2026 NBA Mock Draft
This is a 3-fold 2026 NBA Mock Draft based off how I think it'll go based off the consensus, who I'd pick at these spots, and who a GM's track record would suggest they pick.
It’s NBA Draft week, and I haven’t done a mock draft. Might as well start now. I do want to do things differently where I go with picks based off what the consensus says (with The Rookie Scale as the guide here), what I’d do in these spots, and who the picks can be based off a GM’s track record.
So a three-fold mock draft. Given the layers here, I’ll keep it at 30 picks with concise information to my points. Then for the second round, I’ll identify some fascinating player-fits based off recent track records. If I italicize a player, it means there has been public reporting of a workout, per HoopsHype’s trackout tracker.
1 - Washington Wizards
what i think based off consensus: AJ Dybantsa
who i’d pick: Cam Boozer
who their GM track record suggests: AJ Dybantsa
Regardless of who the Wizards take, they’ll get a star who can become the face of the franchise. They have a cast of intriguing young guys fit to complement a star-level talent — Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, Tre Johnson among them. Acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis signifies a willingness to compete this upcoming season.
In the GM’s shoes, I’d pick Cam Boozer as a versatile offensive player that can act as a hub, encompasses different roles, and has been synonymous with winning everywhere he’s gone. He can play with Davis and/or Sarr. His passing talent and IQ will enhance the overall roster.
However, I’m betting they go Dybantsa — who’s mostly been a favorite here. Will Dawkins and Michael Winger have been drawn towards an intersection of size and skill even if they’re a bit raw — signaled from George, Riley, and to a degree Sarr. Dybantsa may have the best package in terms of size, skill, and athleticism in this class.
2 - Utah Jazz
what i think based off consensus: Darryn Peterson
who i’d pick: Darryn Peterson
who their GM track record suggests: Darryn Peterson
I feel like this is the easiest pick in the draft. If it weren’t for a weird season at Kansas, Peterson is likely a consensus number one pick due to his overwhelming combination of creativity, athleticism, scoring, and defensive fortitude. He fits perfectly with the Jazz lineup of Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Keyonte George.
Danny Ainge recently took a player who belonged to a camp that wasn’t too fond (reportedly) of going to the Jazz with Ace Bailey. If the Jazz have Peterson at the top of their board, they’ll take him. There’s also been a bet on toolsy scoring upside since Danny Ainge took over — Bailey, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Keyonte George, and Brice Sensabaugh. While the noise around Utah with Cameron Boozer will be loud, as his father Carlos is in the front office, Peterson just seems like the logical fit.
3 - Memphis Grizzlies
what i think based off consensus: Cam Boozer
who i’d pick: AJ Dybantsa
who their GM track record suggests: Cam Boozer
Boozer at 3 would be a home run for the Grizzlies. Boozer was incredibly proficient in essentially every metric, and the Grizzlies are an analytically driven front office. They’ve valued players with a strong track record of winning prior to coming to the NBA — Zach Edey, Cam Spencer, Walter Clayton Jr., Ty Jerome. While Duke didn’t make it to the Final 4, they stacked a lot of wins this past year, and Boozer is arguably the most accomplished grassroots player of all time. Boozer’s fit with Edey and Cedric Coward is incredibly tantalizing, and the most glaring strength is how the rebounding between the three of them could be a massive advantage created.
Now, with how the board presented itself with “who I’d pick,” Dybantsa gives the Grizzlies a star big wing Zach Kleiman has coveted — through trade attempts for Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby. He has real upside to lead the league in scoring.
4 - Chicago Bulls
what i think based off consensus: Caleb Wilson
who i’d pick: Wilson
who their GM track record suggests: Wilson
The Bulls end up with whoever’s left among the Boozer, Dybantsa, Peterson, and Caleb Wilson group. They will be thrilled with Wilson, as he embodies new EVP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham’s SLAP (Size, Length, Athleticism, Physicality) mantra. Graham has the chance to lay the foundation for what kind of team he wants to build with his first draft as a lead decision-maker.
