{"id":752881,"date":"2026-06-22T03:59:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T03:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/752881\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T03:59:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T03:59:11","slug":"2026-nba-mock-draft-by-parker-fleming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/752881\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 NBA Mock Draft &#8211; by Parker Fleming"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s NBA Draft week, and I haven\u2019t 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\u2019d do in these spots, and who the picks can be based off a GM\u2019s track record.<\/p>\n<p>So a three-fold mock draft. Given the layers here, I\u2019ll keep it at 30 picks with concise information to my points. Then for the second round, I\u2019ll 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hoopshype.com\/story\/sports\/nba\/2026\/06\/16\/2026-nba-draft-prospect-workout-tracker\/89950924007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">HoopsHype\u2019s trackout tracker.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: AJ Dybantsa<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Cam Boozer<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: AJ Dybantsa<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of who the Wizards take, they\u2019ll 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 \u2014 Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Will Riley, Tre Johnson among them. Acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis signifies a willingness to compete this upcoming season.<\/p>\n<p>In the GM\u2019s shoes, I\u2019d 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\u2019s gone. He can play with Davis and\/or Sarr. His passing talent and IQ will enhance the overall roster.<\/p>\n<p>However, I\u2019m betting they go Dybantsa \u2014 who\u2019s mostly been a favorite here. Will Dawkins and Michael Winger have been drawn towards an intersection of size and skill even if they\u2019re a bit raw \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Darryn Peterson<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Darryn Peterson<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Darryn Peterson<\/p>\n<p>I feel like this is the easiest pick in the draft. If it weren\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p>Danny Ainge recently took a player who belonged to a camp that wasn\u2019t too fond (reportedly) of going to the Jazz with Ace Bailey. If the Jazz have Peterson at the top of their board, they\u2019ll take him. There\u2019s also been a bet on toolsy scoring upside since Danny Ainge took over \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Cam Boozer<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: AJ Dybantsa<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Cam Boozer<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Dn6sYJj2EUQ?si=VSoiZENO0-pXSknQ&amp;t=1200\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">valued players with a strong track record of winning prior to coming to the NBA<\/a> \u2014 Zach Edey, Cam Spencer, Walter Clayton Jr., Ty Jerome. While Duke didn\u2019t 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>Now, with how the board presented itself with \u201cwho I\u2019d pick,\u201d Dybantsa gives the Grizzlies a star big wing Zach Kleiman has coveted \u2014 through trade attempts for Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby. He has real upside to lead the league in scoring.<\/p>\n<p>The Bulls end up with whoever\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><a native=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/lovemytakes.com\/p\/chicago-bulls-nba-draft-guide-bringing?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_campaign=post_embed&amp;utm_medium=web\" class=\"embedded-post\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Chicago Bulls NBA Draft Guide: Bringing Bryson Graham&#8217;s SLAP Philosophy to Life<\/p>\n<p>After six years of incompetence, complacency, and a love-hate relationship with play-in games, the sun finally shone in the Windy City when it was announced on April 6th that the Chicago Bulls were firing former President of Basketball Operations, Arturas Karnisovas, and General Manager, Marc Eversley\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Read more<\/p>\n<p>a month ago \u00b7 8 likes \u00b7 2 comments \u00b7 Latif Love<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n<p>Due to various trades \u2014 particularly the Paul George one \u2014 and its regular-season success, the Clippers haven\u2019t had the chance to nab high-end talent. However, they\u2019ve sought upside swings with its selections \u2014 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 \u2014 if healthy.<\/p>\n<p>The consensus and who I\u2019d pick blend here, even though I don\u2019t have Acuff 6th on my board. The Nets need a star-level talent that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>While people are tongue-in-cheek about Brooklyn\u2019s draft last season \u2014 five first-round picks with four of them being guys whose effectiveness was tied to having the ball in their hands \u2014 a theme emerged out of it. Positional size with playmaking. Even though Sean Marks has been the Nets\u2019 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 \u201clead guard\u201d of the bunch. In addition, he boasts the best combination of positional size and playmaking here.