2026 Mock 1.0
Post-Combine (5/21)
Alex McNinch (YSD)
Post-Combine (5/21)
Alex McNinch (YSD)
1) Washington Wizards
What a day for Wizards fans, who had the worst record in the NBA this season, and ended up being rewarded with the top pick
Dybantsa will fit alongside Trae Young and (potentially) Anthony Davis as a great wing scorer with solid defense
Allows the Wizards to mix and match lineups with Dybantsa, Coulibaly, George, and last year's FRP in Tre Johnson... or make one expendable
Nonetheless, this is a franchise altering pick and expect the Wizards to be able to try and compete next year in the Eastern Conference
2) Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have been searching for their new top scoring guard ever since they traded Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland, and now, they finally have their chance at one in Darryn Peterson
Tons of questions about his work ethic and conditioning have come into play after his weird season at Kansas, but I don't buy into those overall
Pairing Peterson alongside Keyonte George to create a backcourt scoring duo that will change the Jazz going forward with their great projected frontcourt
There is a world, however, that with Carlos Boozer working in the front office they try to make some moves that can allow them to draft Cameron Boozer (not too confident in this but just something to note)
3) Memphis Grizzlies
Ah what a time to be alive, with the lottery odds finally going in the Grizzlies favor for the first time since 2019 to be able to jump up 3 spots into the top 4
As a fan of this team, I will be ecstatic to take either Boozer or Wilson. But in this world, we look at taking Cam Boozer with this pick to go with fit
Boozer's playmaking ability alongside Edey in the frontcourt will be an incredible fit, and even more so defensively
I think a ton overthink who Boozer is as a player, and his game will be 99% different than what people saw in college. Safest pick, highest floor type of a player that you know will impact winning immediately
4) Chicago Bulls
Chicago gets to kick their feet up and watch how the top 3 unfolds, then takes the best player who remains after jumping up to 4 after being projected 10th
Caleb Wilson is an unreal prospect who has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class due to his size, athleticism and versatility as a defender
Will come in and be an instant impact on the defensive side at the 4 position, with the ability to play the 5 in a smaller, quicker lineup
This is the first of two picks in the first round, so expect the Bulls to go best available here, and fit at 15
5) Los Angeles Clippers (via IND)
The Clippers rob the Indiana Pacers here involving the Ivica Zubac trade, which made this pick top 4 protect in favor of Indy. Fortunately for LA, it falls to 5 and heads to the west coast
LA could go one of two ways here with getting a complimentary guard next to new PG, Darius Garland, or they could end up going with a big man to replace Zubac
I will have them taking Wagler here who has shown the ability to thrive on and off the ball, especially with his size. Is a nice change of pace between the two guards that will stagger minutes
Will be interesting to see Kawhi Leonard's situation and how that might effect this pick as well come draft night
6) Brooklyn Nets
The Nets fell out of the top four, and without having a pick that is their own for 2027, they needed this year's to turn out for them
Despite not getting a top pick, they still wind up with one of the best prospects in this class in Acuff
Last year the Nets drafted 3 point guards in hope one would turn out, and none of them jumped off the charts outside of Egor Demin. His usage last year was more of a spot up shooter and off-ball movement player
This justifies picking Acuff here who is a scorer at will, and can take over a game for you. Allowing him to play in a backcourt with Demin can take some pressure off handling the ball, while also allowing both first round picks to be on the court together
7) Sacramento Kings
A player that has injury concerns? Check. Has a ton of potential and shown flashes of it? Check. Well, insert the Sacramento Kings to make this pick then
Brown has superstar potential written all over him with his prolific shooting and playmaking, alongside his great athleticism
Sacramento has looked for a PG for years to change the franchise, and finally has the chance to do so in this draft
His injury problems could cause concern, but for the Kings, it's a risk worth taking
8) Atlanta Hawks (via NO)
Here comes the first shock jump of the draft in Aday Mara to the Hawks for a team that needs to figure out the future of their center position
Onyeka Okongwu is not a sustainable starting center in my opinion, so you turn towards one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft
His obvious 7'3 size, along with his defense, passing, and ability to score around the basket will compliment the wings and guards on this roster that could bolster their defensive identity
The Hawks could opt for a guard at this pick, but I can see how taking Mara fills a need and allows them to get ahead of the big man curve
9) Dallas Mavericks
I do these mock drafts based on fit, general consensus, and rumors. I think Kingston Flemings is a top guard in this class, but his combine measurables did not go in his favor
He is projected to drop, and if he does, the Mavs should jump all over the opportunity to get a fantastic two-way prospect to play alongside Flagg