5 - Los Angeles Clippers
what i think based off consensus: Keaton Wagler
who i’d pick: Wagler
who their GM track record suggests: Mikel Brown Jr.
Wagler is 5th on my board with his combination of shooting, skill, and positional size. His lead-guard production in the games Kylan Boswell was out was superb. As he adds more weight, he can unlock more higher-end outcomes. I’m not totally worried about his athleticism and weight, as he still finds a way to touch the paint, crash the glass, and embrace contact regardless. With the Clippers, I like the fit with him and Garland, as the veteran can take on primary playmaking responsibilities as the prospect is rounding out his game.
Due to various trades — particularly the Paul George one — and its regular-season success, the Clippers haven’t had the chance to nab high-end talent. However, they’ve sought upside swings with its selections — Yanic Niederhauser, Cam Christie, Keon Johnson, and Brandon Boston. Swinging for the fences here should be more beneficial. Mikel Brown is arguably the biggest upside swing here and could give the Clippers a star-level perimeter creator — if healthy.
6 - Brooklyn Nets
what i think based off consensus: Darius Acuff
who i’d pick: Acuff
who their GM track record suggests: Wagler
The consensus and who I’d pick blend here, even though I don’t have Acuff 6th on my board. The Nets need a star-level talent that’s easy for fans to be excited about and be sold on. Acuff is the offensive talent that can supercharge their offense and be a culture-changer as well.
While people are tongue-in-cheek about Brooklyn’s draft last season — five first-round picks with four of them being guys whose effectiveness was tied to having the ball in their hands — a theme emerged out of it. Positional size with playmaking. Even though Sean Marks has been the Nets’ general manager for about a decade, this theme signals a slight shift in philosophy. The player on the board that fits it is Wagler, and he could represent the guy who will be the “lead guard” of the bunch. In addition, he boasts the best combination of positional size and playmaking here.
7 - Sacramento Kings
what i think based off consensus: Mikel Brown Jr.
who i’d pick: Kingston Flemings
who their GM track record suggests: Darius Acuff
Brown would be another upside swing for a team looking to dodge the relegation zone next year.
Flemings is a speedy guard that adds two-way toughness — arguably possessing the best combination of offense and defense among the guards in this group. With the Kings, they’d be adding a two-way tone-setter that can create high-value looks for himself and his teammates.
GM track record… can I just go with this tidbit of information instead?
8 - Atlanta Hawks
what i think based off consensus: Aday Mara
who i’d pick: Mara
who their GM track record suggests: Mara
In the 2024 NBA Draft, Jonathan Givony, former draft analyst at ESPN, reported that the Hawks had interest in Donovan Clingan when they held the #1 pick. It wouldn’t be shocking to see them address their center depth issues with Mara, arguably the best center in this class — one who closely replicates Clingan’s blend of rim protection and passing. With the Hawks, he gives them real size while also amplifying their system that has playmakers from all 5 positions.
9 - Dallas Mavericks
what i think based off consensus: Kingston Flemings
who i’d pick: Brayden Burries
who their GM track record suggests (new): Burries
Flemings or Burries would be home runs for the Mavericks as potential guard partners to complement Cooper Flagg on both sides of the floor. There’s reporting that Rich Paul is looking to steer Burries to Dallas.
This is a new front office led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz, so who knows how their philosophy fits with building around Flagg. However, I’m going to steer towards skill-based upside with Burries — who hits the “combo guard” archetype that’s valued immensely in today’s NBA.
10 - Milwaukee Bucks
what i think based off consensus: Nate Ament
who i’d pick: Mikel Brown Jr.
who their GM track record suggests: Ament
Based off the consensus and GM track record, there’s real buzz for Nate Ament. For the Bucks, they tend to take more upside swings on age and tools — AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith, DJ Wilson, Bogoljub Markovic, or even targeting Ousmane Dieng or Kevin Porter Jr. For what it’s worth, Jimmy Haslem is the co-owner and a key owner for … the Tennessee Volunteers.
