The time has finally come for the 2026 NBA Draft. Well, technically, we still have one day until the first round of the draft, and these final 24 hours will be unlike any other in what has been an incredibly unique and chaotic draft cycle for what is perhaps one of the most talented draft classes this league has ever seen.
Between rumors being tossed around from team to team like a game of hot potato to more prospects canceling and declining workouts than in previous years, the 2026 NBA Draft class has been the most intriguing to try to solve. And, of course, that starts at the very top with the Washington Wizards not letting a single word slip through the cracks about anything they're up to since the lottery in May.
Hats off to Will Dawkins and Michael Winger for locking up all of their draft information involving AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer like it's in jail at Alcatraz. At the end of the day, nobody except those in that front office knows what they're going to do on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, and they've left both Dybantsa and Peterson feeling very good about their chances of going No. 1 in the draft.
Well, only one of them can be the first pick, which is why someone's dreams will be shattered, only for those dreams to be replaced by a major revenge plot to prove the Wizards wrong. And if you are the Utah Jazz, you couldn't be more thrilled that one of those players will fall right in your lap, ready to prove all other 29 teams in the league wrong and establish themselves as young All-Stars.
This year's draft is going to be epic.
Not only are we still waiting for that Giannis Antetokounmpo trade bombshell, which seems like it's been inevitable since the Milwaukee Bucks' offseason began, but countless other trades are expected to happen throughout the first round of the draft. If my math is correct, there were six first-round trades in 2025, and we could have even more this year.
More on the trade talks involving key talent around the league and draft picks shortly, but first, we are going to quickly touch on the latest intel surrounding the LA Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets, who front-office executives and scouts around the NBA continue to point to as the main starting points of this year's draft.
Previous ClutchPoints 2026 NBA Draft Big Boards: 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
Previous ClutchPoints 2026 NBA Mock Drafts: 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.0| 1.0
Clippers, Nets locked into draft plans?
Over the last week, and as we've reported on ClutchPoints, it has become very apparent that the Clippers have valued two guards above the rest of the field in this draft class with the fifth pick: Mikel Brown Jr. and Keaton Wagler.
Whereas Brown possesses a lot of long-term, star-like upside with his dynamic scoring abilities, similar to fellow Louisville alum Donovan Mitchell when he was drafted in 2017, Wagler is a terrific combo guard with an incredibly high IQ and understanding of where to be on the court.
Essentially, this debate for the Clippers, from the standpoint of other rival personnel who spoke with ClutchPoints, comes down to whether they want someone who can be an elite shooting option off the ball next to Darius Garland and someone who can be a secondary playmaker, which is Wagler, or someone who brings a rare combination of size and athleticism in the backcourt and can become their top scoring option down the road, which is Brown.
This is the NBA Draft, and you never know when a team will pull a rabbit out of the hat and completely throw everyone off with their pick.
Maybe this happens here with the Clippers, and they have stumped the other 29 teams around the league, but I don't see that being the case here. There was not an ounce of chatter surrounding the Clippers trading this pick over the weekend, which signals that one of these two guards is heading to Los Angeles.
Whoever the Clippers decide on will not only completely alter the Brooklyn Nets' draft plans, but it will also shape the rest of the top 10.
Unless something insane happens, Brown appears to be locked into being either the fifth or sixth pick in this year's draft, with both the Clippers and Nets holding serious interest in the Louisville guard.
The Nets certainly like Brown, and that's not a secret to anyone.
At the same time, it's been hard to get a definitive read on whether the Nets like Wagler, which likely points to why they've been hearing out trade offers for the No. 6 pick in recent days. Could the Nets actually trade down into the 8-12 range and grab either Nate Ament, Aday Mara, or Morez Johnson Jr.?
There is continued speculation that if Brown is off the board, the Nets could seriously pass on Wagler and take Ament, a guy they've been linked to for weeks, with multiple sources over the weekend continuing to say what we've reported multiple times leading up to the draft — that the Nets hold real interest in Ament.
Obviously, this is not entirely the same as last year, when it became clear that Egor Demin was at the top of Brooklyn's draft board, which is why they took him with the eighth pick. Then again, if LA passes on Brown and he's there for the Nets, the majority of league personnel who spoke with ClutchPoints over the weekend believe Brown would be Sean Marks' selection over Nate Ament and Wagler.
The Kings and Atlanta Hawks certainly hope this is the case.
That means Acuff would go to the Kings, and Atlanta's dream of landing Wagler with the eighth pick and him somehow falling to them would come true. Never say never, but I personally don't see how Wagler could possibly fall to the eighth pick with all of his talent and skill, especially since multiple teams outside the top 10 have interest in moving up for him and would be even more motivated to do so if the Clippers pass on Wagler.
As for Darius Acuff Jr. and him possibly being an option here, multiple sources continue to question whether the Nets actually want Acuff or if they want the Sacramento Kings to trade up for him. It seems the ladder is the majority's belief, and the Kings have not budged one bit. Scott Perry appears to be ready to call the Nets' bluff, especially knowing they have plenty of options with the seventh pick.
Circling back to Ament, he has drawn interest from both the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks inside the top 10, as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been attempting to package their 12th and 17th picks in the draft to move up into the top 10.
That sets the stage perfectly for our next bit of intel on what could be a flurry of trades made in the next 48 hours, entering the draft, especially given the impact of what the Clippers and Nets do with the fifth and sixth picks, respectively.
So… about Giannis Antetokounmpo
Not one person around the league who spoke with ClutchPoints over the weekend believed Giannis Antetokounmpo would remain on the Bucks' roster past Tuesday night, and that appears to be certain now with ESPN reporting on Monday morning that two finalists have emerged: Miami and Boston.
The Heat continue to be the team everyone points to as the team Giannis will be traded to, so what is holding all of this up? Well, Milwaukee has long been holding out and going back to Boston to try and see if they would offer a package centered around Jaylen Brown. Although nobody has seemed to get a firm answer on what Brad Stevens has been thinking, it now appears that a Brown-centric package is on the table.
This immediately makes the Celtics' package the best, as Brown cemented himself as one of the best two-way wings in the NBA and a true MVP candidate this past season. Whether he would stay in Milwaukee long-term or be traded shortly after is an unknown, considering the wide amount of teams who would be interested in adding Brown.
It really does appear that within the next 24 hours, Giannis will officially be traded. We could even see a very similar situation to when Kevin Durant was traded a season ago to Houston, and a handful of other teams were added to the deal for draft picks being moved and to consolidate smaller trades for cap reasons.
Should the Heat miss out on Giannis, and he is instead traded to the Celtics, then Miami would immediately pivot to trying to trade for Kawhi Leonard, as reported on ClutchPoints in April. Along with their Tyler Herro-Kel'el Ware trade package being offered to the Bucks, the Heat also have the 13th pick in this year's draft, which would potentially give Los Angeles another lottery pick.
Sources say the Heat want a decision on their Giannis pursuit before the end of Monday night, so they know whether they need to pivot hard before the draft to Leonard.
Trades, trades, and more trades
I highly, highly doubt that Giannis will be the only substantial trade we will see between now and the first round of the draft on Tuesday evening in Brooklyn, considering the names coming up in talks over Father's Day weekend.
In fact, we saw a trade made late in the night on Father's Day, as the Thunder traded Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks for two future second-round picks in a cap-saving move by Oklahoma City. This is an interesting deal for both sides, as it signals a couple of things.
Not only could the Thunder actually utilize both of their first-round picks if they wanted to, potentially looking to dump further salary down the line this summer with either Isaiah Joe or Lu Dort, but the Hawks added a talented, championship-proven wing who will certainly factor into the rotation right away.
The Hawks are certainly not done making moves quite yet and have been open to all offers coming their way for the No. 8 and No. 23 picks in the draft. Although it's unlikely the Hawks trade the eighth pick, multiple teams, including Oklahoma City weeks before this Wiggins trade, inquired about the availability of Atlanta's top-10 selection.
