"Capture the Flagg" is in full force. The catchy saying is, of course, in reference to Duke star Cooper Flagg. The 18-year-old phenom is averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists for the second-ranked Blue Devils. While Flagg is the ultimate prize for the league's bottom-feeders, the consolation prizes are also notable in a stacked 2025 NBA Draft class.
Aside from the Duke star, Rutgers duo Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, and Illinois' Kasparas Jakucionis would be in play for the first overall pick if not for Flagg. The NBA Draft pool is deep. Hence, numerous teams are brazenly tanking over as the season winds down. Five teams have yet to reach the 20-win plateau, and four have won between 20 and 24 contests.
While the bottom three is nearly impenetrable, an unlikely team has joined the race to increase their first overall odds to 14.0 percent. The Philadelphia 76ers, a team routinely projected as an NBA Finals contender prior to the season, are losers of nine straight and possess the sixth-worst record in the NBA. As if things could get any worse, seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid was ruled out for the remainder of the season as the 76ers continue to look for a long-term solution to aid in a troublesome left knee.
The Sixers shutting down Joel Embiid directly affects the Bulls
Philadelphia's Joel Embiid has been ruled out for the season. pic.twitter.com/5AHSkwHtPr
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 28, 2025
Even though Embiid has missed most of the season, the Sixers remain far worse without their best player. Philadelphia is 12-27 without Embiid in the lineup—a 30.8 win percentage. With Embiid in tow, the 76ers are 8-11, winning 42.1 percent of their games. Based on Philadelphia's Embiid-less win percentage, they will finish 27-55. Bad news for the Bulls.
Chicago is currently 23-36, 2.5 games ahead of the reeling Sixers. Winning five more games is more likely than not as the Bulls' remaining schedule is merely .500. Chicago still has the Toronto Raptors (twice), Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Philadelphia left to play. If the Bulls manage to win four of those seven contests, the 27-win threshold will be reached.
While Philadelphia winning 27 contests is solely a projection, it's plausible. As noted, the Sixers have lost nine straight games, five featuring Embiid, and all but one loss included leading scorer Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia has been relatively healthy as of late. Thus, losing Embiid is a gut punch for the once-highly regarded Sixers that also affects the Bulls.
Surpassing the Raptors (18-41) and New Orleans Pelicans (16-43) is already difficult enough. Despite the Nets' similar record to that of the Bulls, Brooklyn's talent is far inferior to Chicago's. Now, the Bulls will have to contend with Philadelphia in the race to last. Even if Paul George's pause on his podcasting career bodes well for the Sixers; his inclusion in the lineup isn't nearly as significant as Embiid's.