The 2026 NBA Draft is starting to take a clear shape at the top. Most boards now treat it as a two-name race for No. 1, with Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa separating from the rest of the class as the season moves toward March and the pre-draft cycle gets louder.<\/p>\n
1. Sacramento Kings \u2013 Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas<\/a>2. Washington Wizards \u2013 AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU<\/a>3. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) \u2013 Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke<\/a>4. Indiana Pacers \u2013 Caleb Wilson, SF\/PF, North Carolina<\/a>5. Brooklyn Nets \u2013 Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston<\/a>6. Utah Jazz \u2013 Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois<\/a>7. Dallas Mavericks \u2013 Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville<\/a>8. Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee<\/a>9. Milwaukee Bucks \u2013 Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama<\/a>10. Chicago Bulls \u2013 Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn<\/a>11. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) \u2013 Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington<\/a>12. Charlotte Hornets \u2013 Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky<\/a>13. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) \u2013 Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan<\/a>14. Portland Trail Blazers \u2013 Koa Peat, PF, Arizona<\/a>15. Miami Heat \u2013 Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas<\/a>16. Golden State Warriors \u2013 Brayden Burries, SG\/PG, Arizona<\/a>17. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic) \u2013 Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida<\/a>18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) \u2013 Tounde Yessoufou, SG\/SF, Baylor<\/a>19. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) \u2013 Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke<\/a>20. Toronto Raptors \u2013 Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa<\/a>21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves) \u2013 Chris Cenac Jr., PF\/C, Houston<\/a>22. Los Angeles Lakers \u2013 Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky<\/a>23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers) \u2013 Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech<\/a>24. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets) \u2013 Karim Lopez, SF, New Zealand (NBL)<\/a>25. Denver Nuggets \u2013 Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor<\/a>26. New York Knicks \u2013 Joshua Jefferson, PF\/SF, Iowa State<\/a>27. Boston Celtics \u2013 Aday Mara, C, Michigan<\/a>28. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs) \u2013 Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt<\/a>29. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder) \u2013 Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan<\/a>30. Timberwolves (via Pistons) \u2013 Dailyn Swain, SG\/SF, Texas<\/a><\/p>\n That is where the Kings enter the picture. Right now, they are last in the West at 12\u201344, which gives them potentially the best lottery position on the board: a 14.0% chance to win the No. 1 pick and a 52.1% chance to jump into the top four.<\/p>\n If the Kings stay in that slot, the draft conversation becomes simple and brutal. Do they take the top guard or the top wing? It is the oldest question in the draft, but it hits harder when the top of the class is this clean.<\/p>\n Here is a full first-round mock built off the current draft order, lottery odds, and the latest mainstream boards.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Sacramento Kings \u2013 Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 20.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 48.9% FG (13 Games)<\/p>\n The Kings<\/a> are 12\u201344 and 15th in the West, which is why they are sitting on the pole position for the lottery right now.\u00a0With that record, they also have the top set of lottery odds: 14.0% to land the No. 1 pick and 52.1% to jump into the top four.\u00a0That context is not a \u201cbest fit\u201d selection. This is a reset pick. It is the franchise choosing the player it wants to build its offense around for the next decade.<\/p>\n Darryn Peterson<\/a> fits the cleanest top-pick mold in this class: a big guard who can score off the dribble and punish teams from deep. Even with a stop-start season, the numbers are still loud: 20.5 points on 48.9% shooting, plus real defensive activity (1.3 steals).\u00a0The part NBA teams care about most is how his scoring translates. He does not need a perfect setup to get a good shot. He can create separation, get into pull-ups, and convert tough looks without the possession dying. That is the exact skill that changes what a bad team looks like, because it gives you a late-clock plan every night.