My Official 2026 NBA Mock Draft

Merry NBA Draft Eve to all who celebrate!

With the 2026 NBA Draft set to kick off tomorrow, it's time to reveal my official mock draft. This is my attempt to predict what each team will do with each pick in the first round. I'm trying to be as accurate as possible, not tell you who I think each team should pick. My mock does not include any trades because they are too difficult to predict.

Without further ado, here are my predictions.

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1. Washington Wizards - AJ Dybantsa, Wing, BYU

AJ Dybantsa is the No. 1 player on the Rookie Scale consensus big board, and he is widely expected to go off the board at No. 1. Wizards GM Will Dawkins likes taking big and athletic players, especially those who have at least one high-level skill. Dybantsa makes a lot of sense here because the Wizards could use a wing in the starting lineup, and he is a high-level scorer and playmaker at 6'9.

There has been some buzz that Darryn Peterson believes he's going No. 1. However, I've had Dybantsa going No. 1 for a while, and that isn't changing now.

2. Utah Jazz - Darryn Peterson, Guard, Kansas

This is going to be an interesting pick because Darryn Peterson reportedly doesn't want to go to Utah, and the Jazz are having difficult contract negotiations with their young center, Walker Kessler. It also sounds like the Jazz love AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer. This isn't as obvious a pick as it once seemed.

Just because Peterson doesn't want to go to Utah doesn't mean the Jazz won't pick him. They need a guard, but they could also use a big forward like Boozer if Kessler isn't on the roster next season. This is unlikely, but still possible. Boozer's shooting, playmaking, and perimeter defense would be very helpful.

Over the years, the Jazz have drafted many skilled offensive prospects, especially those with strong shooting projections. It has long been assumed that the Jazz would take Peterson if Dybantsa goes No. 1, and I think his shot-making and defense will be too much to pass up.

3. Memphis Grizzlies - Cameron Boozer, Wing, Duke

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the nerdiest teams in the league, and I think their analytics department will have a significant influence on this pick.

If Cam Boozer is on the board, I expect the Grizzlies to run the card to the table. They are not shy about their analytical philosophy, and Boozer just had one of the most productive seasons we've ever seen in the history of college basketball. He also has the perfect skillset to be Zach Edey's frontcourt mate. North Carolina's Caleb Wilson could also be in play here, but I'd be surprised if he goes before Boozer at this point.

There has been a lot of buzz that Boozer could go as high as No. 2, and I think this is his floor.

4. Chicago Bulls - Caleb Wilson, Wing, North Carolina

The Chicago Bulls have a unique roster and many needs. Their new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Bryson Graham, has a history of taking athletic wings who can play off-ball, and I expect them to go this route by drafting Caleb Wilson, a freak athlete who plays above the rim and provides serious defensive playmaking.

I don't know how seamless the fit is here, considering the Bulls' lack of shooting, but they can't bypass taking the best player available. They aren't good enough. If Wilson falls past No. 4, I'd be very surprised.

5. LA Clippers (via IND) - Keaton Wagler, Guard, Illinois

The Clippers have a unique opportunity to add a high-level prospect to their roster, as they have spent most of the last six years trading draft capital to try to win a championship with Kawhi Leonard.

Recently, a few names have been connected to the Clippers, including Keaton Wagler, Mikel Brown Jr., and Brayden Burries. It seems set in stone that the Clippers will be targeting a guard who can play alongside Darius Garland with this selection

Jake Fischer reported that the Clippers brought Wagler in for a workout against Kingston Flemings and that Wagler came away as the more impressive player in that setting. Jeremy Woo and Sam Vecenie have Wagler mocked here, and all of this makes this pairing seem likely.

Don't sleep on Burries, though. I think he's possibly a better fit next to Garland than the other guards connected to the Clippers because he can play off-ball and is a very good defensive guard. Wagler is a high usage on-ball creator with defensive concerns, so I see Burries as a better fit. All signs point to Wagler going to the Clippers, though.

6. Brooklyn Nets - Mikel Brown Jr., Guard, Louisville

The Brooklyn Nets are a team whose draft plans are difficult to figure out. They are keeping everything close to the vest.

In recent years, they have prioritized drafting jumbo creators and long, athletic bigs. Because of this, I'm not surprised that Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Nate Ament, and Aday Mara have all been connected to the Nets.

