Jeremy WooMay 10, 2026, 03:58 PM ETCloseNBA draft analyst and writer Joined ESPN.com in 2023 Covered the NBA and NBA draft for Sports Illustrated from 2015-2023Follow on XMultiple Authors
The moment the Wizards won the NBA draft lottery (0:44)Take a look at the moment the Wizards claimed the top pick in the NBA draft lottery. (0:44)
The Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz jumped into the top 4, after the Indiana Pacers’ pick dropped and was obtained by the LA Clippers at No. 5.
AJ Dybantsa sits atop the mock as our projected No. 1 pick, with more left to play out on that front as the predraft process gets fully underway.
All 30 NBA teams convene in Chicago this week for the lottery and draft combine, which begins tomorrow and runs through the end of the week.
The NCAA withdrawal deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27, giving college players 10 days to make final decisions on turning pro.
With the first-round order now fully set, here’s my updated mock draft going into the combine proper, which begins Monday.
More NBA draft coverage: Biggest questions for every lottery team Full draft order | Top 100 rankings | 2026 mock drafts Combine preview | More
While NBA teams have come to view Dybantsa as the favorite at No. 1, expect the Wizards to conduct a thorough process involving other candidates, including Peterson, Boozer and Wilson.
Boozer lived up to lofty expectations this season, cleaning up player of the year awards and nearly leading Duke to the Final Four, largely carrying the team all season. He has the makings of a foundational, tone-setting player, and while his limited vertical lift might cap some of his upside at some point, it’s hard to argue with the results he has gotten.
The Clippers drew their best-case scenario, obtaining this top-four protected pick from the Pacers after it fell. This is a massive coup, as L.A. doesn’t fully control its own draft picks until 2030 — and continues to await the fallout of the league’s investigation into the franchise’s involvement with Aspiration and Kawhi Leonard. The Pacers will get to keep their 2031 first instead — but losing out on what was in essence a coin flip for a top-four pick is a significant sting for Indiana.
This pick has been viewed by some teams as where the draft starts, with an array of talented guards expected to be available, presuming the consensus top four players come off the board first. Wagler’s versatility makes him a very strong fit with the Clippers, who already have a true point guard in Darius Garland.
The Kings fell from No. 5 to No. 7 in a critical draft for the franchise, considering their older, expensive roster and the need for a younger face to rebuild around as general manager Scott Perry enters his second season. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Sacramento has a clear need at point guard, with several options likely on the board at this spot.
Flemings’ explosive speed and winning intangibles swayed NBA executives this season, and he projects as a lead playmaker who puts downhill pressure on defenses and should also add value as a defender. The continued progression of his jump shot is key for him and something he’ll need to demonstrate effectively in team workouts, but he got positive results at Houston (38.7% from 3, 84.5% from the line) and has shown growth already in that area.
Burries endeared himself to teams over the course of the season as a steady two-way contributor with room to grow as a scorer. Scouts see an intriguing upside as he continues to improve as an on-ball playmaker, but he is a solid-enough shooter to play the two, giving him appealing versatility. He is older than other freshman guards in the lottery and not as toolsy or flashy, but might be closer to directly impacting winning.
The top overseas-based player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in predraft workouts, where teams will gain a better sense of his physical traits and skill level coming off a positive year in the NBL. Showing progress as a perimeter shooter in those settings would help his case to sneak into the top 10, as he jockeys for position with Ament and Yaxel Lendeborg, two other versatile forwards.
The rest of the NBA exhaled as this pick stood pat on lottery night, keeping the 64-win Thunder from adding a top-four prospect. The Thunder have a roster crunch they’ll have to solve for in some way this off-season, holding player options on all three of Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams, as well as two first-round picks (they also have No. 17). Picking up all three options would put them at 15 players, barring another consolidation trade of some type.
Lendeborg is set to benefit from his instrumental role in Michigan’s title run, where his versatility shone through on both sides of the ball, and he shot 52.9% from 3 in his final 11 games. He’ll be a 24-year-old rookie, a polarizing aspect of his projection, but he’s ready for the NBA and should be a plug-and-play rotation piece. At a certain point in the draft, the value of his unique skillset outweighs the age factor.
