The NBA Draft, set for Wednesday at the Barclays Center, is highly anticipated, especially with the Dallas Mavericks expected to select Cooper Flagg as the top pick. Flagg, a powerhouse forward from Duke, is primed to earn $62.7 million over four years, a lucrative deal under the rookie contract structure tied to the NBA salary cap. As the youngest top pick since LeBron James, his contract starts at $13.8 million in the first year, reflecting the gradual cap increase driven by new media agreements.

The overall rookie contracts are tied to the league's revenue, a hallmark of the new CBA aiming to maintain consistent salary growth. While first-round picks enjoy substantial contracts, those further down the order, like the Oklahoma City Thunder's 15th pick slated for $22.5 million, experience a sizable drop-off in values. Furthermore, backup options for the third and fourth years of contracts are standard, ensuring teams can retain talent while managing salary cap implications.