🏀NBA MOCK DRAFT 2026

Paul George with a bouncier first step — three-level wing with point-forward upside

Wizards land the franchise face. With the #1 pick locked in, Dybantsa slots next to Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr as the on-ball shot-creator D.C. has been chasing since the rebuild kicked off. This is the generational wing Washington has needed — the centerpiece the franchise builds around for the next decade.

Franchise wing scorer, lead shot-creator, perimeter defense, three-point shooting

Devin Booker scoring DNA in a bigger guard frame

Jazz land the elite perimeter scorer their frontcourt-heavy build has been desperate for. Utah's deadline swing for Jaren Jackson Jr. signaled win-now intent — Peterson is the shot-creating guard who turns Markkanen and JJJ from a good frontcourt into a playoff core. Imagine Peterson cooking in PnR with JJJ setting the screen and Markkanen spacing the corner — that is a nightmare to guard.

Elite perimeter scorer, lead guard, half-court creation to pair with Markkanen and JJJ

Zach Randolph meets young Kevin Love — bully-ball scorer with rebounding chops

Grizzlies are in full rebuild mode after trading Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, with a Ja Morant trade looming. Boozer is the safest foundational piece on the board — a franchise four with real winning culture and a bully-ball scoring package Memphis fans will fall in love with. He is the cornerstone of Grizzlies 2.0, the kind of player you hand the keys to and say "build the next era around this man."

Franchise building blocks at every position, especially frontcourt anchor after JJJ trade, wing scoring, lead guard (if Morant traded)

Pascal Siakam path — long, fluid forward who learns to score with reps

Bulls jumped from the 9-seed to #4 — the biggest lottery leap of the night — and they land the two-way forward this franchise has been begging for since the rebuild started. Wilson's point-forward passing and defensive versatility give Chicago a real identity piece next to Coby White and Josh Giddey. This pick pulls the Bulls out of play-in purgatory and onto a genuine timeline. His athleticism should pop in workouts.

Franchise-caliber star, two-way forward, rim protection, perimeter creation, anyone to break the play-in cycle

Jamal Murray attack-DNA at the same height

Clippers cash the Indiana pick they acquired in the Zubac deal and land a franchise point guard. The Clippers are retrofitting on the fly, and Acuff is the kind of downhill creation engine you build a new core around. He is the best pure PG in this class — the lead guard the post-Kawhi, post-PG13 Clippers era has been desperate for. Instant culture reset at Intuit Dome.

Franchise guard to lead the rebuild, young star to pair with emerging pieces, three-point shooting, defensive identity

Sam Hauser meets Mikal Bridges — combo guard with connective feel

Nets dropped from the 3-seed to 6 in the lottery but still land a franchise-caliber guard to pair with Egor Dëmin and Nic Claxton. Wagler's Final Four run proved he can be the engine — the steady, connective shot-maker Brooklyn's rebuild needs. His tournament tape showed a player who rises to the moment. This is the backbone of the next Nets core.

Foundational guard/wing pieces, shot creation, someone to pair with Dëmin, defensive identity

Jalen Brunson without the elite shake — patient, strong, mid-range craft

Kings dropped from 5 to 7 in the lottery but still land the lead guard the post-Fox era has been begging for. Flemings' explosive transition game and PnR craft pair beautifully with Domantas Sabonis at the five — the exact on-ball threat Sacramento needs to stay relevant in the West. His winning intangibles from Houston's tournament run show he can handle the pressure of being "the guy" from day one.

Lead point guard to replace De'Aaron Fox, half-court shot creation, three-point shooting, perimeter defense

Mike Conley career arc — 6'5" PG who wins with IQ, craft and shooting

Hawks cash the New Orleans pick on the high-upside point guard their young core needs. Brown's back injury is the swing variable — if he gets medical clearance, Atlanta is getting a steal at #8. He runs the second unit behind the Hawks' backcourt, defends up a position, and gives the front office the kind of PnR craftsman who can grow into a starting role. This is a bet on talent over health history, and the Hawks are built to absorb the risk.

Backcourt depth, secondary ball-handler, wing defense, three-point shooting, youth to match rebuild timeline

Bradley Beal off-ball heat with Devin Booker confidence

Mavs need wing scoring and creation after the Doncic trade reshaped the roster. Burries plays off Klay's movement gravity and slots alongside the retooled Dallas core — a two-way wing scorer who can play on or off the ball. His shooting and defensive growth make him the most NBA-ready wing in this range, and he gives Dallas real firepower on the perimeter for the playoff push.

