With the Washington Wizards winning the NBA Draft Lottery, here’s how the draft could play out now that the order is set. Be sure to check out our 2026 NBA Draft Guide, which features full scouting reports on all 60 of these prospects, player comparisons, and multiple big boards.
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa, 6-9, BYU freshman forward
The Wizards finally land their star. Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators. At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands. Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game while breaking Danny Ainge’s 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point eruption. He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point forward potential. In Washington, the pressure will be alleviated on him early in his career, now that he’s teammates with veteran point guard Trae Young and — assuming he doesn’t ask out — and All-Star-caliber big man in Anthony Davis.
The Wizards could even be quite competitive early on in Dybantsa’s career, especially if their existing young players get even better: Alex Sarr already looks like an effective two-way big, while guards and wings like Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, and Bilal Coulibaly have all shown flashes at one time or another. But none of them project to be a superstar like Dybantsa, whose upside will be determined by whether he can become a knockdown 3-point shooter, as well as a more impactful defender to take full advantage of his physical tools. But the native of Brockton, Mass., has a tremendously high floor with his scoring skill alone that gives the Wizards a face of the franchise to build around and the ceiling to be a future MVP.
(Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Darryn Peterson, 6-6, Kansas freshman guard
The basketball gods finally smile on Utah after the franchise never moved up in the lottery. As much as Jazz owner and BYU alum/donor Ryan Smith might want to keep Dybantsa in Utah — and you can’t rule them out of trying to move up — it could be for the best to end up with Peterson, who is a buttery smooth scorer with a blend of fluid body control and positional size that gives him the ingredients to become an elite NBA player. At the high school level, he was a dynamic playmaker who used his burst to get into the teeth of defenses and generate buckets for himself and his teammates, while also showing off the kind of shot-making that draws comparisons to Hall of Famers.
At Kansas, he thrived in an off-ball role, stroking jumpers out of movement actions and showing he can scale up or down depending on what a roster needs. Even when he isn’t scoring, he’s a high-impact defender who causes chaos off-ball and has the 6-foot-11 wingspan to switch screens. The concern isn’t his game. It’s his body. He missed 11 of 35 games and pulled himself out of others due to cramping, which he claims are due to taking creatine. Questions about his burst, his availability, and what exactly is going on under the hood are going to define how NBA front offices feel about him at the top of this draft. And ultimately could dictate whether the Jazz even select him. But it’s hard to imagine a better situation for Peterson since he’d have support around him with All-Stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the frontcourt, and other blossoming young talents like Ace Bailey, Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, and Keyonte George. The Jazz are actually pretty stacked on paper, especially if Walker Kessler re-signs and stays healthy next year. All this talent could alleviate the pressure on Peterson to have to play savior, and, like Bailey last year, he can ease into his NBA routine as a rookie.
It was a year from hell for Memphis. Ja Morant couldn’t stay on the floor — sometimes due to injury, sometimes due to his own volition. Zach Edey got injured. After Desmond Bane got dealt, Jaren Jackson Jr. soon followed. And now, Memphis goes from teardown to rebirth. At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer is the most polished player in the class. He scores from the post with both footwork and power, hits 40% of his 3s on high volume, and has enough handle to run offense as a point forward. He shifts between those modes based on what the defense gives him, and that adaptability led to a 35-win season at Duke and the Naismith Player of the Year. The worry is that he’s not a vertical athlete and the foundation of all that production — overpowering smaller defenders — gets diminished against NBA length. Plus, he’s a modern tweener on defense, lacking the explosiveness and size to protect the rim full-time and the lateral quickness to switch onto guards. But Boozer is at his best defensively when paired with a true center, and he’s got one by his side in Edey. With Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, and the other young guys in Memphis — plus whatever pieces get dealt for Morant, who remains likely to get traded this summer — the Grizzlies now have one of the league’s best young cores. With the bloodline of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, the Grizzlies are betting that skill, adaptability, and a track record of winning at every level all lead to superstardom.
Caleb Wilson, 6-10, North Carolina freshman big
Chicago traded away its veteran core at the February deadline, committing to a youth movement — and a hard, overdue tank that led to a winless February. But it all felt sort of directionless with seven point guards on the roster, and only two players — Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis — being obvious long-term keepers. Now though, Wilson gives this franchise more direction. Wilson is the most gifted athlete in the draft class. He’s 6-foot-10 with springs for legs. When he’s flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot in his area code, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone. That’s exactly what the Bulls need in the frontcourt. Wilson has never shot jumpers with any consistency at any level, so it’d be a bonus if he can figure that out. Even without the jumper, he has star upside.
