The Losing Edge: 7 NBA teams that should be lining up to tank for Cooper Flagg

Washington Wizards

Few teams are in such desperate need of a superstar as the Washington Wizards. They have largely been irrelevant over the last 44 years, making the playoffs just 14 times and getting out of the first round just five times. While they have had good players in that span, including Gilbert Arenas, John Wall, and Bradley Beal, it didn't end well with each player. They held onto Beal too long and were forced to trade him for far less than they could have and they essentially had to start from scratch.

Thus far, they haven't done that great of a job. They drafted Johnny Davis 10th overall in 2022 but he hasn't looked like an NBA player over his first two seasons. They also drafted Alexandre Sarr, who had an ugly Summer League, including going 0-15 in a game, when most high-lottery picks often play well. They also have Jordan Poole, who was one of the worst players in the league last season.

On the plus side, their tank game is already strong and they should have no problem being one of the three worst teams in the NBA next season. Being in a position to draft Flagg would be a game-changer.

The Wizards would suddenly have a franchise cornerstone in place instead of a raw prospect, a controversial star, or a frequently injured one. It would also bring excitement back to a large market that includes not only D.C. but Maryland and Virginia, which, I can say with experience, have largely ignored the Wizards in recent years.