<\/p>\n The scouting report is not \u201cpure point guard,\u201d and that is fine. The Kings do not need a pass-first organizer. They need a guard who can create advantages<\/a> and force rotations. Peterson\u2019s value is gravity: when he is on the floor, defenses have to treat him like a primary scorer, which opens the game for everybody else. The steal rate also hints at a defensive baseline. A young guard who competes and makes plays can survive while the roster gets rebuilt.<\/p>\n Now the risk. Peterson has played only 13 games, and the missed time has fueled the idea that he could stop playing to focus on the draft. That rumor has been everywhere because his season has been interrupted by health issues and absences that keep restarting the evaluation cycle.<\/p>\n Kansas has pushed back publicly on the framing around his absences, but from an NBA front office perspective, the conversation is still the same: medicals and long-term durability become part of the No. 1 pick decision.<\/p>\n If the Kings are drafting first, I still think Peterson is the swing worth taking. This class is being framed by many evaluators as Peterson versus AJ Dybantsa at the top, and the Kings\u2019 cleanest path forward is landing the player who can run an NBA offense as the featured scorer.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 2. Washington Wizards \u2013 AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 24.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 54.9% FG, 37.2% 3PT% (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Wizards<\/a> are 14\u201339 and 15th in the East, which puts them right behind the Kings in the current draft order.\u00a0 They also have the same headline lottery odds in the No. 2 slot: 14.0% to jump to No. 1 and 52.1% to land in the top four. So if they stay here, they are drafting for the ceiling, not the polish. They need a future centerpiece, not a specialist.<\/p>\n AJ Dybantsa<\/a> is the simplest \u201cbuild around this\u201d wing in the class. The production is already first-pick level<\/a>: 24.5 points per game on 54.9% from the field, plus 3.7 assists, which matters because it shows he is not just finishing plays.\u00a0And unlike a lot of college scorers, his profile is built on physical advantages that usually translate. He is 6\u20199\u201d, he plays through contact, and he gets to the line. That combination is why NBA decision-makers keep him as Peterson\u2019s direct competitor for No. 1.<\/p>\n The scouting pitch starts with his body and force. Dybantsa does not need the game to be pretty to be effective. He can score when spacing is messy, he can punish smaller defenders, and he can still generate offense when the possession breaks down. That matters for a rebuilding team because bad teams live in broken possessions. If your best prospect can still get you a clean look late, your offense stops being fragile.<\/p>\n The next layer is the playmaking. The 3.7 assists is not a small detail.\u00a0It is a sign he can draw help and make reads, which is what separates \u201chigh-scoring wing\u201d from \u201ctrue offensive hub.\u201d That\u2019s the pathway to being a No. 1 option in the NBA.<\/p>\n The concerns are clean, too. The jumper is good enough to respect, but the long-term question is consistency and shot selection. ESPN\u2019s evaluation has pointed to the jump shooting still developing and his overall game still maturing, even while the physical profile gives him a higher baseline than most prospects.\u00a0Defensively, the tools are there, but the Wizards would be drafting him to become a two-way tone-setter, not just a scorer. That means engagement and discipline have to become habits.<\/p>\n If the Wizards are picking second and Peterson is gone, Dybantsa is not a consolation prize. He is the other prospect at the top who can credibly become a franchise wing, and that archetype is the safest superstar bet in the modern league next to Trae Young and Anthony Davis.<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 3. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) \u2013 Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 23.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 57.8% FG, 38.3% 3PT% (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Pelicans<\/a> are sitting in the No. 3 slot at 15\u201341, but this pick is going to the Hawks<\/a> on the draft order from the Derick Queen trade. That matters because it changes how aggressive they can be. A team that is low in the standings cannot draft a \u201cfinisher.\u201d It has to draft someone who can become a pillar, even if the roster takes two more years to make sense.<\/p>\n Cameron Boozer<\/a> is the cleanest \u201csafe star\u201d in the class after Peterson and Dybantsa. The stat line is not subtle: 23.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 38.3% from three as a freshman big.\u00a0 That blend is why he stays glued near the top of every mainstream board. He is producing like a centerpiece, not like a prospect trying to survive.<\/p>\n The scouting case starts with decisions. Boozer plays like an NBA forward already. He makes quick reads, he keeps the ball moving, and he does not need to force wild shots to get to his numbers. The assists matter here. A 4.0 APG big at this age usually means he sees the floor and can punish help when defenses load up.