1

Washington Wizards

AJ Dybantsa is a blue-chip wing prospect with dynamic shot creation, downhill driving, and three-level scoring ability. After leading the nation in scoring at BYU, he’ll be a perfect fit for a Wizards team that needs an alpha scorer badly. The fact that he’s drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant and Tracy McGrady speaks volumes about his talent. What stands out about him is his fluidity and the ease at which he’s able to get to his spots. The only question mark right now revolves around whether or not he can fulfill his defensive potential and become a disruptive defender down the road. Barring a surprise, Dybantsa is an all-NBA player and franchise cornerstone in the making. With Dybantsa, the Wizards will have a clear path to not only becoming relevant again, but also a force in the Eastern conference for years to come.

2

Utah Jazz

Over the past year, Darryn Peterson was considered by many to be the best overall talent and most popular option to go first in this draft, but a season plagued by injuries forced NBA scouts to think twice. A shifty guard with long arms, Peterson is exceptionally effective as a catch-and-shoot option, and when fully fit, has shown he can be a menace on the fast break. Since high school, he’s also shown potential to be a highly versatile defender capable of racking up stocks. Some scouts were put off when he described himself as a point guard, but it’s worth noting that many two-guards have said that in the pre-draft process and still ended up playing off the ball. If he manages to have a healthy career, he has a good chance of becoming a two-way star, and Utah will be in position to take a major step forward.

3

Memphis Grizzlies

Cam Boozer is an advanced playmaker with elite feel and polished scoring. He may not be an explosive athlete in the NBA, but he combines strength, touch, rebounding, and perimeter shooting to impact games. He’s a safe bet for Memphis here since he boasts high basketball IQ and two-way versatility. His overall production paired with his relentless drive give him All-NBA upside, and the Grizzlies will be more than happy to secure him at this spot as they enter a new era. Boozer’s game isn’t the flashiest, but it's wildly effective and that’s all that matters. Expect him to drive winning just like his father Carlos did in his heyday.

4

Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson stands out in terms of his elite athleticism, defensive versatility, and major upside. He’s a two-way playmaker who excels in transition, rim finishing, shot blocking, and switch defense. His biggest swing skill right now is perimeter shooting consistency, but his tools, fluidity, and motor give him star-level potential. Wilson is the perfect piece for the Bulls because his intensity can set the tone for them on day one and help establish a winning culture. If he fulfills his potential, Chicago’s future will be bright as Wilson would be supported by promising young players like Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue.

5

Los Angeles Clippers (via Pacers)

Keaton Wagler is an interesting prospect. On one hand, he's a skilled wing with high feel and a polished shooting stroke. He spaces the floor effectively, rebounds competitively, and plays within structure offensively. On the other hand, he didn’t test very well at the NBA Combine and he’s closer to being a negative on defense than a stopper at the next level. That being said, his motor stands out, he’s surgical in terms of self-creation and getting to his spots, and he does have ideal height for a guard at 6’6. Wagler is also a solid playmaker with excellent vision, which makes him a good option here for a Clippers team that probably won’t chase a point guard now that they have Darius Garland. Expect the Clips to become a more potent offensive team with Wagler in the line-up.

6

Brooklyn Nets

Darius Acuff Jr. is an explosive scoring guard with elite burst, an advanced handle, and confident three-level shot creation. Dangerous in pick-and-rolls, he pressures defenses with deep range shot-making and rim attacks. Acuff is a gifted hooper with killer instinct, but there are valid concerns about his defense at the next level. Unfortunately, based on his college tape, he projects to be a defensive liability in the NBA. That being said, the Nets could really use a premier creator to weaponize their offense, and Acuff seems like the logical answer at this spot. For what it’s worth, Acuff has been compared to big names like Jalen Brunson and Damian Lillard.

