PG: Mikel Brown Jr.
SG: Darryn Peterson
SF: AJ Dybantsa
PF: Cam Boozer
C: Caleb Wilson
Without even a partial season’s NBA sample off which to work, we get to build our 2026 rookie-class starting five almost entirely based on vibes.
Sticking with each of the top four picks is obligatory. Perhaps Caleb Wilson could get swapped out in favor of a truer big…but then he went on a record-breaking summer-league explosion to quash that idea.
If we operate like Wilson is a must-have, it doesn’t make sense to include another big. First of all, the pool of options isn’t that deep. More importantly, neither Wilson nor Cam Boozer should have to slide down into the 3 spot. Boozer can do it on offense, while Wilson can likely do it on defense. That still profiles as a misuse of resources.
Mikel Brown Jr. won’t be everyone’s choice to round out the lineup. Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler will each have their devotees. But Brown should scale seamlessly to off-ball work alongside Boozer, Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa and has also shown he can be a defensive playmaker.
Truth be told, if we went in a different direction, Brayden Burries would be a more intriguing alternative. This group requires complementary offense and defense more than it needs prospective star power.
Biggest Snubs: Darius Acuff Jr., Brayden Burries, Keaton Wagler
Dan Favale is a National NBA Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky (@danfavale), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes.