladies and gentlemen.
That's right—it's that fateful evening in spring when NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announces the fortunate teams and their draft selections for the upcoming event in June.
For those lottery teams, such as the Toronto Raptors, eager to discover when and where they'll be headed on draft night, there's now a date to anticipate—a date that might very well confirm the path generational prospect Cooper Flagg will take on his NBA journey.
The pre-draft festivities are scheduled for Chicago this May, with the events unfolding as follows: the NBA G League Combine will take place from May 9 to 11, the NBA Draft Combine from May 11 to 18, and the NBA Draft Lottery on May 12.
Will May 12 reveal Cooper Flagg's NBA destiny in Toronto?
May 12—just the thought of that date is enough to set Raptors fans buzzing with excitement.
It's essentially "Capture the Flagg" for teams focused on lottery odds. However, Toronto would be thrilled at the opportunity to add a seamless fit like Cooper Flagg to their promising young core, led by Scottie Barnes.
As of now, Toronto has the fourth-best odds (according to Tankathon.com), standing at 12.5%, of securing the first overall pick in this year's draft, which would effectively confer the rights to Cooper Flagg.
In front of them are the Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Washington Wizards, all tied with a 14.0% chance of winning the coveted Cooper Flagg sweepstakes for the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
While the antsy Raptors community cannot draw definitive conclusions until the pivotal date of May 12 arrives, it’s worth noting that if they were to miss out on the first overall pick, the 2025 class still features a wealth of intriguing prospects. Considering names like Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, Egor Demin, and VJ Edgecombe reveals significant upside for the Raptors' rebuilding core.
Be that as it may, all eyes will be on the whereabouts of Cooper Flagg, much like they were for recent consensus first overall picks such as Zion Williamson and Victor Wembanyama.
Cross your fingers, Raptors nation, and hope that the stars align in favor of the Six on May 12, 2025.