Keaton Wagler, 6-6, Illinois freshman guard
Congratulations to the Clippers! Trading Ivica Zubac to the Pacers paid off in a big way by landing the fifth pick. Though the Clippers traded for a younger guard in Darius Garland, Wagler makes the most sense here. At 6-foot-6, he can play with or without the ball and proved that last year in college. But he quickly became the orchestrator of a high-powered Illinois offense with his high-IQ playmaking and crafty scoring. Then he scored 46 at Purdue against a top-ranked team in the country — the most points by any freshman in Big Ten history. Then he kept rolling, and led the team to an unexpected Final Four appearance. Next to Garland, there’d be less pressure on him to be the man right away — which could be beneficial for his development. To become an NBA star, Wagler needs to overcome a lack of traditional athleticism after logging zero dunks as a freshman. But the best case is that his feel for the game is enough for him to continue ascending.
Kingston Flemings, 6-4, Houston freshman guard
What a bummer for Brooklyn to fall so far. The Nets took four guard-ish players in last year’s draft, but Egor Demin looks like the only real keeper and that decision shouldn’t necessarily stop them from taking an even better guard prospect here. Flemings plays with surgical midrange touch, an explosive first step, and passing vision of a true point guard who can run an offense. But he is also 190 pounds, midrange-heavy in a 3-point league, and watched his efficiency crater against the stiffest competition late in the season. The question is whether his scoring package translates to NBA length and spacing, or whether opposing scouts figure him out the same way late-season defenses did.
Darius Acuff, 6-3, Arkansas freshman guard
Kings fans must be disappointed by not moving up in the draft, but there are tons of guards available in this range who could run the show for the next decade. The most electric one? Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. He is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade. He emerged as a freshman as a skilled, low-turnover playmaker. The question that follows every undersized guard into the draft is whether the brilliance survives contact with bigger, longer, faster defenders. The Kings will have to find big wings and forwards, plus a rim-protecting center to support Acuff. But for now, fans can enjoy the Acuff show.
Aday Mara, 7-3, Michigan junior center
With the combined odds courtesy of the Pelicans and Bucks, the Hawks had the sixth-best chances of moving up into the top 4. Unfortunately for them, that didn’t pan out. Still though, it was a shrewd move by the Hawks to acquire this pick swap last year just to move down 10 spots in last year’s draft. It now pays off with a lottery pick. The Hawks could use a true center and the best one in this class is Mara, who stepped on UCLA’s campus as a lottery-projected center from Spain. Then he fell off draft boards during two forgettable seasons there before transferring to Michigan and becoming one of the best true 5s in the country on his way to winning the national championship. He reads the floor like a guard, finishes with both hands, and swats shots with elite timing. Quin Snyder will love using him as a facilitator from the wings and elbows. The complication is he doesn’t shoot from outside, makes below 60% of his free throws, and opponents are going to attack him on the perimeter. But the Hawks are building a team littered with size, length and versatility. If there’s anywhere that Mara could best reach his potential, it might be Atlanta.
Mikel Brown, 6-5, Louisville freshman guard
The Mavericks didn’t get lucky in the lottery once again, but they still could find the perfect point guard running mate for Cooper Flagg with this selection. When Brown is in the zone, he has an unstoppable pull-up jumper, an ambidextrous finishing ability, and the quick reads to rifle passes before the defense has time to react. He had a 45-point breakout performance in February after a back injury dogged him all freshman year and then ended his year later in the month. The absences muddy the evaluation and leave real questions about his consistency that may not get answered until he’s fully healthy. If it weren’t for that time missed though, he might not even be available at this pick. And if he lands with Dallas, it’s hard to imagine a better situation. Kyrie Irving could serve as a mentor, and Brown could grow alongside a future MVP candidate in Flagg.
Nate Ament, 6-10, Tennessee freshman wing
The Bucks should take a swing to jump start their new era, whether or not Giannis Antetokounmpo is part of it. Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and he severely struggled during the tournament. Bucks general manager Jon Horst has never been afraid to take risks though. If Ament pans out, it could look like a stroke of genius.
Karim López, 6-8, New Zealand Breakers forward
It’s been a brutal year. The Warriors lost Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL and Moses Moody to a torn patellar tendon, watched Steph Curry miss 27 games with knee issues, and finally gave up on Jonathan Kuminga. Golden State has been desperately searching for a young star to extend Curry’s championship window, and bridge into whatever comes next. It will be harder to do that here after not getting lucky in the lottery. But maybe the Warriors will still find a hit prospect. López is the best basketball prospect Mexico has ever produced. He left Hermosillo at 14 to play professionally in Barcelona, then at 17 moved to Auckland, New Zealand, where he shined for two years in the NBL Next Stars program. He checks a lot of boxes with his excellent physical tools, a hardnosed approach, and a well-rounded ability to defend multiple positions, handle the ball, and a blossoming shot. But he’s thus far more of a jack of all trades since his jumper runs hot and cold and he lacks the burst to blow by defenders off the bounce. Regardless, not every player is drafted with stardom in mind. López has all the requisite skills to enhance a star teammate as a key piece on a winning team — and the Warriors could be looking to win now after Steve Kerr re-signed for a two-year deal. And sometimes those players with high floors end up proving their ceiling is a lot higher than you think.
