# \[The Athletic\] NBA新秀合同球员中的最佳阵容是谁？文班和库珀·弗拉格领衔群雄 ▶️

**URL:** <https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/48474>\
**Category:** 环球刺讯\
**Tags:** 2026-27赛季, 迪伦-哈珀, 斯蒂芬-卡斯尔, 维克托-文班亚马\
**Created:** [2026 年9 月 9 日 11:01 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/48474 "2026-09-09T11:01:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

作者： ![TheAthletic](https://chinaspurs.com/user_avatar/chinaspurs.com/theathletic/32/124_2.png) [@TheAthletic](https://chinaspurs.com/u/TheAthletic)\
发布日期： [2026 年9 月 9 日 11:01 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/48474/1 "2026-09-09T11:01:28Z")

</div>

By William Guillory, James L. Edwards III and Jared Weiss / The Athletic, 2026-09-09 17:30:46

![Image](https://i.ibb.co/MyXPfDpV/ccf638b466ae.jpg)

在[令人闻风丧胆的第二土豪线](https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nba/what-is-the-second-apron-explanation-nba-bm06/)时代，拥有高性价比的新秀级别薪资球员从未像现在这样重要。

看看俄克拉荷马雷霆的休赛期操作。他们交易了卢根茨·多特、阿隆·威金斯和以赛亚·乔，以规避最严厉的处罚。他们之所以能做到这一点，是因为用卡森·华莱士（即将进入第四年）以及阿杰·米切尔和贾里德·麦凯恩（均进入第三个赛季）填补了这些空缺。这三人在2026-27赛季的薪资合计为1470万美元，而被交易的三名球员薪资约为3800万美元。

正因如此，_The Athletic_的威尔·吉约里、詹姆斯·L·爱德华兹三世和贾里德·韦斯没有重复我们2024年[评选联盟21岁以下最佳球员](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5683955/2024/08/08/nba-21-and-under-mock-draft-wembanyama/)的活动，而是参加了一场30人的选秀，挑选仍在新秀级别合同中的最佳球员。要打造一支有持续竞争力的球队，就必须在选秀中持续命中。

为了本次选秀的公平性，新秀（其首份合同还可延续四个赛季）与即将在明年休赛期寻求新合同的第四年球员之间，没有被赋予额外价值。（例如，维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 和阿门·汤普森已经签下了下一份合同，但他们仍有资格参加本次选秀，因为他们将在2026-27赛季继续执行初始合同。）三位作者试图在整体天赋与组建一支合理的篮球队之间取得平衡。他们进行了一场10轮的选秀，每轮末尾采用蛇形顺序。

闲话少叙……

## 第一轮

### **1. 吉约里队：维克托·文班亚马，中锋，圣安东尼奥马刺，第四年**

如果我们为整个NBA做一次选秀，文班很有可能成为状元。他已经是联盟最具统治力的攻防一体球员。正如我们从他的首次总决赛之旅中所看到的，他仍有巨大的成长空间。这位法国天才因在对阵纽约尼克斯的系列赛中场上场下的表现而受到批评，但想想他在22岁就取得如此成就，依然令人惊叹。顺便一提：自2011年的德里克·罗斯以来，还没有球员在新秀合同期内赢得过常规赛MVP。

https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FcGXYxxdLWSMM2Vl%2F3vmpDUSruUo5%2F3vmpDUSruUo5.m3u8&key=3461ba0d
### **2. 爱德华兹队：库珀·弗拉格，前锋，达拉斯独行侠，第二年**

场均21分对任何人来说都不容易，而弗拉格在做到这一点的同时，两分球命中率还达到了51.3%。作为对比，除了大个子文班亚马之外，弗拉格是2020年以来唯一一位在使用率超过25%的情况下两分球命中率超过50%的状元秀，这份名单包括安东尼·爱德华兹、凯德·坎宁安和保罗·班切罗。弗拉格进入联盟时就已能应对身体对抗和压力。我相信他的三分会进步。再加上他的防守，选弗拉格根本不需要犹豫。

### **3. 韦斯队：迪伦·哈珀，后卫，圣安东尼奥马刺，第二年**

近年来很少有球员能像哈珀那样在新秀赛季中不断进化。常规赛后期，随着投篮能力的提升，他成长为一名攻防兼备的威胁，并在季后赛中保持了这种水准。虽然年轻球员有时会因为季后赛期间保持竞技水准而被高估，但哈珀证明了自己在最大舞台上的从容不会动摇。这是选择球队基石时最重要的因素。哈珀在新秀赛季展现出的足够进步，让人们有理由预期他将成为联盟最顶级的攻防一体球员之一。

## 第二轮

### **4. 韦斯队：AJ·迪班萨，前锋，华盛顿奇才，新秀**

第一位被选中的新秀，迪班萨具备成为精英突破型侧翼的一切条件，并且在合适的体系中有足够的身材去防守四号位。他的进攻武器库与哈珀有很多相似之处，但与一名强力控卫搭档将使全场的组织分配更加均衡。这里存在一个风险：我的两个选择可能都无法成为出色的外线射手，导致空间问题，但他的天赋实在太好，无法放弃。

https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FAh6c4LhBkm030MJ%2FJLqJ53y9VPOe%2FJLqJ53y9VPOe.m3u8&key=fb03583b
### **5. 爱德华兹队：布兰登·米勒，侧翼，夏洛特黄蜂，第四年**