Philon had an outstanding year at Alabama and proved himself as a potent scorer who can generate offense in spurts, helping him earn looks in the back half of the lottery. He can be polarizing for scouts, with persistent questions around his ability to run a team in the half court, but he’s a proven scorer with positional size who could provide a real spark coming off the bench in the right context.
Charlotte took an organizational step forward this season, making the play-in and developing chemistry, with the addition of Kon Knueppel providing a shot in the arm and head coach Charles Lee earning an extension this week. They also hold the 18th pick, giving them some optionality to move around the board.
Mara has given himself a runway to be the first center off the board, possessing an unusual skill level for 7-3 and building momentum during Michigan’s title run. He is an excellent passer and quick processor who can be an offensive conduit, in addition to finishing simple plays. Developing a reliable jumper will be an important step for him. The Hornets could use an infusion of size and offensive skill up front, making this an intriguing potential landing spot for Mara.
The Bulls are one of four teams (Memphis, Oklahoma City, Charlotte) that hold multiple picks inside the top 20, setting up interesting potential trade dynamics. Quaintance’s physicality as a play-finisher and shot blocker should make him an appealing consideration for Chicago at this spot.
Memphis holds two picks inside the top 20 and has a need for frontcourt depth, something the Grizzlies could look to address with this second selection. Steinbach’s dependable production and excellent rebounding stand out in a draft that’s lighter on bigs, making him one of the safer options starting in the late lottery.
While not a flashy player, Steinbach is advanced enough offensively to plug into a team’s rotation next season. There are varying opinions on how his defense and shooting (34% from 3) project long term, and scouts view him as somewhat caught between the 4 and 5 positionally because of his size.
The Thunder also had two first-rounders last year, choosing to roster Thomas Sorber at No. 15, then traded the 24th pick for a future protected first. Considering their roster situation, they could take a similar approach and look to flip this pick for a future asset, a move that might be simpler than consolidating picks to move up in the lottery.
The Hornets have two first-round picks and could opt to make both as they continue building through the draft. Moving up with No. 14 and 18 might be a challenge considering the strength of this draft, but Charlotte has some flexibility to maneuver using its picks.
Toronto successfully took a step forward this season, hitting on last year’s Collin Murray-Boyles selection and forming an intriguing long-term forward pairing with Scottie Barnes. The Raptors have several needs to address moving forward, including upgraded shooting, half-court creation and a long-term center.
Anderson’s stellar shooting (41.5% from 3) and steady ball-screen playmaking would make him an interesting younger addition to Toronto’s backcourt. His lack of a physical advantage is the primary knock, and it makes him more of a back-half first-round option in a strong point guard class.
Johnson will have a chance to capitalize on his role in Michigan’s title run, with his physical style of play and defensive versatility holding long-term NBA appeal. Though undersized for a 5, he has a great frame, runs the floor well, is an active rebounder and has the ability to guard multiple positions and switch situationally. That makes him a glue-guy candidate for teams looking to get more athletic up front.
San Antonio is heavy on perimeter talent and should be considering younger frontcourt depth at this spot. The Spurs have the advantage of being able to effectively pair Victor Wembanyama with nearly any big up front, with his shooting and rim protection enabling a wide range of lineups. Johnson should draw consideration here and would give them some added muscle next to their ascending superstar.
Detroit has a need for added shooting around Cade Cunningham and can go several directions at this spot. Stirtz is capable of bolstering the second unit and also adding spacing playing off the Pistons’ various playmaking wings.
The 76ers successfully pivoted to a younger timeline this season, with the duo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe set to anchor the backcourt for the foreseeable future, taking pressure off Joel Embiid. With Embiid in and out of the lineup, adding younger frontcourt depth should be a goal for Philadelphia, something they might be able to address at this pick.
Evans has the makings of a quality wing shooter, with good positional size and the ability to hit tough shots off movement. He took a leap this season with an expanded role at Duke and has starter-level upside if he can be more consistent. He needs to better apply his tools defensively, but he displayed some growth on that end this season.