Last Minute 2026 NBA Mock Draft

The 2026 NBA Draft is finally here, and after weeks of mock drafts, rumors, team intel, and last-minute movement, this is my final lottery projection. This class has a clear group of high-end freshmen at the top, but once the draft gets past the first few picks, things start to get unpredictable fast. Between the Clippers at No. 5, the mystery surrounding Brooklyn at No. 6, Atlanta’s options at No. 8, and Milwaukee now holding two lottery picks after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, this lottery could shift quickly. With all of that in mind, here is my final 2026 NBA Mock Draft for the top 14 picks.

1. Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU

Dybantsa is the safest pick out of the top three for me. He has the attitude and skill to be a future cornerstone, not just an important piece for a franchise that badly needs one. He gives Washington the high-end scoring wing this team has been missing. At 6’9, he has the size, athleticism, footwork, and shot-making profile to become a true first-option scorer if everything develops. His best flashes come when he is attacking in space, getting downhill, rising into pull-ups, or using his body control around the rim. The swing areas are his defensive consistency, shot selection, and playmaking reads, but the physical tools and scoring upside are too strong to pass up at No. 1.

Player Comparisons: Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Tracy McGrady

2. Utah Jazz – Darryn Peterson, PG/SG, Kansas

Peterson could be the most talented player in the draft. It feels like the majority of the concerns with him are off the court or based on fit, because on the court, the scoring talent is real. Peterson is one of the best pure scoring guards in the class and gives Utah a long-term offensive engine in the backcourt. He can score at all three levels, create separation off the dribble, shoot off movement, and punish defenses when he gets into rhythm. He is more of a scoring guard than a traditional point guard, but his passing is better than his role fully showed. The concerns are health, consistency, and whether he becomes a full-time lead creator or more of a high-level scoring two guard, but his shot-making ceiling is elite.

Player Comparisons: Devin Booker, Ray Allen, Jamal Murray

3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer, PF/C, Duke

It may be the Tar Heel fan in me, but I do not love Boozer as much as Cooper Flagg, Paolo Banchero, or some of the other Duke forwards who have gone high in recent years. That said, Boozer is one of the safest players in the draft because of his production, feel, strength, passing, rebounding, and overall basketball IQ. He is not the most explosive athlete, but he consistently wins with positioning, footwork, touch, physicality, and decision-making. Offensively, he can score inside, pass from the post, stretch the floor, and make the right read within the flow of the offense. His defensive ceiling is not as loud as some of the other top prospects, but his floor is extremely high and his game fits winning basketball.

Player Comparisons: Blake Griffin, Domantas Sabonis, Paolo Banchero

4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina

Call it my UNC bias, but Wilson is one of my favorite players in this draft. His confidence and overall go-getter attitude give the Bulls the easiest pick in this draft after the top three. Wilson has the tools to become a problem in transition, on defense, and around the rim. He is a long, explosive forward who thrives in space, attacks the rim hard, finishes above the basket, and has the tools to guard multiple positions. His defensive ceiling is especially intriguing because of his length, mobility, and playmaking instincts. The main questions are his half-court scoring polish, shooting development, and overall consistency, but Chicago is betting on one of the highest upside athletes in the class.

Player Comparisons: Kevin Garnett, Jonathan Isaac, Amar’e Stoudemire

5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois

The Clippers may have restricted this pick after trading for Darius Garland, but they still need another young guard who can shoot, create, and play off the ball. Wagler is a polished combo guard who fits well next to Garland because he can play on or off the ball. He is a crafty shot-maker with strong footwork, pull-up ability, touch, and pick-and-roll feel. He is not the most explosive guard in the class, but he wins with pace, skill, balance, and decision-making. The biggest questions are how much separation he creates against NBA athletes and how much defensive value he provides, but his shooting and feel give him a clear path to early minutes.

Player Comparisons: Jamal Murray, Austin Reaves, Tyler Herro

6. Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville

As always, the Nets are one of the more mysterious teams when it comes to draft intel. They could go a number of directions here, including Darius Acuff Jr., but for now I am sticking with Mikel Brown Jr. Brown gives Brooklyn a major upside swing as a shot-creating guard with real scoring and playmaking talent. His pull-up shooting, deep range, ball-handling, and ability to create offense off the dribble give him one of the more exciting offensive ceilings outside the top five. He had an uneven season and needs to prove he can stay healthy, defend consistently, and run an offense without forcing things, but the skill level is obvious. For a Nets team badly needing young upside, Brown is the type of bet that makes sense.

Player Comparisons: CJ McCollum, Darius Garland, Anfernee Simons

7. Sacramento Kings – Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

This scenario screams Kings if Acuff is still on the board. He could be a real steal for Sacramento, and it would not be a surprise if this is his draft-night floor. Acuff is an aggressive offensive guard who can give Sacramento the lead-creator upside it has been missing. He plays with speed, confidence, and shot-making ability, using his handle and burst to pressure defenses as both a scorer and passer. His best NBA path is as a high-usage guard who bends the defense, gets into the paint, and creates offense for himself and teammates. The concern is defense, especially because of his size and physical limitations, but if Sacramento can build the right roster around him, the offensive upside is worth the swing.

