Jeremy WooMay 10, 2026, 04:20 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
play0:34AJ Dybantsa lays out his NBA goalsAJ Dybantsa explains what being the No. 1 pick would mean to him and what’s important for him to achieve in the NBA.
play1:32Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. declares for 2026 NBA draftDarius Acuff Jr. joins Malika Andrews on “NBA Today” to reveal that he will be entering the 2026 NBA draft.
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)
AJ Dybantsa lays out his NBA goalsAJ Dybantsa explains what being the No. 1 pick would mean to him and what’s important for him to achieve in the NBA.
AJ Dybantsa explains what being the No. 1 pick would mean to him and what’s important for him to achieve in the NBA.
Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. declares for 2026 NBA draftDarius Acuff Jr. joins Malika Andrews on “NBA Today” to reveal that he will be entering the 2026 NBA draft.
Darius Acuff Jr. joins Malika Andrews on “NBA Today” to reveal that he will be entering the 2026 NBA draft.
The Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls round out the top four picks. The Indiana Pacers lost their protected top-four pick to the LA Clippers, who got the No. 5 pick.
With the first-round order now fully set, all 30 NBA teams next convene in Chicago for the draft combine, which begins Monday 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.
AJ Dybantsa sits atop our latest mock draft as our projected No. 1 pick, with more left to play out on that front as the predraft process gets fully underway.
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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 Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb 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.
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 LA 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.
Arkansas freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. declares for 2026 NBA draft
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 2, giving him appealing versatility. He is older than other freshman guards in the lottery and not as toolsy or flashy, but he might be closer to directly impacting winning.
The top player in a thin international prospect class, Lopez has a chance to help himself in pre-draft 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.
The rest of the NBA exhaled as this pick stood pat in the lottery, keeping the 64-win Thunder from adding a top-four prospect. The Thunder have a roster crunch they’ll have to solve for this offseason, holding player options on Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams, as well as two first-round picks (they also own No. 17). Picking up all three options would put them at 15 players, barring another consolidation trade.
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 skill set outweighs the age factor.
The Heat will pick in the lottery for the first time since 2019. They have built much of their roster through the draft, but they haven’t landed a second star to pair with Bam Adebayo and might have to do that by other means. The need for added shot creation on the roster makes this an interesting landing spot for Philon.
Philon had an outstanding season 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 tournament and developing chemistry, with the addition of Kon Knueppel providing a shot in the arm and coach Charles Lee earning an extension this week. They also own the 18th pick, giving them some options 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 his 7-3 frame 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. A hypothetical pairing with Caleb Wilson would give them an extremely physical young frontline to build around.
After moving up to No. 3, Memphis holds a second pick inside the top 20, giving it an opportunity to add to the backcourt in this scenario after landing Cameron Boozer. The Grizzlies will likely consider guard options here with the possibility of a Ja Morant trade standing as the last move in what has been a full teardown over the past year.
Coming off a tremendous season at Texas Tech, Anderson’s stellar shooting (41.5% from 3) and steady ball-screen playmaking would make him an interesting addition for Memphis as it weighs the look of the roster long-term.
Steinbach’s dependable production and excellent rebounding stand out in a draft that’s lighter on bigs, with many teams viewing him as a safe option. While not a flashy player, he’s advanced enough offensively to plug into a rotation next season. There are varying opinions on how his defense and shooting (34% from 3) project long-term, and scouts view him as caught between the 4 and 5 positionally due to his size.
The Thunder also had two first-rounders last year, choosing to roster Thomas Sorber at No. 15 and trade 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, which 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 interesting 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.
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.