2026 NBA Draft: Full first round mock
Who will the Washington Wizards pick at No. 1? A post-lottery and combine mock...
The results of the 2026 NBA Draft lottery are in, so here is a quick day-after mock based on a mix of team context, what I think makes sense, past behavior, and any possible hints that have been dropped.
For the sake of this exercise, I am playing it straight up. No trades, though I’m sure some will happen.
1. Washington Wizards - AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 prospect on my board and I expect him to be the No. 1 pick in the draft as well, though it’s not a surefire conclusion.
I don’t think you can pass up on his combination of incredible self-creation, positional ballhandling size, improved in-season playmaking that has been a trend over his career, and athletic tools.
The biggest knocks on Dybantsa are his three-pointer and his defense.
From deep, he finished at 33% taking 4 triples a game, which I don’t mind at all. I expect him to be fine.
On defense, Dybantsa was pretty sleepy off the ball in college. He was not a good defender at BYU.
But I think his tools make him capable and, putting Dybantsa’s stock rates to the side, I’m not really sure I see anything that is SUPER concerning or disqualifying on d.
As many others have said, it would not surprise me if the Utah Jazz had a desire to move up to No. 1 and select Dybantsa if they don’t think he will be there at two.
It’s crucial to remember that Dybantsa didn’t just go to college at BYU, but he also transferred from Prolific Prep in Napa, CA, to the newly-established Utah Prep for his high school senior season.
The Utah links are about as clear-cut as they can get without being explicit.
Could the Wizards be interested in Ace Bailey?
2. Utah Jazz - Cameron Boozer
I’m noticing that a lot of people almost have Darryn Peterson to the Utah Jazz as a foregone conclusion, but I’ve actually opted for Cameron Boozer here instead.
The Duke forward racked up all sorts of awards as a freshman while imposing himself in the paint, on the glass, and even as a passer basically every single night.
On top of that, Boozer also made about 39 percent of his threes, so he projects to be a pretty damn good shooter.
I like the idea of sending Boozer to the Jazz where he can play in those almost three-big line-ups next to Jaren Jackson Jr and Lauri Markkanen.
We’ve seen Utah have success with these looks in the past with Markkanen alongside Kyle Filipowski and Walker Kessler.
3. Memphis Grizzlies - Darryn Peterson
It seems like most people are expecting Cameron Boozer to fall here by default, but I’m really not sure that will be the case.
Instead, I’ve gone with Darryn Peterson arriving in Memphis to take over Ja Morant, whose days with the Grizzlies are reportedly numbered.
I love the idea of Peterson playing in the pick-and-roll with Zach Edey, who should clear out plenty of space for the Kansas prospect to shoot off the bounce or get to the rim.
Plus, a defensive trio of Peterson, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells to bother guards and wings is enticing when thinking about the other side of the ball.
Peterson could go No. 1, but I have the other two above him on my board for now, largely because I worry about his finishing/rim pressure and I’m still unsure about his playmaking diversity.
4. Chicago Bulls - Caleb Wilson
New Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham said in his very first comments that he was looking for two-way players who have “SLAP,” meaning size, length, athleticism, and physicality.
“So much versatility, so much size, and that’s where this league is going and what the really good teams are doing. That’s going to be our approach. We want to be tough and long and athletic,” Graham said.
Look no further than Caleb Wilson.
Plus, he fits who the Bulls have already brought in with Matas Buzelis, Noa Esssengue, and Leonard Miller.
5. LA Clippers - Aday Mara
I’m not too concerned that the Clippers recently picked up Darius Garland. That does not mean they cannot target a guard/ballhandler here. However, I have my concerns.
If Garland is the 1 and the Clippers draft Keaton Wagler, I think the backcourt becomes way too slight and unathletic. There’s also probably too great of a reliance on three-pointers in this case, though I do love how Wagler can toggle between on/off-ball.
Kingston Flemings is smaller than Wagler and poses similar problems athletically. He can also play off-ball, as he did with Milos Uzan at Houston, but less comfortably.
Darius Acuff has a more robust frame and slots in comfortably off-ball, but he’s the worst defender. Who would any of the Clippers’ guards defend?
