The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery is within the books, and we all know each group that jumped up and fell down. Whereas we do not know who will go No. 1 in June, we will start to slender it down.
Here’s a mock draft instantly after the lottery was finalized, slotting the highest prospects to the groups of their official slots. We start in
No. 1: Washington Wizards choose AJ Dybantsa
If you would like the perfect scorer within the draft, then you definitely need AJ Dybantsa. At 6’9” he has the dimensions to get off his shot over any contest, and his kind is clean and his demeanor cool as a cucumber. May he profit from locking in on protection? Completely, however these are first-world issues with a prospect like this.
No. 2: Utah Jazz choose Cameron Boozer, Duke
The son of former Utah Jazz star Carlos Boozer, Cam Boozer has received at each degree of basketball. His mixture of scoring, playmaking and rebounding will match wherever, and his drive to win is precisely what you need from a star.
No. 3: Memphis Grizzles choose Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Few gamers enter the NBA Draft with as a lot pure expertise as Darryn Peterson. He can rating, he can cross, he’s a ballhawk on protection and an distinctive shooter on excessive quantity. But on the similar time, questions abound after a bizarre season at Kansas and can trigger him to slide on some groups’ boards. Can Peterson exchange Ja Morant?
No. 4: Chicago Bulls choose Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Unbelievable motor? Verify. Elite athleticism? Double test. Eye-popping spotlight performs? All of the checks. It’s not the highs that hold Wilson from being the No. 1 participant on this class, however quite the lows; he has not confirmed himself to be even a median shooter, and he doesn’t at all times make the proper defensive play. Nonetheless, Wilson is a wonderful prospect.
No. 5: Los Angeles Clippers choose Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Popping out of nowhere to be a High 10 choose, Keaton Wagler has a unbelievable story. He additionally has a unbelievable bag of tips born out of his insane basketball IQ. Will his lack of athleticism maintain him again? Maybe, but it surely hasn’t but.
No. 6: Brooklyn Nets choose Darius Acuff, Arkansas
Flashes of Trae Younger are certain to happen when finding out Darius Acuff, however he isn’t doomed to the identical destiny. He’s a strolling bucket and by no means turns the ball over, and he dimes up his teammates with impunity. Protection? Nonexistent. It makes for a polarizing package deal.
No. 7: Sacramento Kings choose Kingston Flemings, Houston
Nobody assaults the paint with as a lot braveness as Kingston Flemings, and he can rating in each approach as soon as he will get there, irrespective of what number of defenders he has to elude and rating over. His passing imaginative and prescient is top-notch. But he’s far more comfy within the midrange and lacks elite dimension, so he might not be for everybody.
No. 8: Atlanta Hawks choose Mikel Brown, Louisville
The expertise is all there for Mikel Brown to be a perennial All-Star level guard. He can cease and pop wherever on the court docket, finishes with both hand, and has defensive instruments. Accidents and bizarre bouts of ineffectiveness coloured an inconsistent freshman season; can he overcome them as an NBA rookie?
No. 9: Dallas Mavericks choose Brayden Burries, Arizona
Protection, capturing, scoring, passing – every little thing is there for Brayden Burries. He doesn’t pop off the display screen, however he fills in each maintain and appears like a starter for the following 15 years. Does a group take him for his excessive flooring, or keep away from him for his decrease ceiling?
No. 10: Milwaukee Bucks choose Nate Ament, Tennessee
To search out Nate Ament’s assortment of abilities in a 6’10” body is a coup, particularly at this level within the draft. But scouts proceed to doubt whether or not he’ll put all of it collectively to turn out to be a star, and a late-season ankle damage prevented him from displaying them for certain.
No. 11: Golden State Warriors choose Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
A late-bloomer, Yaxel Lendeborg was one of many best possible gamers in basketball final season and led the Wolverines to the Nationwide Championship. He continues to enhance as a do-it-all multi-positional ahead; will the expansion proceed? Even when it doesn’t, he’ll assist the Warriors from day one
No. 12: Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder choose Aday Mara, Michigan
A monster within the paint because of his gigantic dimension and veteran anticipation, Aday Mara is much from a one-trick pony. He can end inside, is a gifted passer and units crushing screens. The Thunder will likely be completely satisfied to have him on board.