More questions about the Hawks' future point in the direction of Jonathan Kuminga, who is certainly not locked into being a part of the team's long-term core, and Zaccharie Risacher. While Risacher is unlikely to be moved right now this summer, his future is very much worth keeping tabs on with the arrival of Wiggins. Between his rookie contract and CJ McCollum's new deal, which can be traded right away, the Hawks have a lot of room to pull off any deal they want.
Could they maybe shock everyone and go after Trey Murphy III, another rumor that has suddenly popped up?
For weeks, the New Orleans Pelicans have been attempting to trade for a first-round pick. But they don't just want any first-round pick — the Pelicans want a lottery pick. There are several teams, like the Warriors, Mavs, Thunder, and Hornets, who have been willing to hear the Pelicans' pitch. At the center of all talks for these teams is the possibility of landing Murphy.
Since before the trade deadline in February, Murphy has been off-limits in trades unless an insanely high asking price of multiple first-round picks and a young, rising talent was met.
While this price has dropped slightly due to the Pelicans looking to acquire a lottery pick and being the ones to initiate trade conversations, New Orleans still wants multiple valuable assets if it is to consider trading Murphy before or during the draft. Murphy remains the most coveted player by rival teams on the Pelicans' roster.
In addition to holding interest in Nate Ament if they were to move into the lottery, sources say the Pelicans also hold real interest in Cameron Carr. One year after trading their 2026 first-round pick to draft Derik Queen, the Pelicans are now trying to leverage future assets again for a long-term building block in the draft.
Other trade rumors around the league leading up to the draft and the start of free agency in roughly a week point to Chicago and Charlotte with Josh Giddey and Miles Bridges, respectively.
The Bulls have been willing to hear offers coming their way all offseason, including teams inquiring about Giddey's potential availability, but I have not received any signals that Chicago is fully open to trading him. Giddey just signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Bulls last offseason. Then again, keep in mind that the deal was given to him by the old Bulls' front office, and the team could easily address their backcourt with the No. 15 pick.
Bridges is entering the final year of his contract at $22.8 million, and there is a growing belief among league personnel that he will be traded this summer. That speculation will only rise if the Hornets make two selections with the No. 14 and No. 18 picks, one of which will very likely be a forward, which would likely be a long-term replacement for the 28-year-old.
And of course, amid all the talk surrounding players emerging in trade rumors, there are plenty of draft picks that could be on the move.
Even though the Hawks keep signaling that they are very confident there will be multiple options for them with the eighth pick, I also wouldn't rule them out from making a late draft-night deal, especially if Brown, Wagler, and Acuff are all off the board. But there is another team in the top 10 that is more likely to make a trade.
All the talk throughout the weekend is that one of the teams in the top 10 is preparing to make a trade. A lot of fingers are being pointed at Dallas with the No. 9 pick, and I tend to agree based on my conversations and who is looking to move up in, as well as into, the lottery. Then again, they just hired Dusty May as their head coach on Monday, and the talk around the league has shifted to Dallas potentially keeping this pick to take Aday Mara.
The Mavericks have been shopping Daniel Gafford in trade talks over the last week to try to jump from No. 30 in the draft into the top 20. Toronto (No. 19) was linked to Gafford back at the trade deadline in February, and Charlotte (No. 14 & No. 18) has long been said to want to add win-now frontcourt talents. Both teams could be in play for a potential Gafford trade with Dallas.
In the event Dallas still explores trade-down opportunities, Cameron Carr has been linked to them for weeks, and Labaron Philon Jr. is a new name league sources indicated as a target for the Mavs if they were to move down into the late-lottery/late-teens range.
In a hypothetical trade-down with Oklahoma City, where the Mavs land both the 12th and 17th picks, it's very possible Dallas could grab one of these players, along with one of the premier big men in the draft class, to eventually replace Gafford. Hannes Steinbach worked out for the Mavs recently and would make a lot of sense for them as a strong rebounder with the skills to develop into a stretch big man.
The Thunder have continued to try to move up into the top 10 of the draft, with rival teams expecting that Mara and Ament are their top two targets in such a scenario. After trading Wiggins to Atlanta on Sunday night, it makes sense that the Thunder would want to find another young wing like Ament to spend time developing behind the scenes on a rookie contract.
Other potential trades and teams possibly being interested in jumping around will be heavily dependent on who is available after the lottery and into the early 20s.
The Grizzlies have been open to exploring ways to move up and down from the 16th pick, and the Hawks are fully open to moving their 23rd pick for future assets. The Lakers are also said to be very open to trading the 25th pick in this year's draft. Then there are the Nuggets (#26), Celtics (#27), and Timberwolves (#28) — all of which have held dialogue with other teams about jumping into the top 20.
Interestingly enough, the Nets, who own the sixth pick, have been exploring ways to possibly acquire another top-15 pick in this year's draft. In the event that they do so, Karim Lopez is said to be another wing besides Ament that Brooklyn has been linked to throughout the pre-draft process.
This has a chance to be a very wild draft night with a ton of teams moving up and down just a few spots, and obviously, the big question mark is about whether the Pelicans can jump into the first round and shake things up.
And now, let's dive right into our actual 2026 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0, which is our final top 100 rankings of this draft cycle, full of all the latest intel surrounding those ranked as first-round prospects inside the top 30, with one day left until the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Previous ClutchPoints 2026 NBA Draft Big Boards: 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0
Previous ClutchPoints 2026 NBA Mock Drafts: 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.0| 1.0
FULL 2026 NBA Draft Big Board 5.0
1. AJ Dybantsa – BYU – Freshman [-]
Position: SF, Height: 6'8.5″, Weight: 217 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0.5″
2025-26 Stats: 35 games, 25.5 PTS, 6.8 RPG, 3.7 AST, 51.0 FG%, 33.1 3P%
While many are still creating a debate for the first pick in this year's draft, and the Washington Wizards haven't made it publicly known who they plan on choosing, AJ Dybantsa is still widely viewed as the obvious choice. This is a two-man race between Dybantsa and Peterson, but throughout the pre-draft process, Dybantsa has been the player who makes the most sense to immediately join the Wizards and make them a playoff team.
Between his athleticism on the wing and explosive scoring tendencies, Dybantsa would fit in perfectly with the Wizards. That is why he has been operating under the assumption that he will be the top pick, with sources telling ClutchPoints that Dybantsa left Washington DC fully of the belief that he would be the first pick in the draft on June 23 after a “perfect” visit.
Dybantsa has made it clear that he feels he has done more than enough to be the No. 1 pick, and he has been on the record several times stating how well he would fit in with the Wizards. His leadership, dynamic play, and offensive arsenal are exactly what the Wizards need at the top of the draft.
2. Darryn Peterson – Kansas – Freshman [-]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'4.5″, Weight: 199 lbs, Wingspan: 6'9.75″
2025-26 Stats: 24 games, 20.2 PTS, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 AST, 43.8 FG%, 38.2 3P%
The general consensus around the NBA is that Peterson will be the next player selected in the draft after Dybantsa goes first. However, there have been many wondering whether Peterson could possibly fall to the third pick or further, especially since he canceled his workout with the Utah Jazz and fully believes he is the No. 1 pick in the draft.
In the grand scheme of things, this really isn't anything to make a lot of noise about, as top draft prospects do this all the time if they believe they're a top pick. Ace Bailey did this a year ago, and he ended up with the Jazz, who did not care about whether they hosted him for meetings or workouts in the pre-draft process. The Jazz always take the best player who can set them up for the most long-term success, which is why it would be surprising if he fell past the No. 2 pick.
Availability has been the main talking point with Peterson due to his struggles to remain on the court at Kansas, but talent evaluators and NBA front-office personnel got the answers they needed as far as his mindset entering the league and his overall health throughout the pre-draft process. Not to mention, Peterson cleared the air on his cramping issues and what exactly happened that led him to miss time for the Jayhawks.
Nobody is concerned about anything long-term with Peterson, and he is the top guard on virtually every team's draft boards. His fit in Utah makes too much sense alongside Keyonte George in the backcourt.