我想打造一支拥有身高、全面性和运动能力的球队。米勒将与弗拉格完美搭档。在我看来，米勒的得分天赋不逊于这份名单上的任何球员，他既能轻松得分，也能命中高难度投篮。如果他的持球组织再提升一两个档次，他很快就会成为NBA前15级别的球员。

### **6. 吉约里队：凯莱布·威尔逊，前锋，芝加哥公牛，新秀**

这可能是第一个有争议的选择，但我很高兴能选到威尔逊。这位2026年拉斯维加斯夏季联赛的最大明星已经展现出未来球队门面应有的自信和领袖气质。他还展示了一手跳投——如果他在北卡期间就展现出这手投篮，或许已经改变了球探们对他的评价。有人可能会说我在NBA选秀中那些人排在他前面仅七周之后，就选他而放弃同届新秀达伦·彼得森和卡姆·布泽，简直是疯了，但我就是如此相信威尔逊的未来。

https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2F33XDcFYsAtvgAMa%2FxfYuJRTQmf2E%2FxfYuJRTQmf2E.m3u8&key=19172b5e
## 第三轮

### **7. 吉约里队：阿门·汤普森，后卫，休斯顿火箭，第四年**

阿门·汤普森在休斯顿首个全职担任控卫的赛季经历了不少起伏。弗雷德·范弗利特的缺阵迫使他打磨了自己比赛中除投篮之外的一些最大短板。虽然他有时表现挣扎，但他在这支52胜的球队中场均得到18.3分、7.8个篮板和5.3次助攻。由于任务繁重，他的防守影响力有所下滑，但在刚刚过去的赛季他没能入选最佳防守阵容，我依然感到震惊。一旦他回归自己熟悉的位置，人们会重新记起汤普森在攻防两端有多么出色。

### **8. 爱德华兹队：奥萨尔·汤普森，侧翼，底特律活塞，第四年**

在我看来，奥萨尔·汤普森是NBA最好的非内线防守者。他既能骚扰小个后卫，也能盯防高大侧翼。他的投篮仍然是个巨大的问号。虽然我相信他能在强队中成为一名稳定的第二组织点，但他必须证明这一点。然而，尽管人们认为他进攻端存在局限，上赛季60胜的底特律活塞在汤普森在场时每百回合要比他不在场时好近7分。

### **9. 韦斯队：卡梅隆·布泽，前锋/中锋，孟菲斯灰熊，新秀**

我押注布泽在防守端是一名出色的沟通者，只要身边有出色的运动健将，他在大多数夜晚都能胜任五号位。我还有一种预感：在我的球队里，他能在防守端激发出迪班萨的最佳状态——只要后者全情投入，就能产生影响力。布泽的篮板、空间拉开能力和视野将塑造我们正在打造的进攻体系。当哈珀和迪班萨吸引所有防守注意力时，布泽在篮下进攻端的身材劣势就无关紧要了，所以这实际上是一个布泽能否组织起严密防守的问题。他足够聪明，能让这套体系运转起来，不过我还需要更多防守文班的方案，才能让这支球队成为真正的冠军之师。

## 第四轮

### **10. 韦斯队：康·克尼普尔，侧翼，夏洛特黄蜂，第二年**

单从球员本身来看，我会选斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，但我的球队需要一名有活力的射手来配合众多组织者和内线得分手。克尼普尔看起来非常适合这个角色，这让他在我心中排在了彼得森前面。从长远来看这或许是个错误，但克尼普尔似乎天生就是为无球打法而生的，能完美融入我目前的阵容。有了他和布泽，非主要持球点的位置上就有了既能强化进攻又能在防守端自保的球员。

### **11. 爱德华兹队：斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，后卫，圣安东尼奥马刺，第三年**

一名21岁的斗牛犬，还是一支NBA总决赛球队的首发后卫？居然到了第四轮？！谢谢了。卡斯尔需要在进攻端成长，尤其是投篮和自主创造能力，但很少有球员能像他那样在持球防守的第一线做出贡献。他目前的进攻水平已经足以让他成为一支争冠球队的关键拼图。

### **12. 吉约里队：达伦·彼得森，后卫，犹他爵士，新秀**

在堪萨斯度过坎坷的大一赛季后，很多人都在质疑彼得森能否配得上6月选秀榜眼的身份。还没踏上NBA赛场就被球迷称为"DNP"（未出场），这从来都不是好事。但必须明确：当彼得森保持健康时，他拥有成为球星的技能。他非常擅长打挡拆，而且我们在夏季联赛短暂看到他的时间里，他的传球视野给我留下了深刻印象。看看他如何在一支外线天赋过剩的犹他球队中找到自己的定位，将会非常有趣。

https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FHjpGmdHr6qh3icN%2FvFqpofk6m0IU%2FvFqpofk6m0IU.m3u8&key=f0641343
## 第五轮

### **13. 吉约里队：VJ·埃奇库姆，后卫，费城76人，第二年**

埃奇库姆在攻防转换中的激情和拼劲让人很难不为之倾倒。以他的身材而言，他拥有惊人的运动能力，而且他在去年的季后赛中已经证明自己是外线一名无所畏惧的接球投篮选择。今年对他来说将是一次巨大考验：从人人都在了解的有趣新秀，变成星光熠熠的76人阵中每支球队都会针对考验的对象。我们已经看到，与勒布朗·詹姆斯做队友所附带的审视目光如何影响了其他角色球员。现在轮到埃奇库姆接受显微镜般的检视了。