Most insiders are mocking guards to the Nets, so I'll go in that direction. Acuff is one of the best creators we've seen come into the NBA in recent memory, and I think that will be hard for the Nets to pass up. However, he has a lot of defensive issues, and I'm not sure how well he would fit next to Demon Egor since he's such a high usage player. Brown is a ball-dominant player as well, but he has a better shooting projection, and his defense isn't quite as bad. Acuff is a historically bad defensive prospect.

I think Brown is a better fit than Acuff, so I'll rock with him here.

7. Sacramento Kings - Darius Acuff Jr., Guard, Arkansas

The Kings have been connected to all the top guards in this draft, and in this situation, they would likely choose between Darius Acuff Jr. and Kinston Flemings. Brayden Burries could be considered as well, but I haven't seen his name connected to the Kings as much.

Acuff is reportedly the talk of the town in Sacramento, and his camp wants him to end up there. He's an exceptional offensive creator who pairs elite scoring and playmaking for a guard. With Russell Westbrook getting up there in age and Zach LaVine's future in Sacramento in question, I think Acuff could give the Kings a much-needed boost offensively.

Don't sleep on Flemings here, though. The Kings have a history of drafting gritty guards who provide two-way impact, and Flemings fits this to a tee. If Acuff is off the board, I could easily see the Kings taking a guy like Flemings or even Brayden Burries.

8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO) - Aday Mara, Big, Michigan

The Hawks will reportedly not trade up from No. 8, leading me to believe that they are confident that they can get one of their guys at this pick. Insiders are indicating that they will likely take one of the top remaining guards on the board or a big man to bolster the front court.

Kingston Flemings and Brayden Burries both make sense here due to their two-way versatility. However, the Hawks just signed C.J. McCollum to a one-year extension. I'm not sure it makes sense for the Hawks to take a backup point guard at No. 8 when they can fix their size issues at the five by taking Aday Mara.

I get why a lot of people are mocking guards to the Hawks. However, I think their decision to retain McCollum makes drafting Mara the most sensible decision.

9. Dallas Mavericks - Brayden Burries, Guard, Arizona

The Mavericks have a new front office after hiring Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, and they have the exciting task of building around their young superstar Cooper Flagg.

In this situation, Brayden Burries and Kingtson Flemings are the most obvious fits. I've seen the team connected to both players, and the Mavs reportedly had a great meeting with Burries at the combine. Burries to the Maverick is one of the pairings I've seen the most intel on.

Burries makes a lot of sense for Dallas because his skillset complements Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, and he could lead the second unit at a high level. This team needs another guard badly, and I think adding Burries could allow Flagg to play off-ball more often.

We also have to consider how the recent hire of head coach Dusty May influences what the Mavericks do in the draft. There are three Michigan players who could go off the board in this range. Based on the reporting that the Mavs are shopping Daniel Gafford, there's a chance this team is targeting Aday Mara. I also wouldn't be surprised if they take Yaxel Lendeborg, who'd be a great fit next to Cooper Flagg and would give the team some ridiculous versatility on both ends of the floor.

This is a spicy take, but I think there's a non-zero chance Masai Ujiri pulls his signature move and takes a young, raw, long wing like Nate Ament. I've had Ament here at times, but this seems unlikely to happen as we get closer to the draft.

10. Milwaukee Bucks - Nate Ament, Wing, Tennessee

This is an interesting pick because the Bucks are reportedly trading Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft starts, and this selection needs to make sense for a post-Giannis timeline.

General manager Jon Horst tends to take big swings on raw prospects. With this in mind, I could see the Bucks being interested in Nate Ament if he makes it to this pick. A lot of people are really low on Ament as a prospect, and I get it, but I think his statistical profile is better than a lot of people realize. It's not as raw as you might expect based on the way everyone talks about him.

Now, I'm not sure if I agree that Ament makes sense for the Bucks considering what their roster will look like after a Giannis trade, but I think their front office will view him a development project they can pour into over the next couple of years.

11. Golden State Warriors - Yaxel Lendeborg, Wing, Michigan

In recent years, the Warriors have shown a willingness to draft older prospects with strong production, and I think they may continue this trend by drafting Yaxel Lendeborg, who helped lead Michigan to a national championship this season.

Lendeborg worked out for the Warriors, and he could slide in as their starting small forward right away. His shooting, passing, and defense are excellent, and he could be an amazing role player for this team.