With the unkown around Kyrie Irving and a potential trade, going ahead and getting a guard who will be in the league for a while based off defense alone is perfect for this timeline
It will come down to Burries and Flemings, but because he dropped, you have to get the better of the two as a prospect
10) Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks get the opportunity to sit back and take whoever falls into their lap based on how the first 9 picks go, and they take the best player available in Burries
With Kevin Porter Jr's impending free agency, Brayden Burries is perfect to pair alongside Ryan Rollins as a ball handler, and especially a defender
Giannis is expected to be traded before or around draft time, which could change how the Bucks use this pick; however, going with a guard in Burries is a good pick either way
A lot of smoke around Nate Ament going here at 10, but based on how the draft went, it is clear they have to jump on this pick
11) Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry's time in Golden State and his career is in the final stages, so it is time for the Warriors to turn towards how life after him will be
Nate Ament has a ton of potential, and could end up being picked higher after his great testing at the combine and measurables. But the Warriors need someone who can score alongside Steph now, and once he is gone
His positional size makes him intriguing, but his offensive upside also could put him in a position that will make him extremely valuable now and in 5 years as well
Jimmy Butler isn't going to return for a while next year, so Ament can see himself jump right into the fold day 1
12) Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
The nightmare we all do not want to see is how things are starting to play out on consensus boards
If Lendeborg was 21 instead of 23, he would be a top 5-7 pick easily. Unfortunately, that is not the case and he will drop to the one team nobody wants to see him go to
His versatility and athleticism will make him an instant impact and could be a starter day 1 based on what happens with Lu Dort on this team
Defensively, him, Wallace, Williams, and Holmgren could be unstoppable and just like if Dort never even left
Who knows, the Thunder could try and make a splash if they don't make the finals and use this pick to get a player, but if they keep it, this is the obvious choice
13) Miami Heat
I really think Kasparas Jakucionis will be solid for the Heat, but there is something about getting a guard who can get a bucket whenever he wants that is valuable
All signs point towards a trade happening this offseason for the Heat, so there is a good chance this pick is for another team
But if it isn't, Philon, Jakucionis, and if they re-sign Davion Mitchell will be a great guard combination to run alongside Tyler Herro, it gives them a little bit of everything
Philon's scoring presence, as well as his above average playmaking makes him an easy selection here for Miami if they are on the clock still
14) Charlotte Hornets
Alright, I know what Hornets fans could be thinking here... "did we not just go through this type of idea with Tidjane Salaun a few years ago?"
Yes you did; however, this isn't necessarily the same situation, as Lopez has more of an NBA ready body and can fit in immediately in my eyes
Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller hold down the two wing spots for now, but Bridges has one year left on his deal, and could be moved this offseason as he has grown out of his role/spot on this roster
Lopez won't come in lighting up the scoreboard, but that wouldn't be his role, as he would lead a defensive minded wing spot who can guard 2-4 easily and be a great off-ball movement player for Lamelo
15) Chicago Bulls (via POR)
If anyone "Won" the NBA Combine this year, it is Cameron Carr, because he measured great and absolutely showed out in the one scrimmage he played before shutting it down
Before, he was projected to go outside of the lottery in the teens, but now, he is almost a guaranteed lock for the lottery, but this board has him just outside it at 15
Getting Caleb Wilson at 4 and adding Carr here at 15 is a haul for the Bulls
Carr is a microwave scorer, incredible athleticly, and has the upside to be a similar type of role or scorer for the Bulls that they relied on Zach LaVine and Coby White to do
I am a massive fan of Carr and think he will be a constant starter throughout this league for years to come
16) Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
I am almost very certain the Grizzlies will try and move up from 16 to inside the lottery to get a player they want, it is what they always do
With Ja Morant pretty much being as good as gone, the Grizzlies will look to get a younger guard with upside. Whether or not Ja is paired with the 16th pick to move up or not remains to be seen
So let's just assume they pick here at 16 and go guard, you go with Christian Anderson who is one of the best shooters in the class as well as a very good playmaker
Ebuka Okorie could be another name to watch for here if we stick at 16. But if the Grizzlies attempt to move up, look for Miami, Brooklyn, and Sacramento to be the teams exchanging picks with Memphis to also get Ja Morant
17) Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
After selecting Lendeborg at 12, the Thunder look to bolster their frontcourt with Steinbach who is a good prospect to look for
