THE ATHLETIC — We are about two weeks away from the 2026 NBA Draft, so it’s time to dig into the intel and figure out where players may be selected.
This draft is considered a strong one at the top and throughout the lottery, although withdrawals of college players lured by NIL riches have substantially hindered the depth of the class. Most executives I speak with have first-round grades on about 20 to 25 players and think the final 20 picks of the draft could result in some interesting selections. They say teams could be making deals with players ahead of time to lock them in on two-way contracts, as they don’t see much difference in talent level between players ranked from, say, No. 45 to No. 100.
A few notes before the mock:
• Ages are as of the night of the first round (June 23).
• Heights are from the AWS NBA Draft Combine in May.
• NBA executives, scouts, agents, players and other sources across the basketball ecosystem were granted anonymity in exchange for speaking freely about prospects.
First Round
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | BYU
Sources say that Washington is doing its due diligence and that the Wizards haven’t made a decision yet on who they’ll draft No. 1.
But sources across the league believe that Dybantsa remains Washington’s most likely target. He is seen as having extremely high upside while also possessing a high floor. For the Wizards, he would slot in perfectly on the wing regardless of the team’s direction next season. He fits between Anthony Davis and Trae Young but also blends nicely with the team’s young core of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Kyshawn George, because he does something those four don’t: put pressure on the rim. The combination of George and Dybantsa should work well together long-term as bigger, longer wings who can dribble, pass and shoot, with George taking on tougher defensive assignments.
2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Kansas
The Jazz are set up well to win next season with a loaded frontcourt following the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade in February. What they really need is a playmaker at guard to help Keyonte George with the creation load. Ace Bailey is a terrific scorer, but ball-handling is not necessarily his strength. The Jazz need another player who can dribble, pass and shoot with Bailey, Lauri Markkanen and presumably Walker Kessler, even though Kessler is a free agent.
Teams that dig into Peterson’s high school tape will see that he took a big step forward at Prolific Prep during his senior year with his passing and playmaking out of ball screens. He’s always been a tremendous scorer, but he began to read the second and third levels of the defense and make plays off how help defenders played him, even at times manipulating them. At Kansas, he didn’t get the opportunity to showcase those skills. Part of these issues at Kansas could have been because of his injuries. He looked less explosive than he was in high school. Another part could have been the Jayhawks’ lack of spacing. It was not dissimilar to what Anthony Edwards looked like at Georgia.
Like the Wizards, the Jazz are learning everything they can about the top four prospects. Utah president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said last week on the radio in Salt Lake City that his front office has not reached a consensus. But with the team ready to move into a different phase next season, Peterson is the player who will help them do that, and he fills a skill-based need.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | Duke
If Boozer is on the board, I would be pretty stunned to see Memphis pass on him. He ticks all the boxes that the organization has looked for in its draft picks over the years under president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman.
The Grizzlies have been consistently better at drafting than any other team in the league, having hit on Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer, Brandon Clarke and even guys such as GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. beyond pick No. 20, let alone past lottery picks Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Typically, the Grizzlies like skilled players who produce well for their age and possess high-level basketball IQ while being extremely competitive. Boozer is elite in all of those categories. He is almost prototypical of what Memphis wants to build around as it enters a new era following the trades of Jackson and Bane.
4. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
League sources believe Wilson would be an easy pick for Chicago if he gets to No. 4. He’s an athletic player with great positional size who plays with physicality and would fit nicely if the Bulls continue to operate an uptempo offense under the coach whom new general manager Bryson Graham hires. Graham loves players with high-end athletic traits and length, having been a part of drafting many of them in New Orleans during his time there.
Wilson would fit well at the four next to Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis as the team’s long-term building blocks and give the Bulls a solid framework with which to start using their cap space this summer to acquire veterans, while also trying to accumulate more assets.
5. LA Clippers (via IND)
Keaton Wagler | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
It’ll be fascinating to see what the Clippers do at No. 5. Sources have indicated that the team is digging into all the top guard prospects as well as exploring potential trade-down scenarios that could result in them accumulating more assets. I’ve also heard Aday Mara’s name associated with the Clippers, although it’s difficult to tell if that would be at No. 5 or in a potential trade down.
