The Crown Jewel: Flagg’s Two-Way Dominance

Atop DraftRoom’s board sits Cooper Flagg (6’9” SF/PF), a generational talent whose defensive instincts remind me of young Kevin Garnett—if KG had a smoother three-point stroke. My predictive model gives him an 87% chance to go first overall based on his absurd 6.5 blocks per 40 minutes at Montverde Academy. The Mavericks would be fools to pass on this perfect Luka complement.

Backcourt Brilliance: Harper vs. Bailey

The real debate starts at No. 2, where Dylan Harper (6’5” PG/SG) edges out Ace Bailey (6’8” SF) thanks to superior playmaking metrics. Harper’s 9.2 assists per game at Rutgers translates to a 94th percentile NBA read-and-react score in my algorithm. Meanwhile, Bailey’s elite wing scoring (24.1 PPG) fits Philadelphia’s need for perimeter creation post-Embiid era.

International Intrigue: Yang’s Cinderella Story

The analytics community gasped when China’s Yang Hansen (7’2” C) appeared at No. 24. His 4.3 blocks per game in the CBA translate to a projected 72% rim protection rate—third-best among centers in this class. Oklahoma City’s track record with international bigs (hello, Chet Holmgren) makes this a logical landing spot.

Sleepers to Watch:

• VJ Edgecombe (No. 4 to CHA): Athleticism scores off my charts (42” vertical)
• Khaman Maluach (No. 7 to NOP): Raw but boasts a 7’9” wingspan
• Nolan Traore (No. 13 to ATL): French phenom with Steph-like shooting splits

As always, mock drafts are more art than science—but my regression models suggest this could be the strongest top-10 since the legendary 2018 class.