The entire NBA breathed a sigh of relief when the Thunder didn’t move up in the lottery. But with this pick, courtesy of the Clippers for Paul George, they still can add a player who could turn into a star, or at least a key contributor. If there’s one thing the Thunder need it’s a jumbo-sized wing. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan at 240 pounds, Lendeborg fits the bill. He fills the stat sheet, he can play multiple positions, and he has a genuine handle. Lendeborg will be 24 as a rookie, but he has a compelling story. Poor grades kept him off his high school varsity team. He went to a JUCO. Then UAB. Then he entered the draft, went through the combine, pulled his name back, and came back for one more year at Michigan and won a national championship. He just kept getting better every single time the competition got harder. The arc is a great story. Whether it ends with NBA stardom is still up for debate.
Dailyn Swain, 6-8, Texas junior wing
With Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, the Heat have had their share of late lottery hits. They’ll have another opportunity to do that here. One approach is to take a big swing: Swain played two competent seasons at Xavier, transferred to Texas, and somehow became the most efficient isolation scorer in the entire country. He’s relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher, and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing. But the reason he lives at the rim is because his jump shot is genuinely terrible. He has stiff mechanics, bad percentages, and a reluctance to even attempt it that goes all the way back to high school. Until the shooting becomes a credible threat, defenses are going to pack the paint and dare him to beat them from the outside. But the Heat have already proven successful at helping players improve their shots. Swain could very well end up a major steal.
Brayden Burries, 6-4, Arizona freshman guard
As good as LaMelo Ball and Coby White are, the Hornets should add a guard to the mix that brings some defensive grit. Burries arrived at Arizona as a top-10 recruit, started slow, and then erupted once conference play began, helping lead his team to the Final Four. He’s a physical, versatile scorer who can beat you from all three levels, rebounds like a forward, and competes hard on defense. But he’s a methodical creator rather than an explosive one, and his shooting history before Arizona gives scouts reason to wonder whether the efficiency is real or a blip. In Charlotte, those offensive concerns would matter a bit less given the presence of LaMelo, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller.
15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland)
Labaron Philon, 6-4, Alabama sophomore guard
After selecting Wilson in the lottery, it’s time for the Bulls to find their actual point guard of the future — and not the filler that ended last season. Philon is a shifty, score-first point guard who blossomed into one of the best guards in college basketball as a sophomore. He doubled his scoring output with buttery floaters, a deceptive handle, and a feel for running an offense, while also beginning to shore up the shooting questions that once clouded his projection. But Philon is also a below-the-rim athlete and is listed under 180 pounds, so his slight frame remains the one thing standing between him and stardom.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando)
Allen Graves, 6-9, Santa Clara freshman forward
The Grizzlies have an analytics-savvy front office and Graves is beloved by public numbers-based boards. Plus, he passes the eye test. Graves was a point guard before a late growth spurt, and the floor skills carried over when he sprouted to 6-foot-9. He came off the bench at Santa Clara as a redshirt freshman and quietly became one of the most efficient producers in college basketball. He stands as the top-ranked player still in the transfer portal, so he could return to college, which wouldn’t be a surprise given he came off the bench, lacks great athleticism, and had some struggles against the limited top competition that he faced. But he could easily get selected this high in the draft. There is logic to the Grizzlies taking a point guard here. But perhaps Memphis saw the limitations of having a small guard after the Ja Morant experience. And now it’s time to build a big, long team.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia)
Morez Johnson, 6-9, Michigan sophomore forward
Oh look, another pick for the Thunder. They just keep coming! With such a deep, talented roster, they at some point are going to see roster turnover. Over the next two years, eight players will hit free agency. But the priorities won’t change: The Thunder at some point are going to see roster turnover. Surrounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will require the type of guys who don’t get the love nationally but are critical to playing championship basketball. That’s Morez Johnson. He transferred from Illinois to Michigan and became the connective tissue of the national champions as a 250-pound wrecking ball with surprisingly soft hands and the defensive IQ to guard 1 through 5 in a switch-heavy scheme. The catch is he’s not quite big enough to be a true center and not yet proven enough as a shooter to guarantee he spaces the floor. But even without a jumper, Johnson has a long future ahead of him.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando)
Chris Cenac, 6-11, Houston freshman big
With two top 20 picks, it’s a gift of an opportunity for the Hornets to bolster the roster around their core. Cenac checks every box on paper as a superb athlete who moves like a wing, has the length to alter shots, and shoots from the perimeter. Houston handed him a starting role with national title aspirations and trusted him with heavy minutes. But the Cougars fell short again, in part because Cenac struggled to stay out of foul trouble, couldn’t score efficiently, and was overeager to play on the perimeter despite having the body of a bruiser. He arrived in college with lottery expectations, and he still could become that player in the future. That’s the appeal for Charlotte: Take a big swing on a player who could have went top five in one year if he had decided to go back to school.