<\/p>\n Offensively, he gives you optionality. He can score inside, he can hit catch-and-shoot threes, and he is strong enough to finish through contact. That versatility is valuable for the Hawks because the roster will almost certainly change again. Boozer is not tied to one specific lineup type. You can build a spread attack with him as a scoring hub, or pair him with a rim runner and let Boozer be the spacer and passer.<\/p>\n Defensively, he is not a pure rim eraser, but he is disruptive. The 1.8 steals per game is a real indicator for a frontcourt player. It points to instincts, positioning, and hands, which are usually more stable than blocks when projecting a big to the NBA. At No. 3, a team should want a player with both a high floor and a real All-NBA pathway. Boozer fits that better than anyone left on the board.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 4. Indiana Pacers \u2013 Caleb Wilson, SF\/PF, North Carolina<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 57.8% FG, 25.9% 3PT% (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Pacers<\/a> are 15\u201340 and currently slotted fourth.\u00a0In that range, the question usually becomes: take the cleanest athlete with two-way upside, or take the polished shot-maker with a narrower ceiling. Caleb Wilson is the first option, and the production supports it.<\/p>\n Wilson\u2019s season has been loud in the \u201cdoes everything\u201d way. He is at 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds, with 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks on 57.8% from the field.\u00a0 For a wing-forward, that defensive production matters. It suggests he is not just a scorer. He is affecting possessions with activity, timing, and physical tools.<\/p>\n Wilson plays above the rim, runs the floor, and punishes soft coverage. His free-throw volume (7.5 attempts per game) is a major signal, because it shows he is not living on jumpers.\u00a0 That tends to translate: NBA defenses can take away easy midrange looks, but they cannot take away strength and rim pressure as easily.<\/p>\n The flaw is also obvious. The three-point shot is not there yet (25.9% on low volume), which is why he is not in the No. 1 discussion. For the Pacers, that is the bet: develop the jumper to unlock a true two-way forward. If it hits, he becomes the kind of player every contender wants, the big wing who can score, defend, and play in multiple lineup styles.<\/p>\n There is also a short-term wrinkle: Wilson recently suffered a fracture in his left hand and is out without a firm timeline. That does not change the long-term evaluation much, but it does shift how teams handle the final stretch of the season and pre-draft workouts. If the medicals check out, the appeal is simple. At No. 4, a two-way forward who already produces like this is worth the swing.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 5. Brooklyn Nets \u2013 Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 16.6 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 50.7% FG, 36.5% 3PT% (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Nets<\/a> are 15\u201338 and currently fifth, which is the zone where teams often decide they need an organizer more than they need another scoring wing.\u00a0Kingston Flemings fits that. He is not just a freshman putting up numbers. His profile reads like a modern lead guard who can run structure and still score efficiently.<\/p>\n Start with the efficiency. Flemings is at 50.7% from the field and 36.5% from three, while also creating for others at 5.4 assists per game.\u00a0Those are strong marks for a guard who actually has the ball, not a spot-up specialist hiding on the wing. His steal rate (1.8) also matters because it points to defensive involvement, not passive offense-only production.<\/p>\n The scouting case is pace control. Flemings plays with composure, changes speeds, and gets the ball to the right spots without wasting possessions. The turnover number is the quiet separator: 1.8 turnovers per game with 5.4 assists is clean work for a freshman guard.\u00a0 NBA teams care about that because it suggests he can scale into greater difficulty without the whole offense collapsing.<\/p>\n For the Nets specifically, this is a reset pick that still helps immediately. A young guard who can dribble, pass, and shoot gives you lineup flexibility right away next to their perimeter pieces. You can pair him with another ball-handler, or let him run the show and build the roster outward. And because he scores efficiently, he is not the kind of guard who needs 25 shots to look good.<\/p>\n He is not the same \u201cNo. 1 option\u201d bet as Peterson. But at No. 5, Flemings looks like the type of lead guard who becomes a long-term starter, the kind teams stop looking for once they finally have one.