Victor Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg, Thompson twins highlight NBA rookie-scale draft

Three NBA writers from The Athletic — Will Guillory, James L. Edwards III, and Jared Weiss — conducted a 30-player mock draft selecting the best NBA players currently on rookie-scale contracts, with Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg standing out as top selections. The exercise highlights the growing importance of cost-controlled rookie deals in the NBA's second-apron salary cap era, which forces teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade veterans earning combined salaries of around $38 million in favor of younger players earning just $14.7 million combined. The draft included notable names such as the Thompson twins and emphasized that consistently finding talent through the draft is essential to building a sustainable championship contender.