7

Sacramento Kings

Kingston Flemings is a shifty, high-IQ lead guard with plus shot-creation, deep range, and strong playmaking instincts. He changes the pace well, gets downhill with ease, and can score at all three levels. He’s also a pesky defender who does an excellent job of navigating through screens. He’ll need to get stronger and do a better job of finishing through contact over time, but there should be little to no doubts about the impact he’ll be able to have on both ends of the floor. The Kings are currently in the early stages of a rebuild, and the ultra-competitive Flemings is a great option to help build a solid foundation in Sacramento.

8

Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)

Aday Mara is going to be a really productive pro. The reason is simple: he’s a 7’3” giant with a 7’7” wingspan who can move well, pass, rebound, provide efficient offense and defend at an elite level. When I say pass, I mean it too, some of his outlet passes will give you flashbacks of Kevin Love. Mara blocked close to 3 shots a game and was arguably the best rim protector in college basketball this past season, and I expect the same defensive impact at the next level. Think of Donovan Clingan and Marc Gasol, only taller and with longer arms. The Hawks were a run-of-the-mill team on defense this past season and the center position is a primary need; even though his stamina level over long stretches on the court is a mystery right now, this feels like a no-brainer for Atlanta.

9

Dallas Mavericks

Mikel Brown Jr. is a poised floor general with elite feel, a tight handle, and advanced shot-making ability. He controls tempo, delivers precise passes, and scores efficiently from all levels without forcing action. He’s also a smart decision-maker and reliable shooter, though adding strength and becoming more assertive defensively could unlock another level of impact. The Mavs need a secondary playmaker to plug alongside their franchise centerpiece Cooper Flagg, and I think MBJ can be that guy given what he brings to the table offensively. Dallas could also opt for a two-way guard like Brayden Burries here, who would be a safe pick, but it’ll be hard to pass on a potential franchise point guard who happens to have the highest ceiling out of any talent remaining at this stage of the draft.

10

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have plenty of options here with the tenth pick. Since they’ll likely be parting ways with Giannis in the offseason, they don’t have to worry about drafting for fit and can just take whichever player they feel is the biggest difference-maker available on their board. That player could be Brayden Burries, a polished scoring wing with advanced footwork, strong body control, and smooth three-level shot creation. He plays with patience, attacks mismatches effectively, and rebounds well for his position. Burries is a physical combo guard who plays with an edge and has often been compared to Derrick White because he’s not just a sniper, he’s a disruptive defender too. Although this would be considered more of a high-floor pick, he still has untapped upside as a playmaker, and the Bucks would be able to solidify their backcourt by pairing Burries with the fast-improving Ryan Rollins.

11

Golden State Warriors

After stealing the show at the Draft Combine, Cameron Carr looks to be the kind of guard who could step in and be a reliable asset for the Warriors out of the gate. With a near 7’1” wingspan, Carr has the physical tools and the motor to make plays on both ends of the floor. Carr’s college tape is really impressive. For one, he's an explosive athlete. For two, he’s a very good shooter who can make shots in a variety of ways and he loves to put the ball on the deck and attack the rim. Carr is a confident scorer who uses his length to his advantage. He has high feel and has the potential to be a plus defender, as proven by his weakside rim protection at Baylor where he blocked over a shot per game. Carr is the kind of shooter and downhill creator the Warriors could use on the wing to make the lives of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler a little easier. Since he likes to cut backdoor, catch lobs and finish plays above the rim, he spaces the floor in more ways than one. Yes, he does need to get stronger in order to handle opposing physicality at the next level, but he’s already polished and still has untapped potential on both ends. I think that he’d be projected to go much higher on any other board if he wasn’t a part of this draft class. Whether he’s a future star or a strong complimentary piece, he’s going to be really good, and the Warriors could use an injection of youth and athleticism.