3. Cameron Boozer – Duke – Freshman [+1]
Position: PF, Height: 6'8.25″, Weight: 253 lbs, Wingspan: 7'1.5″
2025-26 Stats: 38 games, 22.5 PTS, 10.2 RPG, 4.1 AST, 1.4 STL, 55.6 FG%, 39.1 3P%
Cameron Boozer moves up one spot in our final big board, not only because he's expected to be the third pick but also because I am not buying all the “small ceiling” talk surrounding him in the debate vs. Dybantsa and Wilson. There is plenty of room for Boozer to grow entering the NBA, especially since he is the youngest player in the class. Maybe he is not as athletic as the other guys, but Boozer is more well-polished and able to immediately help a team win right now with his high understanding of the game.
After all, Boozer won the Naismith and AP Player of the Year awards over those like Dybantsa and Wilson because of what he did on the court and how he led his team to being one of the best in the nation. There is no doubt in my mind that he can do the same at the NBA level.
Unlike Dybantsa and Wilson, who use their athleticism and length to their advantage, making them high-potential prospects, Boozer simply uses his skill and high basketball IQ to get to his spots and outplay his opponents. This is especially true on offense when Boozer gets the ball in the low post, as his footwork and knowledge of being a playmaker and willing passer make him an all-around offensive threat.
Cam Boozer pro lane agility drill at the NBA draft combine pic.twitter.com/5shaRwG6Gt
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 12, 2026
Boozer plays really well as a screen and roller on the perimeter, and he simply makes sound decisions with the ball in his hands. Whether or not he can continue to grow and reach a higher ceiling was the major question surrounding Boozer entering the pre-draft process, which is why many viewed Dybantsa and Wilson as the better long-term plays in this year's draft. But make no mistake, Boozer can immediately join a winning team and help push them over the edge right away.
All indications continue to point to Boozer being selected before Wilson in the draft, with continued speculation on whether the Jazz would take him over Peterson with the second pick. Still, the overwhelming belief is that he will be available for Memphis, who should be thrilled to take him as a new cornerstone of their franchise.
4. Caleb Wilson – North Carolina – Freshman [-1]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'9.25″, Weight: 211 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10”
2025-26 Stats: 24 games, 19.8 PTS, 9.4 RPG, 1.5 STL, 1.4 BLK, 57.8 FG%, 25.9 3P%
There was some talk a few weeks ago about Wilson possibly being selected ahead of Boozer in this year's draft, but those rumors have subsided, and Boozer will be going third to the Grizzlies if he is on the board. Even so, the majority of the league still believes Wilson will be the fourth name called by Adam Silver during the draft, putting him in an advantageous position to become a pillar of the Chicago Bulls next to Matas Buzelis.
Between his length and pure power as a playmaker on offense, Wilson checks all the boxes for what teams are looking for in a modern-day, versatile forward. Although his 3-point shooting is not there yet, Wilson's mechanics and jumper are NBA-ready.
"I'll be stronger, I'll be more athletic and most importantly, I'll be mentally sharper"@CalebWilson2025 shares where he sees his game in 4 years 💯 pic.twitter.com/p8oY5IpabB
— NBA Draft (@NBADraft) May 13, 2026
What makes him such an appealing prospect is his size, athleticism, and long-term potential to become a top option on both sides of the court. Defensively, it will be interesting to see how Wilson holds his own in the NBA and whether he will get bullied by stronger, more experienced forwards, especially if he is to play the 4 a lot early on in his career.
There are plenty of talent evaluators who view Wilson as being a better long-term prospect than Boozer, while those same people will be the first to admit Boozer is more NBA-ready. Whether or not talent now outweighs long-term potential is the debate with Wilson and Boozer.
5. Mikel Brown Jr. – Louisville – Freshman [+1]
Position: PG, Height: 6'3.5″, Weight: 190 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7.5″
2025-26 Stats: 21 games, 18.2 PTS, 3.3 RPG, 4.7 AST, 1.2 STL, 41.0 FG%, 34.4 3P%
Lingering back problems led to Brown missing a handful of games at Louisville, including the team's final six games of the year. However, when Brown was available, he showed flashes of his pure scoring ability and overall offensive potential, scoring 20-plus points nine times during his freshman year, including a 45-point performance with 10 threes against NC State. These back problems are no more, and Brown is said to be 100 percent healthy entering the draft, making him a very strong option to be drafted ahead of Wagler.
Stunning performance from Mikel Brown Jr. in Louisville’s 118-77 win over NC St.:
45 points
9 rebounds
2 assists
3 steals
14-23 FG
10-16 3PT
7-7 FTTied single-game program record for points and 3-pointers. Set ACC freshman single-game scoring record.pic.twitter.com/SMem8aEetv
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) February 10, 2026
Both the Clippers and Nets hold serious interest in Brown with the fifth and sixth picks in the draft, respectively, which has led many to believe he will be a top-six pick in the draft. As previously mentioned, he is the favorite to go sixth should LA favor Wagler instead.
With size at either guard position and the ability to not only be a primary playmaker but ultimately become his team's leading scorer, Brown could fill a lot of holes for either team linked to him entering the NBA Draft. Although the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks hold interest in Brown, he is not expected to be on the board by the time those two teams pick at the end of the top 10.
6. Keaton Wagler – Illinois – Freshman [-1]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'5″, Weight: 188 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.25″
2025-26 Stats: 37 games, 17.9 PTS, 5.1 RPG, 4.2 AST, 44.5 FG%, 39.7 3P%
While he was not necessarily expected to be a high-level one-and-done guard, Keaton Wagler's breakout freshman year at Illinois put him on the map for talent evaluators. Wagler is not only a great ball-handler and passer, but his perimeter game and ability to spread a defense out are what have many around the NBA believing he can be a lead guard for years to come. He is much better at the point guard position than playing off the ball, and that's simply because he elevates the play of those around him with the attention he draws as a driver.
Unlike other guards in this class, Wagler is not the most athletic, nor is he the type of player who will consistently light up the box score as his team's top scoring option. However, Wagler does all the little things like opening up high-percentage looks for his teammates, crashing the glass, and playing a very unselfish brand of basketball. Amid all the talent on Illinois' roster this season, Wagler was the catalyst behind their offense being one of the best in the country.
There are still plenty around the league who believe Wagler is the next best player in this year's class behind the top four, which is why the Clippers, with the fifth pick, remain a strong possibility. However, should the Clippers pass on him, the draft becomes very interesting considering several teams have trade-up interest in him, and the Hawks are viewed as his floor with the eighth pick.
7. Darius Acuff Jr. – Arkansas – Freshman [-1]
Position: PG, Height: 6'2″, Weight: 186 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.5″
2025-26 Stats: 36 games, 23.5 PTS, 3.1 RPG, 6.4 AST, 48.4 FG%, 44.0 3P%
The belief around the NBA is that the Clippers and Nets both aren't serious about drafting Darius Acuff Jr. and have been attempting to get the Kings to relinquish assets and move up for the name at the top of their board. This strategy has not worked, and it is a very real possibility that Acuff will be available for the Kings after all. He is not falling past the seventh pick, as the Kings would be thrilled to have this scenario play out for them on Tuesday night.
No player was drawing more attention down the final weeks of the college season and into the NCAA Tournament than Acuff, and that is because of his outstanding offensive play. Acuff averaged 28.4 points per game over his final 14 games of the season, including a 49-point performance in a double-overtime loss to Alabama and a 36-point performance to get Arkansas past High Point and advance to the Sweet 16. When it comes to scoring from anywhere on the court, Acuff ranks at the top of the list among this year's draft prospects.
DARIUS ACUFF IS LIKE THAT 🔥
Acuff finished with 36 points as Arkansas knocked off High Point to advance to the Sweet 16 pic.twitter.com/KtIYgPaySI
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) March 22, 2026
Acuff is a three-level scorer who plays well above his listed height, and he simply controls the flow of the game. He can change speeds and take care of the ball off screens, and outside of getting to the rim with ease, Acuff is a much better facilitator and passer than many tend to give him credit for. After all, he did average 6.4 assists as a freshman, and his 2.2 turnovers per game really aren't all that bad considering his workload. While he has proven to be elite on offense, teams want to see this same determination and drive to win on defense.
No team needs this type of rising star in their backcourt more than Sacramento.
