NBA · 1 hour ago

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting Round 1

Patrick Kelleher

Host · Writer

#30 Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Alex Karaban
Alex Karaban
- School: UConn
- Position: F
- Class: Senior
One of the more experienced players in this draft, Alex Karaban, has played in about as many big college games as you can imagine. Karaban's natural leadership will work wonders on a young Dallas roster that is looking to rebuild.
#1 Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa
- School: BYU
- Position: SF
- Class: Freshman
If Washington has the luxury of landing the No. 1 overall pick, AJ Dybantsa would make a very intriguing trio with him, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis.
#2 Indiana Pacers: Cameron Boozer
Cameron Boozer
- School: Duke
- Position: PF/C
- Class: Freshman
After a gap year due to the Tyrese Haliburton injury, Indiana can add a core piece to their team and form a dangerous front court with Boozer and Pascal Siakam.
#3 Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson
Darryn Peterson
- School: Kansas
- Position: PG/SG
- Class: Freshman
Despite past injury history, Brooklyn is in desperate need of a scorer and shot creator. Darryn Peterson gives them a true future building block.
#4 Utah Jazz: Caleb Wilson
Caleb Wilson
- School: North Carolina
- Position: PF/C
- Class: Freshman
An injury cut his freshman season short, but Caleb Wilson should still go in the top 5 and is viewed widely as the fourth-best player in this draft. He will give the Jazz size and physicality.
#5 Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr.
Darius Acuff Jr.
- School: Arkansas
- Position: PG
- Class: Freshman
Perhaps the best point guard in college basketball this past season, Darius Acuff gives the Kings a true floor general in the latest of John Calipari lottery picks.
#6 Memphis Grizzlies: Kingston Flemings
Kingston Flemings
- School: Houston
- Position: PG/SG
- Class: Freshman
With the uncertainty surrounding Ja Morant's future, the Grizzlies are in the market for a new floor general. Kingston Fleming comes from a pro-style program and could help turn the page in Memphis.
#7 Atlanta Hawks: Keaton Wagler
Keaton Wagler
- School: Illinois
- Position: PG
- Class: Freshman
Another freshman floor general off the board early, the Hawks land what they hope is Trae Young's replacement in Atlanta.
#8 Dallas Mavericks: Mikel Brown Jr.
Mikel Brown Jr.
- School: Louisville
- Position: PG/SG
- Class: Freshman
Cooper Flagg is the face of the franchise in Dallas and will anchor the front court for years to come. Adding Mikel Brown in the backcourt could help take this offense to another level.
#9 Chicago Bulls: Nate Ament
Nate Ament
- School: Tennessee
- Position: SF/PF
- Class: Freshman
One of the most highly touted draft prospects entering this past college season, Nate Ament, showed his toughness and potential as a two-way player. The Bulls will be happy to add him as they start their rebuild.
#10 Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries
Brayden Burries
- School: Arizona
- Position: SG
- Class: Freshman
Another team in need of backcourt presence, the Bucks land on Arizona's Brayden Burries, who helped lead his team to the National Title game in early April. He will provide instant offense with his near 40% mark from three-point range.
#11 Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg
Yaxel Lendeborg
- School: Michigan
- Position: SF/PF
- Class: Senior
The first non-freshman comes off the board at No. 11 as the Warriors add size and a wing defender in the form of Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg would benefit greatly learning from the likes of a Draymond Green.
#12 Oklahoma City Thunder: Labaron Philon
Labaron Philon
- School: Alabama
- Position: PG/SG
- Class: Sophomore
The rich continue to get richer as the Thunder add another playmaker in their backcourt. With not many roster holes, Philon will have the chance to develop behind the scenes and further improve his game.
#13 Miami Heat: Hannes Steinbach
Hannes Steinbach
- School: Washington
- Position: PF/C
- Class: Freshman
Hannes Steinbach becomes the latest Pat Riley project. Providing depth in the front court for Bam Adebayo and giving Erik Spolstra another defender.
#14 Charlotte Hornets: Aday Mara
Aday Mara
- School: Michigan
- Position: C
- Class: Junior
One of the top Michigan standouts from the National Title team, Adey Mara joins a young Charlotte Hornets core that took great strides this past season into becoming a consistent playoff contender.
#15 Chicago Bulls (via POR): Jayden Quaintance
Jayden Quaintance
- School: Kentucky
- Position: C
- Class: Sophomore
With their 2nd pick inside the top-15, the Bulls add a center in Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance as they look to fill the void left by Nikola Vucevic at the center position.
#16 Memphis Grizzlies (via ORL): Chris Cenac Jr.
Chris Cenac Jr.
- School: Houston
- Position: PF/C
- Class: Freshman
As Memphis continues its retooling, they look to fill the void of Jaren Jackson Jr. in the front court by landing a young big man with high upside in Chris Cenac Jr.