Isaiah Hartenstein has one year left on his contract with it being a $28 million club option. There is a real possibility they decline this to ensure they can afford all of the extensions for the big three that will kick in
They drafted Thomas Sorber last year who missed all year with a torn ACL. They add to this depth with Steinbach who can grab boards, score above the rim, and even stretch the floor
This would be the same type of player Hartenstein was for this team, and can fill those shoes
18) Charlotte Hornets (via ORL)
Charlotte used their first pick to bolster their wing depth, with this pick, they bolster more frontcourt depth at the big position
Morez Johnson tested very well at the combine and a ton of teams are very high on him where there is a world they are picked with Charlotte's first pick even
Was a sneaky intrigal part to Michigan's championship run due to his defense, playmaking and ability to stretch the floor
The Hornets have Diabate and Kalkbrenner but adding Johnson will allow them to continue to play fast and be versatile running any type of lineup combination
19) Toronto Raptors
The Raptors took the Cavs to 7 games in this year's playoffs and now they need to capitalize on the momentum they have and one of their two needs are guard
Taking Stirtz here allows the Raptors to have a young guard that is a sure ball handler and can control the offense
Toronto has been looking to move off of Immanuel Quickley's contract for a little while now, and with the emergence of Jamal Shead and JaKobe Walter, they can find a way to get rid of him and draft a guy like Stirtz to fill the shoes
Also can see Toronto trading for a different PG using this pick or going with a big to play alongside CMB and Barnes
20) San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
The Spurs are in a spot where they can kind of go a couple different directions with this pick, but we are going to go with a really good fit in my opinion at wing
You can't have enough defensive first wings on your roster, as that is the way teams nowadays are winning championships
Swain can defend, get downhill, and shoot at a solid level which continues to add exactly what this team wants to identify as. Him, Bryant, Champagnie, and if they keep Keldon Johnson will be a fantastic wing group
Also a strong chance this pick is traded or used for center depth behind Wemby, but this is a player that can impact winning right now
21) Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
I'm glad I am doing this the day that I am, because now we have seen the Pistons lose game 7 and what their glaring issue is. I assume they will try and trade for someone to help this issue, but you can't have enough shooting anyways
Detroit needs shooters really bad around Cade Cunningham, and Isaiah Evans is one of the best shooters in this class who can also take defenders off the dribble and create for himself
Long-term, Evans can start alongside Cade as he can hold his own defensively and with more growth in his body, will only get better
Steal of pick for Detroit when we look back at this in a couple of years
22) Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
The 76ers are in a spot for this draft where they need to construct their roster around the edges a bit and 22 can net them a really solid rotation player
Allen Graves is a 50/50 stay-go for this draft but if he is going to a situation like this, I can see him staying in the draft. Great defensively with positional versatility and offensive upside at all three levels. Type of player you need on a playoff team
Gives a good backup and option to start at the 4 alongside Embiid or behind Barlow
76ers could opt for a backup 1 or backup 5 behind their stars as well. There is also the option they trade this pick entirely
23) Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
The Hawks used their 8th pick on a BIG guy in Aday Mara, so let's compliment him with a point guard
Okorie has incredible offensive upside and was scoring from everywhere this past year at Stanford. Provides the Hawks with some offense firepower from their guard position
With CJ McCollum and Gabe Vincent hitting free agency, the Hawks are going to look for options at guard outside of Dyson Daniels and the emergence of Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Okorie is a guy who could draw a lot of interest around this pick and even higher, depending on how the lottery shakes out with the other PG prospects
24) New York Knicks
I don't think Quaintance drops this far at all, but based on what has been rumored and talked about, it sounds like teams are very concerned about his injuries and sophomore season at Kentucky
If he falls this far, this is an easy pick for the Knicks to bolster their frontcourt size behind KAT, as Mitchell Robinson is expected to hit free agency after the season
The Knicks could use more shooting depth or more frontcourt depth, and based on how the board has fallen, this is the risk pick you must go with if you are NY
For a team who doesn't necessarily need the pick, they will benefit greatly from this high-risk, high-reward player
25) Los Angeles Lakers
DeAndre Ayton has not gotten over well with Laker Nation and his teammates. Fans were clearly upset with his lack of aggression on both sides of the ball
So for this pick we make sure Luka has a long-term lob-threat player in Cenac Jr. High motor player with a ton of upside offensively in the right situation, and is great defensively.
