The NBA Draft is finally here, tipping off tomorrow night. While front offices put the finishing touches on their draft boards and gather last-minute intel from scouts, fans and analysts are left waiting to see how the chaos unfolds.
And chaos is almost guaranteed. Trade rumors continue to swirl around Giannis Antetokounmpo, several teams are exploring moves up the board, and at least one franchise will likely convince itself to take a major swing. As always, the draft's biggest storylines will not be limited to trades. In a class this deep, future stars are bound to slip farther than they should, creating value opportunities for the teams willing to capitalize.
Below is our final 2026 NBA Mock Draft. It covers the entire first round and even includes a projected trade between Oklahoma City and Dallas.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa | Wing | BYU
The Wizards have kept any leaks about this pick well under wraps, but the growing belief is that Dybantsa will be the choice. The fit makes plenty of sense. He is an elite shot creator with pro-level rim pressure and downhill scoring ability who can become their long-term wing centerpiece and an MVP-caliber offensive dynamo.
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson | CG | Kansas
This is not the ideal result for Peterson. He has made it clear that he wants to go number one, working out only for Washington and not Utah. That will not stop the Jazz from taking the premier perimeter talent at two if he is there, though. Peterson possesses the highest scoring floor of the top three and will be able to operate off-ball in SLC, which is where he does his best work.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer | F | Duke
Boozer landing as the obvious third pick says less about his own skills and more about the strength of the top two. The Grizzlies have had him penciled in at three for a while now given his track record of winning and his exceptional analytic profile. Sharing a frontcourt with Zach Edey is a dream outcome.
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson | F | UNC
Chicago lucked into the ideal frontcourt fit at No. 4. Wilson brings a relentless motor and an explosive first step that should impact both ends of the floor immediately. His offensive ceiling, however, will depend on his jumper continuing to develop.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler | CG | Illinois
With no immediate need for a top-five talent, the Clippers could look to shop this pick. Assuming they do not, Wagler is a natural selection here thanks to his size, shooting, and versatility. He complements Darius Garland off the ball while still capable of handling secondary creation duties. His 6-foot-6 frame also helps cover for some of Garland's defensive limitations.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr. | CG | Louisville
Brown's medical report on his back is reportedly clean, and multiple teams have come away impressed from his workouts, especially the Nets, who have brought him in twice. When healthy, he is a dynamic scorer with limitless range, strong finishing, and the instinctual passing teams want in a lead guard. The combination of scoring, shooting, and playmaking gives him one of the highest ceilings in the class.
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr. | PG | Arkansas
The worst kept secret of the draft is that the Kings want Darius Acuff, and they likely will not need to trade up to get him. Acuff was the nation's best point guard last season and brings an incredibly translatable game to the NBA. His size raised concerns earlier in the draft cycle, but seeing Jalen Brunson win a championship has reshaped the league's narrative around smaller guards.
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): Kingston Fleming | PG | Houston
Center and point guard are both positions of need, so the team takes the best player available in Fleming at eight. He is a superb athlete with outstanding vertical pop and straight-line speed. What sets him apart is his basketball intelligence and two-way impact at his age.
9. OKC Thunder (via DAL): Yaxel Lendeborg | Wing/F | Michigan
OKC trades picks 12 and 17 to the Mavericks for pick nine, landing Yaxel Lendeborg. With a roster already stacked at guard and big man, OKC needs size on the perimeter. Lendeborg is a knockdown shooter and versatile defender who can help take on Victor Wembanyama, seemingly the Thunder's only real weakness.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament | Wing | Tennessee
Ament is the kind of oversized wing every team covets, pairing guard skills with a smooth jumper. His lack of physicality and inconsistent efficiency make him a polarizing prospect, though. If Milwaukee enters a transition period post-Giannis, Ament is the type of high-upside swing worth taking.
11. Golden State Warriors: Aday Mara | C | Michigan
A passing big with elite vision and feel, Mara brings unique offensive creation from the center position. His shooting could still improve, but he slots in next to Steph Curry extremely well, and he could be a future cornerstone once Curry retires.
12. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Brayden Burries
Dallas lands a prospect with top-10 hype for value at 12. Burries will at minimum be a strong role player thanks to his off-ball shooting and defensive ability, and he could grow into a second star next to Cooper Flagg if his advantage creation continues to improve.
13. Miami Heat: Morez Johnson Jr. | F/C | Michigan
Johnson has steadily become an odds-on lottery favorite thanks to his athleticism and defensive versatility, traits that should translate to immediate impact. In Miami, he would fit excellently next to Bam Adebayo, who can help cover for Johnson's lack of ideal height.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Karim Lopez | Wing/F | New Zealand Breakers
Lopez brings strength and toughness on the wing, and Charlotte offers a strong developmental environment for his long-term growth as a shooter and defender.
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Cameron Carr
A boundless athlete, Carr adds scoring punch alongside the playmaking of Josh Giddey. The swing factor between stardom and a role player ceiling is whether he can knock down threes at a high enough level.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX): LaBaron Philon Jr. | CG | Alabama
Philon has not wowed teams in workouts, but he showed the skills teams want in a combo guard last season. He can score in bunches, plays as a steady distributor, and could make an excellent pick-and-roll partner alongside Edey and Boozer.
17. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Dailyn Swain | Wing | Texas
Dallas adds more wing depth with the intriguing Swain. Despite his combine struggles, he is an athletic disruptor with downhill force, though he will need to tighten up his jump shot.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Hannes Steinbach | C | Washington
Steinbach offers spacing on the floor, rebounding, and interior scoring. His defensive instincts still need refinement, but his effort level and physical tools are encouraging.
19. Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson | PG | Texas Tech
Toronto adds the best shooter in the draft to run its offense. Anderson's range knows no limits, and his playmaking should be a real boost for Scottie Barnes.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Allen Graves | Wing/F | Santa Clara
San Antonio needs another big to play alongside Wemby, and Graves could be that piece. His size and physicality may not be ideal for the role, but he is an ultra-aggressive defender and an excellent shooter from the perimeter.
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Isaiah Evans | SG | Duke
Detroit already tried the small, ball-dominant guard experiment next to Cade Cunningham, and that did not work out well. Now the team adds the 6-foot-6 Evans, who impresses with his movement shooting and defensive upside.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Joshua Jefferson | Wing | Iowa State
The 76ers need to make the most of what time they have left with Joel Embiid, and Jefferson is a win-now piece. He brings nice shooting, advanced passing vision, and a true defensive presence.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Chris Cenac Jr. | F/C | Houston
Atlanta picks up its center in Chris Cenac Jr. The appeal is his shooting touch and smoothness at his size, though he will need time to find his footing in the league.
24. New York Knicks: Henri Veesaar | C | UNC
Veesaar excels as both a floor spacer and an interior finisher on screens and handoffs. He could become a reliable backup big man if Mitchell Robinson is not retained in free agency.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Jayden Quaintance | F/C | Kentucky
Quaintance remains the most unique defensive prospect in the draft, but plenty of questions linger around his knee. Still, 25 is the right place to take a swing on that kind of talent, especially a player who could fit well alongside Luka Dončić long term.
26. Denver Nuggets: Koa Peat | Wing | Arizona
Peat is a forceful player who thrives attacking the paint. His jumper is still developing, but he projects as a relentless interior scorer and a potential Aaron Gordon replacement if Gordon gets moved.
27. Boston Celtics: Bennett Stirtz | PG | Iowa
Stirtz is a high-IQ playmaker who can lead bench units within the Mazzulla system. His shooting ability also allows him to thrive off the ball alongside the starting unit at certain points in games.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Ebuka Okorie | PG | Stanford
Okorie's range is unusually wide for his size, and he could go far higher than 28 on draft night. Either way, Minnesota lands one of the best scorers in the class as its long-term point guard.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA): Meleek Thomas | CG | Arkansas
Thomas is one of the purest scorers in the class, pairing deep range with a complete shot-making package. He can generate buckets even in the absence of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Tarris Reed Jr. | C | UConn
A classic back-to-the-basket big man, Reed can serve as a budget rim protector backing up Derrick Lively.
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