With how the board laid out on “my picks” part of it, Brown would be a worthy upside swing, even though I think there’s variance here. If it hits, it gives the Bucks a centerpiece of the rebuild after a potential Giannis trade.
11 - Golden State Warriors
what i think based off consensus: Yaxel Lendeborg
who i’d pick: Morez Johnson
who their GM track record suggests: Yaxel
Yaxel Lendeborg would be just the perfect fit for the Warriors, and I outlined it in a recent post about favorite prospect and team fits.
When I think about classic Golden State basketball — the motion, the ball popping, the screening, short-rolling playmaking, the avalanche hoops — no prospect in their range embodies that style of play like Yaxel Lendeborg.
He’s the perfect guy to carry the torch from Draymond Green. He’s a smart processor on both sides of the floor with his passing, reads in passing lanes, and rotations. He can defend 1-4 due to his size, lateral speed, and length. At Michigan, he showed he can scale his game to be a cog in the offense rather than a guy the offense orbits around.
Since Mike Dunleavy took over in 2023, he hasn’t really had high picks to work with, as Brandin Podziemski was his only first-round pick since taking over. However, Lendeborg’s quick processing and versatility should be a hand-in-glove fit in Kerr’s system.
I am higher on his teammate Morez Johnson due to his game-changing defensive versatility and an offensive framework that could suggest he has more to his game — particularly as an occasional shooter. He and Draymond could be terrifying defensively early in his career.
12 - Oklahoma City Thunder
what i think based off consensus: Morez Johnson
who i’d pick: Yaxel Lendeborg
who their GM track record suggests: Morez
There’s been an emphasis from Sam Presti to surround its core with physical, versatile tone-setters — Caruso, Dort, Hartenstein, and Wallace. The Thunder could use more of those players in the frontcourt, and Johnson would be perfect there. For the same reason, Lendeborg could make for a good Dort replacement that could enable some large lineups, something OKC has hardly done at this stage.
After a series with Victor Wembanyama, I’d bet Sam Presti looks to beef up the Thunder’s frontcourt a bit.
13 - Miami Heat
what i think based off consensus: Brayden Burries
who i’d pick: Labaron Philon
who their GM track record suggests: Kingston Flemings
Do the Heat make this pick? Great question. It could very well go to Milwaukee.
They could be a prime spot for a faller, and Flemings specifically would be a perfect fit for Heat culture.
If this pick isn’t going to Milwaukee, they could use a grab for upside, which is why I lean Philon here. He has three-level scoring chops, and his upside may be a bit under-discussed due to age and BMI. However, it would also apply for Flemings and Burries.
14 - Charlotte Hornets
what i think based off consensus: Hannes Steinbach
who i’d pick: Steinbach
who their GM track record suggests: Steinbach
The Hornets have emphasized the possessions game, signaled by seeking Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner to be more of a platoon center rotation. Steinbach is one of the better rebounders in this class and has a level of offensive skill that the others don’t possess. He can develop into a nice screening and playmaking hub around LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel.
If the Domantas Sabonis rumors hold merit, they also probably like Steinbach quite a bit.
15 - Chicago Bulls
what i think based off consensus: Karim Lopez
who i’d pick: Nate Ament
who their GM track record suggests: Dailyn Swain
Again, back to SLAP. Dailyn Swain would epitomize the physicality and speed the Bulls may want to play with, while giving them a creation bet with some perimeter defensive chops.
Lopez is a physical, but slow, forward who is a bowling ball downhill and creates defensive events. I’m not high on Ament, but at 15 and for a team with two first-round picks (including the #4 pick), it’s a worthy gamble. I’m not the highest on these players, and they both have a level of variance where the upside may not be absolutely dazzling.