Lead guard, wing scoring, perimeter creation, defensive versatility to play alongside Klay

Brandon Ingram silhouette — long, smooth, three-level wing scorer

Bucks lottery their way into a 6'9" three-level wing scorer alongside Giannis. Ament is exactly the long, switchable forward Milwaukee has been chasing — a Khris Middleton-style shot-creator the post-Dame era can lean on.

Wing scoring, perimeter shot creation, three-point shooting, Khris Middleton replacement, youth around Giannis

Pascal Siakam path with EuroLeague-style polish — connective forward with handle

Warriors get a 6'9" connective forward to play next to Steph and Jimmy Butler. Lopez's NBL reps mean less developmental runway — exactly the plug-and-play forward the win-now Bay roster has been hunting.

Young wing depth, connective forward who defends and passes, cheap talent around aging Steph-Butler core

Pascal Siakam meets Naz Reid — skilled, connective, plug-and-play forward

Thunder cash the LAC pick on a polished, plug-and-play frontcourt connector for the deepest roster in the league. Lendeborg's short-roll passing fits Mark Daigneault's motion offense and adds another switchable forward behind Chet and Hartenstein.

Depth pieces for championship push, switchable forward, bench scoring, developmental upside — OKC can draft for need, not desperation

Tyus Jones at a slightly bigger size — pure-PG mind, low turnover

Heat development culture eats this archetype for breakfast. Philon is a low-turnover floor general who plays off Tyler Herro and runs the bench unit without the offense slipping — the steadying lead guard Miami's rotation has needed.

Point guard depth, half-court playmaking, bench creation, defensive versatility in the backcourt

A more skilled Robin Lopez — paint-bound rim protector with finesse

Hornets finally land the rim deterrent the LaMelo era has been begging for. Mara is a 7'3" lob target with passing chops on the short roll — the half-court anchor Charlotte has lacked since the rebuild started.

Rim protection, interior scoring, defensive anchor, size next to LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller

Mark Williams athletic-anchor archetype with switch upside

Bulls cash the Portland pick on a vertical-spacing rim protector. Quaintance gives Chicago the Nikola Vucevic successor — a real lob threat and shot-blocker the rebuild can grow next to Wilson at #4.

Rim protection, defensive anchor, lob threat to pair with new lead scorer, frontcourt depth

Domantas Sabonis-lite — skilled, IQ-driven big without the All-NBA passing

Grizzlies double up in the first round and grab a connective four to anchor the rebuild. Steinbach's elbow passing fits Memphis' motion offense, and the German big's pro polish gives the franchise a Day-1 rotation piece alongside Boozer at #3 — two foundational frontcourt bricks in a single night.

Building blocks at every position, frontcourt depth, bench scoring, developmental pieces for the rebuild

A more athletic Al Horford — five-position versatility with rim protection

Thunder rob the room. Cenac's switch-everything frame slots straight into the deepest defense in basketball next to Chet, Hartenstein and Lu Dort — Boston's dream Horford comp now wears Thunder blue. Check the Celtics Watch tab for Lito's full case on why Brad Stevens should have moved up for this kid.

OKC drafts for best available, not need — depth pieces, switchable bigs, developmental upside on the deepest roster in the NBA

Mid-career Bruce Brown bounce with stronger shooting upside

Hornets stack a second lottery-area card on top of Mara at #14. Carr is the cheap, athletic wing every LaMelo lineup needs — a 3-and-D bounce-finisher who lifts the spacing and rim pressure on every Ball drive.

Wing scoring depth, three-point shooting, defensive versatility, athletic pieces around LaMelo and Brandon Miller

Mid-career Tyrese Maxey scoring DNA in a slightly slower body

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Anderson averaged 18.5 PPG and 7.4 APG while shooting 41.5% from three in the Big 12 — those numbers scream pro-ready. Raptors land the steady lead guard the Scottie Barnes era has been chasing. Anderson runs PnR with Barnes as the secondary creator, lets Immanuel Quickley slide off-ball, and stabilizes a backcourt that's been a turnover machine. [CBS Sports]

Lead guard stability, three-point shooting, backcourt creation to pair with Scottie Barnes, bench depth

Kenneth Faried with better defensive IQ — modern motor-and-rim five

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Strong combine showing with 6'9" barefoot and 7'3"+ wingspan measurements; shooting impressed scouts. Spurs cash the Atlanta pick on a hammer behind Wemby. Johnson is the energy four San Antonio lacks for matching up with banger frontcourts — and he plays exactly the screen-and-roll, glass-eating role that frees Wembanyama to roam. [CBS Sports · SI]

Frontcourt depth behind Wembanyama, physical energy big, defensive rebounding, bench scoring

Mike Conley path — mature lead guard who wins with feel and PnR craft

Pistons cash the Minnesota pick on a pro-ready backup PG behind Cade Cunningham. Stirtz is plug-and-play floor general — the low-turnover steadier J.B. Bickerstaff has been begging for in second-unit minutes.