8. Brayden Burries – Arizona – Freshman [-]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'3.75″, Weight: 215 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6″
2025-26 Stats: 39 games, 16.1 PTS, 4.9 RPG, 2.4 AST, 1.5 STL, 49.1 FG%, 39.1 3P%
Brayden Burries is a sure thing lottery pick. Where he ends up in the lottery, though, is a mystery. Interest in Burries starts with the Hawks at the eighth pick and moves through Dallas (No. 9), Milwaukee (No. 10), Golden State (No. 11), and Oklahoma City (No. 12). He is expected to land with one of these five teams, unless someone trades up for the Arizona guard.
Despite being an older freshman prospect, Burries checks off all the boxes for being able to enter the NBA and contribute in many different ways right away. While Burries led the Arizona Wildcats in scoring as a freshman, he doesn't necessarily project to be the same-level scorer that evaluators see in other guards like Peterson and Acuff. Instead, Burries is viewed as the best do-it-all guard prospect who is comfortable playing on or off the ball, especially when it comes to his spot-up 3-point shooting.
If he is available for the Warriors with the 11th pick, it is hard to envision a scenario where they would pass on him. Keep an eye on Burries being a dark-horse candidate for the Hawks with the No. 8 pick if their top choices are between Flemings and Mara.
9. Kingston Flemings – Houston – Freshman [-]
Position: PG, Height: 6'2.5″, Weight: 183 lbs, Wingspan: 6'3.5″
2025-26 Stats: 37 games, 16.1 PTS, 4.1 RPG, 5.2 AST, 1.5 STL, 47.6 FG%, 38.7 3P%
In any other draft, Flemings would be a top-five pick. However, with all the guard talent and long-term potential inside the top 10 of this year's draft, there is a chance Flemings is the fourth or fifth guard off the board. He has drawn interest from every team in the 5-to-10 region of this year's draft, with the Hawks, Mavericks, and Bucks being his likely landing spots. Milwaukee is viewed as Flemings' floor in the draft.
However, many have wondered if the Hawks would favor Flemings over Aday Mara or the possibility of moving down, and sources have indicated that the Mavs do not hold much interest in Flemings, valuing other guards in the class above him. It is possible this high-level guard could fall right into the Bucks' open arms.
What makes Flemings unique is his explosive and dynamic play as a lead guard who creates an abundance of space on the court. Flemings has natural driving instincts, especially going to his right, and he is very comfortable pulling up off the dribble to knock down mid-range shots. There is something about watching Flemings that just looks appealing, as his overall feel for how to attack downhill on offense and create confusion among his defenders is what makes him one of the better lead guards in this draft class.
10. Aday Mara – Michigan – Junior [+2]
Position: C, Height: 7'3″, Weight: 260 lbs, Wingspan: 7'6″
2025-26 Stats: 40 games, 12.1 PTS, 6.8 RPG, 2.4 AST, 2.6 BLK, 66.8 FG%, 30.0 3P%
Mara was one of the main reasons the Michigan Wolverines won the national championship this year, and he solidified himself as the best center in this draft class who is a sure-thing lottery pick. The Hawks, Warriors, and Thunder are the most frequently mentioned teams for Mara in this year's lottery, but after hiring Dusty May as their head coach on Monday morning, the Mavs are beginning to pop up in talks surrounding the Michigan center.
After all, May turned Mara into a bona fide lottery pick after being a forgotten draft prospect at UCLA. If anyone can get the most out of him at the NBA level, it's May, and the Mavericks are open for business when it comes to making trades this offseason, which points to an uncertain future for Daniel Gafford.
Aday Mara in the pro lane agility drill. Moves his feet pretty well at 7'3… pic.twitter.com/afmVnYx8EC
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 12, 2026
Mara became one of the nation's best rim protectors, standing at 7'3″ with a reported 7'7″ wingspan, but he is more than a center like Zach Edey, who simply operates space in the paint. The Michigan product is a skilled big man with a high IQ when it comes to helping make plays for others. His passing skills are severely underrated, and there's potential for him to grow into an all-around center like Marc Gasol should his perimeter game develop more.
Shot-blocking, high IQ plays when it comes to passing at center, and the potential to develop an outside game are what any team will get with Mara. While there are some limitations when it comes to athleticism and endurance, as expected with a 7-footer, Mara finds himself as the best center on our NBA Draft Big Board. There have been some whispers of a minor blip in Mara's medicals, but nothing that would drastically see him slip in the draft.
11. Yaxel Lendeborg – Michigan – Senior [-]
Position: PF, Height: 6'8.75″, Weight: 241 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2.25″
2025-26 Stats: 40 games, 15.1 PTS, 6.8 RPG, 3.2 AST, 1.2 BLK, 51.5 FG%, 37.2 3P%
What is there not to like about Yaxel Lendeborg? He gives it his all in every position, he will play through an injury, he can do a little bit of everything on the floor, and the 23-year-old always puts his teammates' success ahead of his own. Lendeborg even said on the NBA Draft Combine broadcast that he thinks Morez Johnson Jr. will be the best draft prospect between him and Aday Mara among the three Michigan stars.
Lendeborg's charisma, two-way play, and basketball IQ make him a high-level prospect despite being 23 years old and turning 24 by the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. Fresh off leading the Michigan Wolverines to a championship, Lendeborg will be the first senior taken in this year's draft, but it's possible he could wind up slipping slightly due to guards being prioritized at the top of the draft board for teams.
His range is viewed as late lottery to one of the first few picks outside of the lottery. The Thunder, Warriors, and Hornets all hold strong interest in Lendeborg. If players like Mara and Ament fall out of the top 10, this will directly impact Lendeborg and where he evidently falls. Out of the three teams mentioned, Charlotte seems to have the most interest in him.
San Antonio and Detroit were mentioned as teams early in the pre-draft process with interest in moving up for Lendeborg, but there has been no talk of this as of late.
12. Nate Ament – Tennessee – Freshman [-2]
Position: SF, Height: 6'9.5″, Weight: 211 lbs, Wingspan: 6'11.5″
2025-26 Stats: 35 games, 16.7 PTS, 6.3 RPG, 2.3 AST, 39.9 FG%, 33.3 3P%
Ament is a very interesting draft prospect to discuss because he is not as NBA-ready as other top-10 prospects in this draft class, and there is a learning curve he will need to overcome regarding decision-making as an all-around offensive threat. At the same time, he has already shown flashes of his pure scoring potential, as his size and skill as a mid-range shooter off the dribble are very appealing, which is why interest in Ament exists from the Nets, Mavs, Warriors, and Thunder.
It is hard to find wings and forwards of his size with natural scoring abilities, which is why Ament is viewed as a long-term, high-potential prospect. But will teams be willing to gamble on him with a top-10 pick knowing that he probably isn't ready to contribute right away as a rookie?
There is no doubt that Ament will be a lottery pick, and should he fall past the Milwaukee Bucks with the 10th pick, there will be multiple teams attempting to move up and grab the 19-year-old wing. Keep an eye on the Thunder possibly trading up for Ament, assuming he doesn't go sixth to the Nets in a move that would shake things up in the first round.
13. Morez Johnson Jr. – Michigan – Sophomore [-]
Position: PF/C, Height: 6'9″, Weight: 251 lbs, Wingspan: 7'3.5″
2025-26 Stats: 40 games, 13.1 PTS, 7.3 RPG, 1.1 BLK, 62.3 FG%, 34.3 3P%
One of the biggest risers during the second half of the collegiate season and a player who could wind up sneaking into the back half of the lottery in this year's draft is Morez Johnson Jr. Next to Lendeborg and Mara at Michigan, Johnson helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship with his toughness and physical play in the paint. A lot of scouts are comparing his brute-like force on the glass and defensively to Isaiah Stewart and Derrick Favors.
There is a lot to like about the energy Johnson brings to the court, and he operates as an igniter on defense. Whether it is creating second-chance scoring opportunities on the glass, backing down his opponents in the low post, or setting hard screens on the perimeter, Johnson is agile enough to move around and operate in space. He even shot 34.3% from deep on 35 shot attempts after not attempting a single triple in his freshman season at Illinois.