Due to all of this, I’ve opted to send Aday Mara to Los Angeles. He has some outlier traits as a big and the appeal of potentially breaking out into a star as a result, but can also scale down just fine.
6. Brooklyn Nets - Mikel Brown Jr.
Fairly tough blow for Brooklyn falling to No. 6 after how their last few seasons have gone, but there’s still a chance to come away with pretty good value in this draft.
Maybe this is a risk, but I’ve gone for Mikel Brown Jr. to the Nets.
At his very best, he reminds me of LaMelo Ball, and like the Clippers with their bigs, I really trust Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez to get the most out of his guards.
He also loves three-pointers and unselfish playmakers, so that fits Brown to a tee.
The Louisville freshman’s back issues that hampered him in college are most concerning, but I don’t think the Nets will mind too much.
This might seem like an odd pick after Brooklyn already drafted Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf and even Danny Wolf next year, but I think Brown will be a genuine primary ballhandler in the NBA and I don’t know that any of those will be going forward.
7. Sacramento Kings - Darius Acuff Jr.
For the Sacramento Kings at 7, Darius Acuff Jr. would pick up where De’Aaron Fox left off after going to the Spurs.
I don’t think the Kings are in a super clean spot, but I’d rather go for Acuff than Wagler here because I think Wagler is probably more of a 1.5 guard rather than a pure 1 like Acuff.
The Kings, maybe, could use more of a pure point - but to be honest, I wouldn’t be mad at drafting Wagler, who’s probably more scalable and versatile.
Acuff also has links to the Kings’ front office, with Kings GM Scott Perry having coached Darius Acuff’s dad at Eastern Kentucky.
I think Acuff will be a fine NBA player, but the questions probably come down the line as to whether he is a point guard to build around.
8. Atlanta Hawks - Keaton Wagler
Since I’m not sure Keaton Wagler is a true point guard in the NBA, at least at first, I think the Atlanta Hawks would really fit him.
Wagler would be able to be able to handle and score, but the pressure on him to do so would not be overwhelming.
Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker can all handle the ball, while Jonathan Kuminga can also create his own shot.
Plus, Wagler is just as comfortable playing off-the-ball, where he’d add value with his three-point shooting - which I think could be special - as well as his offensive rebounding.
We saw more of that earlier in the season before Wagler truly broke out.
9. Dallas Mavericks - Yaxel Lendeborg
The Mavs’ new GM Mike Schmitz appears to be targeting a rotation player with versatility at 9, so I’ve gone for Yaxel Lendeborg here.
I’m unsure about this pick, because I feel like Dallas’ new decision makers kinda tend to take bigger, younger risks.
But I just think Lenderborg is a great fit next to Cooper Flagg and even Kyrie Irving or Dereck Lively, as well.
He’s a Swiss army knife that can dribble, pass, and shoot to different extents, while staying efficient and defending guards, wings, and bigs.
There’s little to dislike about Lendeborg besides his age, and he’d be one of the prospects I prioritize after the best prospects and guards are off the table.
10. Milwaukee Bucks - Kingston Flemings
I think Milwaukee just needs to go for the best player available here. For me, that’s Kingston Flemings right now.
If Giannis stays long term, then Flemings should also fit next to him, but I’m not worried about that right now.
I think Flemings is a super intelligent point guard who is probably a top two passing prospect in this draft class.
He’s also a tenacious and pesky defender, who should be annoying on that end of the floor in the NBA once he bulks up.
However, I still have questions about Flemings’ physicality and, most of all, his three-pointer.
Here, I’ll note that being skinny has not been a disqualifying factor for the Bucks in the past.
11. Golden State Warriors - Morez Johnson Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr. to the Warriors is a really cool fit, and I think he’s the sort of mature, safe floor prospect that Golden State should target.
For me, this is especially the case after bringing Steve Kerr back. It does not make sense to draft a rookie in need of lots of development for either Kerr or, maybe more importantly, for Steph Curry’s last few years.
Johnson can contribute sooner rather than later for the Warriors with his rebounding, switchable defense, play-finishing, and overall physicality.