12

Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)

The Thunder weren’t able to repeat as NBA Champions this past season, but they’ll still be contenders for the foreseeable future, and much to the dismay of other fanbases, they will get richer here with another lottery pick. Since Isaiah Hartenstein’s future in OKC is uncertain, it would make sense to add some frontcourt depth to this team. Cue the 6’11” Hannes Steinbach, who can be an immediate contributor from day one thanks to his positional versatility, elite rebounding, high motor, and overall skillset around the basket. In a perfect world, Steinbach fulfills his stretch-five potential and turns into a younger version of Nikola Vucevic or a Lauri Markkanen type of talent, but regardless, he offers a high floor as a consistent double-double threat who plays with an edge. Steinbach has large hands, soft touch, and a nose for offensive rebounds, and those second chances he can generate will matter come playoff time. Although he may never be an elite rim protector, Steinbach is at least a willing defender, and his shooting upside is an added bonus. Since he’d be surrounded by tenacious defensive players in OKC, I think this is a great fit. If Steinbach isn’t a star-level player in the future, you can expect him to be a rock-solid role player.

13

Miami Heat

There’s a good chance that the Heat will be parting ways with this pick if they decide to make a trade for The Greek Freak, who’s been linked to South Beach for a while. That said, if they lose out on the Giannis sweepstakes and end up keeping it, I could see them taking a flyer on Nate Ament. Ament is a project right now, but scouts envision a high ceiling because he has the ideal body for a wing and looks very fluid on the court. Ament is an athletic forward with a polished handle, shooting touch, and positional versatility. He can attack closeouts and create mismatches with his size and skill but will definitely need to get stronger and improve as a shooter. Admittedly, his freshman season with the Volunteers didn’t play out the way Ament or his fans hoped it would, but for what it’s worth, he’s still going to be 19 by the time his rookie season starts. My conclusion is this: Ament is the ultimate boom-or-bust prospect in this class and Pat Riley will hope to make a two-way star out of him.

14

Charlotte Hornets

For whatever reason, Ebuka Okorie flew under the radar throughout the year. Maybe it’s his size; at 6’2 with shoes on, he’s fairly short for a modern point guard. Maybe it’s the competition he played against, but then again, he outduelled Caleb Wilson in a win over UNC back in January. Regardless, what can’t be denied is the fact that Okorie is a ridiculously skilled guard with high feel for the game. Whether he’s a starter or high-end back up at the next level remains to be seen, but his quickness, handle, high-level processing and crafty finishing at the rim should be enough to sell teams picking in this range. Although his assist numbers at Stanford were low, Okorie is a good passer and he’s a proven three-level scoring threat. He led the ACC in scoring this past season after averaging 23 PPG and that can’t be a fluke. Okorie is a willing defender too and can hold his own on the perimeter. Whoever drafts him is getting a speedy downhill driver with elite self-creation and Charlotte makes sense as a landing spot since the Hornets could use a safety net for their injury-prone star LaMelo Ball. I’m aware that Coby White could soon be signing an extension to stay in Buzz City, but the team can be patient with Okorie, who just turned 19 back in April and might require some time in the G League.

15

Chicago Bulls (via Trail Blazers)

Even though he’s an “old” prospect who turns 24 before his rookie season, I’ve got Yaxel Lendeborg rated as one of the top dozen players in this class. There’s so much to like about Lendeborg: his size, length, versatility, fluidity, rebounding instincts, defensive activity, and downhill scoring ability all stand out. He impacts games with energy, physicality, and transition play. On the defensive end, Yaxel can also guard multiple positions because of his strength, long wingspan, and mobility, and while his half-court creation does need refining, his shooting, passing chops and gritty playing style add to the long list of reasons why he’ll be a winning player for a long time. Having already secured Caleb Wilson, the Bulls won’t hesitate to snatch Yaxel at this spot if he’s still available, and just like that, Chicago will start to look formidable for the first time in a long time.

