The 2026 NBA Finals are in the rearview mirror, and the New York Knicks are once again champions. That means that we can now shift our focus to the NBA Draft, which begins tonight with Round One at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Let's take a look at the first round and predict where the top prospects will go.
1. Washington Wizards: Forward, AJ Dybantsa. BYU.
For the fourth straight mock draft, there are few to no changes at the top spot. AJ Dybantsa is the most obvious choice to be the number-one overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He is more talented than Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer, while having less baggage than Darryn Peterson. It also doesn't hurt that Dybantsa was the best scorer in college basketball last season (25.5 points per game). He'll be a great fit in D.C.
2. Utah Jazz: Guard, Darryn Peterson. Kansas.
Peterson is not a sure thing, but he has the highest upside of any player in the Class of 2026. Though he has attitude problems, he has all the skills needed to become an NBA superstar. Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge is an outside-the-box thinker who will always take the best player available, regardless of whether ot not they want to be in Salt Lake City (just look at Ace Bailey last year). That will once again be the case in the 2026 NBA Draft.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Forward/Center, Cameron Boozer. Duke.
Cameron Boozer might not become a transcendent NBA superstar, but he can be an immediate difference-maker for any team in the league. Even though he’s only 18 years old, Boozer should be able to come in and average a double-double as a rookie. Memphis is set at the center spot, so they'll take Boozer as their starting power forward, who will not just be a replacement for Jaren Jackson Jr., but an upgrade.
4. Chicago Bulls: Forward/Center, Caleb Wilson. UNC.
Not only do we know that Wilson will be going to Chicago, but he knows it too, after he took his only predraft visit with the Bulls. On top of that, new head coach Tiago Splitter is a former championship-winning big man, who will probably be attracted to the idea of adding a guy like Wilson, who showed a ton of promise as an NBA player at just 19 years old after he almost averaged a double-double in college. Wllson is a perfect fit to replace former center Nikola Vučević, whom the Bulls traded in the middle of last season, or be the new starting power forward if Nic Claxton mans the five-spot.
5. LA Clippers (from IND): Guard, Keaton Wagler. Illinois.
There seems to be a consensus understanding that the 2026 NBA Draft doesn't really start until the top-four prospects are taken off the board, which means the LA Clippers have the chance to throw a wrench into things. 19-year-old Keaton Wagler is an ideal match for the Clips. He can be the starting shooting guard next to Darius Garland and also be the lead ball handler when Garland needs a rest.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Guard, Darius Acuff Jr. Arkansas.
If you have read my previous mock drafts, you know that I think quite highly of Acuff. He averaged almost 30 points per game on 46.7% shooting during the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Hell, he scored 28 points against an Arizona team that had one of the best defenses in the country! After landing Julius Randle in a trade, the Nets need another star to get fans into the Barclays Center, especially after the run the Knicks just went on. Acuff can be that guy who pairs perfectly with Randle.
7. Sacramento Kings: Guard, Mikel Brown Jr. Louisville.
Brown has all the intangibles to be an elite NBA point guard. He's only 20 years old, he's 6'5", and weighs less than 200 lbs. Though he missed the end of the season, many teams still view him as a consensus top-10 pick, which speaks highly of his talent and upside. Russell Westbrook is currently scheduled to be a free agent, and Malik Monk is only under contract for two more years. The Kings need to find their point guard of the future, so this pick makes a ton of sense.
8. TRADE: Oklahoma City Thunder: Center, Aday Mara. Michigan.
Oklahoma City Thunder receive: the #8 overall pick
Atlanta Hawks receive: the #12 overall pick, the #17 overall pick, and a 2027 second-round draft pick
We all saw how the Thunder struggled to contain the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama. It was also very clear that Chet Holmgren was unplayable in OKC's Game Seven loss to the Spurs. With starting center Isaiah Hartenstein likely to become a free agent next off-season, the Thunder will need a new starter at the five spot. Mara is the perfect fit. He is an excellent defender who has the height to go toe-to-toe with Wembanyama. Mara also showed a ton of offensive promise at the scouting combine. Lastly, this will make it easier for the Thunder to move on from Chet Holmgren if they feel inclined to do so over the next few years.