Wagler is clearly the best fit of the guards, though, if LA stays at No. 5. He can play both on and off ball and has enough positional size to play next to Darius Garland, whom the team acquired for James Harden at the deadline. Garland played well down the stretch for the Clippers and should be seen as a building block, and I’m skeptical that the Clippers would have enough size defensively by taking Darius Acuff Jr. or Kingston Flemings to play with him. Sources have indicated that Wagler has added muscle to his frame during the pre-draft process. He came to Illinois at 168 pounds and weighed 188 pounds at the combine; his frame should be able to continue adding strength over the next few years.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Darius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 guard | 19 years old | Arkansas
The Nets have engendered by far the most speculation among sources. I’ve also heard a lot of contradictory information, which is an indication that there is some smoke billowing from Barclays Center. I’ve heard all the guard prospects in this range for them, from Wagler to Acuff to Kingston Flemings to Mikel Brown Jr. I’ve heard Nate Ament quite a bit over the last week. I’ve also heard Mara’s name creep into the conversation, as well as the potential trade-down offers.
The one consistent piece of information is that the Nets will take the highest-graded player on their board, regardless of position. Even though the team selected three point guards last season, it hasn’t ruled that position out. Brooklyn believes it simply needs to get more talent in the door. The issue with predicting anything there, though, is that this team marches to the beat of its own drum in terms of evaluations.
I’m going with Acuff for now. If the Nets really do want the best player, I think it’s him. The city would fall in love with him as a fearless guard with toughness. He would embrace being a leader of the rebuild. I also think he’s a fairly safe selection for this front office as a high-level producer early in his career, following a season where none of the team’s five 2025 first-round picks finished in the top 15 of All-Rookie team voting. But I also think anything is on the board here, and if there is a top-10 selection prediction most likely to change in some way before the draft, it’s this one.
7. Sacramento Kings
Kingston Flemings | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | Houston
It feels like the Kings are likely to end up with the best guard available. They’re doing due diligence into players such as Ament and others, but they need a point guard to replace De’Aaron Fox, and this is an outstanding draft in which to do it. In this case, the best guards available are Flemings and Brown.
Flemings has done workouts with teams lower than this to find a floor for his services, but he’s in the mix with teams from the Nos. 5 to 7 range. He has impressed in interviews, his speed is a serious weapon for teams and he’s been viewed as the best defender of the elite lead guard crop in this class. The Kings could use all these skills.
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP)
Aday Mara | 7-3 big | 21 years old | Michigan
The Hawks need a lead guard, but I’ve heard centers more when asking about what they’re looking to do at No. 8. They’ve also explored potential trade-down scenarios to accumulate assets, something that should come as no surprise since president of basketball operations Onsi Saleh is regarded as one of the best long-term strategists in the league.
Mara fits Atlanta’s scheme well under Quin Snyder thanks to his passing ability and his rim protection. Remember, Snyder is the coach who unlocked Rudy Gobert’s length in drop coverage and helped turn him into one of the best defensive players in the league. Mara does not move as well as Gobert but is similarly massive with a 9-foot-9 standing reach at 7-foot-3 without shoes. He can shut down the paint, finish above the rim on the interior and be an impediment at the basket for opposing teams.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Brayden Burries | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | Arizona
The Mavericks are another team that has engendered a lot of speculation among sources, something that the new brain trust led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz will likely appreciate. They’ve explored trading this selection and are considering several different players and positions, from lead guards like Flemings, Wagler, Brown, Acuff and Christian Anderson to Ament to Yaxel Lendeborg.
Burries is the name I hear the most with Dallas, though, with sources around the lottery trying to determine why he’s not working out in as many places as you’d expect given his standing at the start of the process. There is a lot of enthusiasm for Burries among teams who want to try to win next season, as he’s seen as a tough guard who can dribble, pass and shoot and who will also defend at a high level with physicality.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Mikel Brown Jr. | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | Louisville
The Bucks have certainly been doing due diligence into the lead guards, including Flemings, Anderson, Labaron Philon Jr. and Brown. I’ve also heard Hannes Steinbach’s name as an option here. But with the potential for Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure, it makes sense for the Bucks to go with as high an upside swing as possible. Brown is a dynamic playmaker with the ball who can play in ball screens, make high-level passing reads and shoot. However, his decision-making can be questionable at times while trying to hit home runs, and his scoring inside of 15 feet has left some scouts with questions.
11. Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-9 big | 23 years old | Michigan
Lendeborg’s draft stock is one of the most difficult to figure out. He is going to be 24 before he plays an NBA game, and several of the teams in the lottery will be hunting for more upside. I’ve gotten the impression that there is potential for him to slip out of the lottery despite being among the most NBA-ready players in the draft.