### **14. 爱德华兹队：埃斯·贝利，侧翼，犹他爵士，第二年**

作为一名身处一支相当怪异且糟糕的球队的新秀，贝利的效率还算不错。他两分球命中率超过50%，三分球命中率达到34%，且场均出手超过5次。在预测球员进步空间时，我看重的正是他这种心态——他在防守端全力以赴，从不显得慌乱。我是他的粉丝。到目前为止，我的球队运动能力超强。

### **15. 韦斯队：基翁特·乔治，后卫，犹他爵士，第四年**

乔治的天赋让人无法放弃，而且我喜欢他和哈珀分担主要组织任务的想法，这样场上总能保有一名有威胁的后卫。乔治在犹他的体系中经常打无球，证明了自己既能成为移动射手/空切手，也能在挡拆中成为外线威胁。尤其是在哈珀承担重大防守任务的夜晚，乔治将大量持球。

## 第六轮

### **16. 韦斯队：卡森·华莱士，后卫，俄克拉荷马雷霆，第四年**

与乔治的选择形成对比，华莱士能从替补席提供防守火花，并且大多数夜晚都能担当对方的明星终结者。这支球队的核心在于防守智商和攻防两端的速度，而非身材和垂直弹跳，因此在季后赛投出48.4%三分命中率的他，是理想的人选。

### **17. 爱德华兹队：凯尔·埃尔·韦尔，前锋/中锋，密尔沃基雄鹿，第三年**

听我说：我选了奥萨尔·汤普森和卡斯尔，两个不擅长投篮的后卫。我的球队里没有身高超过6尺10寸的球员。我要选这个上赛季三分命中率39%的7尺长人。虽然他不是出色的护框者，但也许他会成长为更好的护框者。我们在组建球队，而我忽视了投篮。韦尔正好补上这一环。

### **18. 吉约里队：亚历克斯·萨尔，前锋/中锋，华盛顿奇才，第三年**

在首轮选中文班之后，我觉得自己别无选择，只能垄断法国中锋。尽管围绕拥有迪班萨、安东尼·戴维斯和特雷·杨的全新奇才有诸多话题，但我觉得萨尔的成长被讨论得不够。上赛季他前36场比赛场均得到17.7分、7.5个篮板和2.2次盖帽。职业生涯前两个赛季，他还投中了155记三分。萨尔-戴维斯的组合可能非常危险。

## 第七轮

### **19. 吉约里队：杰里迈亚·菲尔斯，后卫，新奥尔良鹈鹕，第二年**

我觉得用菲尔斯作为彼得森和汤普森身后替补席上的变速器，简直是捡到宝了。尽管这名鹈鹕后卫已经打满一个完整赛季，但他到10月才满20岁。上赛季，菲尔斯是为数不多的在赛季后段打出最佳状态的新秀之一。菲尔斯打满了全部82场比赛，但在全明星周末之后，尽管大部分时间以替补身份出场，他场均仍能贡献16.5分和4.2次助攻。

### **20. 爱德华兹队：科林·默里-博伊尔斯，前锋/中锋，多伦多猛龙，第二年**

他进入NBA时就是一名优秀的防守者，而且肯定会成长为更出色的防守者。我喜欢他在短挡拆中的传球。我喜欢他的手感。默里-博伊尔斯为我提供了更多的阵容灵活性，他可以打前场的任何一个位置，取决于我想打小个阵容还是大个阵容。

### **21. 韦斯队：多诺万·克林根，中锋，波特兰开拓者，第三年**

我们的“文班答案”——讽刺的是，他在季后赛被文班打得落花流水……但失败是成长之母。克林根具备成为篮下怪兽的一切条件，只需提升外线防守技术，就能让他的沉退防守在季后赛中发挥作用。不过看看目前各队的阵容，能成为致命急停跳投手、真正利用克林根沉退防守的后卫并不多。

## 第八轮

### **22. 韦斯队：阿杰·米切尔，后卫，俄克拉荷马雷霆，第三年**

我们继续按照雷霆模式建队，又添一名能防守、能换防外线的活力创造者。我们需要这样的球员：有些夜晚可以不持球，有些夜晚则能主导进攻，同时每场比赛还要应对五六项防守任务。我想要那些拼抢地板球、珍惜每一次球权的球员。米切尔正合要求。

### **23. 爱德华兹队：小达柳斯·阿卡夫，后卫，萨克拉门托国王，新秀**

我通常的经验法则是避开国王选中的球员，但阿卡夫给人的感觉是，他至少能成为一名顶级的替补得分手。他是个小个后卫，这违背了我本次选秀的理念，但得分依然是这项运动中最有价值的技能。我认为阿卡夫有大量得分的潜力。

### **24. 吉约里队：安东尼·布莱克，侧翼，奥兰多魔术，第四年**

我需要替补席上更多的身高和防守全面性，布莱克是填补这一角色的完美人选。他在奥兰多刚刚度过一个生涯最佳赛季，尽管只首发了40场比赛。他对比赛的感觉极佳，外线投篮也在不断进步。虽然有人质疑他与杰伦·萨格斯在奥兰多的长期兼容性，但布莱克的技能在我的球队中完全适用。

## 第九轮

### **25. 吉约里队：塞德里克·考沃德，侧翼，孟菲斯灰熊，第二年**

考沃德拥有每支球队都在防守型侧翼身上寻找的身体条件和强硬作风。他的进攻还有很大的成长空间，但他在新秀赛季展现出的东西足以让人对他第二个赛季的表现充满期待——届时他身边将有更稳定的阵容。随着孟菲斯以布泽和扎克·伊迪为核心开启[“磨砺与绞杀”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjwGx_oHK44)的新篇章，考沃德是一名非常出色的角色球员，契合球队的身份定位。