9. TRADE: Atlanta Hawks: Guard, Kingston Flemings. Houston.
Atlanta Hawks receive: the #9 overall pick
Dallas Mavericks receive: the #12 overall pick, the #23 overall pick, and a 2027 second-round pick
Even though the Hawks have agreed to a one-year contract extension with CJ McCollum, he's still scheduled to become a free agent next off-season. Not to mention, he’s turning 35 in the Fall. McCollum may be an integral part of the Hawks, but Atlanta needs to start thinking about a future without him on the roster. Enter Kingston Flemings, who leaves something to be desired as a shooter, but is still a tenacious defender and a good ball-handler. He fits the defensive mold that the Hawks are looking for from young players.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Forward, Nate Ament. Tennessee.
Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is no longer on the team, the Bucks need to prioritize making up for the lost production of the Greek Freak. That's why Nate Ament is an ideal pick for the Bucks; he possesses many of the measurables Giannis had when he got drafted. In fact, Ament is almost two inches taller than Antetokounmpo when he was drafted. Ament is not going to be a difference-maker right away since he needs to develop his physical and mental tools, but his upside is undeniable. He won’t become the next Giannis, but he could be a potential NBA All-Star if developed and coached properly. That’s a risk worth taking since the Bucks will be picking again shortly.
11. Golden State Warriors: Forward, Yaxel Lendeborg. Michigan.
There is immense pressure on the Warriors to win right now, so they need a player who can make an immediate impact. With small forward Jimmy Butler still recovering from a torn ACL and turning 37 in September, Golden State cannot afford to go into the 2026-27 season with Gui Santos starting at the three-spot. Yaxel Lendeborg can give the Warriors AT LEAST 10 points and five rebounds per game, which are both better marks than what Gui Santos gives them. Also, Lendeborg could maybe even become the eventual successor to Draymond Green.
12. Dallas Mavericks (from ATL): Forward/Center, Morez Johnson Jr. Michigan.
Now that Dusty May is the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, it would not be surprising to see him pursue one of the guys he coached this past season in college. Johnson has decent size as a power forward, but his massive 7'3" wingspan will allow him to be a good defender at the NBA level. More importantly, the Mavs do not have a reliable backup power forward or center. Khris Middleton is too small to be a good four, and Daniel Gafford doesn't even average 10 points per game. Morez Johnson Jr. can be a defensive tone setter and maybe even overtake P.J. Washington as the starting power forward.
13. Milwaukee Bucks: Guard/Forward, Cameron Carr. Baylor.
Milwaukee needs to find a way to make up the 27.6 points per game that Giannis averaged last season, so they take a prolific scorer in Carr, who should be able to contribute right away offensively. He had one of the best performances of any player at the scouting combine, where he showed a strong ability to put up points in bunches. Carr will likely challenge Kyle Kuzma for minutes as the team's starting small forward while also providing a spark off the bench as a second shooting guard.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Forward/Center, Hannes Steinbach. Washington.
This is one of the most obvious selections that will be made in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Given how unlikely it is that Aday Mara is still on the board, the Hornets will be sprinting to hand in the card with Steinbach's name on it. He's only 20 years old, but averaged a double-double in his lone season of college ball while leading the country in rebounds (11.8 per game). Charlotte is loaded with young talent at all other positions. Once they figure out their center issues, they should be able to take the next step in the Eastern Conference.
15. Chicago Bulls: Guard, Brayden Burries. Arizona.
The Bulls already used their first pick to address their frontcourt. Now, they need to make an addition to their backcourt. This pick is particularly important since Chicago could potentially lose two good shooting guards to free agency in Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton. Burries is a solid scorer and defender, which are qualities that the Bulls will likely value. Considering he is viewed as a potential top 10 pick, this would be a steal for Chicago.
16. Memphis Grizzlies: Guard, Christian Anderson. Texas Tech.
Just like the Bulls, the Grizzlies use their other first-round pick to add a guard to the mix. It's safe to say that Ja Morant's future in Memphis is unclear. Even if he isn't traded over the next few years, then Morant probably won't re-sign with the Grizzlies when his contract expires after the 2027-28 season. The good news is that Anderson is an excellent passer and scorer. Plus, he's a 40% three-point shooter, which makes up for the fact that he's only 6'1". Anderson could be the point guard of the future in Memphis.