Brayden Burries is an option here as well, and he's got a lot of skills that could allow him to play early. If Aday Mara falls to this pick, the Warriors could take him as well. A lot of insiders are pairing Mara with the Warriors.

Lendeborg feels like the perfect pick in this situation.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC) - Morez Johnson Jr., Big, Michigan

General manager Sam Presti is an excellent drafter who loves to take advantage when other teams let players fall and who loves to draft productive players with good measureables. If one of the top guards falls, I think there is a non-zero chance that the Thunder takes them. I don't think Presti is afraid to pull the trigger on a guy like Kingston Flemings, who's still available in this mock draft.

However, the Thunder don't necessarily need a guard right now, and that would be a luxury pick. I think the Thunder would focus on improving their frontcourt to increase their chances of beating the Spurs in the playoffs. They have a team option on Isaiah Hartenstein's contract for the upcoming season, and they have to think about the financial consequences of retaining him. They also have to consider the best way to manage the roster after Chet Holmgren's struggles in the playoffs.

Morez Johnson would give them a long, athletic big man who is active on both ends of the floor and can operate at a high level as a finisher, rebounder, and shot blocker. I don't think it'd be a bad idea to add another body to their frontcourt and see if he can have an impact in the playoffs.

13. Milwaukee Bucks (via MIA) - Kingston Flemings, Guard, Houston

The Bucks got a second lottery pick last night after trading Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they have a lot of great options here. I think they will go with the top player on their board and not worry about fit because their roster has gotten much worse in the short term after trading Giannis. In this situation, I think they'd consider Kingston Flemings, Labaron Philon Jr., Hannes Steinbach, Karim Lopez, and Chris Cenac Jr.

In my opinion, Flemings is too good to fall much further than this. A big reason he's fallen in my mock is his frame and how reliant he is on the mid-range for his size. However, he is an excellent playmaker and defender who can hit catch-and-shoot threes. He can play alongside Ryan Rollins, or he can lead the Bucks' offense off the bench as a rookie before taking on a bigger role later on. Also his defensive ability would make him a nice complement to Tyler Herro in the backcourt.

The Bucks need good players right now and Flemings is extremely skilled on both ends of the floor.

14. Charlotte Hornets - Hannes Steinbach, Big, Washington

The Hornets have been connected to a lot of big man prospects, and Hannes Steinbach is reportedly not likely to fall out of the lottery. Steinbach doesn't provide the shooting the Hornets have been targeting in recent drafts, but he's an excellent rebounder and finisher. Their front court is kind of weird right now, and Steinbach gives them a uniquely gifted offensive big.

If Steinbach isn't the pick here, I'd expect the Hornets to target guys like Karim Lopez, Chris Cenac Jr., and maybe Jayden Quaintance if they are comfortable with his medicals. Either way, I expect this pick to be a big or big forward.

15. Chicago Bulls (via POR) - Cameron Carr, Wing, Baylor

The Bulls just made a big trade, acquiring Nic Claxton in a three-team deal in which the Timberwolves sent Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets. I had the Bulls taking a big here before this trade, so now I'm going to pivot.

Due to this trade, I think the Bulls will look to add either a guard or a wing. I struggle to figure out which player archetype they'd want here. Do they look at adding shooting by taking Labaron Philon, Christian Anderon Jr., or Cameron Carr? Do they look to add a big, physical wing like Karim Lopez? I'm honestly not sure.

The Bulls have met with all of the guards projected to go in the first round, and they haven't met with many wings projected to go in the back half of the first round. This makes me want to put a guard here, but I think the Bulls' front office will be ok rolling with Josh Giddey and Tre Jones as their backcourt and taking a long, athletic wing who can shoot in Cameron Carr.

The Bulls desperately need to improve their wing rotation and long-distance shooting. Carr would help in these areas, and he fits the archetype of a player that Bryson Graham loves.

16. Memphis Grizzlies (from PHX via ORL) - Ebuka Okorie, Guard, Stanford

With Ja Morant's future in Memphis in doubt, I think it's likely that the Grizzlies will try to find his replacement at No. 16. There are a lot of good guards on the board, including Labaron Philon Jr., Christian Anderson Jr., Bennett Stirtz, and Ebuka Okorie.

Deciding who to mock here is challenging, but here's why I went with Okorie. Okorie may be outside the top 20 on the consensus big board, but he's an analytical darling who has good length, puts pressure on the rim at will, has decent shooting indicators, is a great playmaker, and isn't a bad defender. If he were ranked higher coming out of high school, I think he'd easily go in the lottery.

