2026 NBA Draft Odds: AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer Favored as Top 3 Picks

The New York Knicks just wrapped up the NBA Finals barely a week and a half ago. Didn’t they just have the parade in NYC a few days ago?  Is it already time for the NBA Draft? Yes, and now it is time for the 2026 NBA Draft and our best bets and picks.

At times, the NBA Draft can be a lot like that reality show Big Brother. If you’ve never watched it, the show always encourages players and fans to expect the unexpected. Regarding the NBA Draft, that can mean several things. But for our purposes here, I’ll highlight one, Anthony Bennett.

(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

The Cleveland Cavaliers shocked the world by making the former UNLV forward the No. 1 pick of the 2013 NBA Draft. Such a possibility has to make you think a little about betting on someone other than AJ Dybantsa to go No. 1 tonight. But should you? Let’s discuss that question along with some additional NBA Draft markets.

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2026 NBA Draft Odds: Is There Value in Betting on Anyone Not Named AJ Dybantsa?

The short answer to that question is yes, but before I get into why, let’s take a look at the current odds at DraftKings for some of the top players:

• AJ Dybantsa (forward, BYU) -700
• Darryn Peterson (guard, Kansas) +600
• Cameron Boozer (forward, Duke) +4000
• Caleb Wilson (forward, North Carolina) +10000
• Darius Acuff Jr. (guard, Arkansas) +20000

At those odds (-700), there is an 87.5% chance that the Washington Wizards (or whoever has the No. 1 pick when it’s time to make a selection) will take the 19-year-old former BYU forward tonight. That means you’ll need to bet $700 to win $100.

But odds are driven by how the public is betting. For his odds to be so short, the public must be convinced he’ll be the first player off the board tonight. He was great in college last season, so it is not hard to understand why. However, is there a chance the Wizards pull an Anthony Bennett-type move on us?

There really hasn’t been any indication that the Wizards are leaning elsewhere.  Although Darryn Peterson’s name has come up (whom the Jazz are expected to take at No. 2), why would he turn down a workout with the Jazz? Could it be because he has reason to believe he could go No. 1 (he did meet with them)?

My NBA Draft No. 1 Pick Bet:

There is no reason to believe the Wizards are going to take someone other than Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick. However, at -700, I would not call him a recommended bet; it has no value. But why wouldn’t they take him? By his own admission, Dybantsa’s off-ball defense needs work; he even described it as “lazy.” He had this to say during a pre-draft interview when asked about what he wants to work on most:

“I would probably say off-ball defense. It was a little struggle this year at BYU, just getting lazy. I gotta put more effort on that side.”

Many people credit Dybantsa for his honesty, but acknowledging your shortcomings does not mean you can overcome them or develop into a player worthy of the first overall pick in the draft. The more the Wizards have to wait for one player to reach his full potential, the more of a chance there will be that current players will start to look elsewhere.

So, why not take someone like Cameron Boozer, who is younger, has won more, posted better numbers, has a solid two-way presence, and an NBA pedigree?

There are reasons the Wizards should go with Boozer over Dybantsa and Peterson, but I wouldn’t count on it. However, at +4000, there is value in betting on Boozer to go No. 1. If you’ve got a bonus bet or some form of first bet insurance burning a hole in your pocket …

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2026 NBA Draft Odds: the No. 2 Pick

Here are the odds via DraftKings for several of the top prospects to go No. 2 in tonight’s NBA Draft:

• Darryn Peterson (guard, Kansas) -250
• Cameron Boozer (forward, Duke) +330
• AJ Dybantsa (forward, BYU) +650
• Caleb Wilson (forward, North Carolina) +5000
• Darius Acuff Jr. (guard, Arkansas) +12000

At those odds, Peterson has a 71.43% chance of being taken with the No. 2 pick. That means you’ll need to risk $250 in order to win $100. But if you were to go with Boozer instead at +330 (23.26%), a $100 wager will win you $330.

Peterson has been described as the best scoring threat in this year’s draft. So, why isn’t he going No. 1 instead? The Wizards are banking on Dybantsa developing into someone with an MVP ceiling. So, why should Utah take Peterson at No. 2 then? Scouts view him as an incredible scoring talent and a possible cornerstone player.

But some have questioned his motivation and health (due to cramping issues). He only played 24 games at Kansas. Why not go with someone safer, like Cam Boozer?

My No. 2 Draft Pick Selection:

It is not going to shock me if it’s Peterson, but it sounds to me like Boozer may be the better bet. Someone who needs load management in college will probably need it during the much more grueling NBA season. He could end up being the kind of player you can build a franchise around, but not if you’re only going to get 60+ games out of him.

At -250, there is absolutely no value in Peterson. If you are going to bet on someone, give Boozer some serious thought. Like Dybantsa and Peterson, he has been a consensus top-three pick throughout the offseason. The same reasons I gave for him potentially going No. 1 could be applied to why he should go No. 2.

Many draft experts and mock drafts favor Peterson, but there is enough doubt to warrant taking a flier on Boozer to go No. 2.

2026 NBA Draft Odds: the No. 3 Pick

Here are the odds via DraftKings for several of the top prospects to go No. 3 in tonight’s NBA Draft:

• Cameron Boozer (forward, Duke) -260
• Darryn Peterson (guard, Kansas) +340
• Caleb Wilson (forward, North Carolina) +900
• AJ Dybantsa (forward, BYU) +2800
• Darius Acuff Jr. (guard, Arkansas) +6500

These odds give Cam Boozer a 72.22% chance of being taken with the No. 3 pick to the Memphis Grizzlies. Several reports have said that NBA teams are approaching the draft as if Dybantsa will go first and Peterson second, which leaves the guy many call the most polished player in the draft to go third.

However, if he is indeed such a player, why isn’t he going No. 1 or 2? Some people will argue that he should, while others will argue that scouts don't perceive his ceiling to be as high as Dybantsa's or Peterson's.

But that doesn’t mean he should go No. 3. He’s still a great choice at that spot, but those odds don’t make him an advisable bet. You’d have to risk $260 just to win $100. So, how should you bet?

My No. 3 Draft Pick Selection:

Boozer will be the No. 3 pick if he does not go No. 1 or 2. Dybantsa will go No. 2 if the Wizards don’t take him. Peterson could certainly go No. 3 if the Jazz take Boozer over him at No. 2. At +340, I would consider betting on Peterson, but I prefer the potential reward to justify the risk. So, I’d take Caleb Wilson at +900 instead.

Scouts consider him an elite talent alongside Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer. But not elite enough to overtake the others to go No. 1, and I doubt he could jump Peterson and Boozer to go No. 2. But there is value in taking him to go No. 3 (his odds to go at No. 4 are -750).