17. Atlanta Hawks (from OKC): Forward/Center, Chris Cenac Jr. Houston.
The Hawks could’ve addressed the center spot with their first pick, but they took a point guard, so now they add another center. It would be a disservice to the Atlanta faithful to go into next year with Jock Landale and Mouhamed Gueye as their backup centers. Those guys averaged fewer than 16 points per game combined last season! Cenac is only 19 years old and has not even begun to scratch the surface of his potential. In three years, he could easily be Atlanta's starting center.
18. TRADE: New York Knicks: Center, Henri Veesaar. UNC.
New York Knicks receive: the #18 overall pick
Charlotte Hornets receive: the #24 overall pick, the #31 overall pick, and a 2028 second-round pick
Mitchell Robinson is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent over the next few weeks, and he will likely demand a lofty contract that the Knicks will not be able to match after he demonstrated excellent defensive abilities in the NBA Playoffs. New York will be looking to add a cost-effective backup center through the NBA Draft, and Veesaar appears to be what they're looking for. He's the third-tallest center in this draft class and should be able to make an impact immediately as one of the more experienced players on the board. Veesaar will be a nice replacement for Mitchell Robinson.
19. Toronto Raptors: Center, Jayden Quaintance. Kentucky.
Quaintance is one of the most fascinating prospects in this draft class. He has only started 28 college basketball games over the last two years, but his physical traits are incredibly impressive. He has a standing reach measuring over nine feet and a wingspan over 7'5", which is good for fourth amongst all prospects at the 2026 combine. He needs time to develop, making him a great fit for the Raptors, who already have Jakob Poeltl and Sandro Mamukelashvilli both under contract this coming season. Quaintance can slowly progress and work his way into the rotation before becoming a contributor off the bench. If this pick works out, then Quaintance might even become Toronto's next starting center, which would allow them to move on from Poeltl’s expensive contract.
20. San Antonio Spurs: Center, Tarris Reed Jr. UConn.
The Spurs do not have any other reliable centers after Victor Wembanyama. Hell, every single center on the Spurs' roster - besides Victor Wembanyama - is at least 30 years old. During the 2026 NBA Finals, the Knicks targeted backup center Luke Kornet when Wemby wasn't on the court, which badly hurt San Antonio down the stretch. The Spurs desperately need to add more youth to the frontcourt. Tarris Reed Jr. can be a starting power forward or a really good backup center option. At the very least, he has the speed to keep up with younger big men when Wembanyama is on the bench.
21. Detroit Pistons: Guard, Bennett Stirtz. Iowa.
The Pistons have a major question at the center spot, but their biggest issue in the playoffs was a lack of scoring when Cade Cunningham was not on the court. Even with Cunningham, who was the second-best scorer in the postseason (28.1 points per game), Detroit had a 110.7 offensive rating, which ranked eighth out of 16 playoff teams. Bennett Stirtz can come off the bench and contribute meaningfully right away. He averaged 19.5 points per game in college and is a career 37.2% three-point shooter. They're set defensively. Now, the Pistons need to focus on improving their offense.
22. Philadelphia 76ers: Forward, Karim Lopez. Mexico.
Widely viewed as the best international prospect in this draft, Lopez makes a ton of sense for the 76ers, who have shown they can effectively develop young talent and get the most out of project players. Paul George is 36 years old and could become a free agent in two years. In that case, Philly needs to invest draft capital in a young replacement. At 6'8", Lopez has the size needed to play the four-spot. Plus, he won’t be asked to start right away with Paul George on the roster. This would be a fantastic landing spot for the 19-year-old wing.