Plus, I think he has enough feel and all-around skills to not struggle with Golden State’s high demands.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder - Jayden Quaintance
At his best, Jayden Quaintance is defensive monster who accumulates steals and blocks like there’s no tomorrow.
He can protect the rim, hold his own in the post, and switch onto ballhandlers on the perimeter.
Then, JQ has a fairly simple fit on offense as play-finisher, but he’s shown intriguing flashes as a creator.
OKC can afford to gradually bring Quaintance back to full health, even if he doesn’t play as a rookie, and they are so loaded (remember Thomas Sorber also) that this is a worthwhile risk.
13. Miami Heat - Labaron Philon
Sort of hard to tell where Miami goes since it feels like they’re always picking around this range, so I’m going BPA again with Labaron Philon.
Any team in the NBA can use a guard who can dribble, pass, shoot, and I think probably defend.
I’m really high on Philon, as he’s No. 9 on my board right now but I could see NBA teams having questions about his skinny physique and just preferring a freshman over a sophomore.
Still, Philon really improved in his second college season, taking a big time leap as a three-point shooter and building on his interior scoring and playmaking as well.
I said this in my video about him, but a super best case outcome could resemble a smaller Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
14. Charlotte Hornets - Dailyn Swain
With the last pick of the lottery, Dailyn Swain goes to the Charlotte Hornets at No. 14.
Truth be told, I like Cameron Carr and maybe Nate Ament more than Swain on my big board.
However, I love the idea of Swain’s nonstop rim pressure on this Hornets team which can sometimes be too reliant on perimeter shooting with LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
15. Chicago Bulls - Nate Ament
Nate Ament fits that SLAP philosophy the Bulls are looking for now, and I think that this is a range in the draft where it becomes pretty tough to pass up on him.
This is especially the case if you’re a team with multiple picks like the Bulls or the Grizzlies, who have the next pick.
Even if Ament never reaches his scoring potential, I trust him to be a competitive defender with a mature frame who can make spot-up threes, push in transition, and has enough feel as playmaker.
16. Memphis Grizzlies - Cameron Carr
I think the Grizzlies could maybe opt for a more physical player here, but since they are fully rebuilding, I’m never going to be opposed to long, athletic wings who can score and defend.
Cameron Carr fits how the Grizzlies have built in the draft recently with GG Jackson, Jaylen Wells and Cedric Coward. He’s also more of a 2 than any of those guys, so I’m not worried about a positional overlap at all.
Plus, Memphis drafted Darryn Peterson at 3 here, so Carr would be a great off-ball weapon for the new-look Grizzlies.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hannes Steinbach
I went with Jayden Quaintance for OKC earlier, but I’m doubling down with another forward in Hannes Steinbach.
Steinbach could be more of a short-term contributor when thinking about JQ’s injuries, but also about Isaiah Hartenstein’s long-term status on the Thunder.
The German big could be a worthy successor for his countryman in the frontcourt.
I find Steinbach to be pretty limited outside of his rebounding and transition scoring, plus I have serious questions about him as a defender.
But with OKC’s roster and Chet Holmgren being around, those concerns probably become less important.
18. Charlotte Hornets - Ebuka Okorie
Charlotte’s second first round pick will go towards a guard that will back up LaMelo Ball, at least initially.
I was between Ebuka Okorie and Bennett Stirtz for Charlotte, but I prefer Okorie’s youth and pace, which I think could almost be a like-for-like swap when LaMelo is on the bench.
I still have questions over how heliocentric Okorie is or whether that was because he had to carry a huge load at Stanford. Plus, he tilts towards scoring more than passing a bit more than I’d like.
But overall, there’s a lot to like with his absurd self-creation and scoring.
19. Toronto Raptors - Brayden Burries
This is probably a slip for Brayden Burries, but it’s not a knock on him - just the way my mock shaped up.
I’m not convinced Burries is an NBA 1 and he’s not exactly a 2 or a 3 either, but that’s why this context would fit him really well.
For the last few years, I’ve always been of the mindset that you want three-point shooters who can make decisions and defend next to Scottie Barnes, so Burries fits that billing.
20. San Antonio Spurs - Sergio de Larrea
Now that Victor Wembanyama might be the absolute best player in basketball, I will always want to surround him with players who are long, can shoot, can make decisions, and can defend.
I’m opting for Sergio de Larrea from Valencia here, who might end up a lot higher on my final big board.
De Larrea can shoot threes, he can even play as a point guard, and he has good size at around 6-foot-6.
My question is who he defends at the NBA level, but I think he’s smart and tough enough to figure it out.
21. Detroit Pistons - Bennett Stirtz
I’m convinced the Pistons and Cade Cunningham need more guards who can dribble, pass, and shoot.
Bennett Stirtz has proven for years that he can do that, but I remain unsure about his NBA translation when it seems like the system he’s played in has been basically engineered for him to thrive.
22. Philadelphia 76ers - Amari Allen
The Sixers need players on their roster with less limitations.
At this stage in the draft, whoever has shown the potential to dribble, pass, shoot, and defend needs major consideration - rather than a specialist.
I’m going with Amari Allen out of Alabama here, though Allen Graves, Karim Lopez, or Tounde Yessoufou would make sense as well.
23. Atlanta Hawks - Chris Cenac Jr.
I want the Hawks to add more size, rebounding, and athleticism, but they’re kinda rebuilding, so I’ve gone for a boom-or-bust prospect in Chris Cenac Jr.
If Cenac works out, then he’s a 6-11 big with a 7-5 wingspan and bouncy athleticism who can dunk everything at the rim while also probably shooting threes.
However, I have serious concerns about his feel on both ends and his extremely inconsistent rim protection.
24. New York Knicks - Flory Bidunga
I think the New York Knicks should think about taking a big while thinking about Mitchell Robinson’s future.
I considered Zuby Ejiofor from St. John’s here, but I think the Knicks might want a little more frontcourt athleticism with Flory Bidunga, who is also a simpler plug-and-play fit.
Keep in mind Bidunga could still go back to school.
25. Los Angeles Lakers - Koa Peat
The Lakers are building around Luka Doncic, so the move should be to surround him with defenders, athletes, and shooters.
Koa Peat fits the first two categories and definitely not the third, but developing such a high-pedigree prospect into a Jarred Vanderbilt type role would make a lot of sense for the Lakers at 25.
26. Denver Nuggets - Meleek Thomas
I’m enamored by the idea of Meleek Thomas zipping around while Nikola Jokic makes the most of his movement shooting, cutting, and overall scoring firepower.
Then, Meleek should also be a pretty capable point-of-attack defender on the other end once he gets stronger. I think this would be an awesome fit.
27. Boston Celtics - Zuby Ejiofor
The Boston Celtics need frontcourt size and rebounding, but they also covet players who can defend multiple positions and think the game.
Zuby Ejiofor from St. John’s might be a little undersized for a big, but he can do all of those things while evoking serious shades of Collin Murray-Boyles.
Ejiofor could be a draft steal once he scales down and needs to do less.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves - Tyler Tanner
Truth be told, I think Tyler Tanner should go back to school to keep getting stronger and flesh out his three-point shooting.
But he’s also appealing enough that he should be a first rounder if he stays in the draft given his extremely high feel on both ends.
Minnesota could give Anthony Edwards more ballhandling help and, if Tanner can play relatively quickly, maybe his size could be insulated by Rudy Gobert.
Minnesota drafted Rob Dillingham before, so I don’t think they’d be super put off by Tanner’s size.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers - Karim López
The Cavs usually have a couple of ballhandlers, a big, and they want one of their wings to be pretty physical, so why not Karim López?
I’m unsure about his footspeed and three-point shot when it comes to the NBA, but he’s a long-time pro that can play a lesser role on a title contending team while contributing as a slasher.
Allen Graves, Joshua Jefferson or even Trevon Brazile could be options here, as well.
30. Dallas Mavericks - Isaiah Evans
If the Mavericks want ready-made contributors, Isaiah Evans looks the part with his dynamic movement shooting, decent enough passing reads, and improved defense.
He’d reunite with his former teammate Cooper Flagg here, and I think Evans at 30 is a high value pick.