After a much-maligned race to the underside of the standings, the primary spherical of the draft board is lastly set. Because the pre-draft course of ramps up and NBA entrance workplaces get their geese in a row, right here is my preliminary post-lottery 2026 mock draft (assuming the lottery order will not be beset by trades). The NBA draft will probably be held June 23-24 in New York.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
Ahead, BYU, freshman, 6-foot-9, 210 kilos, 19 years previous
Washington signaled an intention to expedite their rebuild by shopping for low on Trae Younger and Anthony Davis halfway by the 2025-26 marketing campaign, and their plea for lottery glory has lastly come to bear.
Whereas the Darryn Peterson vs. AJ Dybantsa dialog depends upon the attention of the beholder, Dybantsa slots in completely between the Wizards’ incumbent kids and bought stars because the keystone for his or her future. Dybantsa is a swingman with high-end potential as a dribble penetrator and mid-post savant, commanding defensive consideration in the course of the ground. He’s equally efficient attacking closeouts and slashing into openings. Most significantly, he might be introduced alongside at his personal tempo and keep away from being overburdened in D.C.
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson
Guard, Kansas, freshman, 6-5, 205, 19
The Jazz fell simply wanting first dibs on their hometown hero however wind up with an outstanding comfort prize in Peterson. After pushing a number of of their chips in for Jaren Jackson Jr., Utah is full steam forward for a successful trajectory.
Peterson can thrive at both guard spot due to his boundless off-ball motion and willingness to coexist with different main creators. The Jazz have a colossal front-line to free him up off screens, a reliable lead ball provider in Keyonte George, in addition to a burgeoning wing stopper in Ace Bailey. Peterson’s frenetic zip, shot-making selection, and hybrid M.O. will permit coach Will Hardy to actually faucet into his offensive ingenuity after a multi-year rebuild.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer
Ahead, Duke, freshman, 6-9, 250, 18
If the Grizzlies have been hellbent on making it work with Ja Morant, Caleb Wilson can be the decide right here to broaden Memphis’ stout, rangy supporting solid two by 5. However all indicators level to a break-up and subsequent clear slate.
Boozer is a high-floor prospect with all of the outlines of an offensive linchpin. His IQ, contact and flooring recreation ought to present offensive juice within the absence of a real first choice, and the inside-outside nature of his skillset is suitable with Zach Edey — who Memphis has made clear is a pillar of their future. Boozer is the most secure decide with projectable polish regardless of athletic limitations.
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson
Ahead, North Carolina, freshman, 6-10, 215, 19
Chicago’s highest choice since 2020, there’s a credible argument to pursue a lead-creator at this spot in Darius Acuff Jr. or Kingston Flemings — particularly with spindly younger forwards Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue in tow. Nevertheless, this can be a prime alternative to take the perfect participant accessible.
Wilson is a bodily marvel with unmistakable all-defense potential. Bereft of a real inside pressure for greater than a decade within the Windy Metropolis, Wilson blends inside ferocity, mid-range finesse and open flooring dominance. His soar shot stays a lingering query, however he would function a worthwhile constructing block for a staff in determined want of aggressive fervor.
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler
Guard, Illinois, freshman, 6-6, 185, 19
The Clippers waited with baited breath for a 48% likelihood at pillaging Indiana’s decide, a chance that ought to pay immense dividends for a franchise that doesn’t personal its first-round decide till 2030. Drafting a lead guard in Darius Acuff Jr. or Kingston Flemings would conflict with the presence of true level guard Darius Garland, rendering Illinois’ Wagler a cleaner match.
A late-blooming prospect that ascended as a freshman, Wagler is an off-guard that brings laser 3-point taking pictures and a refined off-the-dribble recreation. Regardless of his mid-tier athleticism and a slender construct, Keaton profiles as a great secondary working mate to insert subsequent to All-Star ahead Kawhi Leonard and Garland.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr.
Guard, Arkansas, freshman, 6-3, 190, 19
On the skin wanting in as soon as once more, Nets basic supervisor Sean Marks should make-do along with his choices within the mid-lottery for back-to-back drafts. Fortunately for him, this vary is suffering from lead-initiators that verify plenty of the containers on Brooklyn’s want listing. Chief amongst them is Acuff, a potent scorer and on-ball self-starter who notched ridiculous counting stats and sterling effectivity beneath Razorbacks coach John Calipari.
The Nets have yearned for a go-to man offensively since jettisoning Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Acuff simply may be the reply as a three-level menace who can eviscerate the primary line of protection — though his defensive drawbacks loom giant. The 6-8 guard Egor Demin’s positional dimension would make for a captivating dual-wield backcourt experiment for the Nets to construct on going ahead.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings
Guard, Houston, freshman, 6-4, 190, 19
Loss of life, taxes and lottery distress in Sac-City. The Kings have lacked a gear-shifting guard presence since De’Aaron Fox pressured his approach out of city. Enter Flemings, a jitterbug lead-guard with the ball dealing with and inventive dynamism to puncture halfcourt defenses in addition to the defensive exercise to stay viable on each side of the ball.
Sacramento must dig itself out of a monumental, albeit totally self-inflicted, organizational rut. Taking a swing on Flemings’ all-around scoring and facilitative upside is about pretty much as good a lifeline as you may hope for at No. 7.