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 6. Utah Jazz \u2013 Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.3 APG, 46.4% FG, 43.7% 3PT (25 Games)<\/p>\n The Jazz<\/a> are 18-38, 13th in the West, sitting in the part of the standings where the draft becomes the cleanest path to talent, and this is the type of pick that would make sense if the Jazz want perimeter creation without waiting three years for it to show up.<\/p>\n Keaton Wagler is already producing like a primary option. He is scoring 18.5 a night, he is creating (4.3 assists), and the shooting is real on paper: 43.7% from three on high volume.<\/p>\n What makes Wagler feel like a Jazz fit is the mix of skills instead of a single trait. He is 6\u20196\u201d and can play as a big guard who runs offense in stretches, not just a spot-up wing. The assist number is the tell. The Jazz needs guys who can break a possession open without needing everything scripted. Wagler\u2019s profile says he can generate decent looks when the first action dies, and he can do it while still punishing teams for going under screens.<\/p>\n The swing question is not \u201ccan he score.\u201d It is what his scoring looks like against NBA length when the pull-up threes are harder, and he has to get downhill more. But for a team that needs ball-handling talent, a freshman guard with this blend of production and efficiency is a very logical target.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 7. Dallas Mavericks \u2013 Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 17.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.1 APG, 39.3% FG, 31.7% 3PT (16 Games)<\/p>\n The Mavericks<\/a> are 19-35, 12th in the West. Being this low changes the draft conversation. If you are picking seventh, you are not shopping for a \u201cnice role player.\u201d You are trying to find a real lead guard upside swing, especially when your season has been messy without a true connector for Cooper Flagg<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mikel Brown is a classic bet on creation. He is already at 5.1 assists per game as a freshman, and the shot diet is aggressive, especially from three.\u00a0The efficiency is the obvious red flag right now (39.3% from the field, 31.7% from three), but the volume and confidence matter in projection.<\/p>\n For this spot in the draft, the idea is simple: a young guard who can eventually run pick-and-roll, bend the defense, and create advantages without needing perfect spacing. If the Mavericks are retooling, you can sell yourself on Brown as the type who grows into a bigger role once the reads slow down and the shot selection tightens.<\/p>\n The risk is also simple: if the jumper stays streaky and the rim finishing does not translate, you end up with a small-margin player who needs the ball but does not score efficiently. Still, in this range, it is a reasonable gamble because the playmaking production is already there, and you can\u2019t teach that part.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 8. Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 17.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, 42.8% FG, 32.7% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n This Grizzlies<\/a> team is in an awkward lane at 20-33, sitting 11th in the West. That record is bad enough to justify thinking longer-term, but not so bad that you can ignore fit.\u00a0That is why Nate Ament is an interesting pick here. He reads like a wing-forward who can scale up or down depending on what the roster needs.<\/p>\n Ament\u2019s baseline production is solid for a freshman: 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and some connective passing at 2.6 assists.\u00a0 The shooting is not a selling point yet (32.7% from three), but it also isn\u2019t a disaster, and the volume suggests he is not scared of NBA spacing responsibilities.<\/p>\n For the Grizzlies, the appeal is that he can become a two-way size piece on the wing, which is still the hardest archetype to find without paying top dollar in trades or free agency. If you believe his shot improves even modestly, the rest of the package becomes easier to plug into lineups, because he already rebounds and has enough feel to keep the ball moving.<\/p>\n The downside is that the current efficiency is not strong, and he has to prove he can score against NBA athletes without living on tough midrange attempts. But at No. 8, Memphis can justify the bet on frame, production, and a pathway to being a real wing starter if the jumper comes along.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 9. Milwaukee Bucks \u2013 Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 21.4 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 50.4% FG (22 Games)<\/p>\n The Bucks<\/a> sit at 23\u201330, 12th in the East, which is the annoying middle ground: not good enough to feel secure, not bad enough to justify a full teardown.\u00a0That is why the No. 9 slot screams for a creation swing, the type of pick that can actually change the nightly offense instead of just adding another rotation piece for Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>.