### **26. 爱德华兹队：德里克·奎因，前锋/中锋，新奥尔良鹈鹕，第二年**

奎因的运动能力不算突出，他的防守和投篮也都有待提高，但我就是偏爱那些技术细腻、善于传球的球员，尤其是前场球员。我不确定奎因运动能力的欠缺以及他只有6尺9寸的身高最终是否会限制他在NBA的发展，但他对比赛的感觉值得我去一探究竟。

### **27. 韦斯队：马塔斯·布泽利斯，前锋，芝加哥公牛，第三年**

他的潜力实在太大，无论是持球突破得分还是弱侧护框。布泽利斯能融入多种阵容，并且提供了这支球队仍然缺乏的篮筐之上的存在感。他的护框和防守篮板在第二个赛季有所进步，不过他在持球防守第一线还需要更强壮。

## 第十轮

### **28. 韦斯队：基顿·瓦格勒，后卫，洛杉矶快船，新秀**

这支球队需要更多侧翼防守，但我优先选择了又一名神射手。瓦格勒看起来在任何情况下都能出手远投，这让克尼普尔坐在替补席上时球队依然能保持良好的空间。

https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FDH3dj7mtREblVYy%2Fez3UX29b604G%2Fez3UX29b604G.m3u8&key=f78e856a
### **29. 爱德华兹队：基肖恩·乔治，侧翼，华盛顿奇才，第三年**

乔治让我想起年轻时的肖恩·利文斯顿。不，不仅仅是因为那个爆炸头。他是一名身材高大的控球后卫，球风流畅。他能投篮、抢篮板、传球。我知道他在NBA生涯中还没打过什么有意义的比赛，但一个球员是否出色是看得出来的——即使身处糟糕的环境。乔治以不错的出手量投出了38%的三分命中率。他能打多个位置。他在防守端也很拼。

### **30. 吉约里队：里德·谢泼德，后卫，休斯顿火箭，第三年**

在谢泼德于上赛季季后赛灾难般的表现之后，所有人似乎都对他失去了信心，我非常乐意趁低买入。平心而论，他当时确实很糟糕。他在对阵湖人的第三场比赛最后时刻的[失误](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUjgLtnJmTI)糟糕到了极点。但谢泼德上赛季投中了227记三分，尽管只首发了21场比赛。以下是在22岁之前单赛季投中220记以上三分的球员名单：克尼普尔、拉梅洛·鲍尔、谢泼德。

**落选遗珠：** 斯库特·亨德森（开拓者）、德里克·莱夫利二世（独行侠）、小海梅·哈克斯（雄鹿）、扎克·伊迪（灰熊）、贾里德·麦凯恩（雷霆）、杰伦·威尔斯（灰熊）、贾马尔·谢德（猛龙）、叶戈尔·焦明（篮网）、卡特·布莱恩特（马刺）、威尔·莱利（奇才）、尼克·克利福德（国王）、乌戈·冈萨雷斯（凯尔特人）、马克西姆·雷诺（国王）、小米克尔·布朗（篮网）、金斯顿·弗莱明斯（老鹰）、亚克塞尔·伦德博格（勇士）

**选中三名球员的球队：** 圣安东尼奥、华盛顿、犹他  
**选中两名球员的球队：** 夏洛特、芝加哥、休斯顿、孟菲斯、俄克拉荷马城、新奥尔良  
**选中一名球员的球队：** 达拉斯、底特律、费城、密尔沃基、多伦多、波特兰、萨克拉门托、奥兰多、洛杉矶快船  
**无人被选中的球队：** 波士顿、布鲁克林、纽约、克利夫兰、印第安纳、亚特兰大、迈阿密、丹佛、明尼苏达、金州、洛杉矶湖人、菲尼克斯

新秀合同最佳阵容

| | 吉约里队 | 爱德华兹队 | 韦斯队 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 第一轮 | 维克托·文班亚马（状元） | 库珀·弗拉格（2） | 迪伦·哈珀（3） |
| 第二轮 | 凯莱布·威尔逊（6） | 布兰登·米勒（5） | AJ·迪班萨（4） |
| 第三轮 | 阿门·汤普森（7） | 奥萨尔·汤普森（8） | 卡梅隆·布泽（9） |
| 第四轮 | 达伦·彼得森（12） | 斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（11） | 康·克尼普尔（10） |
| 第五轮 | VJ·埃奇库姆（13） | 埃斯·贝利（14） | 基翁特·乔治（15） |
| 第六轮 | 亚历克斯·萨尔（18） | 凯尔·埃尔·韦尔（17） | 卡森·华莱士（16） |
| 第七轮 | 杰里迈亚·菲尔斯（19） | 科林·默里-博伊尔斯（20） | 多诺万·克林根（21） |
| 第八轮 | 安东尼·布莱克（24） | 达柳斯·阿卡夫（23） | 阿杰·米切尔（22） |
| 第九轮 | 塞德里克·考沃德（25） | 德里克·奎因（26） | 马塔斯·布泽利斯（27） |
| 第十轮 | 里德·谢泼德（30） | 基肖恩·乔治（29） | 基顿·瓦格勒（28） |

## 结语

**吉约里：** 拥有文班、阿门·汤普森、萨尔和布莱克，我的球队几乎在每个位置上都拥有令人咋舌的防守者和顶级运动能力。我认为威尔逊和菲尔斯是我做出的两个可能会引起争议的选择，但我愿意为两人的潜力下重注。

几年前我们进行类似活动时，我最大的观察是榜单前列有多少天赋异禀的年轻大个子。而今年，后卫多如牛毛。据我统计，我们选出的30名球员中有一半可以归为后卫，荣誉提名中还有8名后卫。