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Mikel Brown Jr.<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Kingston Flemings<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Darius Acuff<\/p>\n<p>Brown would be another upside swing for a team looking to dodge the relegation zone next year.<\/p>\n<p>Flemings is a speedy guard that adds two-way toughness \u2014 arguably possessing the best combination of offense and defense among the guards in this group. With the Kings, they\u2019d be adding a two-way tone-setter that can create high-value looks for himself and his teammates.<\/p>\n<p>GM track record\u2026 can I just go with this tidbit of information instead?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SwipaZorro\/status\/2063736143007584514?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-component-name=\"Twitter2ToDOM\" class=\"pencraft pc-display-contents pc-reset\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/pbs.substack.com\/profile_images\/2062609591788240896\/lszQChCI.jpg\" alt=\"X avatar for @SwipaZorro\"  width=\"40\" height=\"40\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-OACg1c object-fit-cover-u4ReeV pencraft pc-reset\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\ud835\ude45\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude68\ud835\ude60\ud835\ude56\ud835\ude67\ud835\ude63@SwipaZorro<\/p>\n<p>Darius Acuff talking about how he met Scott Perry on the Draymond Green show: <\/p>\n<p>9:33 PM \u00b7 Jun 7, 2026 \u00b7 128K Views<\/p>\n<p>2 Replies \u00b7 14 Reposts \u00b7 210 Likes<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the 2024 NBA Draft, Jonathan Givony, former draft analyst at ESPN, reported that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nba\/insider\/story\/_\/page\/NBADraft24-40343667\/2024-nba-mock-draft-all-58-picks-trade-talks-heat-30-teams\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hawks had interest in Donovan Clingan when they held the #1 pick<\/a>. It wouldn\u2019t be shocking to see them address their center depth issues with Mara, arguably the best center in this class \u2014 one who closely replicates Clingan\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Kingston Flemings<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Brayden Burries<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests (new): Burries<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/mavericks-rumors-rich-paul-klutch-192942219.html&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi5wIbyl5SVAxWummoFHcsPOPEQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw2q5L5mSPZQ57uE_e2d_kHP\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reporting that Rich Paul is looking to steer Burries to Dallas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019m going to steer towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/2rATvIFxZ2Q\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">skill-based upside <\/a>with Burries \u2014 who <a href=\"https:\/\/subtsakalidis.substack.com\/p\/memphis-grizzlies-nickeil-alexander-walker-free-agency-2025\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">hits the \u201ccombo guard\u201d archetype that\u2019s valued immensely in today\u2019s NBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Nate Ament<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Mikel Brown Jr.<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Ament<\/p>\n<p>Based off the consensus and GM track record, there\u2019s real buzz for Nate Ament. For the Bucks, they tend to take more upside swings on age and tools \u2014 AJ Johnson, Tyler Smith, DJ Wilson, Bogoljub Markovic, or even targeting Ousmane Dieng or Kevin Porter Jr. For what it\u2019s worth, Jimmy Haslem is the co-owner and a key owner for \u2026 the Tennessee Volunteers.<\/p>\n<p>With how the board laid out on \u201cmy picks\u201d part of it, Brown would be a worthy upside swing, even though I think there\u2019s variance here. If it hits, it gives the Bucks a centerpiece of the rebuild after a potential Giannis trade.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Yaxel Lendeborg<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Morez Johnson<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Yaxel<\/p>\n<p>Yaxel Lendeborg would be just the perfect fit for the Warriors, and I <a href=\"https:\/\/subtsakalidis.substack.com\/p\/10-favorite-prospect-team-fits-2026-nba-draft-anderson-stirtz-reed-philon-lendeborg-johnson-mara-graves-swain\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">outlined it in a recent post about favorite prospect and team fits.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>When I think about classic Golden State basketball \u2014 the motion, the ball popping, the screening, short-rolling playmaking, the avalanche hoops \u2014 no prospect in their range embodies that style of play like Yaxel Lendeborg.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s the perfect guy to carry the torch from Draymond Green. He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>Since Mike Dunleavy took over in 2023, he hasn\u2019t really had high picks to work with, as Brandin Podziemski was his only first-round pick since taking over. However, Lendeborg\u2019s quick processing and versatility should be a hand-in-glove fit in Kerr\u2019s system.