<\/p>\n Labaron Philon fits that logic. He plays like a guard who can create advantageous possessions, not just finish them. The efficiency is the separator, because 50.4% from the field with this kind of scoring load is not normal for a college guard, and the 4.8 assists hint at real table-setting instead of tunnel-vision volume.<\/p>\n The question is how the scoring translates when NBA length takes away space and those pull-ups get contested earlier. But at No. 9, you are buying the archetype: a guard who can get downhill, force help, and keep the possession alive when the first action dies. For a team sitting 12th, that upside is worth more than a \u201csafe\u201d role player.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 10. Chicago Bulls \u2013 Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 11.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 46.8% FG, 38.0% 3PT (18 Games)<\/p>\n The Bulls<\/a> are 24\u201331, 11th in the East, living in that gray zone where you can\u2019t only draft for \u201ceventual upside\u201d anymore.\u00a0 If you\u2019re picking 10th, the cleanest add is a skill that translates instantly, and Braylon Mullins\u2019 calling card is spacing with real volume.<\/p>\n He\u2019s taking 6.0 threes per game and hitting 38.0%, and that combo matters more than the raw scoring.\u00a0 It means he\u2019s not a hesitant shooter who needs perfect looks. He\u2019s a movement threat who can bend a defense off screens and handoffs, and that\u2019s the easiest way to raise an offense\u2019s floor without changing the whole roster.<\/p>\n The swing is strength and self-creation. If he holds up defensively and grows into more than a spot-up profile, you\u2019re talking about a plug-and-play starter type. If not, you still drafted a shooter that teams have to guard the second he crosses half court.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 11. San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) \u2013 Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 17.6 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 54.0% FG, 35.9% 3PT (22 Games)<\/p>\n The Spurs<\/a> are 38\u201316, 2nd in the West, which changes how this pick plays, as this pick comes from the Hawks, originally a part of the Dejounte Murray<\/a> trade. This isn\u2019t desperation. This is a good team using a mid-lottery slot to add another long-term piece who can survive in playoff basketball.<\/p>\n Steinbach fits because he\u2019s a big man who produces like one, and still gives you spacing utility. The rebounding is real (11.4 a game), the finishing is efficient (54.0% FG), and the three-point number (35.9% on 1.8 attempts) is enough to make defenses think. That\u2019s the difference between \u201ccollege post scorer\u201d and an NBA frontcourt option who doesn\u2019t clog everything.<\/p>\n The question is the defensive ceiling. He blocks shots, but the real test is mobility in space and how he holds up in switching environments. If he\u2019s passable there, the Spurs basically just found a modern playoff big without paying for one after waiving Jeremy Sochan recently<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 12. Charlotte Hornets \u2013 Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 5.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 57.1% FG (4 Games)<\/p>\n The Hornets<\/a> are 26\u201329, 9th in the East, so this is the range where you can still justify a real upside swing instead of drafting a safe bench piece.\u00a0Quaintance is exactly that: the profile is about tools and defense more than clean production right now.<\/p>\n The numbers are tiny because the sample size is tiny, and that\u2019s the entire story.\u00a0 The context around him has been shaped by rehab and the uncertainty of how quickly he gets back to full speed after ACL surgery, which is why his draft stock keeps sliding and rising depending on the latest health read.<\/p>\n Making this pick is betting on the rim-protection pathway and the idea that once his legs are right, the defensive impact becomes a nightly anchor. It\u2019s riskier than the guys around him, but the payoff is also bigger.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 13. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) \u2013 Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 14.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 50.4% FG, 28.7% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Thunder<\/a> are 42\u201314 and 1st in the West, which is exactly why this kind of pick makes sense. They\u2019re also getting the pick from the Clippers, who are in Play-In range. They\u2019re hunting for a playoff-proof connector who can survive in high-leverage minutes without needing plays called for him.<\/p>\n Yaxel Lendeborg fits that lane: a big man who rebounds, passes, and makes defensive plays. The assist number (3.2) is the sneaky part, because it hints at an offensive glue piece that can keep possessions alive and punish rotations. And with 1.4 blocks plus 1.3 steals, he\u2019s impacting the game on the back line instead of just being \u201ca body.\u201d<\/p>\n The swing skill is the jumper. 