**爱德华兹：** 在防守端，我的球队将处于极佳状态。三年后，我希望投篮能跟上来。侧翼位置上有大量的全面性和身高，我想确保充分利用这一点。不过在进行这次活动时，让我印象深刻的是，我认为未来能成为最佳阵容级别天才的中锋并不多——至少现在还没有。克林根在防守端会很出色，但他的进攻能否好到让他成为球队基石？韦尔以他的身材能投篮，但他还有很多需要证明。这样的例子不胜枚举。

**韦斯：** 我的球队为全面性和速度而打造，旨在根据比赛计划灵活变阵，让对手的防守始终捉摸不透。由于我让布泽打五号位的小个阵容，我配置了让文班难以找到舒适区的棋子，这可能是当下夺冠的最大因素。我的球队将打出极具侵略性的防守，而进攻可以通过场上任何人来发起。这种风格类似于当年总决赛之旅中的印第安纳步行者，至少能保证打出一些赏心悦目的篮球。

_由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。_

> **查看原文：Who are the NBA’s best players on rookie deals? Wemby and Cooper Flagg lead the pack**
>
> ## Who are the NBA’s best players on rookie deals? Wemby and Cooper Flagg lead the pack
> 
> ![Image](https://i.ibb.co/MyXPfDpV/ccf638b466ae.jpg)
> 
> In the age of the [dreaded second apron](https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/nba/what-is-the-second-apron-explanation-nba-bm06/), having useful players on rookie-scale salaries has never been more important.
> 
> Look at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offseason. They traded Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe in an effort to avoid the harshest penalties. They could do that because they have backfilled those slots with Cason Wallace, who is going into his fourth year, and Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, both entering their third season. Those three will make a combined $14.7 million in 2026-27. The three traded players will make about $38 million.
> 
> That’s why, instead of repeating our 2024 exercise of [drafting the best 21-and-under players](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5683955/2024/08/08/nba-21-and-under-mock-draft-wembanyama/) in the league, _The Athletic_’s Will Guillory, James L. Edwards III and Jared Weiss took part in a 30-player draft to select the best players still on rookie-scale contracts. You need to consistently hit in the draft to build a sustainable contender.
> 
> For the sake of this draft, no extra value was given to a rookie, who can be on their first deal for four more seasons, over a fourth-year player, who is heading for a new deal next offseason. (Victor Wembanyama and Amen Thompson, for instance, have already signed their next deals but are eligible for this draft because they will play 2026-27 on their initial contracts.) The three writers attempted to balance overall talent with building a sensible basketball team. They conducted a 10-round draft, snaking back at the end of each round.
> 
> Without further ado …
> 
> ## Round 1
> 
> ### **1. Team Guillory: Victor Wembanyama, center, San Antonio Spurs, fourth year**
> 
> If we did a draft of the entire NBA, there’s a good chance Wemby would go No. 1. He’s already the most dominant two-way player in the league. As we learned from his first trip to the NBA Finals, there’s still so much room for him to grow. The French phenom has received criticism for his performance on and off the court against the New York Knicks, but it’s still wild to think he’s accomplished so much at 22 years old. In case you’re wondering, no player has won league MVP while still on his rookie contract since Derrick Rose in 2011.
> 
> https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FcGXYxxdLWSMM2Vl%2F3vmpDUSruUo5%2F3vmpDUSruUo5.m3u8&key=3461ba0d
> ### **2. Team Edwards: Cooper Flagg, forward, Dallas Mavericks, second year**
> 
> Averaging 21 points isn’t easy for anyone, and Flagg did it while shooting 51.3 percent on 2-pointers. For comparison, other than Wembanyama, a big man, Flagg is the only No. 1 pick since 2020 to shoot better than 50 percent on 2s with a usage rate above 25 percent. That includes Anthony Edwards, Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero. Flagg came into the league able to handle physicality and pressure. I believe his 3 will improve. Combine all of that with his defense, and Flagg was a no-brainer here.
> 
> ### **3. Team Weiss: Dylan Harper, guard, San Antonio Spurs, second year**
> 
> Few players in recent years have evolved over the course of their rookie seasons as Harper did. He blossomed into a two-way menace with improved shooting ability late in the regular season, then was able to keep up his play for the postseason run. Though young players can sometimes become overrated by maintaining their quality of play during a playoff run, Harper showed that his comfort on the biggest stage wouldn’t waver. That’s the biggest factor when selecting a franchise cornerstone. Harper showed enough development as a rookie to project out to be one of the best two-way players in the game.
> 
> ## Round 2
> 
> ### **4. Team Weiss: AJ Dybantsa, forward, Washington Wizards, rookie**
> 
> The first rookie off the board, Dybantsa has all the makings of an elite slashing wing and is big enough to play the defensive four in the right context. His offensive repertoire has a lot of similarities to Harper, but playing next to a strong point guard will allow for a good playmaking balance over the course of the game. There’s a gamble here that both of my picks don’t turn into good deep shooters and spacing becomes an issue, but the talent is too good to pass up.
> 
> https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FAh6c4LhBkm030MJ%2FJLqJ53y9VPOe%2FJLqJ53y9VPOe.m3u8&key=fb03583b
> ### **5. Team Edwards: Brandon Miller, wing, Charlotte Hornets, fourth year**
> 
> I’m trying to build a team with length, versatility and athleticism. Miller would slot perfectly alongside Flagg. To me, Miller is as talented a scorer as any player on this list, and he’s both an easy and tough shotmaker. He’ll be a top-15 player in the NBA one day soon if his playmaking off the dribble goes up a notch or two.
> 
> ### **6. Team Guillory: Caleb Wilson, forward, Chicago Bulls, rookie**
> 