Johnson has been linked to the Warriors, Hornets, and Bulls the most over the last week. If the Heat make a selection with the 13th pick, which is possible should they swing and miss on Giannis, he could make a lot of sense for them next to Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt.
14. Cameron Carr – Baylor – Sophomore [-]
Position: SG, Height: 6'4.5″, Weight: 184 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0.75″
2025-26 Stats: 34 games, 18.9 PTS, 5.8 RPG, 2.6 AST, 1.3 BLK, 49.4 FG%, 37.4 3P%
No player at the NBA Draft Combine helped himself more than Cameron Carr. Not only did he essentially measure true to his 6'5″ frame and 7'1″ wingspan before the combine, but Carr dropped 30 points on 6-of-12 from 3-point range in his only scrimmage before shutting things down. Carr was clearly the best player on the court, and now there is real hype about him being locked into the top 20, potentially even rising into the lottery.
Baylor's Cameron Carr went OFF in the NBA draft combine scrimmage:
30 PTS | 9-18 FG | 6-12 3PT | 7 REB pic.twitter.com/nFc3R4H9Bq
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) May 13, 2026
Under Scott Drew at Baylor, Carr became one of the best scoring wings in the Big 12 and proved to be a shot-maker with the ball in his hands. He is one of the more underrated perimeter players in this year's draft, and it's not hard to imagine he could make a similar impact right away as fellow Baylor Bear VJ Edgecombe made with the Philadelphia 76ers this year.
Although he is not the same physical defender as Edgecombe, Carr's offensive game will allow him to see the court off the bench during his rookie year. In time, he could wind up making an impact defensively, especially when it comes to disrupting passing lanes with his 7-foot-1 wingspan.
The Bulls have known interest in Carr, along with the Mavericks and Warriors, sources said. Do not be shocked if even more teams express interest in Carr and attempt to move up into the late teens to grab him if he's still available. The Pistons, with the 21st pick, are viewed as Carr's floor in the draft.
15. Hannes Steinbach – Washington – Freshman [-]
Position: PF/C, Height: 6'10.25″, Weight: 248 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2.25″
2025-26 Stats: 30 games, 18.5 PTS, 11.8 RPG, 1.2 BLK, 57.7 FG%, 34.0 3P%
With 20 double-doubles in 30 games at Washington, Hannes Steinbach is preparing to enter the NBA as a rookie who won't face much of a learning curve since he's been playing professionally for years. Steinbach not only played in Germany before opting to come overseas and play in the NCAA, but he has also spent each of the last three years representing his home country in the FIBA U18 EuroBasket and, most recently, the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he averaged a double-double and immediately put his name on the radar of NBA evaluators in Europe.
It isn't hard to argue that Steinbach is one of the best offensive rebounders in the 2026 draft class, and these skills will translate over to the NBA level perfectly. Not to mention, he's extremely comfortable operating outside the paint, as he shot 34% from 3-point range in college and has a smooth-looking jumper. The German big man should be able to contribute right away during his rookie season and continue to grow as a defender — the one area of his game scouts visualize limitations in against quicker forwards in the league.
Steinbach is beginning to create chatter about him being a late-lottery pick, with the Hornets viewed as a strong landing spot for him with the 14th pick. The Bulls have also been mentioned as a suitor for the German center. Steinbach will be a top-20 pick, with the Raptors (No. 19) viewed as his floor, although he's likely to be off the board by then.
16. Labaron Philon Jr. – Alabama – Sophomore [-]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'2.5″, Weight: 176 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.25″
2025-26 Stats: 33 games, 22.0 PTS, 3.5 RPG, 5.0 AST, 1.2 STL, 50.1 FG%, 39.9 3P%
Another guard with elite offensive abilities is Labaron Philon Jr., and unlike some of the other guards ranked above him, the Alabama product enters this year's draft process already having experience from last year's pre-draft evaluation period. Philon returned to the Crimson Tide for his sophomore year, and he did exactly what NBA personnel wanted to see more of — aggressiveness on offense and the ability to be a floor general at the point guard position.
Although he is slightly smaller in stature, Philon's game is very similar to that of Nickeil Alexander-Walker's, and every team in the league would love to add that type of talent as a combo guard, especially after the Hawks guard took home the Most Improved Player award. Philon's defense does not get enough appreciation, as he will immediately help elevate his NBA team's defensive rating.
Philon is comfortable operating and shooting on the perimeter, and he doesn't have many limitations coming off screens with the ball in either hand. He also thrives next to another guard capable of creating for themselves. In a league dominated by guard play, Philon should be able to ease his way into his first NBA season on a team that fully trusts him as their lead point guard.
The Bucks, Heat, Grizzlies, Hornets, and Raptors are all known suitors for Philon with picks in the teens of this year's draft. It is worth noting he was one of the first 14 players to receive a green room invite to the draft, which is telling in terms of what teams think about where he'll end up.
17. Dailyn Swain – Texas – Junior [+3]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'6.5″, Weight: 211 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10”
2025-26 Stats: 36 games, 17.3 PTS, 7.5 RPG, 3.6 AST, 1.6 STL, 54.2 FG%, 34.4 3P%
A big criticism of Dailyn Swain's game last year, and one of the reasons why he wasn't on many NBA personnel's radars yet, was his lack of shot-making and perimeter game. So, Swain worked hard in the offseason, and he became a reliable 3-point shooting option while also proving to be the leader of the Longhorns' offense, specifically using his athleticism to attack the basket and set the tone on offense.
Compared to college, where he needed to fit into a system, Swain's game should translate nicely over to the NBA, where he can spread the court and play in more isolation sets.
DAILYN SWAIN WITH THE CLUTCH AND-1 FOR TEXAS 😱
They tie things up with Purdue with 11 seconds left!pic.twitter.com/vhaaoRSexF
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 27, 2026
The two words that describe Swain are what every team always wants late in the first round — athletic wing. With a high understanding of his skills and traits on offense, as well as a strong handle on the wing, Swain finds himself as an intriguing mid-to-late first-round prospect in this year's draft.
There has been very little chatter about Swain throughout the pre-draft process, which is why many believe he could have received a promise from a team with a pick in the late teens or early 20s. Many personnel believe the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 22 pick would be his floor.
18. Chris Cenac Jr. – Houston – Freshman [-]
Position: C, Height: 6'10.25″, Weight: 248 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2.25″
2025-26 Stats: 37 games, 9.5 PTS, 7.9 RPG, 48.5 FG%, 33.3 3P%
Chris Cenac Jr. has a chance to be one of the first centers off the board after Mara. Whoever drafts Cenac will be doing so for his long-term potential, length, and ability to get out in the open court as a center. Although he still needs to work on his overall feel on both ends of the floor, there is a lot to like about Cenac's ability to play above the rim and take advantage of smaller frontcourt players in the low post.
The best spot for Cenac to end up is with a team that already has an established winning culture and can devote time to slowly integrating him into the rotation behind an already established starting center. While potential exists for him to grow into an everyday starter, Cenac will definitely need time to develop compared to others who will be instant-impact rookies.
Many league personnel don't envision him falling out of the top 20 at this point, especially with several teams with mid-first-round picks seeking frontcourt additions. Should the Hawks pass on Mara near the top of the draft, they are viewed as an optimal landing spot for Cenac at No. 23 overall, possibly even wanting to move up for him inside the top 20. The Spurs are another team that holds interest in Cenac with the 20th pick, sources said.
19. Karim Lopez – Mexico (New Zealand Breakers – NBL) [-2]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'8.25″, Weight: 222 lbs, Wingspan: 6'11.5″
2025-26 Stats: 30 games, 11.9 PTS, 6.1 RPG, 1.9 AST, 1.2 STL, 49.4 FG%, 32.2 3P%
Karim Lopez has arguably the widest range out of any top-20 prospect on our latest NBA Draft Big Board, as he could realistically go anywhere from 10th overall to the Bucks to 20th overall to the Spurs. It is hard to pinpoint where exactly he will end up, with some teams high on Lopez's long-term upside and others not envisioning much changing as far as him only being a slasher and driver with a limited jump shot.