28.7% from three is not a selling point, so this is a bet on the touch and the free-throw baseline (84.2% FT) translating into a workable NBA shot over time. If that comes around, he looks like the exact type of frontcourt piece contenders steal in the mid-first: scalable, physical, and smart.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 14. Portland Trail Blazers \u2013 Koa Peat, PF, Arizona<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 14.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 54.2% FG, 33.3% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Trail Blazers<\/a> are 27\u201329 and 9th in the West, living in that uncomfortable middle where you can\u2019t pretend everything is fine, but you also can\u2019t tank without consequences. That makes a forward like Peat a clean swing: not a finished product, but a real rotation build-block with upside.<\/p>\n Koa Peat\u2019s case is simple: he\u2019s efficient (54.2% from the field) and he already shows some feel (2.6 assists) instead of playing like a pure finisher. The three-ball is light volume, but 33.3% is at least a \u201cnot broken\u201d marker, and that matters for a modern four.<\/p>\n The worry is the free throws (61.0% FT) and the lack of defensive playmaking pop. If you\u2019re betting on him long-term, you\u2019re betting that the scoring efficiency holds as the role gets harder and the shot stabilizes. For this slot, I\u2019d take it. The Trail Blazers need size that can play in different lineup types, and Peat projects as a plug-and-play forward if the shooting stays real.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 15. Miami Heat \u2013 Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 20.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 49.6% FG, 41.1% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Heat<\/a> are 29\u201327 and 8th in the East, which puts them in that yearly stress test: good enough to compete, not good enough to coast. A rookie guard who can actually organize offense while scoring efficiently is the kind of mid-first hit that changes their ceiling fast.<\/p>\n Darius Acuff is loud on paper: 20.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 41.1% from three while taking real guard shots. That\u2019s not \u201ccollege open looks\u201d production. That\u2019s a profile that usually translates, because it\u2019s built on shot-making plus creation, not just athleticism.<\/p>\n The question is how much rim pressure he creates when the lane shrinks in the NBA, and whether he can defend playoff guards without being hunted. But if he\u2019s really a near-50\/40 guard who can pass, the Heat will live with the growing pains. This is the kind of pick that lets them stay competitive now while still building the next lead-guard chapter.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 16. Golden State Warriors \u2013 Brayden Burries, SG\/PG, Arizona<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 15.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 50.8% FG, 38.1% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Warriors<\/a> are 29\u201326, 8th in the West, which makes this a \u201cstay competitive, add scalable talent\u201d pick, not a desperation swing. Brayden Burries fits because he gives you a two-way guard framework: real shot-making (38.1% from three on volume) plus defensive activity that shows up in steals.<\/p>\n The bet is that his creation and decision-making keep tightening as the reads get faster. If that hits, he\u2019s not just a shooter, he\u2019s a guard who can play next to another handler and still punish teams when the possession breaks.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 17. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic) \u2013 Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 17.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 46.9% FG, 34.4% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Grizzlies are 20\u201333, 11th in the West, and this pick, being from Desmond Bane\u2019s<\/a> move to the Magic, matters mostly because it\u2019s still a chance to add real frontcourt value without paying for it. Thomas Haugh\u2019s profile is clean for this range: scoring plus spacing (34.4% from three) and enough defensive events to project real minutes.<\/p>\n At 17, you\u2019re buying \u201cplayoff forward\u201d utility. If the shot holds and he can defend in space well enough to avoid being hunted, he\u2019s a rotation piece that actually sticks.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 18. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) \u2013 Tounde Yessoufou, SG\/SF, Baylor<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 18.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 48.7% FG, 32.8% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Thunder are 42\u201314, 1st in the West, so this is luxury drafting, and the pick coming from the 76ers just underlines how much ammo they\u2019ve stacked. Yessoufou fits OKC\u2019s type: pressure defense (2.0 steals), real scoring load, and enough shooting to keep defenses honest even if he isn\u2019t a pure sniper yet.