16 — Memphis Grizzlies
what i think based off consensus: Labaron Philon
who i’d pick: Dailyn Swain
who their GM track record suggests: Christian Anderson
The Grizzlies here again. This could be a spot for a guard, although they really don’t need one at this juncture. I’ve been adamant about taking Swain at 16 as a wing pick-and-roll initiator that can play fast, create defensive events, and pressure the rim.
Philon would be a nice three-level scoring bet. However, for GM track record, I’m going to roll with Anderson due to his speed, pick-and-roll prowess, and multiple levels of strong production (NCAA and FIBA). With a heavy pick-and-roll system Tuomas Iisalo runs, either Philon or Anderson would really stand out in Memphis.
17 - Oklahoma City Thunder
what i think based off consensus: Jayden Quaintance
who i’d pick: Quaintance
who their GM track record suggests: Quaintance
The Thunder are not afraid of having a redshirt rookie year. Although two of these injuries happened after the fact, the Thunder didn’t have official rookie years for Chet Holmgren, Thomas Sorber, or Nikola Topic.
Quaintance would be a massive swing on talent, especially after knee problems since February 2025. However, he’d give OKC another defender to throw at Wembanyama. He has real Defensive Player of the Year upside.
18 - Charlotte Hornets
what i think based off consensus: Cameron Carr
who i’d pick: Carr
who their GM track record suggests: Allen Graves
Cam Carr would be a nice pick that fits into the Hornets’ system. He thrives in transition, can soar at the rim, and shoots a ton of 3’s. They could use some wing depth.
I can’t shake how the Hornets credited AI and the analytics for the decision to pick Kon Knueppel. Allen Graves rose up boards because his analytical numbers are gaudy. He’d fit as a physical forward that can be a team defender, connector, and shooter next to its highly-powered offensive Big 3.
19 - Toronto Raptors
what i think based off consensus: Bennett Stirtz
who i’d pick: Ebuka Okorie
who their GM track record suggests: Labaron Philon
The Raptors can pick virtually any guard here.
Stirtz would be perfect to play off Scottie Barnes and to keep things organized for the Raptors.
Okorie is a swing on age-based production — as a speedster guard with good length, paint-touching abilities, and shooting equity.
This is the second draft Bobby Webster has had as the head decision-maker. Last year, he went with a surprise returner that crushed the SEC as a sophomore. It led to good results last time with Collin Murray-Boyles. Let’s do it again with Labaron Philon.
20 - San Antonio Spurs
what i think based off consensus: Allen Graves
who i’d pick: Graves
who their GM track record suggests: Chris Cenac
I wrote a few weeks ago about what would make a Graves-Spurs pairing so perfect.
Offensively, he can space the floor and be more of a connective player. His outside shooting and playmaking with turnover aversion would fit quite well off their core.
Defensively, he needs to work on his body to guard in space better, especially if he has to defend 3’s and 4’s. He fouls a bit too frequently. However, his event creation coupled with Wemby’s defensive impact could be intriguing, and it ignites transition offense for the guards.
Down the board, Brian Wright has sought upside swings with raw tools — Carter Bryant, Jeremy Sochan, Josh Primo to name a few. Cenac would be a nice upside wing, as he has a signature skill that can keep him on the floor (rebounding). In addition, he can play with and without Wembanyama. It may take a few years to realize his potential, though.
21 - Detroit Pistons
what i think based off consensus: Christian Anderson
who i’d pick: Bennett Stirtz
who their GM track record suggests: Cameron Carr
Like Toronto, I’m expecting a guard here for Detroit to relieve some playmaking responsibilities from Cade Cunningham.
I wrote about an Anderson-Pistons pairing recently.
The Pistons were cursed with turnovers in the playoffs, as it’s a weakness that shined in Cade Cunningham’s playoff performance. Anderson would take a creation burden off Cade in a big way. He can play off him with his elite shooting, while also feeding off his gravity by exploiting driving lanes to create a high-value shot for his teammate. Due to his superb pick-and-roll prowess, Anderson can allow Cunningham to function off the ball, or to rest a little bit.