All the other guards make sense, but the Grizzlies are analytical, and they are the type of team that will care that Okorie just had a very productive season at a young age. Stirtz was great at Iowa, but he's an older prospect. Anderson can shoot, but his defense leaves a lot to be desired. Philon has a strong profile like Okorie, so he could be the pick here. I just think Okorie has a special profile.

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI) - Labaron Philon Jr., Guard, Alabama

Well, this couldn't have worked out any better for the Thunder. I think they could target a guard at No. 12, but in this situation, they get one anyway and take Labaron Philon Jr. He could change things for the Thunder's offense, giving them a high-level on-ball creator who can take the creation burden off of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

If the Thunder don't take a guard, I could see them going after a wing like Cameron Carr/Dailyn Swain or an analytical darling like Allen Graves. I think all three players fit what their roster needs while providing high-level skills.

18. Charlotte Hornets (from ORL via PHX) - Karim Lopez, Big, NZ Breakers

Karim Lopez is a highly regarded international prospect, and it seems like he will go off the board from picks 12-23. One of the teams I've seen connected to Lopez is the Hornets, and even though I've already given them a big man, I could see them pick a big forward here who gives them size, rebounding, playmaking, and maybe some shooting potential.

I could also see the Hornets take a guard to play behind LaMelo Ball or a wing who complements Brandon Miller, like Swain or Carr.

19. Toronto Raptors - Chris Anderson Jr., Guard, Texas Tech

The Raptors have a solid roster with plenty of size and versatile defenders, but they lack shooting and on-ball creation. In the past, they have been fine drafting shooters with somewhat limited skillsets, so I think they could target one of the best shooters in the class in Chris Anderon Jr.

Another fun pick for the Raptors would be Allen Graves. This would create some spacing issues, but he's such a good player that the team might be able to make it work. Just imagine a lineup of Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Allen Graves.

20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL) - Allen Graves, Wing, Santa Clara

Speaking of Allen Graves, he finally goes off the board here. This gives the Spurs a jumbo forward who does everything, and it gives them added flexibility to use different types of lineups than they've had before. The Graves-Wemby double-big lineups would allow the Spurs to dominate teams with size and physicality and force opponents to put bigger players on the floor.

Another direction the Spurs could go in is to target a big man who can be a strong backup center to Wemby. The Luke Kornet minutes aren't getting it done right now. Maybe Jayden Quaintance, Taris Reed Jr., or Zuby Eljifor could be in consideration here.

21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN) - Bennett Stirtz, Guard, Iowa

The Pistons have a huge issue right now where Cade Cunningham is forced to play on-ball all the time and initiate every action. He can handle this, but it would be beneficial to him and the team's offense if they had another strong ball handler who can create offense for himself and his teammates. Insert Bennett Stirtz, one of the best on-ball creators in the class.

He's an older player with some athletic concerns, but his offensive skill is unreal. The Pistons could also use a wing with a better offensive skillset, and there are some guys on the board who could fix this, like Swain and Carr. Isaiah Evans also makes sense, but I don't think he's a good enough passer or defender for the Pistons.

22. Philadelphia 76ers (from HOU via OKC) - Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke

The 76ers need shooting, and they need players who can complement their stars, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and V.J. Edgecombe. Isaiah Evans is an elite three-point shooter who doesn't need the ball in his hands very often, so he could fit right in. I worry about the other parts of his game, but I see Evans connected to a lot of teams in the 20's.

If the 76ers want a wing with a more versatile skillset, they could take Swain or Carr. Those guys aren't the shooters that Evans is, but they are better all-around players. I think who they choose depends on what kind of wing they want.

23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE) - Dailyn Swain, Wing, Texas

If one of the top guard prospects falls to No. 23, I think the Hawks would consider taking them. In this situation, I think the Hawks would take a guy they are reportedly interested in drafting with their second pick: Dailyn Swain. I've mentioned him thirty times already, so you should remember the name.

Swain is a gifted player who can score around the basket, pass the ball a little bit, rebound, and make plays on defense. He's not a great shooter, but he can impact the game in many other areas.