16

Memphis Grizzlies (via Suns)

Morez Johnson Jr. is a powerful, high-energy interior presence with elite rebounding instincts, physical finishing, and strong rim protection on the defensive end. He’s a plus athlete who anchors the paint with toughness, screens hard, and plays with a high motor. Offensively, he thrives on putbacks and short rolls, but he’s also flashed three-point touch and I’m sure that will become a key development point for his next team since he has stretch-five potential and the analytics are encouraging players to make more threes. Standing around 6’10” with shoes on, Morez would technically be undersized for a modern center, but he can guard up and down the line-up and put a lid on the rim, and he’s tough as nails when he’s going up for a shot or crashing the glass for a rebound. Morez is already a solid player, so just imagine how impactful he can become if he manages to shoot the ball like a Myles Turner has been able to for most of his career. MJJ had an excellent showing at the Draft Combine and would be an absolute steal outside of the lottery. He would be a perfect fit for the blue-collar culture that’s being built in Memphis.

17

Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)

After leading Iowa to the Elite Eight, Bennett Stirtz is ready to make his mark in the NBA. Stirtz is a lethal shooter, but he’s also more than just a shooter. He’s a gritty player and a surgical processor who handles the ball well, creates for himself and creates for teammates with laser-sharp passes. What’s perhaps more impressive is that Stirtz shot 72% at the rim this past season, a staggering number that leads all the notable guards in this class. Since he can also make an impact off the ball, he’s the perfect plug-and-play guy who can ignite an offense. Stirtz prioritizes ball security and has the makeup of a floor general. I have him going to OKC, where he can be a spark-plug guy for a very talented Thunder team coming off the bench. As Shai’s back-up, he can provide a spark and he’ll prove to be a valuable complimentary piece who can impact winning.

18

Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)

Although Moussa Diabaté does look the part of a starting center, nothing is stopping Charlotte from adding Jayden Quaintance to their roster. Quaintance could fall on draft night, but scouts and executives around the league know he would’ve been a lock to go in the top 10 if his availability wasn’t a question mark. At 6’10” with shoes on, JQ is an elite defensive prospect with rare mobility, shot-blocking instincts, and switchability for his size. He may not be a floor spacer, but he has an advanced handle, runs the floor well, finishes above the rim, and impacts games with his energy, strength, and physical style of play. Admittedly, he’s the definition of a high-risk, high-reward pick, and Hornets fans will be praying for the latter to be the outcome if JQ ends up in Buzz City. If he can manage to stay healthy, the Hornets will bolster their defense and be a problem for years to come.

19

Toronto Raptors

I know what people are thinking, there’s surely no way Labaron Philon Jr. could fall to 19, right? How could he? He’s too special of a talent! Well, if there’s one thing that could turn off some front offices, it’s the fact that Philon weighed in at 176 pounds when he was measured at the Draft Combine. That’s well under average for a modern point guard and could explain why he’s been dropping a little bit in recent mock drafts. Even if you’re a willing defender, you’re still going to be hunted when you’re that small, and getting stops won’t be easy. Of course, this could all be smoke. Even though he’s small, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a dynamic guard with an elite handle who can get to his spots, score in bunches and shoot the cover off the basketball. Philon is a pick-and-roll maestro and a polished passer who plays the game with supreme confidence. He looks the part of a lead guard who can control tempo and make plays any time you need him to. There’s still a good chance that Philon will be a lottery pick on draft night, but if he falls to 19, you can bet that Bobby Webster will rush to the phone to secure him at this spot since the Raptors are in desperate need of an elite creator in their backcourt.

20

San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)

Allen Graves is a tough, high-motor forward known for defensive pressure, smart decision-making, and unselfish play. He won’t wow you athletically, but he can help stretch the floor, competes hard on both ends and provides steady playmaking. He’s an analytical darling (sixth highest BPM in this class) who could end up being a surprise riser on draft night since he does everything well on both ends of the floor. Graves also feels like the quintessential Spurs pick. You can’t go wrong with three-and-D talent in today’s league, so I wouldn’t be shocked if the Spurs took Graves with this pick. If Carter Bryant was able to contribute right away, I see no reason why Graves can’t be able to next year considering he’s more polished offensively.