Backup point guard, bench creation, three-point shooting, veteran-feel pieces around Cade Cunningham

Stretch-four bench scorer template with face-up bounce

STATUS: LIKELY IN THE DRAFT — Graves is "more likely than not" staying, per SI, with LSU and Duke as backup transfer options if he pulls out. Sixers cash the Houston pick on a stretch four to space the floor for Embiid and Maxey. Graves' shooting versatility solves the half-court spacing problem that defined Philly's playoff exits. [CBS Sports · SI]

Floor spacing, stretch four, bench scoring, three-point shooting around Embiid and Maxey

Klay Thompson lite — movement shooter with switch-defense tools

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Door closed on college return per SI. Hawks add their second first-round pick of the night and double down on shooting around Trae Young. Evans is exactly the long, switchable 3-and-D wing that lifts every Trae lineup — lottery-caliber spacing falling into Atlanta's lap at #23. [SI · On3]

Wing shooting, 3-and-D players, defensive consistency, cheap youth to fill out the rotation

Aaron Gordon physical-forward archetype with a more polished face-up

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Peat is "fully focused on the NBA" per SI, though his combine shooting was rough (6-of-25 from three). Still, his physicality, USA Basketball pedigree, and 42.5" vertical keep him firmly in the first round. Knicks need playoff-floor toughness behind Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby. Peat is real snarl, hammers the offensive glass, and absorbs the dirty-work minutes Tom Thibodeau's rotation lives off. [SI · USA Today]

Physical forward depth, defensive toughness, offensive rebounding, cheap youth to spell KAT and OG

Stretch-five development arc with Walker Kessler-style anchor tools

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Door closed on college return per SI. Shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc, the 7-footer is a modern stretch-five dream. Lakers always need a mobile, switchable five behind LeBron and AD. Veesaar is exactly the modern big JJ Redick wants — runs the floor, switches PnR coverages, and stretches enough to keep five-out spacing alive in clutch lineups. [CBS Sports · SI · On3]

Mobile center behind AD, floor spacing, young developmental talent, three-point shooting from the five

Herb Jones blueprint — pesky 1-3 stopper with connective offensive feel

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Door closed on college return per SI. Nuggets always need long defensive wings to surround Jokic. Swain is a no-frills point-of-attack stopper who plays the Aaron Gordon-style perimeter defender role and fits the read-and-react Denver offense from Day 1. [SI · On3 · USA Today]

Perimeter defense, wing depth, point-of-attack stopper, cheap youth to surround Jokic

Maxi Kleber athletic-forward template with more bounce

STATUS: CONDITIONAL — Allen is staying in the draft if he secures a guaranteed first-round promise. Measured just over 6'5" at the combine (shorter than the listed 6'7"), but his 42.5" vertical (tied for 2nd at the combine) proves his athletic pop is elite. Celtics land a draft-and-develop 3-and-D forward behind Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Allen is exactly the cheap, athletic wing Boston has been mining for in the 20s — a Joe Mazzulla rotation piece who closes out, switches up a position, and doesn't need touches. [SI · USA Today]

Cheap wing depth, 3-and-D forward, draft-and-develop pieces, athletic versatility off the bench

Andrew Wiggins athletic-guard template — long, switchable, plus bounce

STATUS: IN THE DRAFT — Door closed on college return per CBS Sports. Averaged 23.2 PPG at Stanford — a projected top-20 talent locked in. Wolves cash the Detroit pick on a long, switchable combo guard behind Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards. Okorie's tools fit Chris Finch's switch-everything scheme — a 3-and-D card who grows alongside Minnesota's perimeter rotation. [CBS Sports · SI]

Guard depth behind Conley and Edwards, switchable wing defense, three-point shooting, youth for the future

Jordan Poole scoring DNA in a slightly more athletic body

STATUS: TBD — Thomas is noncommittal on his draft decision per SI, with a late first/early second-round projection. Could return to Arkansas for another year. If he stays in, Cavs cash the Spurs pick on a microwave scoring guard behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. Thomas gives Kenny Atkinson real bench creation — exactly the second-unit jolt the Cleveland rotation has been missing. Deadline: May 27. [SI · On3]

Bench scoring, guard depth, microwave creator off the bench, youth to keep championship window open

Kyle Anderson path — slow-mo connector who guards multiple positions

Mavs cash the OKC pick on a polished switchable forward to play next to Klay and the retooled Dallas engine. Jefferson is plug-and-play — defends 1-4, makes the right pass, doesn't need touches in a Dallas lineup that needs role players, not creators.

Switchable role players, connective forward, defensive versatility, unselfish pieces around Klay