23. Dallas Mavericks (from ATL): Guard, Ebuka Okorie. Stanford.
Starting point guard Kyrie Irving is in the twilight years of his career. He recently turned 34 years old and will probably not be as explosive as he once was after tearing his ACL. Even if he does play the entirety of the 2026-27 season, there's a chance he will leave in two years when his contract expires. There needs to be a plan in place for life after Kyrie Irving, and Okorie can be that plan. He's only 19 years old and just came off a season where he ranked eighth in the nation in scoring (23.2 points per game). He can provide a spark off the bench and some relief for Kyrie Irving as he continues to work his way back to playing over 30 minutes per game.
24. Charlotte Hornets (from NYK): Forward, Allen Graves. Santa Clara.
Graves is an interesting prospect. His numbers were unimpressive in his lone season of college basketball, but his analytic profile shows a guy who is efficient and versatile. He has good measurables and is only 19 years old, so there is a lot of upside with Graves, but it's unrealistic to think he will contribute immediately. The good news is Charlotte has a lot of frontcourt depth, so Graves can slowly work his way into the lineup, which is probably the best approach for this kid. This is a boom-or-bust pick for the Hornets, which they can afford to take after addressing their center needs.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Center, Luigi Suigo. Italy
The 2026 NBA Playoffs proved that Deandre Ayton is not the solution to the Lakers' long-standing center problems. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he averaged an embarrassing 7.3 points per game. That's why LA takes Suigo, who is the second-best international prospect in this draft. He's the second-tallest player in the class of 2026 and also has the second-best standing reach (9'6"). He needs some time to develop since he's only 19, but that works out perfectly since DeAndre Ayton will be a free agent next off-season. Sugio can ease his way into the NBA as a backup before potentially emerging as a starter.
26. Denver Nuggets: Guard, Labaron Philon Jr. Alabama.
Once again, a Nuggets season fell short of expectations after Denver failed to reach the Western Conference Finals for a third consecutive year. Despite being the best offensive team in the NBA during the regular season, the Nuggets saw their point total drop off severely in the playoffs, going from 122.1 points per game to 107.5. Denver needs to add more offensive contributors who can take pressure off Nikola Jokic. With Philon averaging 22 points per game last season (12th in the nation), he should be able to give the Nuggets an offensive burst off the bench.
27. TRADE: Milwaukee Bucks: Forward, Koa Peat. Arizona.
Milwaukee Bucks receive: Nikola Vucevic and the #27 overall pick
Boston Celtics receive: Myles Turner
Vucevic is on an expiring contract, so there's a chance the Bucks don't even choose to re-sign him. Regardless, the Celtics need a reliable center, and Turner has spent the off-season burning bridges in Milwaukee, so it would make sense if the Bucks dealt him to Boston. With Giannis no longer on the team and Kyle Kuzma set to become a free agent next off-season, Milwaukee takes a flyer on Peat, who was once viewed as a lottery pick before a disappointing performance at the combine. Peat can be a rotational small forward and power forward who still has his best basketball ahead of him at just 19 years old.
28. Brooklyn Nets: Guard, Isaiah Evans. Duke.
With the trade for Julius Randle and the addition of Darius Scuff Jr., the Nets need to find a spot-up shooter who can help with floor spacing and be a threatening perimeter shooter. The best players available at this point are Evans and Texas' Dailyn Swain, but it's obvious that Evans is a better pick for Brooklyn because he is much more efficient from beyond the arc. Evans can work his way into the shooting guard rotation and maybe even start some games later on in the season if he shows defensive improvement.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers: Guard/Forward, Dailyn Swain. Texas.
It's believed that Swain warrants a pick in the early 20s, so it would be a steal for him to fall to the Cavaliers at this spot. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell on their team, Cleveland needs to find guys who can create more spacing and also play strong defense. Thankfully, Swain showed a lot of promise in both of those areas. He's a good rebounder and defender, who will probably be asked to come off the bench and not have to score too much.
30. Dallas Mavericks: Guard, Meleek Thomas. Arkansas.
The Mavs already took a guard in the first round, but Meleek Thomas has a different skillset than Ebuka Okorie. He's arguably one of the best catch-and-shoot players in this draft after knocking down 41.6% of his three-pointers last season at Arkansas. He'll probably be asked to come in and hit a few three-pointers each game when Max Christie and Klay Thompson are on the bench, which is a role that Thomas should fill nicely.