> This might be the first controversial pick, but I’m delighted to get Wilson. The biggest star of the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League has already shown he has the confidence and leadership traits of a future face of a franchise. He’s also displayed a jumper that may have changed evaluators’ thoughts on him if he had shown it at North Carolina. Some folks might say I’m crazy for taking him over fellow rookies Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer just seven weeks after those guys went ahead of him in the NBA Draft, but I’m that much of a believer in who Wilson will become.
> 
> https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2F33XDcFYsAtvgAMa%2FxfYuJRTQmf2E%2FxfYuJRTQmf2E.m3u8&key=19172b5e
> ## Round 3
> 
> ### **7. Team Guillory: Amen Thompson, guard, Houston Rockets, fourth year**
> 
> There were a lot of ups and downs during Amen Thompson’s first season operating as a full-time point guard in Houston. The absence of Fred VanVleet forced him to iron out some of the biggest weaknesses in his game that aren’t related to his jumper. While he struggled at times, he averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists on a 52-win team. His defensive impact slipped a bit because he had so much on his plate, but I was still shocked when he didn’t make an All-Defensive team this past season. Once he goes back to playing his natural role, people will remember how spectacular Thompson is on both ends of the court.
> 
> ### **8. Team Edwards: Ausar Thompson, wing, Detroit Pistons, fourth year**
> 
> For my money, Ausar Thompson is the best non-big defender in the NBA. He can annoy small guards or big wings. His shooting is still a big question mark. While I believe he can be a consistent secondary playmaker on a good team, he has to prove it. Yet, despite his perceived limitations offensively, the 60-win Detroit Pistons were nearly seven points better per 100 possessions when Thompson was on the floor than when he was off last season.
> 
> ### **9. Team Weiss: Cameron Boozer, forward/center, Memphis Grizzlies, rookie**
> 
> I’m betting that Boozer is such an outstanding communicator on defense that he can work most nights at the five if he’s surrounded by good athletes. It’s also a hunch that, on my team, he can bring the best out of Dybantsa defensively, who can make an impact if fully engaged. But Boozer’s rebounding, floor spacing and vision will shape the offense we are building. His size concerns at the rim on offense won’t matter much when Harper and Dybantsa are drawing all the attention, so this is really a question of whether Boozer can run a tight defense. He’s sharp enough to make it work, though I’m going to need more solutions to guard Wemby to make this a true championship team.
> 
> ## Round 4
> 
> ### **10. Team Weiss: Kon Knueppel, wing, Charlotte Hornets, second year**
> 
> In a vacuum, I’d take Stephon Castle, but my team needs a dynamic shooter to play off all the playmaking and interior scoring talent. Knueppel looks like he’s going to be elite in this role, which nudges him ahead of Peterson for me. That may prove to be a mistake long-term, but Knueppel seems perfectly designed to live off the ball and slot into the roster I’ve got going so far. Between him and Boozer, the non-primary creator spots have players who can accentuate the offense while holding their own on defense.
> 
> ### **11. Team Edwards: Stephon Castle, guard, San Antonio Spurs, third year**
> 
> A 21-year-old bulldog who was a starting guard on an NBA Finals team? In the fourth round?! Thank you. Castle needs to grow offensively, specifically as a shooter and when creating for himself, but very few defend like he does at the point of attack. His offense is clearly good enough as is for him to be a key piece on a team competing for a championship.
> 
> ### **12. Team Guillory: Darryn Peterson, guard, Utah Jazz, rookie**
> 
> After his rocky freshman season at Kansas, there are a lot of skeptics wondering if Peterson can live up to being the No. 2 pick of June’s draft. It’s never a good thing when fans are calling you “DNP” before you step onto an NBA floor. But let’s be clear: When Peterson is healthy, he has the skills to be a star. He’s excellent in pick-and-roll situations, and his passing vision really impressed me during the short glimpses we saw of him at summer league. It’ll be fascinating to see how he finds his way on a Utah team that already has a ton of talent on the perimeter.
> 
> https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FHjpGmdHr6qh3icN%2FvFqpofk6m0IU%2FvFqpofk6m0IU.m3u8&key=f0641343
> ## Round 5
> 
> ### **13. Team Guillory: VJ Edgecombe, guard, Philadelphia 76ers, second year**
> 
> It’s really easy to fall for Edgecombe, with his passion and abandon in transition. He’s got incredible athleticism for a player his size, and he showed during last year’s playoffs that he’s already a fearless catch-and-shoot option on the perimeter. It’ll be a huge test for him this year going from the fun rookie everybody’s learning about to the guy every team will test on the suddenly star-studded 76ers. We’ve seen how the scrutiny attached to being LeBron James’ teammate has affected other role players. It’s Edgecombe’s turn now to get placed under the microscope.
> 
> ### **14. Team Edwards, Ace Bailey, wing, Utah Jazz, second year**
> 
> Bailey was fairly efficient for a rookie on a really weird, bad team. He shot better than 50 percent on 2s and 34 percent on 3s while taking more than five per game. He’s got the mentality I look for in a player when trying to project how much they’ll improve — he gets after it defensively and never appears rattled. I’m a fan. My team is super athletic so far.
> 
> ### **15. Team Weiss: Keyonte George, guard, Utah Jazz, fourth year**
> 