21

Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves)

Christian Anderson projects to be a high-floor point guard with playmaking chops who can manipulate defenses and shoot the lights out. A breakout season at Texas Tech proved that he’s an excellent ball-handler who reads the game well and can score from all three levels. He will need to increase his paint touches, but he excels in the pick-and-roll, and can also pose as a threat off the ball. His efficiency and high basketball IQ give reason to believe he can be special down the road. For what it’s worth, a name that’s previously been used as an NBA comparison to Anderson is Darius Garland. What Anderson lacks in size and burst is made up for with smarts and smooth playmaking. Similar to Philon, Anderson is on the smaller side for a modern point guard, so the jury is out on his defense at the next level, but Detroit would be a great spot for him, as Anderson could help take some pressure off of superstar Cade Cunningham and provide a much-needed boost to the team’s half-court creation.

22

Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)

Dailyn Swain is a powerful, versatile wing with strong downhill attacking ability, defensive toughness, and excellent rebounding instincts. He impacts games through physicality, transition play, and connective passing. He’s also a multi-positional defender with a high motor, though improving his perimeter shooting consistency will ultimately determine his offensive ceiling. Realistically, he may never be a great three-point shooter at the next level, but it’s worth noting that Dailyn was an elite isolation scorer at Texas who posted 1.64 points per possession in ISO situations, and since he plays with force, he can get to the free-throw line and make his free throws too. Swain’s bulky frame, athleticism and confidence give him a chance to outplay his consensus projection by a wide margin with time. This could turn out to be anazing value for the Sixers, who are slowly but surely getting better. A trio of Maxey, Edgecombe, and Swain would give the Philly faithful a reason to be optimistic about the team’s direction.

23

Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers)

Since the Hawks already have a bevy of shooters and ball-handlers, I think they’ll continue to reinforce their frontcourt by adding size and skill with Cenac, who projects to be a highly athletic floor-spacing big who could be able to produce at both the four and the five once he gets to the NBA. Cenac is at least 6’11” with shoes on and boasts a 7’5” wingspan. He’s an excellent rebounder who can finish plays above the rim. Perhaps the most unique thing about him is that he can not only run the break like a guard, but has the shooting fluidity of a guard too. His jumper is one of the smoothest looking jumpers compared to any other stretch-big I’ve seen, and when Cenac is left open, he’ll take and make threes with confidence. That said, Cenac needs to develop his post-game, increase his paint touches and play with more force overall. The motor is there, and over time, nothing will stop Cenac from dominating in the paint other than his own self and his future coach. Cenac settles for too many shots outside the paint, and hopefully that will be corrected in the NBA. He oozes potential, but he needs to be capable of drawing more fouls and making his free throws at a higher clip than he did in college.

24

New York Knicks

Joshua Jefferson is a versatile point-forward with strong passing instincts, defensive activity, and a high basketball IQ. He contributes across the board as a rebounder, transition initiator, and connective playmaker. He may not be a high-end athlete, but you can expect him to be a valuable role player at the next level. Standing around 6’9” with shoes and weighing over 240 pounds, Jefferson can shoot the ball well and has the size and two-wayskillset to contribute immediately. He could serve as another weapon the Knicks would use to strengthen a bench that’s already among the deepest in the league. The thought of Jefferson joining a Knicks team that’s already a title contender is scary. He will eventually be a quality starter.

25

Los Angeles Lakers

Seven-foot Estonian Henri Veesaar is a skilled, modern big with soft shooting touch, pick-and-pop ability, and good passing feel for his size. He spaces the floor effectively and operates comfortably in dribble-handoff actions. He’ll need to get stronger to combat opposing bigs in the paint, but his offensive versatility stands out and he’s capable of becoming an effective help defender in the NBA. Veesaar is mobile and makes smart cuts, and when it’s time to rebound or catch passes, it shouldn’t be too hard for him to do a better job than LA’s current center DeAndre Ayton, which is why I like the fit. Veesaar shot 42% from three-point range at UNC, and if he can shoot with that kind of efficiency going forward, the Lakers would be getting themselves a solid rotational player in the back-end of the first round.