The Warriors are somewhere in that middle ground, and he could be useful in one final ride for Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green. His game is tailor-made to enter the NBA early as a well-rounded offensive and defensive player. He can make an impact without the ball and has enough shooting ability to be effective on the baseline as a cutter and floor-spacer from the corners. He also moves the ball quickly, which would fit well within Steve Kerr’s offense.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
Nate Ament | 6-10 wing/forward | 19 years old | Tennessee
Ament’s draft range is one of the more difficult ones to figure out. He’s working out with teams throughout the middle of the lottery, and the buzz with the Nets, as Jon Rothstein would say, has been palpable. And yet, scouts are mixed on him. The ones who like him appreciate his ability to play with the ball in his hands, think that he’s a better shooter than he was this year at Tennessee and like his professional mindset. Sources say that Ament comes off as smart. He cares about his game and improving. He’s someone teams want to believe in. But other scouts worry about his frame and lack of strength, wondering if it’s comparable to some of the issues 2024 No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher has dealt with early in his career with the Hawks.
I think there’s a decent chance that Ament is off the board by the time the Thunder pick at No. 12. Also, sources across the league get the impression that the Thunder are open to many scenarios with picks Nos. 12 and 17. I’ve heard they would consider consolidating the picks to move up, I’ve heard of them looking at getting rid of one of the picks for a future first-rounder, and I’ve also heard speculation of them moving more expensive rostered players to get under the second apron and then keeping the picks to add more young talent.
13. Miami Heat
Hannes Steinbach | 6-10 big | 20 years old | Washington
It’s difficult to get a read on Miami’s intentions. It feels as if the Heat are trying to figure out their standing in potential star trades this summer, and whether this selection could be involved in a deal. Speculation about whether they can acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo gets thrown around regularly.
I’m going with Steinbach here because he ticks a few boxes. First and foremost, the Heat have essentially zero frontcourt depth right now beyond Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. Steinbach, theoretically, can play both at the four and the five if his jumper comes around, although I am a lot more enthusiastic about his fit at the five. Second, the Bucks have also been said to have an interest in Steinbach, so if they were to move Giannis to Miami, he could easily be a target if they go with a guard at No. 10.
14. Charlotte Hornets
Morez Johnson Jr. | 6-9 big | 20 years old | Michigan
Johnson seems to be one of the most popular names in the draft right now, and it feels unlikely that he’ll slip beyond the top 15. One question that teams often ask players who come in for workouts and have been out on the circuit for a while is, “Which other prospect has impressed you?” The Michigan big man has been a popular answer to that question.
The Hornets need a degree of toughness and physicality. Johnson would be the perfect player to provide that. Moussa Diabaté and Ryan Kalkbrenner are underrated center options, but Diabaté weighs just 210 pounds and Kalkbrenner has high hips that allow him to get pushed around. Johnson is tough, has a low center of gravity, rebounds the ball at a high clip and defends multiple positions across the front line as a switchable big man. He’d give the Hornets a look that they lacked this season.
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR)
Dailyn Swain | 6-7 wing | 20 years old | Texas
A couple of other teams noted that the Bulls have asked around about potentially moving up from No. 15 into the lottery for a second pick after No. 4. But if they stay at No. 15, Swain seems to be an option, as he meets Graham’s preferences for size, length, athleticism and physicality. Swain played at 225 pounds this year at Texas (don’t worry about him coming in at only 211 pounds at the combine; sources told The Athletic that he was sick in the days leading up to the event and lost several pounds), and has the exact frame you’re looking for from a slashing guard. He proved that he could play at a high level on defense in the Big East during his time at Xavier, even if he was more hit-or-miss at Texas.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
Christian Anderson Jr. | 6-1 guard | 20 years old | Texas Tech
Anderson has impressed in pre-draft workouts with his shooting ability, feel for the game and willingness to give effort on defense. He seems to be another prospect who has helped himself as teams get to know him, despite his lack of size. Anderson has popped in a lot of teams’ analytical models thanks to his shooting and passing. The Grizzlies have some guard depth behind Morant in Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr., but it’s unclear if they can be long-term answers if the organization moves Morant. The read is that the Grizzlies will be open to any position here and will take the best player on their board.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
Jayden Quaintance | 6-9 big | 18 years old | Kentucky
There are numerous possibilities with this pick, from the Thunder keeping it to trading up or trading out to acquire future draft capital. I’m aware that the team selected Thomas Sorber last year at the center position, but the Victor Wembanyama problem is not going away for OKC. The best potential Wembanyama defender in this class is Quaintance, who was shaping up as one of the best defensive prospects I’d seen in a while before tearing his right ACL at Arizona State in February 2025. This season was essentially a wash as he recovered from that injury; he played only four games at Kentucky midseason before shutting things down.