#17 Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Morez Johnson Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr.
- School: Michigan
- Position: PF/C
- Class: Sophomore
As the run on big men continues, the Thunder add more depth to the frontcourt after adding backcourt depth earlier. With the impending uncertainty around Isaiah Hartenstein's contract, OKC could look to get out ahead of it and find his replacement.
#18 Charlotte Hornets: Allen Graves
Allen Graves
- School: Santa Clara
- Position: SF/PF
- Class: Freshman
With Charlotte's second pick in Round 1, they look to another high upside wing in the form of Allen Graves. While an extremely raw talent, Graves has tremendous upside.
#19 Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson
Christian Anderson
- School: Texas Tech
- Position: PG
- Class: Sophomore
After a grueling Round 1 loss in the postseason to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Raptors turn the page to 2026-27. Immanuel Quickley is under contract for the next three seasons, but bringing in a guy like Christian Anderson can help set Toronto up well when Quickley's contract expires.
#20 San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Cameron Carr
Cameron Carr
- School: Baylor
- Position: SG
- Class: Sophomore
San Antonio gets richer in the backcourt after adding Baylor sophomore Cameron Carr. Carr will have great guards to learn from in De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper.
#21 Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Amari Allen
Amari Allen
- School: Alabama
- Position: F
- Class: Freshman
Detroit needs a second scoring option behind Cade Cunningham. Adding an Amari Allen, who can play with both smaller and taller lineups, adds depth and another threat that this offense desperately needs
#22 Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Koa Peat
Koa Peat
- School: Arizona
- Position: F
- Class: Freshman
Koa Peat could end up being one of the top steals in the draft this late in the first round. Peat was viewed as a lottery pick at the start of the college season. The emergence and breakouts of his fellow freshmen have made him fall slightly, but the potential is evident.
#23 Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Bennett Stirtz
Bennett Stirtz
- School: Iowa
- Position: PG/SG
- Class: Senior
Atlanta focuses heavily on their backcourt in the first round. After adding Keaton Wagler, the Hawks add another true shooter in the form of Bennett Stirtz, who has plenty of experience as one of the few seniors in this draft.
#24 New York Knicks: Henri Veesaar
Henri Veesaar
- School: North Carolina
- Position: C
- Class: Junior
With Mitchell Robinson's impending free agency, the Knicks could need depth at the center position. While Ariel Hukporti has shown signs, the Knicks would be wise to try to shore up center, and Henri Veesaar gives them a great paint presence on the defensive side.
#25 Los Angeles Lakers: Dailyn Swain
Dailyn Swain
- School: Texas
- Position: G/F
- Class: Junior
The Lakers have a clear need for versatility and a wing presence. Dailyn Swain feels like the perfect complement in a rotation that will be led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
#26 Denver Nuggets: Isaiah Evans
Isaiah Evans
- School: Duke
- Position: SG
- Class: Sophomore
Isaiah Evans brings pedigree and big-game experience after spending two seasons at Duke. Denver could use some more guard depth being Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, and Evans gives them a spark plug and leadership off the bench.
#27 Boston Celtics: Ebuka Okorie
Ebuka Okorie
- School: Stanford
- Position: G
- Class: Freshman
In terms of true guards, it gets pretty thin on the Celtics' roster after Payton Pritchard and Derrick White. Freshman Ebuka Okorie has an extremely high ceiling that, with the right coaching and system, can make him into a very impactful player.
#28 Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Flory Bidunga
Flory Bidunga
- School: Kansas
- Position: PF
- Class: Sophomore
The Timberwolves take advantage of the chance to improve their paint play by adding Flory Bidunga, who could prove valuable as an option behind Julius Randle.
#29 Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS): Rueben Chinyelu
Rueben Chinyelu
- School: Florida
- Position: C
- Class: Junior
There has been a consistent drop-off in Cleveland's frontcourt over the past few seasons whenever Jarrett Allen or Evan Mobley comes off the court. Rueben Chinyelu can help provide depth and defense in the paint off the bench.
#30 Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Alex Karaban
Alex Karaban
- School: UConn
- Position: F
- Class: Senior
One of the more experienced players in this draft, Alex Karaban, has played in about as many big college games as you can imagine. Karaban's natural leadership will work wonders on a young Dallas roster that is looking to rebuild.
#1 Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa
- School: BYU
- Position: SF
- Class: Freshman
If Washington has the luxury of landing the No. 1 overall pick, AJ Dybantsa would make a very intriguing trio with him, Trae Young, and Anthony Davis.