Karim Lopez erupted for 32 points on just 13 shots in a narrow Australian NBL win over Melbourne. The 18-year-old potential lottery pick closed out the game with a personal 14–2 run over the final five minutes to seal a crucial victory. pic.twitter.com/wGf0zpBJ2K
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) January 30, 2026
Every NBA team is always looking for length, athleticism, and versatility when it comes to the wing positions. That is exactly what Lopez brings to the table after playing in New Zealand, and the Mexican-born forward certainly has a chance to be a lottery pick in June. Although there are still some questions about his shooting abilities, Lopez proved to be a pure scorer on the drive by recording the most points by a draft-eligible Next Stars player in the NBL.
Every team outside of the Raptors with the 19th pick has been mentioned multiple times by league personnel to ClutchPoints as a realistic suitor for Lopez in the 10 to 20 region of the draft. Maybe Toronto is interested in him, too, but we have not heard such rumors.
20. Bennett Stirtz – Iowa – Senior [+2]
Position: PG, Height: 6'2.5″, Weight: 186 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6″
2025-26 Stats: 37 games, 19.8 PTS, 2.6 RPG, 4.4 AST, 1.4 STL, 47.7 FG%, 35.8 3P%
Bennett Stirtz should be the second senior to come off the draft board in June behind Lendeborg, and his story is remarkable. Stritz spent the first two years of his collegiate career playing for Northwest Missouri State in Division II before transferring to Drake, following his head coach Ben McCollum. At Drake, Stirtz broke onto the scene, averaging just under 20 points per game and shooting almost 40% from 3-point range en route to being named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
The sharpshooting guard then followed McCollum again to Iowa for his senior season, and Stirtz continued to put up big numbers, helping the Hawkeyes reach the Elite 8 for the first time since 1987. Everywhere he has gone, Stirtz has won, and his confidence is something scouts have been raving about. There is no shot Stirtz is afraid to take simply because he knows there is a good chance it will go in.
Bennett Stirtz goes back-to-back from three 🔥 @IowaHoops
📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/qyTaZDj0aC
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) March 6, 2026
Every team is always looking for guard depth, especially experienced players who can come into the game off the bench and be a reliable scoring option. Much like how Payton Pritchard was an older guard forging his role with the Celtics early in his career, Stritz could follow a similar trajectory for a team that isn't worried about him being 23 years old by the time the new season comes around.
On Thursday, Stirtz was a last-minute, late addition to the Warriors' already lengthy list of draft prospects working out, and there has been some talk about him being the Warriors' true dark-horse candidate in this draft. Although it's hard to see him being the 11th pick with the other talents who will be available, Stirtz is certainly an option for the Warriors if they were to trade down.
Memphis and Charlotte continue to emerge as landing spots for Stirtz as well, with the No. 16 and No. 18 picks, respectively.
21. Ebuka Okorie – Stanford – Freshman [-2]
Position: PG, Height: 6'1.25″, Weight: 186 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7.75″
2025-26 Stats: 31 games, 23.2 PTS, 3.6 RPG, 3.6 AST, 1.6 STL, 46.5 FG%, 35.4 3P%
Ebuka Okorie flew up draft boards around the league over the last few weeks, with one team that brought him in for a workout telling ClutchPoints that he was the best guard they saw. There is a shiftiness, craftiness, and confidence to Okorie's game that, at times, has flashes of a young Kemba Walker. This is not to say Okorie is the same high-level talent Kemba was coming out of UConn, but the Stanford guard has the quickness, shot-making, and playmaking potential Walker did.
As the youngest guard in the draft, Okorie's talent certainly stands out when he's on the court, but so does his immaturity as a shot-maker and facilitator. It will be interesting to see if a team invests in Okorie's long-term upside, as he is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in the class. Patience will be needed from any team drafting Okorie, as they will be doing so for his development and the future. He is certainly one of the better offensive-minded guards in the draft.
Keep an eye on teams like the Bulls (No. 15), Grizzlies (No. 16), Pistons (No. 21), and Hawks (No. 23) being suitors for Okorie in the 15 to 23 range of this year's draft, as he is attempting to stand out as the best guard in the second grouping of backcourt talents, which also includes Philon, Bennett Stirtz, Christian Anderson Jr., and Meleek Thomas.
22. Allen Graves – Santa Clara – Freshman [-1]
Position: PF, Height: 6'7.75″, Weight: 226 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0″
2025-26 Stats: 35 games, 11.8 PTS, 6.5 RPG, 1.8 AST, 1.9 STL, 51.2 FG%, 41.3 3P%
Although he was on the fence about staying in the draft or returning to college, Graves ultimately decided to turn pro, and he is drawing serious interest from the late lottery to teams with picks in the early 20s. A lot of teams are said to be interested in Graves' ability to contribute in many different areas, and his metrics are some of the most analytically sound in the draft.
There has even been talk of the Raptors being viewed as his floor with the 19th pick, although that is certainly contingent on what guards could fall to Toronto. The Spurs and 76ers are also viewed as prime destinations for Graves around the league.
It seems like every year, Santa Clara has a new NBA draft prospect who flies up draft boards throughout the season and during the NBA combine, like Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski in previous years. This year, that player is Graves, who plays in the low post with an incredible feel on offense and a smooth shooting stroke from the perimeter.
Graves possesses great footwork all over the offensive end of the court, and his specialty is getting to his spots in the low post and around the rim with his high-percentage floater/touch. More importantly, as it relates to the NBA, he is more than capable of spreading the floor and knocking down perimeter shots, including in pick-and-pop scenarios. That is why there is serious interest in him as an immediate contributor in the frontcourt off the bench.
23. Christian Anderson Jr. – Texas Tech – Sophomore [-]
Position: PG, Height: 6'1″, Weight: 180 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.25″
2025-26 Stats: 33 games, 18.5 PTS, 3.6 RPG, 7.4 AST, 1.5 STL, 47.2 FG%, 41.5 3P%
Christian Anderson Jr. may be the best perimeter shooter in this draft class, especially after shooting over 41% from distance while in an elevated role at Texas Tech. At the NBA Draft Combine, Anderson ranked second among all players by shooting 27-of-30 off the dribble, and his confidence from the perimeter was on full display. This is why multiple teams with lottery picks have been enamored with him.
There are certain tendencies Anderson displays as a playmaker and scorer that have some scouts believing he could be a non-lottery pick from this draft who ultimately becomes a star. Anderson has the quickness to get past defenders and get to the rim, he is extremely comfortable as a shooter, and he is a very sound pick-and-roll ball handler. While he may be smaller than most guards entering the league nowadays, Anderson can play with anyone.
As of right now, there is a good chance Anderson ends up as a top-20 pick for one of those teams, like Memphis or Charlotte, eyeing backcourt depth.
24. Jayden Quaintance – Kentucky – Sophomore [-]
Position: C, Height: 6'9″, Weight: 253 lbs, Wingspan: 7'5.25″
2025-26 Stats: 4 games, 5.0 PTS, 5.0 RPG, 0.8 BLK, 57.1 FG%
Jayden Quaintance is falling down draft boards quickly.
Multiple sources have told ClutchPoints that teams have been concerned with his medicals and injury history, resulting in him falling off many teams' draft boards entirely. Although there is a chance he could fall out of the first round entirely, I still think there is a team in the 25-to-30 region of the draft who would take a chance on Quaintance's long-term upside. After all, he was once a lottery-projected big man.
Health is a big factor in where Quaintance goes in this year's draft. Although Quaintance has drawn attention from NBA evaluators for quite some time due to his natural defensive abilities and length at the center position, he suffered a torn right ACL at the end of his freshman year and then barely played at Kentucky because of persisting problems. There is at least one prospect every year who slips in the draft because of health concerns, and this year, that player is Quaintance.
As far as talent goes, and assuming he can be his previous self, Quaintance projects to be an elite defensive playmaker with a high understanding of being a lob threat in pick-and-roll situations. There are a lot of similarities in his game to a young Robert Williams III early in his career with the Boston Celtics. But again, everything for Quaintance depends on his health and medical records.
Where he ends up is a major mystery, as it will come down to who feels comfortable enough to gamble on his medical records.