<\/p>\n The swing is polished. If the handle and decision-making sharpen, he becomes more than an energy wing. But even if he\u2019s mostly a finisher early, that defensive floor makes him playable in the exact kind of games OKC is building for.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 19. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) \u2013 Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 10.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 61.4% FG, 28.0% 3PT (23 Games)<\/p>\n The Hornets <\/a>are 26\u201329, 9th in the East, and that\u2019s exactly the range where a real defensive anchor swing makes sense.\u00a0This pick being via the Suns just adds to the idea that they can take a longer view without punting the present.<\/p>\n Ngongba is a clean \u201ccenter of the future\u201d profile: efficient finishing (61.4% FG), legit rim impact (1.3 blocks), and the little passing bump (2.0 assists) that usually separates a playable big from a pure dunk-only guy.\u00a0 The three-ball isn\u2019t there yet, but at 19 you\u2019re betting on defense, touch, and growth, not a finished spacing five.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 20. Toronto Raptors \u2013 Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 20.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 51.4% FG, 40.5% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Raptors<\/a> are 32\u201323, 5th in the East, so this is less \u201cfind a star\u201d and more \u201cadd a piece that actually works in playoff offense.\u201d\u00a0 Stirtz fits because the production screams real guard value: high-volume scoring with elite shooting efficiency for a lead handler.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re the Raptors, you\u2019re buying shot-making plus steadiness. 40.5% from three with 4.9 assists is the type of combo that keeps your offense from stalling when the game tightens. The only real question is translation speed, not translation ability: can he get the same looks against NBA athletes, or does he need time to adjust to the length and physicality?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 21. Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves) \u2013 Chris Cenac Jr., PF\/C, Houston<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 9.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 50.5% FG, 35.6% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Pistons<\/a> are 40\u201313, 1st in the East, so this is luxury drafting, and the fact that the pick is coming from the Timberwolves in the deadline trade is exactly how contenders stay loaded.\u00a0 In this slot, you take a frontcourt player who can grow without needing touches.<\/p>\n Cenac\u2019s value is that he doesn\u2019t force you into one identity. He rebounds, he\u2019s efficient enough, and the 35.6% from three is the entire swing skill because it turns him from \u201cbackup big\u201d into a real modern big option in playoff lineups.\u00a0 If the shot holds, the Pistons basically just drafted lineup flexibility for the next five years.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 22. Los Angeles Lakers \u2013 Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 8.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 59.2% FG, 0.0% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Lakers<\/a> are 33\u201321 and 5th in the West, so this is a \u201ckeep the window open\u201d pick, not a slow rebuild swing.\u00a0If the draft lands them here, Moreno is the cleanest way to add frontcourt defense and rim finishing without changing their identity.<\/p>\n The Kentucky product is a simple archetype: big body, efficient finishing, real rim protection. The 1.7 blocks in limited minutes highlights his timing and verticality, it\u2019s not just being tall.\u00a0He\u2019s also not a zero passer (1.8 assists), which helps in a league where centers get pressured into short-roll reads.<\/p>\n The swing skill is spacing. He\u2019s basically not shooting threes right now, so the Lakers would be drafting<\/a> him as a screen-setter, dunker-spot finisher, and paint defender.\u00a0 If that\u2019s all he becomes, it still fits. If the touch grows into a real jumper, it becomes a steal at 22.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers) \u2013 Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 19.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 7.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 48.5% FG, 43.8% 3PT (23 Games)<\/p>\n The Hawks are 26\u201330 and 10th in the East, which makes this pick feel like a \u201craise the floor\u201d play more than a pure upside lotto dart. Anderson gives them a real table-setter profile with spacing built in after moving Trae Young.<\/p>\n The passing is the headline. 7.7 assists with real scoring gravity means he\u2019s creating advantages, not just swinging the ball.\u00a0 And the shooting number is the separator at this range: 43.8% from three on volume is the kind of marker teams chase for playoff lineups.