Hannes Steinbach, 6-11, Washington freshman big
The Raptors clearly need two things after their Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers: A point guard and a center. Here, they get a center. Steinbach played professionally in Germany before enrolling at Washington, and he’ll enter the NBA with some readymade skills as an interior scorer and rebounder. He has massive hands that he uses to grab every possible rebound and finish effectively around the basket. He also showed legitimate touch on 3-pointers in flashes, which would turn him into a very different player if it becomes real. But he’s a bit of a modern tweener. He’s not a true 7-footer, and there are specific matchups where he gets targeted in space. He needs to be the right kind of center for the right team.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta)
Amari Allen, 6-7, Alabama freshman forward
Allen landed at Alabama as the third scoring option, which is either a red flag about his limited ceiling or a positive preview of exactly how he’ll thrive in the NBA. It’s certainly a positive for the Spurs, who already have a megastar in Victor Wembanyama and a bunch of ball handling guards in De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. Those guys need to be supported by 6-foot-7 wings like Allen, who does a little bit of everything without needing touches, rebounds like a big, and displays incredible defensive versatility.
21. Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota)
Cameron Carr, 6-5, Baylor redshirt sophomore wing
The Pistons are up 2-1 in the East semis, and if there’s one clear-as-day missing piece on the team it’s a secondary creator next to Cade Cunningham. Tobias Harris is having the playoff of his life, but he’s 33. The Pistons need a long-term answer after Jaden Ivey flopped. Maybe that’s Carr, who led Baylor in scoring, shot nearly 40% from 3 on high volume, and looked like a 3-and-D role player who also has blossoming skills off the dribble. With NBA genes in his blood, as the son of former player Chris Carr, Cameron has the skills to make it in the NBA. But at 175 pounds with not a ton of games under his belt, he’s going to get introduced to the NBA’s physicality in a way college basketball never did.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston)
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina junior big
The Sixers had an epic 3-1 comeback and now trail 3-0 to the Knicks. The season is basically over, and they can’t even get this playoff without Joel Embiid missing games. Finding better bigs needs to be prioritized instead of relying on Andre Drummond to launch corner 3s. Veesaar is an agile big with actual shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. In all three of his collegiate seasons, he made a massive leap in production each year. But he’s 225 pounds so his lanky frame can get pushed around, plus he still hasn’t fully defined his cornerstone skill. That’s OK in Philadelphia though. He could anchor bench units when Embiid is healthy, and potentially play a bigger role when he’s not, while serving as a key figure alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe for many years to come.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland)
Meleek Thomas, 6-5, Arkansas freshman guard
After selecting Mara in the lottery, the Hawks can find a successor to CJ McCollum with this pick. Thomas has the confidence to “run for president,” according to Arkansas head coach John Calipari. You could see that on the court the way he never hesitated to fire, stepped right into the lead role when Darius Acuff was sidelined at Missouri to close the regular season, and willed Arkansas to the SEC championship game with 29 against Ole Miss. He’s a legit NBA shooter with deep range, a quick release, and creation juice off the bounce. But he doesn’t get to the rim, his shot selection drifts into hero-ball, and there are questions about how he’ll deal with NBA physicality. Still, in a ball-sharing offense he has the versatile skills to blossom.
24. New York Knicks
Luigi Suigo, 7-3, Mega center
The Knicks are up 3-0 and look on their way to the East Finals. But with Mitchell Robinson entering free agency this summer it would make sense for the Knicks to find a replacement. Suigo has said he wants to be the Italian Wemby and, at 7-foot-3 with passing feel and shooting touch, you can see why a teenager might put that out into the universe. Suigo lacks the handle and self-creation chops to ever be the best player on a team, but his dynamic skills as a passer, shooter, and lob threat layer cleanly on top of baseline center duties as a screener, finisher, and rim protector. Becoming the Italian Marc Gasol is a more realistic goal, and would still be an excellent outcome.