> George has too much talent to pass up, plus I like the idea of him and Harper sharing primary creation duties and always being able to have a dangerous guard on the floor. George frequently played off the ball in Utah’s system and showed he can both be a movement shooter/cutter and a threat from deep in the pick-and-roll. Especially on nights when Harper has a big defensive assignment, George is going to have the ball in his hands a ton.
> 
> ## Round 6
> 
> ### **16. Team Weiss: Cason Wallace, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder, fourth year**
> 
> To contrast the George pick, Wallace provides a defensive spark off the bench and can be the star stopper most nights. This team is very much about defensive IQ and speed on both ends rather than size and vertical athleticism, so he’s an ideal fit after shooting 48.4 percent from deep in the postseason.
> 
> ### **17. Team Edwards: Kel’el Ware, forward/center, Milwaukee Bucks, third year**
> 
> Hear me out: I have Ausar Thompson and Castle, two non-shooters at guard. I don’t have anyone over 6-foot-10 on my team. I’ll take the 7-footer who shot 39 percent from 3 last season. While not a great shot blocker, maybe he grows into a better one. We’re building a team, and I’ve neglected shooting. Ware addresses that.
> 
> ### **18. Team Guillory: Alex Sarr, forward/center, Washington Wizards, third year**
> 
> After taking Wemby with my first pick, I feel like I had no choice but to corner the market on French centers. As much intrigue as has surrounded the new-look Wizards with Dybantsa, Anthony Davis and Trae Young, I feel like Sarr’s development hasn’t been talked about enough. He was averaging 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks last season in his first 36 appearances. He’s also made 155 3-pointers in his first two seasons as a pro. The Sarr-Davis combo could be really dangerous.
> 
> ## Round 7
> 
> ### **19. Team Guillory: Jeremiah Fears, guard, New Orleans Pelicans, second year**
> 
> I feel like I got a steal with Fears being my change-of-pace guy off the bench behind Peterson and Thompson. Despite the Pelicans guard having a full season under his belt, he still won’t turn 20 until October. Last season, Fears was one of the rare rookies who managed to play his best basketball during the latter stages of the year. Fears appeared in all 82 games, but he averaged 16.5 points and 4.2 assists after the All-Star break, despite coming off the bench most of those games.
> 
> ### **20. Team Edwards: Collin Murray-Boyles, forward/center, Toronto Raptors, second year**
> 
> He came into the NBA as a good defender and surely will grow into an even better one. I like his passing in the short roll. I like his touch. Murray-Boyles gives me even more lineup versatility, as he can play either frontcourt spot, depending on if I want to go small or big.
> 
> ### **21. Team Weiss: Donovan Clingan, center, Portland Trail Blazers, third year**
> 
> Our Wemby answer — who ironically got whooped by Wemby in the playoffs … but you fail early to grow. Clingan has all the makings of a rim monster who could improve his technique guarding on the perimeter enough to make his drop coverage work in the postseason. But if you look at the teams so far, there aren’t many guards who project to be deadly pull-up shooters and can really take advantage of Clingan in a drop.
> 
> ## Round 8
> 
> ### **22. Team Weiss: Ajay Mitchell, guard, Oklahoma City Thunder, third year**
> 
> We’re continuing to build in the Thunder model with another dynamic creator who can defend well and switch across the perimeter. We need players who can live without the ball in their hands some nights, then run the offense the next, while handling a half-dozen defensive assignments a game. I want guys who will hit the floor and value each possession. Mitchell fits the bill.
> 
> ### **23. Team Edwards: Darius Acuff Jr., guard, Sacramento Kings, rookie**
> 
> My usual rule of thumb is to stay away from players whom the Kings draft, but Acuff feels like someone who, at the very least, will be an elite scorer off the bench. He’s a small guard, which goes against my drafting philosophy in this exercise, but getting buckets is still the most valuable skill in this sport. I think Acuff has the upside to get a lot of them.
> 
> ### **24. Team Guillory: Anthony Black, wing, Orlando Magic, fourth year**
> 
> I need some more size and defensive versatility off the bench, and Black is the perfect guy to fill that role. He’s coming off a career season in Orlando despite starting only 40 games. He’s got great feel for the game, and his outside shot keeps improving. There is skepticism about his long-term fit with Jalen Suggs in Orlando, but Black’s skills play on my team.
> 
> ## Round 9
> 
> ### **25. Team Guillory: Cedric Coward, wing, Memphis Grizzlies, second year**
> 
> Coward has the physical build and toughness every team is looking for in defensive wings. His offensive game still has a lot of room to grow, but he showed enough during his rookie season to be excited about what he’ll look like in his second season with more stability around him. As Memphis begins its next phase of [“Grit & Grind”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjwGx_oHK44) with Boozer and Zach Edey at the forefront, Coward is a really good role player who will fit with the identity of the team.
> 
> ### **26. Team Edwards: Derik Queen, forward/center, New Orleans Pelicans, second year**
> 
> Queen isn’t the most athletic, and both his defense and shot have a way to go, but I’m a sucker for players who are crafty and can pass, particularly in the frontcourt. I’m not sure if Queen’s lack of athleticism and him being only 6-9 will end up limiting him in the NBA, but his feel for the game is worth me finding out.