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 particularly as an occasional shooter. He and Draymond could be terrifying defensively early in his career.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Morez Johnson<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Yaxel Lendeborg<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Morez<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s been an emphasis from Sam Presti to surround its core with physical, versatile tone-setters \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>After a series with Victor Wembanyama, I\u2019d bet Sam Presti looks to beef up the Thunder\u2019s frontcourt a bit.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Brayden Burries<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Labaron Philon<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Kingston Flemings<\/p>\n<p>Do the Heat make this pick? Great question. It could very well go to Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p>They could be a prime spot for a faller, and Flemings specifically would be a perfect fit for Heat culture.<\/p>\n<p>If this pick isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Hannes Steinbach<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Steinbach<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Steinbach<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019t possess. He can develop into a nice screening and playmaking hub around LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel.<\/p>\n<p>If the Domantas Sabonis rumors hold merit, they also probably like Steinbach quite a bit.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Karim Lopez<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Nate Ament<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Dailyn Swain<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Lopez is a physical, but slow, forward who is a bowling ball downhill and creates defensive events. I\u2019m not high on Ament, but at 15 and for a team with two first-round picks (including the #4 pick), it\u2019s a worthy gamble. I\u2019m not the highest on these players, and they both have a level of variance where the upside may not be absolutely dazzling.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Labaron Philon<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Dailyn Swain<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Christian Anderson<\/p>\n<p>The Grizzlies here again. This could be a spot for a guard, although they really don\u2019t need one at this juncture. I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n<p>Philon would be a nice three-level scoring bet. However, for GM track record, I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Jayden Quaintance<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Quaintance<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Quaintance<\/p>\n<p>The Thunder are not afraid of having a redshirt rookie year. Although two of these injuries happened after the fact, the Thunder didn\u2019t have official rookie years for Chet Holmgren, Thomas Sorber, or Nikola Topic.<\/p>\n<p>Quaintance would be a massive swing on talent, especially after knee problems since February 2025. However, he\u2019d give OKC another defender to throw at Wembanyama. He has real Defensive Player of the Year upside.<\/p>\n<p>Cam Carr would be a nice pick that fits into the Hornets\u2019 system. He thrives in transition, can soar at the rim, and shoots a ton of 3\u2019s. They could use some wing depth.<\/p>\n<p>I can\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportclt.com\/p\/the-charlotte-hornets-are-a-product\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">shake how the Hornets credited AI and the analytics for the decision to pick Kon Knueppel<\/a>. Allen Graves rose up boards because his analytical numbers are gaudy. He\u2019d fit as a physical forward that can be a team defender, connector, and shooter next to its highly-powered offensive Big 3.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Bennett Stirtz<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Ebuka Okorie<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Labaron Philon<\/p>\n<p>The Raptors can pick virtually any guard here.<\/p>\n<p>Stirtz would be perfect to play off Scottie Barnes and to keep things organized for the Raptors.<\/p>\n<p>Okorie is a swing on age-based production \u2014 as a speedster guard with good length, paint-touching abilities, and shooting equity.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s do it again with Labaron Philon.<\/p>\n<p>I wrote a few weeks ago about what would make a Graves-Spurs pairing so perfect.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Defensively, he needs to work on his body to guard in space better, especially if he has to defend 3\u2019s and 4\u2019s. He fouls a bit too frequently. However, his event creation coupled with Wemby\u2019s defensive impact could be intriguing, and it ignites transition offense for the guards.