I spoke with a half-dozen NBA teams in Quaintance’s potential range over the weekend, and all of them said that they don’t yet have access to how their team doctors assessed Quaintance’s health. Those reports from doctors and internal meetings tend to come about two weeks before the draft.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via PHX)
Allen Graves | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Santa Clara
I think this is far too rich for Graves by about 10 slots. But Graves has been one of the names I’ve heard most connected with the Hornets because of their analytically inclined front office. Graves’ metrics pop across the board, even if his tape is less than the sum of the numbers. Typically, team models have him around the top five of this class. And yet, there are questions about whether he can defend in space and on the interior, or if his shooting is ready for the NBA given how stationary it is. One thing not in question, though, is that he processes the game quickly and makes rapid decisions on offense.
19. Toronto Raptors
Labaron Philon Jr. | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Alabama
The Raptors are always difficult to get a gauge on this time of year. Under the Bobby Webster regime, they have done a nice job keeping things in-house on their feelings about prospects. One thing that I’ve gotten from a couple of teams is that they are still surveying the market for veteran, star-quality bigs. But in terms of prospects, they tend to keep things hushed. Philon would give them another creator of offense, something they could use to take the next step into the second round of the playoffs. As long as his jumper holds up, he would be terrific next to both Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Cameron Carr | 6-5 guard | 21 years old | Baylor
The Spurs are in a position to add the best player who can shoot. Carr fits that billing perfectly. Yes, he’s skinny and needs to add weight. But he’s long and would give San Antonio more lineup versatility to keep shooting on the court with Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, both of whom need to keep making strides themselves in that area.
The Spurs also have a tough decision on Julian Champagnie this summer. They can decline the team option on their critical floor-spacing wing to do a new deal with him or keep him at $3 million for next season before allowing him to hit unrestricted free agency. Given their cap sheet, I would guess they use the former strategy, put more of Champagnie’s money on the books now while they’re still slated to be $50 million away from the first apron and possibly try to negotiate a descending contract structure for him. But Carr would provide cover in case negotiations go wrong there, and they need more shooting depth anyway.
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
Bennett Stirtz | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Iowa
The two positions I hear most regarding the Pistons are lead guards who can shoot and create offense, or wings/forwards who can shoot. I’ve heard a lot about Stirtz and Anderson as potential fits next to Cade Cunningham as offensive creators who can fire from distance, and then players like Chris Cenac Jr. or Carr. Stirtz ticks the scoring and playmaking boxes and would fit well with the defensive infrastructure in place.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
Koa Peat | 6-7 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
Sources around the league are still trying to figure out what new head of basketball operations Mike Gansey’s type will be. So this pick might just be me wish-casting a bit, but I can’t imagine a better fit for both Peat and an organization. With Joel Embiid playing more consistently on the perimeter now, Peat could use his athleticism and strength to crash along the baseline and make smart plays while also providing tough defensive energy. The 76ers desperately need a four with some power to his game, and Peat brings that in a big way. I have Peat higher than this on my personal board, but sources across the league are unsure where he slots into the class.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
Karim Lopez | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | New Zealand Breakers
Lopez has largely been working out for teams ahead of this range so far, feeling confident in his status as a top-15 selection. I’m not convinced of that. When I speak to teams about him, the feedback is commensurate with a mid-to-late first-rounder, as opposed to a lottery pick. He has some questions to answer as a defender and shooter, even if scouts are enticed by his rebounding and ability to drive into the lane. His range feels like it’s anywhere from No. 11 down to No. 25 or so.
24. New York Knicks
Tarris Reed Jr. | 6-10 big | 22 years old | Connecticut
Mitchell Robinson is a free agent at the end of the season, so it would make sense for the Knicks to look for a backup center behind Karl-Anthony Towns who provides toughness in the middle. Reed would fit the team’s desire to crash the glass hard on the offensive end, and he has some latent shooting potential that he’s shown in workouts.
25. Los Angeles Lakers
Chris Cenac Jr. | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Houston
Cenac has been an exceptionally difficult prospect to find a home for, as well. The consensus seems to be that he’s going to go somewhere in the top 20, but the feedback I get from teams is that he’s more like a late first-rounder. He’s seen as a high-upside swing for teams that can afford to be patient and wait for him to improve his feel for the game.
26. Denver Nuggets
Ebuka Okorie | 6-1 guard | 19 years old | Stanford
This is another player with a wide range, as I’ve heard anywhere from right after the lottery to late first round. I think Okorie will be picked in the first round, and he would fit with the Nuggets. Denver needs a second ballhandler behind Jamal Murray, given that Tyus Jones was signed and entered the rotation quickly and will now hit free agency this summer. Okorie’s ability to pressure the rim could also blend nicely with Denver’s five-out structure and could allow him to play with Murray.