25. Los Angeles Lakers
Jayden Quaintance, 6-10, Kentucky sophomore big
Down 3-0 to the Thunder, with Luka Doncic still sidelined, they never really had a chance. What’s clear is they can’t trust Deandre Ayton to be the anchor of this roster. After he gave up two offensive rebounds to the Thunder on a single play, head coach JJ Redick sat on the bench and said “I can’t play him.” True. Maybe the Lakers can’t find the fix in this year’s draft class either. But taking Quaintance would be a great effort. Quaintance is going to get drafted based almost entirely on what he looked like before his knee exploded. As a freshman at Arizona State, he was blocking everything in sight, showing defensive instincts and mobility that players his size aren’t supposed to have, and he was 17 years old doing it. That’s what the Lakers would be imagining if they take him. But then came the ACL, the meniscus, the fractured knee, the transfer to Kentucky, persistent swelling, and a shutdown for the remainder of his sophomore season. Now teams have to make a decision after 28 games of great defense with eyesore offense.
26. Denver Nuggets
Bennett Stirtz, 6-4, Iowa senior guard
The Nuggets need some variety to their half-court offense aside from having Nikola Jokić initiate everything. Well, here’s a guy who could help. Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn’t look the part athletically. The question isn’t whether he can play though. After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking with bull’s-eye passes, pump-fakes, and shooting touch off the dribble from NBA range. If he adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general and off-ball connector.
27. Boston Celtics
Tounde Yessoufou, 6-5, Baylor freshman wing
Yessoufou entered Baylor as a projected lottery pick with freakish athleticism, a relentless motor, and the kind of physicality that makes scouts dream. But when quality opponents took away his drives, there wasn’t much left in his arsenal. He’s still a shaky shooter, and he needs to defend at the level his physical tools suggest that he should. So the Celtics may need to be patient here, or maybe not given how quickly they seem to be developing young players. And it’s hard to imagine there being a higher upside pick here than Yessoufou, so it makes all the sense in the word for Boston.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit)
Christian Anderson, 6-3, Texas Tech sophomore guard
Just look at how crucial Mike Conley still is to the Timberwolves in these playoffs. But he’s 38. And Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland will both be upcoming free agents. The Wolves might need a guard. Anderson showed up at Texas Tech as the 101st-ranked recruit and has played his way into the first-round conversation behind dynamic pick-and-roll creation and knockdown perimeter shooting. He does a good job of creating easier shots for his teammates, but at his small stature he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to get to the rim with any regularity. And any small guard will always be a target on defense, so there’s a lot of pressure on his shot translating to the next level.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via San Antonio)
Koa Peat, 6-8, Arizona freshman forward
James Harden saved the Cavaliers on Saturday to make the series 2-1 against the Pistons. Cleveland still lacks the toughness that Detroit has. Peat’s bloodline is so loaded with offensive linemen that it’s almost funny he ended up playing basketball. And you can absolutely see it in how he plays: powerful, physical, relentless, and it genuinely takes something special to stop him from getting to where he wants to go. He opened the season with a 30-point game against defending champion Florida and backed it up as one of Arizona’s best players all year on its way to the Final Four. Peat could end up playing as a small ball center next to Evan Mobley, and if he figured out how to bang spot up 3s play with anyone.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City)
Isaiah Evans, 6-6, Duke sophomore wing
After selecting Brown in the lottery, the Mavericks could still use more shooters around Flagg. Evans is the kind of shooter that defenses guard and think they’ve got him contained, then he uses a screen and catches it off a full sprint, moving away from the rim, and he somehow manages to rise into a perfect 3-pointer. He’s a legitimate sharpshooter with the off-ball chops to thrive without even running any offense for himself, and he also has a developing handle that could unlock more creation chances.
SECOND ROUND
31. New York Knicks: Alex Karaban, UConn senior forward
After finding a center in Suigo in round one, the Knicks can now target more role players to support their stars. Here’s one some Knicks fans may know well. Karaban makes defenses pay the moment they relax on him. He relocates for a 3, cuts when nobody’s watching, and does everything efficiently. He’s a similarly high-effort, high-IQ player on the defensive end, which helps him overcome his average athleticism. But he’ll be 24 as a rookie, and hasn’t shown much upside. He rarely shoots off the dribble because of his funky mechanics. So if his role-player skills are slow to translate, his margin for error is narrower than for most.
32. Memphis Grizzlies: Ebuka Okorie, Stanford freshman guard
Even if the Grizzlies were to draft all guards in round one, the value here with Okorie is probably too good to pass up. Okorie is the best driving guard in the class, a 6-foot-2 jitterbug who manipulates defenders with a tight handle, sudden changes of speed, and an advanced feel for the game. He’s not an above-the-rim athlete, though, and not long ago he was a kid from New Hampshire who ranked outside the top 100 and committed to Harvard. Then Stanford found him, he flipped his commitment, and he proceeded to lead the ACC in scoring with eight 30-point games and a habit for hitting clutch shots.