No. 13: Miami Warmth choose Labaron Philon, Alabama
Misplaced in a sea of freshman guards, sophomore Labaron Philon was a stud this season for Alabama. He has smooth contact all over the place on the court docket and a decent deal with, and competes on protection. His slight body holds him again and can flip him right into a goal within the NBA, however the Warmth have the defensive again line to help him.
No. 14: Charlotte Hornets choose Karim Lopez, NZ
Mexico has by no means produced a prospect this good, with Karim Lopez taking his prodigious instruments and defensive impression to New Zealand this previous season. He wants to search out polish and a constant shot, however at 6’8” it is sensible for the Hornets to take a shot on him right here.
No. 15: Chicago Bulls choose Hannes Steinbach, Washington
Hannes Steinbach has bulk, power and wonderful palms, and he’ll defend the paint on protection and dominate it on ofense.
No. 16: Memphis Grizzlies choose Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Jayden Quaintance was ineffective and absent final season because of an ACL tear, however as a freshman the yr earlier than he was a defensive monster. The Grizzlies gamble that the monster is lurking.
No. 17: Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder choose Morez Johnson, Michigan
Morez Johnson would not have the dimensions or capturing to be a future star, however he does every little thing on the basketball court docket. Screens, steals, rebounds, blocks, working, leaping, ending. Each coach needs a Morez Johnson.
No. 18: Charlotte Hornets choose Koa Peat, Arizona
Koa Peat is a powerhouse with dimension, power and energy. The Charlotte Hornets want a few of that, and they’ll hope to develop the talents.
No. 19: Toronto Raptors choose Dailyn Swain, Texas
Dailyn Swain was an excellent scorer at Texas, however his model of isolation basketball might not translate to the NBA in opposition to higher and greater athletes.
No. 20: San Antonio Spurs choose Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
On paper, Chris Cenac is a steal at No. 20: fluid athlete, wonderful dimension, capturing contact. Sadly, his freshman season confirmed scouts he might not have the ability to match the theoretical model of his sport.
No. 21: Detroit Pistons choose Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Bennett Stirtz maps the court docket in his thoughts like few others, and his bag of tips is as deep as Santa’s. He is not an elite athlete, and that limits his upside, however the flooring is elegant.
No. 22: Philadelphia 76ers choose Cameron Carr, Baylor
Cameron Carr appears like a 3-and-D wing able to pair with a dynamic guard reminiscent of Tyrese Maxey, and there’s a trace of upside to turn out to be one thing extra.
No. 23: Atlanta Hawks choose Allen Graves, Santa Clara
Allen Graves has level guard abilities in an influence ahead physique, and his mixture of protection, offensive rebounding and a scarcity of turnovers make him a possession-generating machine.
No. 24: New York Knicks choose Joshua Jefferson, Iowa St
The New York Knicks want frontcourt depth, particularly with OG Anunoby’s fragile hamstrings within the beginning lineup. Joshua Jefferson is not going to be an All-Star, however he ought to completely be a helpful rotation ahead.
No. 25: Los Angeles Lakers choose Henri Veesaar, UNC
The Lakers want a flexible offensive huge to pair with Luka Doncic, and Henri Veesaar is great as a curler. Defensively he’s skinny however proved to be a powerful rim protector even so.
No. 26: Denver Nuggets choose Isaiah Evans, Duke
Isaiah Evans has an extremely clean capturing stroke and could be automated catching passes from Nikola Jokic.
No. 27: Boston Celtics choose Amari Allen, Alabama
Amari Allen performs greater than his 6’7″ body, and he matches the archetype the Boston Celtics have leaned into within the draft over the previous few seasons.
No. 28: Minnesota Timberwolves choose Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
He is small, however he can rating, he can shoot and he can cross. He is the consummate pick-and-roll level guard, and he may be the long-term successor to Mike Conley in Minnesota.
No. 29: Cleveland Cavaliers choose Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
You need 3-and-D? You get Meleek Thomas, who shoots with confidence. Would you like actually anything? Most likely do not ask for Thomas.
No. 30: Dallas Mavericks choose Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
Whereas small, Ebuka Okorie can get into the paint with a decent deal with and electrical quickness – the Mavericks can take one other swing at constructing out their backcourt.
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