24. New York Knicks - Jayden Quaintance, Big, Kentucky

The Knicks have a very complete team and are coming off a championship, so they don't need a rookie to contribute right away. This makes them a good team to take a chance on Jayden Quaintance, a tremendously gifted defensive prospect who would go higher than this if he didn't have medical concerns.

I could also see the Knicks picking a wing because you can never have too many good wings on your roster. Maybe Cameron Carr or Alex Karaban could be a good fit by providing floor spacing.

25. Los Angeles Lakers - Chris Cenac Jr., Big, Houston

The Lakers desperately need a big man, and their star point guard, Luka Doncic, has already told the franchise he wants them to improve their big-man rotation this offseason. The Lakers have met with a lot of the big man prospects projected to go towards the back end of the first round, so I think a big man is likely to go off the board here.

Chris Cenac Jr. is a mystery box because he's raw in many areas, but he has excellent size and athleticism and is also a great finisher and shot-blocker. Maybe the Lakers want someone who's more ready to make an impact now, like Taris Reed Jr. or Zuby Ejiofor, but I've heard that Cenac is likely to go top 20, and I think his incredible frame and defensive upside will be hard for the Lakers to pass up.

26. Denver Nuggets - Zuby Ejiofor, Big, St. John's

I expect the Nuggets to use this pick to improve their wing rotation or get a backup big who can step in when Nikola Jokic leaves the floor. Someone like Cameron Carr could be a useful player for them as he's a well-rounded offensive player, unlike their backup forward, Peyton Watson.

However, I think a bigger priority is getting a good backup big, and I think Zuby Ejiofor could be that guy. He's short for the position, but he's an awesome interior scorer who can pass a little bit, handles the ball well, grabs offensive rebounds at an elite rate, and blocks a ton of shots. The Nuggets have had a hard time finding a long-term solution to their backup center position, but hopefully, this can be the solution they've been looking for.

27. Boston Celtics - Taris Reed Jr., Big, UConn

The Celtics missed out on getting Giannis Antetokounmpo, so they are in an interesting spot, as they will reportedly part ways with Jaylen Brown no matter what. I can see them targeting a wing or a big man here. They will need another wing if they lose Jaylen Brown, and they need another backup big behind Neemias Queta.

The Celtics have met with a lot of bigs projected to go at the end of the first round or early in the second round, and this is such a big need for them. Taris Reed Jr. could be a good fit for them because he's a low usage offensive player who can finish at the basket, grab rebounds, and block shots.

If the Celtics don't take a big man, I could easily see them drafting a wing like Joshua Jefferson, who's got size and is super versatile on both ends of the floor. Brad Stevens loves drafting wings, so this is a possibility as well.

28. Brooklyn Nets (from DET via MIN) - Joshua Jefferson, Wing, Iowa State

The Nets could take a big here to improve their front-court rotation after trading Nic Claxton, or they can take a wing to improve their wing rotation. Two names seem like good options this late in the first round: Joshua Jefferson and Henri Veesaar.

Jefferson is an analytical darling who provides a ton of playmaking and defensive versatility while being a big, long wing. Veesaar is a skilled offensive player, but I'm not sure the Nets would want another big man with defensive concerns, considering they already have Danny Wolf on the roster.

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (from SA via ATL) - Sergio de Larrea, Guard, Valencia

Sergio de Larrea is a very talented offensive player who is an excellent shooter and playmaker for a guy who's 6'7. The Cavs don't need a rookie to play right away, but it's hard to find jumbo creators like this, and at some point, Sergio could run the Cavs' offense at a decent level when James Harden goes to the bench.

If the Cavs wanted to go in a different direction and take a wing to come off the bench, I think Karaban would be a great fit. I'd love to see Karaban compete with Jaylon Tyson for minutes off the bench.

30. Dallas Mavericks (from OKC via WSH and PHI) - Alex Karaban, Wing, UConn

I've mentioned Alex Karaban as a possible fit for a lot of teams at the end of the first round, and he finally finds a home in Dallas in my mock. Karaban likely wouldn't have much of a role early on in his career since the Mavs have so many veteran wings on the roster, but Khris Middleton can't play forever. At some point, Karaban could step into the rotation as an off-ball three-point shooter who impacts the game defensively by leveraging his size.

The Mavericks could also consider taking a forward like Koa Peat, who's younger but less skilled than Karaban, or they could also look at drafting an offensively skilled big like Henri Veesaar. Veesaar would be a very intriguing option if the Mavericks didn't have a couple of solid centers already.