33. Brooklyn Nets: Sergio De Larrea, Valencia guard
De Larrea is a tall playmaking guard with major feel and a knockdown jumper who thrives within team concepts. He suffered a dislocated shoulder that ended his 2024-25 season and removed him from draft boards, but it ended up a blessing in disguise since he returned with a bigger role and stronger production for a great team in the EuroLeague. With size, smarts, and defensive versatility, he could carve out a role in the NBA if his international skill can translate.
34. Sacramento Kings: Tarris Reed, UConn senior center
Reed is a throwback center who played at his best on the biggest stage on UConn’s way to the national title game. He does all the dirty work inside the paint as a finisher and rebounder and shot-blocker. But beyond his ability to screen and pass, he isn’t all too comfortable on the perimeter as a shooter or defender. So there are questions about his upside, especially since he’ll be 23 as a rookie.
35. San Antonio Spurs: Billy Richmond, Arkansas sophomore wing
Some of his in-game dunks are worthy of the Dunk Contest. He’s an explosive athlete who thrives at the basket and brings constant hustle as a multi-positional defender — he made the SEC All-Defensive Team as a sophomore. But in order to carve out a long NBA career, he needs to figure out his jumper. If he does, he could be a lottery pick. Richmond is currently testing the pre-draft process, so there’s a chance he returns to Arkansas.
36. Los Angeles Clippers: Flory Bidunga, Kansas sophomore big
Bidunga is a 6-foot-9 vertical weapon with bouncy legs, soft hands, and the defensive instincts to anchor the paint. He also has some switchability, which could make him highly valuable on defense. But he lacks the size of a true center, and he lacks any perimeter skill on offense. As a player who was born in Kinshasa, Congo, and moved to the United States as a teenager, he’s still learning the nuances of high-level basketball. So there could be untapped potential for the long term.
37. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt sophomore guard
Tanner enrolled at Vanderbilt as a three-star recruit, stayed off draft boards as a freshman, and then blew up as a sophomore. He became the kind of player where you’d watch him and think: How is nobody stopping this guy? He’s barely 6-feet tall, but he gets wherever he wants on the floor, makes reads before the defense has time to rotate, and then turns around and picks your pocket on the other end. His height is a concern, though, because the NBA has a poor track record with guards his size, especially when it comes to playoff basketball. But maybe Tanner can be one of the exceptions since he plays bigger than his body.
38. Chicago Bulls: Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State senior forward
Some players are drafted for their ceilings. Others for their floor. Jefferson lands in the latter category as a 22-year-old senior who spent four years in college getting better at everything to the point he’s a steady, high-feel forward. He can pass out of the post, make connective reads, and guard multiple positions. He just needs his shooting progress to prove to be real, and right now there’s not enough of a sample to be sure it is.
39. Houston Rockets: Malachi Moreno, Kentucky freshman big
Moreno is only testing the draft waters and could return to school. But he’s also a hot name since he has an NBA frame at only 19 years old: 7-feet, 250 pounds. He does the baseline things as a big man with above-the-rim finishing, hard-nosed rebounding, and stout rim protection. He also adds a layer as a passer, showing an advanced feel for the game and for manipulating defenders. It’s important for him to improve his touch as a finisher and as a shooter, but he’s in a good place for his age with skills that should be translatable to the next level. The Rockets need to add big man depth because it’s becoming apparent that Steven Adams can’t be relied on to stay healthy.
40. Boston Celtics: Ryan Conwell, Louisville senior guard
Conwell’s college career took him from South Florida to Indiana State to Xavier, and then to Louisville, and he got better at every stop. By the end of his senior year he was the leading scorer for the Cardinals at 18.8 points per game. He’s a stocky 6-foot-4 lefty with broad shoulders, no real first step, and exactly one dunk in four years of college basketball. But he’s a knockdown shooter with deep range and a bruiser at the rim who absorbs contact like a fullback. It felt like Boston missed having Anfernee Simons in the playoffs, which is the logic behind this choice after going with a wing in round one. But the Celtics are still in need of a center and in this mock didn’t come out with one.
41. Miami Heat: Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State junior forward
Momcilovic just put together one of the most efficient shooting seasons in college basketball, draining nearly half of his 3s on over seven attempts per game. He also has a soft touch attacking closeouts and the discipline to stay in his lane by keeping the ball moving and not trying to do too much. The only real concern is the fact he isn’t much of a shot creator, doesn’t rebound much for his size, and will be an average defender at best. He has one skill that is genuinely elite though, that happens to be the most important skill in the modern league. And it’s one Miami needs after ranking in the middle of the pack in 3-point attempts and percentage over the last four seasons.