25. Koa Peat – Arizona – Freshman [-]
Position: PF, Height: 6'7″, Weight: 245 lbs, Wingspan: 6'11.25″
2025-26 Stats: 36 games, 14.1 PTS, 5.6 RPG, 2.6 AST, 52.8 FG%, 35.0 3P%
Koa Peat remaining in the draft was not a shock to league personnel, but the consensus was that he would have benefited from returning to college. Then again, Peat is represented by Klutch Sports, which always tends to find a destination for their clients in the NBA Draft and is said to be trying to angle Peat to the Philadelphia 76ers with the 22nd overall pick.
At this point, Peat is expected to be a late first-round pick, with some believing Denver or Boston would surely take him if available late in the first round. Another team said to have interest in Peat is the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 29th pick.
When it comes to physicality and strength, Peat checks off the boxes to be in the league right now. However, his jump shot will need a lot of work if he is to have a long NBA career. Right now, Peat is nothing more than an athletic forward who can run in up-tempo systems and create havoc in transition as a rim-runner. Peat will be selected somewhere in the 20s on Tuesday night.
26. Isaiah Evans – Duke – Sophomore [-]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'5.5″, Weight: 186 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8.75″
2025-26 Stats: 38 games, 15.0 PTS, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 AST, 43.3 FG%, 36.1 3P%
Isaiah Evans is viewed as one of the more NBA-ready draft prospects who can join a playoff-level team and contribute right away as a knockdown shooter on the wing. While his measurables and stature are similar to a skinny Brandon Ingram when he was at Duke, Evans' style of play is similar to that of Aaron Nesmith. It took him some time, but Nesmith developed behind the scenes and worked hard to become a 3-and-D wing before bursting onto the scene in Indianapolis.
Evans could follow a similar path, as he checks off the boxes to make a difference on defense, and he can be very explosive coming off screens and diving to the hoop. Of course, his high-percentage 3-point stroke also makes him an intriguing wing option for teams late in the first round. With 3-and-D potential, there will be a long list of suitors for Evans after the lottery.
Many have pointed to the Nuggets, with the 26th pick, being a prime landing spot for Evans, assuming he doesn't go earlier.
27. Meleek Thomas – Arkansas – Freshman [-]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'3″, Weight: 190 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.75″
2025-26 Stats: 37 games, 15.6 PTS, 3.8 RPG, 2.5 AST, 1.5 STL, 43.5 FG%, 41.6 3P%
Acuff was the player receiving the most attention for the Razorbacks, and rightfully so, but Meleek Thomas' shot-making and shooting abilities opened up a lot of space for his teammate to operate in. Thomas is an extremely strong shooter off the ball, and he ended up keeping his name in the draft as a one-and-done prospect due to the high potential he possesses on offense.
However, there are some questioning his decision-making and on-ball defense. As far as late-round potential goes, Thomas would be a fantastic high-upside, long-term option for any team in the 20-30 range of this year's draft. He would not have remained in the draft unless he were certain about his draft range, which is why one can concur that multiple teams have shown interest in Thomas.
The Knicks (No. 24), Lakers (No. 25), and Timberwolves (No. 28) have been the most frequently discussed landing spots among league circles for Thomas.
28. Sergio De Larrea – Spain (Valencia Basket – Liga ACB) [+2]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 204 lbs, Wingspan: 6'9″
2025-26 Stats: 67 games, 7.1 PTS, 2.2 RPG, 2.8 AST, 43.5 FG%, 39.5 3P%
Lengthy guards who can be primary ball-handlers and shoot from the perimeter are highly valued in the NBA right now. That is why Sergio De Larrea's stock has spiked, and he is now viewed as a first-round pick around the league.
De Larrea should immediately be able to enter the NBA and be a reliable 3-point shooting threat off the bench who checks off the boxes for becoming a multidimensional defender. His length and movement off the ball defensively are what make De Larrea capable of defending multiple positions.
At 6'6″ with a 6'9″ wingspan and the ability to be a true playmaking guard at either spot in the backcourt, De Larrea will have some teams fighting over him late in the first round.
29. Zuby Ejiofor – St. John's – Senior [-]
Position: PF/C, Height: 6'7.5″, Weight: 245 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2″
2025-26 Stats: 37 games, 16.3 PTS, 7.3 RPG, 3.5 AST, 2.1 BLK, 53.6 FG%
While it is possible he could be one of the first names called in the second round of the draft, Zuby Ejiofor may just be the prospect drawing the most interest out of any player in this year's draft class, considering that he's worked out in front of half the teams in the league. Ejiofor is a workhorse whose relentless energy and character make him an obvious fit for virtually any team's frontcourt.
Despite being viewed as undersized for a center in today's NBA, it is very possible he could hold a Draymond Green-like role for whatever team drafts him. After all, Ejiofor is a very solid passer, and he has no problem operating either on the perimeter or in the low post.
Defensively, Ejiofor is as good as they get in this draft class, which is why he is drawing late first-round interest from virtually every team in the 24-to-30 range. As an experienced 22-year-old big man, Ejiofor can enter the NBA and immediately contribute off the bench for a playoff-ready team.
30. Tarris Reed Jr. – UConn – Senior [-2]
Position: C, Height: 6'11”, Weight: 265 lbs, Wingspan: 7'4″
2025-26 Stats: 35 games, 14.7 PTS, 9.0 RPG, 2.3 AST, 2.0 BLK, 60.7 FG%
When it comes to big-bodied, bruiser-like centers who play above the rim, Taris Reed Jr. stands out as a first-round-rated prospect. At 6'11” with a large frame and 7'4″ wingspan, Reed is drawing the attention of New York, Boston, Denver, and Cleveland near the end of the first round, all of which are eyeing frontcourt depth this offseason.
Reed can be very hard to stop when he gets the ball in the low post due to his impressive footwork and patience. Not to mention, Reed is a very strong screener who operates well in pick-and-roll situations, especially as a lob threat at the rim. One of the more underrated parts of Reed's game is his ability to be a passer and make the right decisions from the top of the arc.
The only downside to Reed's game as far as the NBA goes is that he is not a modern-day big man who can stretch the floor as a shooter. All of his dirty work will come in the paint, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for a team in need of an athletic big man that can block shots on one end, grab the rebound, and then be on the receiving end of a lob at the other.