The future of LeBron James is up in the air with the Lakers, and who knows whether he will retire or stay a Laker next season. What we do know, is the future is Luka Doncic, and surrounding him with talent like Cenac will only take his game to the next level in the long-term
26) Denver Nuggets
Seems like another 50/50 split of a player who can stay in but if not in the right spot, could head back to school. In this mock, he stays and heads to a contending team
Allen has a ton of upside as a two-way wing in the league and for a team like the Nuggets, they can use as many of those as they can get
Petyon Watson is heading to RFA, which means they will have to part with someone (Braun, Johnson, Gordon) if they would like to retain him. If they move a piece like that, Allen is a great long-term projection to fill a void they might lose
The Nuggets biggest struggle in their series loss to the Timberwolves was health, and with the health issues came depth issues. Allen would help fill the margins immediately and solidify himself long-term
27) Boston Celtics
One of the saddest cases in this class of a non-shooter but has so much talent that he doesn't realize he can unlock eventually. The Celtics decide to take a shot on him here at 27 to build up their defensive identity
Koa Peat should 100% go back to Arizona after his combine showing to polish who he is as a player. If he stays, he will drop drasticaly due to his lack of shooting. For Boston, they are a team who lives and dies on shooting, so this might not make sense but stay with me
Small ball 5, and can play a bigger defensive 4 in a lineup which allows Brown and Tatum to be mismatches. If the Celtics get a 5 outisde of Queta who can stretch the floor, Peat can be used correctly
28) Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
Minnesota has plenty of issues to work with when it comes to roster construction that this pick might not be theirs come draft night. We will obviously do this as if they keep it
Yessoufou is a high-upside pick with top tier athleticism, shot creating and defensive upside due to his size and frame that will translate
DiVincenzo is out most of next year and on an expiring deal, Dosumnu is hitting UFA this offseason, and Hyland/Anderson/Clark all are FA in some way. This team needs wing depth
Also originally had them mocked a big at this spot in case they move off Gobert or Reid, but I expect Beringer to take a step up next year in that role
29) Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA)
I think this is a player who has gone under the radar and the more I scout him, the more I see a long-term role for him in the league. I was sleeping on him
Veesar can stretch the floor, score inside, and block shots. The frontcourt pairing of Allen and Mobley can hold it down for the time being, but there is definitely a lack of depth there
As I write this, the Cavs are set to play Game 2 vs the Knicks after blowing that lead in Game 1. They were outrebounded by 10 in that loss and Mitchell Robinson changed the game on the glass
Could they look for more defense at the guard spot? Sure. But the value here is Veesaar and could then allow you to make a move on one of your two bigs
30) Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)
Dallas' first pick was used on getting a point guard to build around Cooper Flagg, now they get another big at 30 to build more depth
It is not a secret that Derek Lively has not been healthy and cannot be relied upon to play on a nightly basis. There already have been rumors of the Mavs trading Gafford as well
This allows Dallas to select a guy who dominated the NCAA tournament on the glass and finish around the rim at a high level
Great pick to build the youth movement in Dallas and allow a defensive pairing between Reed and Flagg in the frontcourt to be one that lasts a while
31) New York Knicks (via WAS): Tyler Tanner, G - Vanderbilt
32) Memphis Grizzlies (via IND): Maleek Thomas, G - Arkansas
33) Brooklyn Nets: Joshua Jefferson, F - Iowa State
34) Sacramento Kings: Zuby Ejiofor, F - St John's
35) San Antonio Spurs (via UTA): Luigi Suigo, C - Italy
36) Los Angeles Clippers (via MEM): Malachi Moreno, C - Kentucky
37) Oklahoma City Thunder (via DAL): Ryan Conwell, G - Louisville
38) Chicago Bulls (via NOP): Jaden Bradley, G - Arizona
39) Houston Rockets (via CHI): Billy Richmond, G/F - Arkansas
40) Boston Celtics (via MIL): Alex Karaban, F - UConn
41) Miami Heat (via GSW): JT Toppin, F - Texas Tech
42) San Antonio Spurs (via MIA): Ja'Kobe Gillespie, G - Tennessee
43) Brooklyn Nets (via LAC): Sergio De Larrea, F - Spain
44) San Antonio Spurs (via MIA): Milan Momcilovic, F - Iowa State
45) Sacramento Kings (via CHA): Emanuel Sharp, G - Houston
46) Orlando Magic: Andrej Stojakovic, F - Illinois
47) Phoenix Suns (via PHI): Bruce Thornton, G - Ohio State
48) Dallas Mavericks (via PHX): Matt Able, G - NC State
49) Denver Nuggets (via ATL): Braden Smith, G - Purdue
50) Toronto Raptors: Ugonna Onyenso, C - Virginia
51) Washington Wizards (via MIN): Tyler Bilodeau, F - UCLA
52) Los Angeles Clippers (via CLE): Otega Oweh, G - Kentucky
53) Houston Rockets: Tamin Lipsey, G - Iowa State
54) Golden State Warriors (via LAL): Nick Boyd, G - Wisconsin
55) New York Knicks: Dillon Mitchell, F - St John's
56) Chicago Bulls (via DEN): Baba Miller, F - Cincinnati
57) Atlanta Hawks (via BOS): Milos Uzan, G - Houston
58) New Orleans Pelicans (via DET): Richie Saunders, G - BYU
59) Minnesota Timberwolves (via SAS): Trevon Brazile, F - Arkansas
60) Washington Wizards (via OKC): Maliq Brown, C - Duke