<\/p>\n<p>Down the board, Brian Wright has sought upside swings with raw tools \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Christian Anderson<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Bennett Stirtz<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Cameron Carr<\/p>\n<p>Like Toronto, I\u2019m expecting a guard here for Detroit to relieve some playmaking responsibilities from Cade Cunningham.<\/p>\n<p>I wrote about an Anderson-Pistons pairing recently.<\/p>\n<p>The Pistons were cursed with turnovers in the playoffs, as it\u2019s a weakness that shined in Cade Cunningham\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>Stirtz would be an awesome pick due to his outstanding offensive efficiency, size, shooting, and creation.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019d stick with his status quo and lean towards Carr \u2014 who does provide shooting and spacing Cunningham needs.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019m 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\u2019s polarizing \u2014 and was for me for a good portion of the cycle \u2014 but he\u2019s a massive forward with good feel and athleticism. He impacts winning wherever he goes. I\u2019m betting he figures things out, even if the shooting is potentially a massive crutch.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Ebuka Okorie<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Christian Anderson<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Okorie<\/p>\n<p>The Hawks went big here, so let\u2019s go guard to be a possible McCollum understudy.<\/p>\n<p>Anderson\u2019s shooting would be a massive boom in Atlanta, as the Hawks have a lot of players take on primary facilitator responsibilities \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>This one is simple. James Dolan already said he won\u2019t 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\u2019s a huge center that crushes the glass, strings actions together with his passing and screening, and encompasses different schemes to a degree.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The Lakers with Rob Pelinka tend to take swings \u2014 Jalen Hood-Schifino, Max Christie, Talen Horton-Tucker \u2014 but also try to strike on a faller \u2014 Dalton Knecht, Adou Thiero. With Lopez, I can see it happening again, who could add some role depth as a wing defender.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Sergio De Larrea<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: De Larrea<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Bennett Stirtz<\/p>\n<p>Sergio De Larrea could provide a punch off the bench with his shooting and creation.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s always a faller, and while this is the first time Ben Tenzer has picked in the first round as a lead decision-maker, it\u2019s hard to see them not striking and taking Bennett Stirtz. Could you imagine him with Jokic? Phew.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Isaiah Evans<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Josh Jefferson<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Henri Veesaar<\/p>\n<p>The Celtics are a fascinating play here because of the directions they can go.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Lately, Brad Stevens has sought bigger wings and forwards to complement the Jays and Derrick White \u2014 Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, Baylor Scheierman. I don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Meleek Thomas<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Isaiah Evans<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Evans<\/p>\n<p>Tim Connelly has two types of complementary players next to Anthony Edwards on the perimeter: tenacious defenders or gunning shot-makers.<\/p>\n<p>Isaiah Evans is a movement shooter that leverages his superpower. It\u2019s key for him to add some weight to enhance his ancillary skills.<\/p>\n<p>Meleek Thomas could be a sneaky play with his shot-making. Can he add another level of creation upside with more on-ball responsibilities?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m watching for them with their ventures for one of the point guards \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JonKrawczynski\/status\/2068327603077832961?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow\">shown from a recent workout with Labaron Philon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Henri Veesaar<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Karim Lopez<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Zuby Ejiofor<\/p>\n<p>Veesaar could be a nice backup big that can play next to Evan Mobley and stretch the floor.<\/p>\n<p>With how the \u201cwho I\u2019d pick\u201d board, Lopez would be a bet on wing defense depth, since they\u2019re low on stoppers.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019ve leaned veterans and traded significant assets for Mitchell. With their luxury tax situation, they could target an older prospect that can provide early depth.<\/p>\n<p>what i think based off consensus: Chris Cenac<\/p>\n<p>who i\u2019d pick: Chris Cenac<\/p>\n<p>who their GM track record suggests: Meleek Thomas<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>I avoided the second round, as picks are traded around like candy, and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DaneMooreNBA\/status\/1938438620395782296?