8. Atlanta Hawks (through New Orleans): Brayden Burries
Guard, Arizona, freshman, 6-4, 205, 20
Atlanta’s hopes of nabbing a bona fide fortune-shifting prospect ran dry when it wound up exterior the highest 4. Whereas most draft evaluators could pencil in a main creator like Acuff, Flemings or Mikel Brown Jr., Burries as a great match given the Hawks’ trajectory.
He boasts a largely ancillary skillset — spot-up taking pictures, straight-line driving, read-and-react playmaking — and, as such, theoretically has a decrease ceiling. Nevertheless, he makes good sense orbiting, and amplifying, Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels’ ever-growing facilitative qualities. Most significantly, Burries is a serial transition menace that would seamlessly weaponize Johnson’s affinity for early offense in a fashion that few ever might.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Mikel Brown Jr.
Guard, Louisville, freshman, 6-5, 190, 20
Brown had glimpses that would have you ever falling head over heels for his long-term outlook. A 6-5 lead-guard with clean taking pictures mechanics and shot-making fearlessness that’s inconceivable to disregard, Brown’s draft inventory is inherently divisive. On one hand, you’ve got a decent deal with, buoyant athleticism, instinctive passing chops and limitless 3-point vary. On the opposite, you’ve got reckless turnovers, iffy shot choice, and a wiry construct.
In a extra streamlined position, Brown might blossom into one of many league’s premier dribble pull-up shooters with downhill punch to match. The Mavs might use a fringe wild card to pair with Cooper Flagg and lighten the offensive load.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament
Ahead, Tennessee, freshman, 6-10, 207, 19
With their future in relative shambles, a swing for the fences feels apropos in gentle of the Bucks’ present standoff with franchise famous person Giannis Antetokounmpo. To not point out this being their first lottery decide since Thon Maker in 2016. A 6-10 ahead who can move, dribble and shoot (no less than in idea), Ament’s freshman season was a story of two halves along with his effectivity skyrocketing on the flip of the calendar.
Whereas his offensive recreation is obviously unpolished and he has loads of bulking as much as do, there are clear outlines of a succesful dribble attacker, motion shooter and auxiliary facilitator that, in the event that they ultimately bolden, might present Milwaukee with a foundational piece within the post-Giannis period.
11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg
Ahead, Michigan, senior, 6-9, 240, 23
Contemporary off clinching the nationwide championship, Lendeborg is lastly primed and able to make the NBA leap after years within the draft consciousness. After extending coach Steve Kerr, the Warriors are confronted with a harsh duality — maximizing Stephen Curry’s twilight years whereas preserving an eye fixed to the longer term.
Regardless of turning 24 years previous in September, Yaxel bridges that hole whereas addressing a positional want. He’s a 6-10 (with footwear) ahead that may scale up and down the positional spectrum defensively along with his 7-4 wingspan and rock-steady base energy. Offensively, he can put the ball on the deck, set sturdy screens and improved his soar taking pictures to the tune of 37.2% as a brilliant senior. Lendeborg is a seasoned, all-purpose, two-way pressure that may get in the place he matches in for a well-traveled Warriors core.
12. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder: Karim Lopez
Ahead, Mexico/New Zealand Breakers, 6-9, 220, 19
With heart Isaiah Hartenstein’s contract expiring in 2027, the stashing of 2025 first-round draft decide Thomas Sorber obviates a right away want for frontcourt reinforcements. Whereas Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky), Hannes Steinbach (Washington) or Aday Mara (Michigan) might every be a worthy successor, the Thunder’s rotation might use a combo-forward.
Lopez spent the previous two seasons in New Zealand honing his sensibilities as a supplementary 3-and-D wing. Thunder basic supervisor Sam Presti is acquainted with the New Zealand Breakers pipeline, buying and selling as much as No. 11 in 2022 to pick Ousmane Dieng. Lopez’s position participant expertise in knowledgeable setting could nicely put him forward of the developmental curve.
13. Miami Warmth: Labaron Philon Jr.
Guard, Alabama, sophomore, 6-4, 185, 20
Caught in basketball purgatory with choices aplenty from a staff constructing perspective, Miami as soon as once more finds itself within the mid-first spherical. It’s troublesome to establish a particular want for such a competent-but-not-elite roster, however Philon’s on-ball brilliance and big sophomore leap makes him a frontrunner on this vary.
Philon is as shifty and surgical a ball handler as you will discover on this class. He makes up for a scarcity of verticality with varied dribble combos, crafty tempo modifications, and a trusty floater. If guard Tyler Herro will not be lengthy for Miami, Labaron is a superb contingency plan within the backcourt who can theoretically play alongside Kasparas Jakucionis for a dual-creator look.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach
Ahead/heart, Washington, freshman, 6-11, 220, 20
The Hornets flexed a reliable protection for the primary time in eons. Aday Mara presents an intriguing man-in-the-middle choice so as to add to their heart rotation of Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner, however Charlotte ought to prioritize optionality above all else. Accordingly, Steinbach stands out from the pack.
A hybrid huge that vacuums rebounds on each ends with physicality and inside positioning, Steinbach’s offensive upside is a significant promoting level. A classy low-post repertoire, deft contact, elbow playmaking and, most notably, a touch of 3-point aptitude (18-for-53 at a 34% clip as a freshman) offers coach Charles Lee much-needed versatility to work with from the excessive submit. If Steinbach’s 3-point vary manifests, he might coexist with Diabate in unprecedented double-big lineup machinations.
–Ethan Ward, Subject Degree Media