> 
> ### **27. Team Weiss: Matas Buzelis, forward, Chicago Bulls, third year**
> 
> There’s just so much potential here, whether it’s his downhill scoring or his weakside rim protection. Buzelis can plug into a lot of lineups, and he provides a presence above the rim this team is still lacking. His rim protection and defensive rebounding improved a bit in his second season, though he needs to get stronger at the point of attack.
> 
> ## Round 10
> 
> ### **28. Team Weiss: Keaton Wagler, guard, LA Clippers, rookie**
> 
> This team needs more wing defense, but I prioritized another knockdown shooter. Wagler looks like he can get a shot off from deep in any scenario, which allows for solid floor spacing when Knueppel is on the bench.
> 
> https://hub.chinaspurs.com/v?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.nyt.com%2Fathletic%2Fstreams%2FDH3dj7mtREblVYy%2Fez3UX29b604G%2Fez3UX29b604G.m3u8&key=f78e856a
> ### **29. Team Edwards: Kyshawn George, wing, Washington Wizards, third year**
> 
> George reminds me of a young Shaun Livingston. No, it’s not just the afro. He’s a big, ballhandling guard with a smooth game. He can shoot, rebound and pass. I know he’s played no meaningful basketball in his NBA career, but you can tell when a guy is good — even in bad circumstances. George shot 38 percent from 3 on good volume. He can play multiple positions. He competes defensively.
> 
> ### **30. Team Guillory: Reed Sheppard, guard, Houston Rockets, third year**
> 
> I’m more than happy buying low on Sheppard since everyone seems to be out on him after his disastrous run in last season’s playoffs. To be fair, he was pretty awful. His [turnover at the end of Game 3 against the Lakers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUjgLtnJmTI) was about as bad as it gets. But Sheppard made 227 3s last season despite starting in only 21 games. Here’s a list of players who made 220-plus 3-pointers in a season before turning 22: Knueppel, LaMelo Ball, Sheppard.
> 
> **Notable omissions:** Scoot Henderson (Blazers), Dereck Lively II (Mavericks), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Bucks), Zach Edey (Grizzlies), Jared McCain (Thunder), Jaylen Wells (Grizzlies), Jamal Shead (Raptors), Egor Dёmin (Nets), Carter Bryant (Spurs), Will Riley (Wizards), Nique Clifford (Kings), Hugo González (Celtics), Maxime Raynaud (Kings), Mikel Brown Jr. (Nets), Kingston Flemings (Hawks), Yaxel Lendeborg (Warriors)
> 
> **Teams with three players drafted:** San Antonio, Washington, Utah  
> **Teams with two players drafted:** Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans  
> **Teams with one player drafted:** Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Toronto, Portland, Sacramento, Orlando, LA Clippers  
> **Teams with zero players drafted:** Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Cleveland, Indiana, Atlanta, Miami, Denver, Minnesota, Golden State, L.A. Lakers, Phoenix
> 
> All-Rookie-Contract Teams
> 
> | | Team Guillory | Team Edwards | Team Weiss |
> | --- | --- | --- | --- |
> | Round 1 | Victor Wembanyama (No. 1 pick) | Cooper Flagg (2) | Dylan Harper (3) |
> | Round 2 | Caleb Wilson (6) | Brandon Miller (5) | AJ Dybantsa (4) |
> | Round 3 | Amen Thompson (7) | Ausar Thompson (8) | Cameron Boozer (9) |
> | Round 4 | Darryn Peterson (12) | Stephon Castle (11) | Kon Knueppel (10) |
> | Round 5 | VJ Edgecombe (13) | Ace Bailey (14) | Keyonte George (15) |
> | Round 6 | Alex Sarr (18) | Kel’el Ware (17) | Cason Wallace (16) |
> | Round 7 | Jeremiah Fears (19) | Collin Murray-Boyles (20) | Donovan Clingan (21) |
> | Round 8 | Anthony Black (24) | Darius Acuff (23) | Ajay Mitchell (22) |
> | Round 9 | Cedric Coward (25) | Derik Queen (26) | Matas Buzelis (27) |
> | Round 10 | Reed Sheppard (30) | Kyshawn George (29) | Keaton Wagler (28) |
> 
> ## Conclusions
> 
> **Guillory:** With Wemby, Amen Thompson, Sarr and Black, my team has some ridiculous defenders and elite athleticism at just about every position. I think Wilson and Fears are the two picks I made that may raise some eyebrows, but I’m willing to bet big on the potential of both.
> 
> When we went through this exercise a few years ago, my biggest observation was how many talented, young bigs were at the top of our boards. This year, there are a ton of guards. By my count, half of the 30 picks we made can be classified as guards, and there were eight more listed in the honorable mentions.
> 
> **Edwards:** Defensively, my team is going to be in great shape. Three years from now, I’m hoping the shooting catches up. There’s a lot of versatility and size on the wings, and I wanted to make sure to lean into that. In doing this exercise, though, what stood out to me is that there aren’t many centers who I feel will be All-NBA talents one day — at least not right now. Clingan will be good defensively, but will his offense be good enough to make him a franchise cornerstone? Ware can shoot it at his size, but he’s got a lot to prove. The list goes on.
> 
> **Weiss:** Built for versatility and speed, my team is designed to morph to the game plan and always keep the defense guessing. Since I’m going small with Boozer at the five, I put the pieces in place to make it hard for Wemby to find a comfort zone, which may be the biggest factor in winning a title right now. But my team will play an aggressive defense, and the offense can be run through anyone on the floor. The style will be something akin to the Indiana Pacers in their finals run, which at least guarantees some beautiful basketball.

By William Guillory, James L. Edwards III and Jared Weiss / [The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7506561/2026/09/09/victor-wembanyama-cooper-flagg-rookie-scale-draft-nba/)