31. Joshua Jefferson – Iowa State – Senior [-]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'8″, Weight: 218 lbs, Wingspan: 6'9.25″
32. Henri Veesaar – North Carolina – Junior [-]
Position: C, Height: 6'11.25″, Weight: 243 lbs, Wingspan: 7'1.5″
33. Trevon Brazile – Arkansas – Senior [+2]
Position: PF, Height: 6'9.5″, Weight: 226 lbs, Wingspan: 7'3.75″
34. Alex Karaban – UConn – Senior [-]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'6.75″, Weight: 225 lbs, Wingspan: 6'11”
35. Baba Miller – Cincinnati – Senior [+1]
Position: PF, Height: 6'10.5″, Weight: 208 lbs, Wingspan: 7'1.75″
36. Jack Kayil – Germany (Alba Berlin – Basketball Bundesliga) [+1]
Position: PG, Height: 6'3″, Weight: 185 lbs, Wingspan: 6'5.75″
37. Ryan Conwell – Louisville – Senior [-4]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'2″, Weight: 215 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7″
38. Richie Saunders – BYU – Senior [-]
Position: SG, Height: 6'3.5″, Weight: 189 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8.75″
39. Ugonna Onyenso – Virginia – Senior [-]
Position: C, Height: 6'11”, Weight: 237 lbs, Wingspan: 7'4.75″
40. Jaden Bradley – Arizona – Senior [-]
Position: PG, Height: 6'2.5″, Weight: 205 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.25″
41. Emanuel Sharp – Houston – Senior [+2]
Position: SG, Height: 6'2.75″, Weight: 208 lbs, Wingspan: 6'3″
42. Dillon Mitchell – St. John's – Senior [-]
Position: SF, Height: 6'6.75″, Weight: 202 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.5″
43. Nick Martinelli – Northwestern – Senior [-2]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'6.5″, Weight: 224 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10”
44. Ja'Kobi Gillespie – Tennessee – Senior [-]
Position: PG, Height: 5'11.75″, Weight: 182 lbs, Wingspan: 6'4″
45. Braden Smith – Purdue – Senior [-]
Position: PG, Height: 5'10.25″, Weight: 167 lbs, Wingspan: 6'3.25″
46. Bruce Thornton – Ohio State – Senior [+2]
Position: PG, Height: 6'0″, Weight: 223 lbs, Wingspan: 6'5″
47. Felix Okpara – Tennessee – Senior [+3]
Position: C, Height: 6'10”, Weight: 237 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2″
48. Aaron Nkrumah – Tennessee State – Senior [+7]
Position: SG, Height: 6'5″, Weight: 189 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.25″
49. Tobe Awaka – Arizona – Senior [+2]
Position: PF, Height: 6'8″, Weight: 261 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2.25″
50. Otega Oweh – Kentucky – Senior [+3]
Position: SG, Height: 6'4.25″, Weight: 216 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8.25″
51. Izaiyah Nelson – South Florida – Senior [-5]
Position: C, Height: 6'8.25″, Weight: 219 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2.5″
52. Maliq Brown – Duke – Senior [-]
Position: PF, Height: 6'8″, Weight: 217 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0.75″
53. Tyler Bilodeau – UCLA – Senior [+4]
Position: PF, Height: 6'7.25″, Weight: 228 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0.75″
54. Tobi Lawal – Virginia Tech – Senior [-7]
Position: PF, Height: 6'7.25″, Weight: 214 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.5″
55. Tyler Nickel – Vanderbilt – Senior [-6]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 217 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8.5″
56. Keyshawn Hall – Auburn – Senior [-2]
Position: SF, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 227 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.25″
57. Kylan Boswell – Illinois – Senior [+1]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'1.25″, Weight: 226 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7″
58. Tamin Lipsey – Iowa State – Senior [+2]
Position: PG, Height: 6'1.5″, Weight: 200 lbs, Wingspan: 6'2″
59. Milos Uzan – Houston – Senior [-]
Position: PG, Height: 6'3″, Weight: 185 lbs, Wingspan: 6'5″
60. Quadir Copeland – NC State – Senior [+3]
Position: PG, Height: 6'5.25″, Weight: 205 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.75″
NBA Draft Big Board 5.0: #61-100
61. Graham Ike – Gonzaga – Senior [+4]
Position: PF, Height: 6'9.75″, Weight: 251 lbs, Wingspan: 7'5.25″
62. Darrion Williams – NC State – Senior [+4]
Position: SF, Height: 6'5″, Weight: 236 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6″
63. Noam Yaacov – Israel (BC Oostende – BNXT League) [+4]
Position: PG, Height: 6'1.25″, Weight: 185 lbs, Wingspan: 6'2.25″
64. Vsevolod Ishchenko – Russia (Lokomotiv Kuban – VTB United League) [+4]
Position: SF, Height: 6'8″, Weight: 190 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0″
65. Bryce Hopkins – St. John's – Senior [-9]
Position: SF, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 219 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.5″
66. Nick Boyd – Wisconsin – Senior [-5]
Position: PG, Height: 6'1″, Weight: 176 lbs, Wingspan: 6'2.5″
67. Trey Kaufman-Renn – Purdue – Senior [-5]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'7.75″, Weight: 241 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.5″
68. Jaron Pierre Jr. – SMU – Senior [+2]
Position: SG, Height: 6'4.5″, Weight: 200 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8.25″
69. Michael Ajayi – Butler – Senior [+5]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'5.75″, Weight: 228 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0.75″
70. Malique Lewis – Trinidad & Tobago (South East Melbourne – NBL) [-1]
Position: PF, Height: 6'8″, Weight: 209 lbs, Wingspan: 7'1″
71. Nate Bittle – Oregon – Senior [-7]
Position: C, Height: 6'11.5″, Weight: 254 lbs, Wingspan: 7'6″
72. Rafael Castro – George Washington – Senior [-]
Position: C, Height: 6'9″, Weight: 224 lbs, Wingspan: 7'1.25″
73. Tre Donaldson – Miami (FL) – Senior [-]
Position: PG, Height: 6'0.5″, Weight: 206 lbs, Wingspan: 6'4″
74. Jaden Henley – Grand Canyon – Senior [+5]
Position: SG, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 207 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6″
75. Peter Suder – Miami (OH) – Senior [+1]
Position: SG, Height: 6'3.75″, Weight: 213 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8″
76. Tucker DeVries – Indiana – Senior [+6]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'6.25″, Weight: 222 lbs, Wingspan: 6'9.5″
77. William Kyle III – Syracuse – Senior [+15]
Position: PF/C, Height: 6'9″, Weight: 230 lbs, Wingspan: 7'3″
78. Seth Trimble – North Carolina – Senior [+11]
Position: SG, Height: 6'1.5″, Weight: 201 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7.75“
79. Lamar Wilkerson – Indiana – Senior [+1]
Position: SG, Height: 6'3.5″, Weight: 204 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7.5″
80. Mark Mitchell Jr. – Missouri – Senior [-3]
Position: PF, Height: 6'7.75″, Weight: 239 lbs, Wingspan: 7'2″
81. Oscar Cluff – Purdue – Senior [-3]
Position: C, Height: 6'11”, Weight: 255 lbs, Wingspan: Unknown
82. Malik Reneau – Miami (FL) – Senior [-7]
Position: PF, Height: 6'7.75″, Weight: 238 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10.5″
83. Duke Miles – Vanderbilt – Senior [+2]
Position: PG, Height: 6'0.75″, Weight: 196 lbs, Wingspan: 6'5.25″
84. Elijah Mahi – Santa Clara – Senior [+6]
Position: SF, Height: 6'7″, Weight: 220 lbs, Wingspan: 6'11”
85. Cade Tyson – Minnesota – Senior [-4]
Position: SF, Height: 6'6.25″, Weight: 192 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.25″
86. Kowacie Reeves Jr. – Georgia Tech – Senior [-6]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'5.5″, Weight: 194 lbs, Wingspan: 6'10”
87. Xaivian Lee – Florida – Senior [-1]
Position: PG, Height: 6'2.5″, Weight: 178 lbs, Wingspan: 6'4.75″
88. Lajae Jones – Florida State – Senior [+9]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'7″, Weight: 220 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7.5″
89. Jaylin Sellers – Providence – Senior [-2]
Position: SG, Height: 6'3″, Weight: 201 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7.75″
90. Isaac McKneely – Louisville – Senior [-6]
Position: SG, Height: 6'4″, Weight: 195 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8″
91. Fletcher Loyer – Purdue – Senior [-3]
Position: SG, Height: 6'3.5″, Weight: 179 lbs, Wingspan: 6'5.5″
92. Ernest Udeh Jr. – Miami (FL) – Senior [+1]
Position: C, Height: 6'9.25″, Weight: 257 lbs, Wingspan: 7'4.25″
93. Wyatt Fricks – Marshall – Senior [+1]
Position: SF/PF, Height: 6'9.”, Weight: 210 lbs, Wingspan: 6'9.5″
94. Koba Keita – BYU – Senior [+2]
Position: C, Height: 6'8″, Weight: 230 lbs, Wingspan: 7'4″
95. AJ Storr – Ole Miss – Senior [-]
Position: SG, Height: 6'5″, Weight: 205 lbs, Wingspan: 6'8″
96. Tre White – Kansas – Senior [-5]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 210 lbs, Wingspan: 6'6.5″
97. Tre Carroll – Xavier – Senior [+2]
Position: SG/SF, Height: 6'7.5″, Weight: 235 lbs, Wingspan: 7'0″
98. Donovan Atwell – Texas Tech – Senior [-]
Position: SG, Height: 6'4.5″, Weight: 192 lbs, Wingspan: 6'5.75″
99. Josh Dix – Creighton – Senior [+1]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'6″, Weight: 205 lbs, Wingspan: 6'7″
100. Melvin Council Jr. – Kansas – Senior [NEW]
Position: PG/SG, Height: 6'3″, Weight: 179 lbs, Wingspan: 6'9.25″
See Brett Siegel's full 2026 NBA Big Board database here.