<\/p>\n The concern is the translation of shot creation against NBA size, because college pull-ups that fall at this rate don\u2019t always stay this clean. But if the shot is even \u201cgood,\u201d the playmaking makes him a plug-and-play guard who can stabilize bench minutes early and scale into more later.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 24. Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets) \u2013 Karim Lopez, SF, New Zealand (NBL)<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 10.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 47.8% FG, 44.4% 3PT (9 Games)<\/p>\n The 76ers<\/a> are 30\u201324 and 6th in the East, so this slot is about adding one more scalable wing piece for playoff basketball.\u00a0Lopez fits because he\u2019s already playing a pro-style role, and the shooting pop jumps off the page.<\/p>\n Small sample size warning is obvious at nine games, but 44.4% from three is still a signal worth betting on when it comes with real size. The extra value is that he rebounds and makes plays defensively, which is how young wings earn minutes on good teams.<\/p>\n This is the type of pick that looks boring on draft night and then matters in May. If the shot holds and the frame fills out, you get a two-way wing who can survive defensively and punish help. If the shot cools off, he still has enough activity to stay in a rotation conversation.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 25. Denver Nuggets \u2013 Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 19.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.5% FG, 41.4% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Nuggets<\/a> are 35\u201320 and 3rd in the West, so this is a contender\u2019s pick: find a skill that translates fast and doesn\u2019t get played off the floor.\u00a0Carr checks the cleanest box for them: shooting with size, plus enough secondary creation to keep the ball alive.<\/p>\n The efficiency is the sell. 52.5% from the field and 41.4% from three is not \u201cstreaky shooter\u201d stuff, it\u2019s \u201cdefenses actually have to hug you\u201d stuff.\u00a0The defensive numbers are sneaky too: 1.4 blocks from a guard spot hints at real athletic pop and rotation timing.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re drafting late in the first, you\u2019re basically drafting for a playoff role. Carr\u2019s pathway is simple: space the floor, attack closeouts, and compete defensively. On a team that already has structure, that kind of wing can matter immediately.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 26. New York Knicks \u2013 Joshua Jefferson, PF\/SF, Iowa State<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 17.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 49.1% FG, 40.6% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Knicks<\/a> are 35-20 and 3rd in the East, which puts this pick in the \u201cgood team shopping for an extra two-way playoff piece\u201d bucket.<\/p>\n Jefferson is a really clean fit for that. He\u2019s a real forward size who passes (5.3 assists), makes plays defensively (1.5 steals), and the shot is landing (40.6% from three on 2.9 attempts). That\u2019s not a star profile, but it\u2019s the exact role glue contenders actually need: a connector who can keep the ball moving, punish help, and survive defensively without being targeted.<\/p>\n If I\u2019m nitpicking, it\u2019s the upside ceiling. He\u2019s older, and you\u2019re drafting the finished product more than the breakout. But at 26, that\u2019s a feature, not a bug.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 27. Boston Celtics \u2013 Aday Mara, C, Michigan<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 11.4 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.8 BPG, 65.7% FG, 33.3% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Celtics<\/a> are 35-19 and 2nd in the East, so this is the classic \u201cdraft a specialist that solves one playoff problem\u201d spot.<\/p>\n Mara screams rim protection. 2.8 blocks per game in 22.8 minutes is loud, and the 65.7% field-goal mark tells you he\u2019s finishing plays, not forcing offense. The appeal is simple: size, vertical deterrence, and a role that scales into postseason minutes when matchups demand it.<\/p>\n The swing is the foul\/physicality translation. Playoff bigs get dragged into space and tested. If Mara holds up there, the Celtics just found a long-term weapon.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n 28. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs) \u2013 Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt<\/p>\n 2025-26 Stats: 18.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 48.1% FG, 38.2% 3PT (24 Games)<\/p>\n The Cavaliers<\/a> are 34-21 and 4th in the East. Getting a pick in this range is exactly how you keep replenishing the pipeline while you\u2019re trying to win.<\/p>\n Tanner is the type of guard contenders love to stash and develop because the two hardest things are already showing: he can shoot (38.2% from three on 4.6 attempts) and he can take the ball without turning your offense into chaos (5.3 assists, 2.0 turnovers). The 2.5 steals is the cherry on top. That\u2019s activity, hands, and a real defensive pulse.<\/p>\n