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow\">it\u2019s become a bit of an agency play with the guaranteed and two-way contracts<\/a>. That\u2019s why I\u2019m avoiding doing a full predictive second-round mock draft. However, I\u2019ll list some fascinating prospect and team combinations that can achieve value.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Nick Martinelli with the Brooklyn Nets as a floor-spacer that can set screens and short-roll would be quite fascinating.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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?<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s Aaron Nkrumah hears his name called.<\/p>\n<p>In case you missed it, I appeared on several mock draft podcasts and videos this past week.<\/p>\n<p>With Drew Hill and Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian, a 32-pick Mock Draft:<\/p>\n<p>With Michael Wallace of Grind City Media, I participated in their Beat Writer Mock Draft, picking for the Grizzlies at 16:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>I joined Chip Williams and Bluff City Media\u2019s Rusty Whitten as guests on the Draft-and-Stash podcast to run a first-round mock draft:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DraftNStashPod\/status\/2067598499223359622?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-component-name=\"Twitter2ToDOM\" class=\"pencraft pc-display-contents pc-reset\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/pbs.substack.com\/profile_images\/2030547035087355904\/TCxZLNQp.jpg\" alt=\"X avatar for @DraftNStashPod\"  width=\"40\" height=\"40\" draggable=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-OACg1c object-fit-cover-u4ReeV pencraft pc-reset\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The-DraftNStashPodcast@DraftNStashPod<\/p>\n<p>Newest Episode is out, and it\u2019s a BIG ONE! Full first round Mock draft with @SwingSkill @PAKA_FLOCKA @buckets_BCM I apologize for some audio quality, tried a new way of recording, didn\u2019t quite land. Let us know your thoughts! #NBADraft  #NBA<\/p>\n<p>open.spotify.com<\/p>\n<p>Full First Round Mock Draft<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:64px;height:64px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/pbs.substack.com\/news_img\/2067598499605020672\/rXjsW7nv.jpeg\"   class=\"pencraft pc-reset\"\/><\/p>\n<p>1:21 PM \u00b7 Jun 18, 2026 \u00b7 2.31K Views<\/p>\n<p>1 Reply \u00b7 2 Reposts \u00b7 2 Likes<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/subtsakalidis.substack.com\/p\/2026-nba-draft-guide-boozer-dybantsa-peterson\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/https:\/\/substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com\/public\/images\/2feea2c9-5b96-409b-8ea0-136861971fc0_1545.jpeg\"  alt=\"2026 NBA Draft Guide\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" class=\"img-OACg1c smSquare-NGbPBa pencraft pc-reset\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you choose to support my Substack, SubTsakalidis, follow this <a href=\"https:\/\/fundraising.stjude.org\/site\/TR?px=3701795&amp;fr_id=164588&amp;pg=personal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">link<\/a> to my Allie\u2019s Allies St. Jude fundraiser page. You can also support through <a href=\"https:\/\/subtsakalidis.substack.com\/p\/subtsakalidis-3rd-anniversary-announcement-merch-st-jude\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">buying SubTsakalidis merch<\/a> \u2014 t-shirt, coozie, glass, coffee mug, stickers \u2014 with proceeds going to St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital. If you choose to become a paid subscriber, all proceeds will go towards St. Jude Children\u2019s Research Hospital.<\/p>\n<p>Follow me on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PAKA_FLOCKA\" rel=\"nofollow\">X<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/pakaflocka.bsky.social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bluesky<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-attrs=\"{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/subtsakalidis.substack.com\/p\/2026-nba-mock-draft-boozer-dybantsa-peterson-acuff-wagler-grizzlies-mara?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}\" data-component-name=\"ButtonCreateButton\" class=\"button-wrapper\"><a href=\"https:\/\/subtsakalidis.substack.com\/p\/2026-nba-mock-draft-boozer-dybantsa-peterson-acuff-wagler-grizzlies-mara?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share\" class=\"button primary\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s NBA Draft week, and I haven\u2019t done a mock draft. Might as well start now. I do&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":752882,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[434],"tags":[49,48,459,82],"class_list":["post-752881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nba","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nba","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=752881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/752881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/752882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=752881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=752881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=752881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}