26

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets entered the 2026 playoffs with the highest-rated offense in basketball but proceeded to get humbled and knocked out of the first round by Minnesota. Now granted, they did struggle to stay healthy for most of the season, but it’s clear that this version of the Nuggets simply wasn’t as good as other versions in years past, and defense is a major reason why. That’s why I have Denver taking Koa Peat here. He’s a switchable forward who has the muscular frame and the quickness to guard up and down the line-up. Peat is a fundamentally sound defender who does a good job of closing out on shooters and altering shots near the rim. At Arizona, Peat did an excellent job of containing his match-ups and he should be able to do similar things at the next level while contributing a fair share of offense without requiring high usage.

27

Boston Celtics

Isaiah Evans is a smooth scorer with deep shooting range, advanced shot-making, and excellent off-ball instincts. He creates separation effortlessly and can heat up quickly from anywhere on the floor which is why he’d fit like a glove in Boston, a team that’s in love with shooting. Evans’ length and scoring versatility are major strengths, though he will need to get stronger and improve his defensive consistency as well as his playmaking under pressure in order to elevate his overall impact. There are rumors that Jaylen Brown could be leaving the Celtics in the near future. I’ll take that with a grain of salt for now, but if he does leave, Evans could eventually take on a big role in Boston since he can play more than one position and has defensive upside. For what it’s worth, his offensive game has often been compared to Brandon Ingram. If he turns out to be anything close to BI, the Celts would definitely be getting great value here.

28

Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)

Since the Wolves already have size and solid interior defense, I like the idea of surrounding Ant-Man with more shooters. In this case, Minny would have the luxury of drafting Meleek Thomas, a 6’5 guard who can dribble, pass and shoot the ball effectively. Playing alongside Ant, Thomas could be a secondary scorer on the floor since he has deep shooting range and he’s a confident on-ball creator with a quick first-step. He can generate offense in isolation, hit tough pull-ups, and heat up quickly. On top of that, Thomas is an active defender with good lateral quickness and the ability to disrupt passing lanes. He’ll need to get stronger and increase his paint touches, but should have no problem providing his team with scoring punch and has the potential to be a quality starter down the road.

29

Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)

Mexican-born Karim Lopez will be entering draft night with a wide range. At just 19 years of age, Lopez managed to hold his own in a professional league in New Zealand this past year. He’s widely considered the best international prospect in this class and there’s certainly a chance that he could end up being drafted much earlier than where I have him projected to go. If he’s somehow available here, the Cavs would have nothing to lose by taking a flyer on him. Karim doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he’s a plus athlete with ideal size for a forward and he plays with force. His fluidity and feel for the game stand out and he mostly does everything well other than shoot the ball at a high clip. If his three-ball improves over time, he can become a very productive pro, but for now, Lopez is to be considered a jack-of-all-trades guy who doesn’t stand out in any particular area yet.

30

Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)

Former NBA champion executive Masai Ujiri is the newly minted president in Dallas, and with the 30th pick in the draft, it would make all the sense in the world for him to take Zuby Ejiofor here. Over the years, Masai has usually favoured a specific archetype: the high-energy, hard-nosed athlete who boasts defensive versatility and can set the tone with intensity and gritty play on both ends of the floor. Ejiofor, who will likely spend most of his time at power forward, checks those boxes and delivers more as an offensive wrecking ball with good touch, footwork, and strong finishing at the rim. Moreover, Zuby is a great offensive rebounder with a high basketball IQ. He’s the kind of role player that coaches love to have on their side. He may never be an all-star, but Rick Pitino will assure you that Zuby is the proverbial glue guy that raises the floor and will impact winning in a variety of ways.