Player Comparisons: D’Angelo Russell, Kemba Walker, Jalen Brunson

8. Atlanta Hawks – Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

There have been rumblings that Aday Mara is drawing some interest here, but I still believe the Hawks go guard or possibly trade down. Flemings gives Atlanta another athletic, downhill guard who can pressure the rim, defend at the point of attack, and bring energy to the backcourt. He is not the most polished shooter in this guard group, but his burst, pace, strength, and competitiveness make him an easy player to buy into. He can run offense, attack closeouts, make plays in transition, and defend with more physicality than most young guards. The swing skill is the jumper, but his two-way tools make him a strong fit for a Hawks team trying to add speed and toughness.

Player Comparisons: Jrue Holiday, Darren Collison, Eric Bledsoe

9. Dallas Mavericks – Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona

Another worst-kept secret during my NBA Draft research has been Burries to the Mavericks at No. 9. From multiple accounts, he has been tied to Dallas early and often, and this fit makes too much sense. Burries is a clean fit next to Cooper Flagg because he does a little bit of everything without needing the whole offense built around him. He is strong, physical, efficient, and comfortable scoring in different ways, whether attacking downhill, hitting pull-ups, spotting up, or making the extra pass. He also gives Dallas defensive value with his strength, competitiveness, rebounding, and ability to guard multiple backcourt spots. He may not have the flashiest star ceiling, but his polish and winning traits make him one of the safest fits in this range.

Player Comparisons: Josh Hart, Gary Harris, Desmond Bane

10. Milwaukee Bucks – Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee

I will be honest, Ament has been a polarizing prospect for me. I love the raw upside and the idea of him being a high-ceiling swing for Milwaukee, but he also comes with real risk. At 6’10, he has rare shot-making flashes for his size, with the ability to shoot over defenders, handle in space, and create offense in ways most forwards cannot. The upside is obvious, but he is also one of the riskier lottery prospects because his efficiency, strength, decision-making, and defensive consistency all need work. Milwaukee is starting over after the Giannis trade, and this is the type of long-term bet that could pay off big if the skill package catches up to the tools.

Player Comparisons: Michael Porter Jr., Brandon Ingram, Peyton Watson

11. Golden State Warriors – Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, Michigan

Up until the last minute, Aday Mara felt like a real possibility for Golden State, but Lendeborg has been the pick that makes the most sense for me. He is the kind of ready-made connector Golden State can plug into a rotation right away. He is older than most lottery prospects, but that is part of the appeal for a Warriors team still trying to compete around Stephen Curry. He brings defensive versatility, strength, rebounding, passing feel, and enough offensive skill to fit into different lineup combinations without needing plays called for him. He may not have star upside, but his ability to guard multiple spots, make quick decisions, and impact winning on both ends makes him one of the safest fits in this range.

Player Comparisons: Kyle Anderson, Grant Williams, Jarred Vanderbilt

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan

Johnson has been picking up steam in this range, and it would not shock me if the Thunder are the team that stops his slide. He gives Oklahoma City another physical, athletic frontcourt piece who fits their long-term identity. He is strong, explosive, active on the glass, and has the tools to defend multiple types of forwards and bigs. His offensive game is still developing, especially as a shooter and self-creator, but he does not need the ball to make an impact because he cuts, rebounds, finishes, screens, and brings constant energy. For a Thunder team looking for more size, toughness, and playoff-ready physicality, Johnson is a strong upside fit.

Player Comparisons: Paul Reed, Precious Achiuwa, Isaiah Stewart

13. Milwaukee Bucks – Labaron Philon Jr., PG, Alabama

So much of this pick depends on who is still available, but I have Milwaukee going guard here after taking Nate Ament at No. 10. Philon gives the Bucks another young creator as they start a new era after the Giannis trade. He is a crafty guard with real handle, touch, passing feel, and the ability to create offense out of ball screens. He can score at multiple levels, get into the paint, make plays for others, and bring some toughness at the guard spot. The questions are size, defensive consistency, and how efficiently his scoring translates against NBA length, but his creativity and feel give the Bucks a guard worth betting on after taking Ament earlier.

Player Comparisons: Tyus Jones, Jalen Brunson, Immanuel Quickley

14. Charlotte Hornets – Aday Mara, C, Michigan

It looks like Mara will not last this long in the draft, but if he does, the Hornets should jump on him. He gives Charlotte a massive upside swing in the frontcourt. At 7’3, he has rare size, length, touch, rim protection, and passing flashes for a true center. He can alter shots around the basket, finish efficiently inside, and operate as a passing hub when defenses collapse on him. The concerns are foot speed, mobility in space, and whether he can stay on the floor defensively against smaller lineups, but players with his combination of size and skill are hard to find. If Charlotte wants to add a high-upside big next to its young core, Mara is worth the gamble.

Player Comparisons: Ivica Zubac, Jakob Poeltl, Marc Gasol

This draft feels like one where the first few picks could look obvious in hindsight, while the middle of the lottery could completely change the way we look at the class. There are future stars, high-floor role players, risky upside swings, and a few prospects who could make teams regret passing on them. As always, the draft is never just about talent. It is about fit, timing, team direction, medicals, workouts, and what each front office values most. We will find out soon enough which rumors were real and which ones were smoke, but this is the board I am locking in before the picks are made.