42. San Antonio Spurs: Matt Able, NC State freshman wing
Able has a strong 6-foot-6 frame as a wing to pair with a smooth jumper and a good feel for passing the ball. Even though he was inconsistent coming off the bench for NC State, he looks the part of a role player who could blossom into something much greater for the Spurs given his blend of skills. If Able doesn’t stay in the draft class, he is committed to North Carolina.
43. Brooklyn Nets: Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s senior big
There are likely some Nets fans who are also fans of the Red Storm who are familiar with Ejiofor’s story and game. After Ejiofor’s freshman year at Kansas, Bill Self told him he wasn’t good enough to play major minutes on any Big 12 team. Three years later, he became the unanimous Big East Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Tournament MVP, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year — the first player in the league’s history to sweep all four in a single season — and he helped St. John’s bounce his former team in the Round of 32 on the way to the program’s first Sweet 16 in 25 years. Ejiofor found success with foundational skills: motor, length, and defensive versatility. The question with Ejiofor is the fact he’s undersized for a center and his jumper is still a work in progress. But he’s developed enough to deserve a chance to figure it out in the league.
44. San Antonio Spurs: Rueben Chinyelu, Florida junior big
Chinyelu picked up basketball as a teenager in Nigeria, worked his way up through the NBA Academy Africa pipeline in Senegal, spent a freshman year at Washington State, then transferred to Florida and became the muscle behind a national title team. As a junior, he swept every major defensive player of the year award. The role he projects for is crystal clear: rebound, anchor the paint, finish lobs, and set the tone. The Spurs don’t necessarily need a backup center with Luke Kornet behind Victor Wembanyama, but Chinyelu would offer a different flavor in the rotation.
45. Sacramento Kings: Andrej Stojaković, Illinois junior wing
Stojaković is the son of three-time NBA All-Star and 2011 champion Peja Stojaković, and he certainly has professional DNA with his slick footwork and feel for the game. But unlike his father, who had his best years in Sacramento, he shockingly has a clunky jumper that needs a lot of seasoning for him to thrive at the next level.
46. Orlando Magic: Braden Smith, Purdue senior point guard
Smith left Purdue as the NCAA’s all-time assists leader, breaking a 33-year-old record. He’s arguably the highest-IQ player in the draft who could orchestrate an offense at the college level while also providing scoring off the bounce. Isn’t that exactly what the Magic need and were hoping to get from Tyus Jones? But the issue with Smith is the one every 6-foot guard faces: he isn’t a plus athlete, and bigger guards are going to hunt him the moment he steps on an NBA floor. That’s precisely why he is a projected second-rounder, but with so much length on the Magic it’s possible those concerns about Smith could be mitigated.
47. Phoenix Suns: Aiden Tobiason, Syracuse sophomore wing
Tobiason is a 6-foot-6 wing with a 7-foot-2 wingspan who finishes above the rim, racks up steals with his length, and shows the catch-and-shoot touch and connective feel to project as a 3-and-D wing. But his breakout sophomore year also featured a dip in scoring efficiency after playing a limited role as a freshman. He is testing the waters while transferring to Syracuse, so he could very well decide to spend one more year at school and build on the feedback he receives from NBA teams. But if he stays put, he has the personality that fits this gritty Suns group.
48. Dallas Mavericks: Milos Uzan, Houston senior guard
Having connective glue will be important as Dallas builds out the roster around Flagg, and Uzan is a high-IQ combo guard who knits teams together with his playmaking skills and defensive hustle. Those are the translatable skills that made him a fixture in Houston’s rotations for back-to-back 30-win seasons. But then there’s the nagging question about what he actually offers as a primary shot-creator and as a shooter. Uzan could’ve answered that question with a big senior season, but he didn’t take the leap that scouts hoped for.
49. Denver Nuggets: Richie Saunders, BYU senior wing
Saunders is a hard-nosed, two-way wing who plays with manic energy, hustling around the floor hunting for steals on defense and jumpers on offense. The team that gets him knows exactly what they’re gonna get out of him. He’s also skilled, though, with a quick-trigger jumper, soft touch on floaters, and a feel for moving the ball. That makes him an intriguing two-man game partner with Nikola Jokic. But he’s not a guarantee to succeed at age 25 after tearing his ACL in February, ending his four-year career at BYU.
50. Toronto Raptors: Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia senior big
Onyenso has bounced from Kentucky to Kansas State to Virginia, and finally found a home in Charlottesville where he turned into one of the most feared shot-blockers in college basketball. He had 21 blocks across three ACC tournament games, including nine against Cam Boozer in the championship. He lays a brick wall around the basket, though he has heavy feet when guarding on the perimeter and is still developing his offensive skill set. The Raptors need size though — that became apparent in their first round loss to the Cavaliers. Maybe Onyenso could end up filling that void.
