Dallas emerged as the unlikely winner of the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, pulling a 1% chance out the hopper to win the NBA draft lottery Monday night.
Immediately afterward ESPN posted a reworked NBA mock draft. In their projection 19 centers will be taken during the two rounds and 57 picks, but none of them will be Oregon's Nate Bittle.
The 7-0, 220 center from Central Point, Oregon gets passed over despite snaring 7.6 rebounds a game and shooting 33.6 percent from three, 51 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line as a senior.
ESPN projects the Portland Trailblazers to select a center at 11, and in their model the beleaguered perennial playoff noncontenders nab Derik Queen of Maryland, 6-10, 245, a former McDonald's All-American Game MVP.
Five centers get taken with the last five picks of the second and final round, none of them the relentless and rapidly improving big man from Mat Knight Arena, Crater High School and Prolific Prep.
ESPN NBA mock draft, last five selections:
48. Memphis Grizzlies (via Golden State)
Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane (Australia)
49. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Milwaukee)
Michael Ruzic, PF/C, Joventut (ACB)
57. Orlando Magic (via Boston)
Vladislav Goldin, C, Michigan, super senior
58. Cleveland Cavaliers
Mouhamed Faye, C, Reggio Emilia (Italy)
59. Houston Rockets (via Oklahoma City)
Hansen Yang, C, Qingdao (China)
As an undrafted free agent, Bittle stands to make the NBA minimum if he makes a team, currently $840,000. Should he return to Oregon his projected NIL valuation would be north of $1 million with a further chance to impress NBA scouts and refine his game.
Oregon's leading scorer last year at 14.2 points a game, Bittle would be welcome back to Eugene with an enthusiasm rivaling what Sabrina Ionescu received last night. He was not invited to the NBA combine.
Oregon senior Nate Bittle feels a bit under-appreciated nationally. The 7-footer is a legit defensive anchor despite some athletic limitations who has made serious strides as a shooter. This is his 34th made three this year after making 26 in his first three years combined. pic.twitter.com/bmIbculDuV
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) March 14, 2025
With Jackson Shelstad and Kwame Evans already electing to return to the Webfoots, Bittle's potential return gives them a three-headed monster that could contend in the Big Ten.