Execs Peg Cooper Flagg as Rookie of the Year Favorite; 2026 Draft Race Wide Open

Now that the 2025 Summer League has wrapped up, the NBA is turning its attention to what recently drafted players might bring to their teams, as well as to the outlook for next year’s class.

Among league personnel, there is a near-consensus that Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg will win Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN’s annual survey of executives and scouts, conducted this year by Jeremy Woo. Flagg was the overwhelming favorite, earning 17 votes. Spurs guard Dylan Harper received two votes, and Wizards wing Tre Johnson received one.

While some executives speculated that rookies like Johnson or Jazz guard Ace Bailey may put up higher scoring numbers, many agreed that Flagg’s all-around impact on a Mavericks team expected to compete for a play-in spot could be the difference.

Although he did not receive a vote for Rookie of the Year, 76ers wing VJ Edgecombe was named by several scouts as the top “non-Flagg” pick of the draft.

“VJ might be Philly’s second-best player by the end of the season, factoring in Joel Embiid’s uncertain health,” one general manager told ESPN.

When asked to identify the biggest draft steal, most pointed to Spurs forward Carter Bryant. Timberwolves guard Joan Beringer and Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis also received votes, though this question generated the widest variety of responses.

Looking ahead to the 2026 draft, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson received the most votes among those asked who will go No. 1 overall. Peterson, described in the article as “one of the best lead guard prospects in recent memory,” earned 12 votes. BYU’s AJ Dybantsa finished just behind him with eight.

Unlike Flagg’s uncontested run as the top 2025 prospect, the 2026 draft class is expected to feature more uncertainty. “It’s a total toss-up right now. By no means is there a consensus yet,” one executive said.

Duke forward Cameron Boozer, Tennessee’s Nate Ament, and Louisville’s Mikel Brown were also mentioned as projected top-five picks, though none of them received votes in this early poll.

While predicting draft outcomes this far in advance is always tricky, last year’s version of this survey accurately pegged Flagg as the favorite to go No. 1 overall. Harper, Bailey, and Edgecombe rounded out the remaining votes.

As for Rookie of the Year, last year’s poll identified Reed Sheppard and Zach Edey as the favorites. The actual winner, Stephon Castle, came in a close third.