51. Washington Wizards: Keyshawn Hall, Auburn senior forward
Hall has been to UNLV, George Mason, UCF, and Auburn, and at every stop he just keeps scoring as a 6-foot-7, 225-pound lefty wing by knocking down 3s and overpowering smaller defenders inside. But everywhere he’s gone, his defense has been shaky and his decision-making has left a lot to be desired. After bouncing through four programs without seeing those flaws get resolved, he’ll need to figure it out in the NBA. There’s certainly a lot of talent worth betting on.
52. Los Angeles Clippers: Otega Oweh, Kentucky senior wing
As a 6-foot-5 wing with a strong frame, Oweh became one of the best slashing wings in college basketball and had one of the great games of the season with 35/8/7 against Santa Clara in the opening round of March Madness with a buzzer-beater to force overtime. At the next level, though, he doesn’t project to be a primary creator because of his shaky handle and jumper, so the odds are he’ll need to adapt as a role player. Fortunately, he has a ton of those skills as a cutter, connective passer, and versatile defender.
53. Houston Rockets: Baba Miller, Cincinnati senior forward
Miller is a fluid athlete who grew up playing guard before a late growth spurt. He retained his perimeter skills given the way he can handle in the open floor and make advanced moves. He’s also an equally compelling defensive player who can switch across positions. The big issue, and the main reason why he has spent four years in college, is that he still can’t shoot.
54. Golden State Warriors: Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA senior forward
Bilodeau was one of the most efficient stretch 4s in college basketball. With his 6-foot-9 frame, he could bring real value with his size and spacing ability at the next level. But no one should mistake Bilodeau for Tyler, The Creator, since he rarely takes shots off the dribble or serves as a playmaker for teammates. He also struggles as a defender, which is truly the big question about his ability to make it in the modern NBA.
55. New York Knicks: Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt senior forward
Nickel has a flamethrower jump shot that Vanderbilt used in a wide array of actions to consistent success all season long. The questions about him are the ones every specialist faces: Does he offer enough other than shooting? Will he survive defensively? But anyone who shoots like Nickel and stands at 6-foot-7 will get a shot to make it in the NBA.
56. Chicago Bulls: Darrion Williams, NC State senior forward
Williams is a broad-shouldered wing with the versatility to run point or do the dirty work as a power forward. A lack of top-end athleticism puts him in a role player bucket, but he brings winning qualities. During a stretch in which Williams was struggling to score, his college coach Will Wade said: “What’d he have? Six rebounds, four assists, zero turnovers. Everybody needs to shut the hell up about him. He’s a damn good player and the shot’s going to fall.”
57. Atlanta Hawks: Trevon Brazile, Arkansas senior forward
Brazile was a projected first-rounder before tearing his ACL nine games into his sophomore year at Arkansas, and the next two years were spent rebuilding the explosiveness that made him a prospect in the first place. He finally put it together as a fifth-year senior with a career year by anchoring Arkansas’ defense. His long wingspan, explosive vertical, switchability, and perimeter jumper, all give him the potential to have a long NBA career. But at this point, he’s already 23 and still projects only as a role player.
58. New Orleans Pelicans: Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida senior big
Nelson is a 6-foot-10 athlete with a 7-foot-3 wingspan who feasts on lobs, rebounds in traffic, and disrupts everywhere on defense. He sets a tone any time he’s on the floor. After three years at Arkansas State, he followed his coach to USF and proceeded to put up one of the most decorated mid-major seasons in recent memory by becoming the first player in American Conference history to win Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year. Even though he lacks creation and shooting abilities, he made jaw-dropping plays at the Portsmouth Invitational, then earned an NBA Draft Combine invite, and now has a chance to go in the second round.
59. Minnesota Timberwolves: Felix Okpara, Tennessee senior big
Okpara knows his role as a player who protects the paint, runs the floor, finishes lobs, sets screens, and doesn’t try to be more than that. He spent two years at Ohio State, transferred to Tennessee, and helped take the Vols to the Elite Eight as their defensive backbone. He had four blocks in the Round of 32 with clutch defense down the stretch, then a 12 and 10 double-double in the Sweet 16.
60. Washington Wizards: Tobi Lawal, Virginia Tech senior forward
Lawal is a London-born forward with elite athleticism, but he didn’t start playing basketball until age 16 and it shows with his underdeveloped skills. He’s still figuring out his jumper and doesn’t do much off the dribble. But with NBA-ready hops and a strong frame, he has the tools to be a highly versatile defender who serves as a role player on offense.
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