27. Boston Celtics
Joshua Jefferson | 6-8 forward | 22 years old | Iowa State
Jefferson’s basketball IQ is exceptionally high, something that would play well in Boston under Joe Mazzulla’s scheme, where quick decision-making is critical. He defends well and makes fast decisions on that end, plus he passes exceedingly well. His range is seen as somewhere from the 20s into the early second round.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
Sergio De Larrea | 6-5 wing | 20 years old | Valencia
The Timberwolves are thought to be exploring potential point guard options in the late first round, and De Larrea is an interesting one after having played a solid role for Euroleague team Valencia this season. He averages nine points and nearly four assists per game in the Spanish ACB league and is a legitimate 40 percent 3-point shooter over the last two seasons.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS)
Meleek Thomas | 6-3 wing | 19 years old | Arkansas
The Cavaliers will have to find a way to cut money from their books, with Dennis Schröder representing one of the easiest ways to do that. If they find a taker on the trade market for Schröder, they’ll need more instant offensive contributions off the bench, and Thomas fits that bill. He’s a highly effective shooter who can attack and handle the ball, but he does need to rein in some of his wilder decision-making issues.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)
Isaiah Evans | 6-6 wing | 20 years old | Duke
Evans would represent a terrific floor-spacing and shooting option for the Mavericks, who need to continue accumulating players in that archetype around Cooper Flagg. It probably wouldn’t hurt that Evans played with Flagg last season at Duke and has a terrific understanding already of what the NBA’s Kia Rookie of the Year requires around him.
Second Round
31. New York Knicks (via WAS): Emanuel Sharp | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Houston
32. Memphis Grizzlies (via IND): Zuby Ejiofor | 6-8 big | 22 years old | St. John’s
33. Brooklyn Nets: Henri Veesaar | 6-11 center | 22 years old | North Carolina
34. Sacramento Kings: Baba Miller | 6-11 wing | 22 years old | Cincinnati
35. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA): Alex Karaban | 6-7 wing | 23 years old | Connecticut
36. LA Clippers (via MEM): Bruce Thornton | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Ohio State
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DAL): Jack Kayil | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | Alba Berlin
38. Chicago Bulls (via NOP): Maliq Brown | 6-8 big | 22 years old | Duke
39. Houston Rockets (via CHI): Braden Smith | 5-10 guard | 22 years old | Purdue
40. Boston Celtics (via MIL): Richie Saunders | 6-5 wing | 24 years old | BYU
41. Miami Heat (via GSW): Trevon Brazile | 6-10 big | 23 years old | Arkansas
42. San Antonio Spurs (via POR): Ryan Conwell | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Louisville
43. Brooklyn Nets (via LAC): Izaiyah Nelson | 6-8 big | 22 years old | South Florida
44. San Antonio Spurs (via MIA): Ugonna Onyenso | 6-11 big | 22 years old | Virginia
45. Sacramento Kings (via CHA): Nick Boyd | 6-1 guard | 25 years old | Wisconsin
46. Orlando Magic: Jaden Bradley | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Arizona
47. Phoenix Suns (via PHI): Tyler Nickel | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Vanderbilt
48. Dallas Mavericks (via PHX): Felix Okpara | 6-10 big | 22 years old | Tennessee
49. Denver Nuggets (via ATL): Tobias Jensen | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Ratiopharm Ulm
50. Toronto Raptors: Ja’Kobi Gillespie | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Tennessee
51. Washington Wizards (via MIN): Noam Yaacov | 6-1 guard | 21 years old | Oostende
52. LA Clippers (via CLE): Tamin Lipsey | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Iowa State
53. Houston Rockets: Tyler Bilodeau | 6-7 forward | 22 years old | UCLA
54. Golden State Warriors (via LAL): Nick Martinelli | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | Northwestern
55. New York Knicks: Trey Kaufman-Renn | 6-8 forward | 23 years old | Purdue
56. Chicago Bulls (via DEN): Otega Oweh | 6-4 guard | 23 years old | Kentucky
57. Atlanta Hawks (via BOS): Jaden Henley | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Grand Canyon
58. New Orleans Pelicans (via DET): Milos Uzan | 6-3 guard | 23 years old | Houston
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (via SAS): Dillon Mitchell | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | St. John’s
60. Washington Wizards (via OKC): Tobi Lawal | 6-7 big | 23 years old | Virginia Tech