Stirtz would be an awesome pick due to his outstanding offensive efficiency, size, shooting, and creation.
Trajan Langdon has typically sought after athleticism and size on the wing dating back to the Pelicans with Dyson Daniels, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Naji Marshall. So far with the Pistons, he used a premium pick on Ron Holland. Would he do that again with a clear need that also fits where this positional group is strongest at this juncture of the board? Given how the board fell, I’d stick with his status quo and lean towards Carr — who does provide shooting and spacing Cunningham needs.
22 — Philadelphia 76ers
what i think based off consensus: Dailyn Swain
who i’d pick: Koa Peat
who their GM track record suggests (new): Peat
Swain would be a fun wing to pair with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe due to his transition attack, defensive event creation, and relentless rim pressure.
Peat as a Sixers spot would be fascinating. The track record with their new GM, Mike Gansy, is tricky to identify, as the talent added in Cleveland lately has been veteran acquisitions. So I’m just going to go out on a limb and say Peat. This fit may allow Peat to rekindle his pre-NCAA production and skillset. He’s polarizing — and was for me for a good portion of the cycle — but he’s a massive forward with good feel and athleticism. He impacts winning wherever he goes. I’m betting he figures things out, even if the shooting is potentially a massive crutch.
23 — Atlanta Hawks
what i think based off consensus: Ebuka Okorie
who i’d pick: Christian Anderson
who their GM track record suggests: Okorie
The Hawks went big here, so let’s go guard to be a possible McCollum understudy.
Anderson’s shooting would be a massive boom in Atlanta, as the Hawks have a lot of players take on primary facilitator responsibilities — Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, CJ McCollum, and Dyson Daniels. Anderson can do that as well, but the shooting would pop to an insane degree.
Not a long track record for Onsi Saleh, but last year he went with age-based production with Asa Newell. As a team looking for a lead guard of the future, Okorie could be a potential guy here.
24 — New York Knicks
what i think based off consensus: Tarris Reed
who i’d pick: Reed
who their GM track record suggests: Reed
This one is simple. James Dolan already said he won’t get into the second apron. Mitchell Robinson is a free agent. Tarris Reed is the perfect rookie center to come in and take on backup center responsibilities. He’s a huge center that crushes the glass, strings actions together with his passing and screening, and encompasses different schemes to a degree.
25 — Los Angeles Lakers
what i think based off consensus: Zuby Ejiofor
who i’d pick: Zuby
who their GM track record suggests: Karim Lopez
I love Zuby Ejiofor here for his toughness, defensive versatility and impact, playmaking, and rebounding. He can feast as a playmaker when teams blitz Luka out of the pick-and-roll.
The Lakers with Rob Pelinka tend to take swings — Jalen Hood-Schifino, Max Christie, Talen Horton-Tucker — but also try to strike on a faller — Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero. With Lopez, I can see it happening again, who could add some role depth as a wing defender.
26 — Denver Nuggets
what i think based off consensus: Sergio De Larrea
who i’d pick: De Larrea
who their GM track record suggests: Bennett Stirtz
Sergio De Larrea could provide a punch off the bench with his shooting and creation.
There’s always a faller, and while this is the first time Ben Tenzer has picked in the first round as a lead decision-maker, it’s hard to see them not striking and taking Bennett Stirtz. Could you imagine him with Jokic? Phew.
27 — Boston Celtics
what i think based off consensus: Isaiah Evans
who i’d pick: Josh Jefferson
who their GM track record suggests: Henri Veesaar
The Celtics are a fascinating play here because of the directions they can go.
Evans fits with his high three-point volume. Jefferson is a high-feel player that can make dazzling reads, create turnovers, and crash the glass. The athleticism could be a concern.
Lately, Brad Stevens has sought bigger wings and forwards to complement the Jays and Derrick White — Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman. I don’t see him adding more of them right now, but maybe he seeks more role depth with their platoon-style center rotation. Veesaar is a reliable shooter that can make competent reads and set screens, but his defense is a little shaky.
28 — Minnesota Timberwolves
what i think based off consensus: Meleek Thomas
who i’d pick: Isaiah Evans
who their GM track record suggests: Evans
Tim Connelly has two types of complementary players next to Anthony Edwards on the perimeter: tenacious defenders or gunning shot-makers.
Isaiah Evans is a movement shooter that leverages his superpower. It’s key for him to add some weight to enhance his ancillary skills.
Meleek Thomas could be a sneaky play with his shot-making. Can he add another level of creation upside with more on-ball responsibilities?
I’m watching for them with their ventures for one of the point guards — shown from a recent workout with Labaron Philon.
29 — Cleveland Cavaliers
what i think based off consensus: Henri Veesaar
who i’d pick: Karim Lopez
who their GM track record suggests: Zuby Ejiofor
Veesaar could be a nice backup big that can play next to Evan Mobley and stretch the floor.
With how the “who I’d pick” board, Lopez would be a bet on wing defense depth, since they’re low on stoppers.
Ejiofor could be a great backup big man to target that can allow them to run different defensive schemes. The recent track record in the draft is rather inconclusive, since they’ve leaned veterans and traded significant assets for Mitchell. With their luxury tax situation, they could target an older prospect that can provide early depth.
30 — Dallas Mavericks
what i think based off consensus: Chris Cenac
who i’d pick: Chris Cenac
who their GM track record suggests: Meleek Thomas
The Mavericks can use a swing with the 30th pick. Cenac could be a fascinating big man if he can sharpen his shot selection and defensive tools. Thomas can be a shot-making guard that can space the floor next to Flagg.
I avoided the second round, as picks are traded around like candy, and it’s become a bit of an agency play with the guaranteed and two-way contracts. That’s why I’m avoiding doing a full predictive second-round mock draft. However, I’ll list some fascinating prospect and team combinations that can achieve value.
I’m watching these players as potential fallers who could strike up a bidding war of trade offers for picks 31-33: Josh Jefferson, Meleek Thomas, Sergio De Larrea, Isaiah Evans, Henri Veesaar.
Five players strike me as good value additions that could play regular NBA minutes early: Alex Karaban, Richie Saunders, Ugonna Onyenso, Baba Miller, and Emanuel Sharp. Any of these names can sneak into the first round. The defending champion Knicks should look to any of these players for cheap role depth, as they face apron issues.
No pun intended, but Emanuel Sharp would be a perfect complement to the Houston Rockets in a return to the city he played college basketball. He plays with the toughness Ime Udoaka loves, and he can also alleviate their three-point shooting woes to a degree.
Nick Martinelli with the Brooklyn Nets as a floor-spacer that can set screens and short-roll would be quite fascinating.
With Sean Sweeney known for his aggressive defensive coverages, the Magic should target Izaiyah Nelson as a big that can create defensive events and crash the glass.
The Raptors may not get a lot of floor-spacing out of this frontcourt duo, but can they just let Collin Murray-Boyles and Maliq Brown run wild together?
As mentioned above, the Timberwolves like to surround Edwards with physical defenders that can wreak havoc, and this could be a spot where Tennessee State’s Aaron Nkrumah hears his name called.
In case you missed it, I appeared on several mock draft podcasts and videos this past week.
With Drew Hill and Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian, a 32-pick Mock Draft:
With Michael Wallace of Grind City Media, I participated in their Beat Writer Mock Draft, picking for the Grizzlies at 16:
I joined Chip Williams and Bluff City Media’s Rusty Whitten as guests on the Draft-and-Stash podcast to run a first-round mock draft:
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Thank you so much for putting my piece in this! Great work as always Parker
got in his bag at the 12am