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2026 NBA Mock Draft: Ballislife's Lottery Lock-In

Staff June 23, 2026Fact checked by: Sara Jane Gamelli Be First

How will the draft cards be shuffled in Brooklyn? Ballislife predicts the first 14 picks of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The kids are all right and then some. 

Kansas vs BYU NCAA AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson. 2026 NBA Draft
Photo Credit: (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) & (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)

The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled to go down at Brooklyn's Barclays Center over the next two days, beginning with opening round action on Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN). There is no shortage of talent atop the board, with the consensus top choice fairly split between BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson of Kansas, two fantastic freshmen who captured the imaginations of fans and scouts alike.

With the first 30 NBA dreams set to be realized on Atlantic Avenue tonight, BallIslife locks in the lottery, predicting and analyzing the fate of 14 whose order was decided by ping-pong balls several weeks prior ...

(Picks and analysis by Ronnie Flores, Sara Jane Gamelli, and Geoff Magliocchetti)

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Washington's fate seems relatively sealed: it has no plans to Apparate out of the top spot and has committed itself to four years and nine figures worth of Trae Young, perhaps a curious move considering they just let go of the CJ McCollum albatross. Such a large investment will likely keep them out of the running for Peterson, more of a pure backcourt talent, but makes them a perfect destination for Dybantsa, the prized one-and-done talent out of Provo.

While Cougar injuries prevented any lasting NCAA Tournament run, Dybantsa lived up to his massive individual hype, averaging 25.5 points on over 51 percent from the field, along with 6.8 rebounds. While certain elements of Dybantsa's game (i.e., perimeter shooting) narrow the gap just well enough for Peterson to make a case for the debut choice, his figure (complementing a 6'9", 217-lb. frame with a wingspan that stretches over seven feet) and athleticism should create some space that's been missing from the Washington post for quite a while.

It was particularly glaring in last season's meandering affairs, which saw the Wizards cursed in the rebounding department, where they finished dead last in boards let up. 

2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas

One could've called Peterson's apparent reluctance to meet with Jazz brass another addition to his rather surprising red flag collection, but it's not like there was a very recent historic precedent: Rutgers Scarlet Knight Ace Bailey reportedly did his utmost to fight off Salt Lake destiny, but the Jazz drafted him fifth overall anyway. There were a few issues there after that, and Bailey is an assumed part of a slow-forming future verse that received an upbeat in tempo with the trading for Jaren Jackson Jr.

Peterson meeting with Washington, and only Washington, was one of the final headlines of the pre-draft process, one that seemingly spurned the Jazz yet again. However, Peterson has since confirmed that he spoke with Utah leaders ahead of the draft (h/t Ben Anderson of KSL Sports), defying notions that he was trying to avoid the Jazz.

While Peterson was in-and-out of the Jayhawk rotation due to reported cramping issues ... which, fair or not, essentially defined his brief collegiate tenure ... he showed enough five-star flash to warrant elite pro consideration and establish himself as one of the finer athletes the upper echelons have seen in quite some time.

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, Duke

It’s incredible to think that come draft night, the most productive player in this draft will still be 18 years old, as Boozer turns 19 in less than a month. He lived up to expectations in his only season at Duke, earning NCAA Player of the Year honors one year after earning Mr. Basketball USA honors as a high school senior at Columbus (FL).

It says something that he joined all-time greats LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor), and Jerry Lucas as a two-time winner of the National Player of the Year award. Memphis should be ecstatic that he drops here to them, considering the string of bad luck with its star talent and NBA rule changes that place lesser value on its future draft assets.

It’s pretty incredible that Boozer recorded the highest-ever KenPom Player of the Year rating since the metric was introduced by that database, but even more so, just watch him play. More than analytics, Boozer wins, will handle the rigors of the NBA well, and is a high-character player. Keep in mind, the Grizzlies moved up to No. 3 (from No. 6) at the Draft lottery and are getting a No. 1-type pick talent.

Is he a generational pick? No, but Boozer will be more than a solid NBA starter for a long time and has one of the highest floors we’ve seen of any prospect in quite some time. What you see is what you get, and we see plenty of good coming out of this pick.     

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

A North Carolina alum serving as the Chicago Bulls' salvation? Tear it up, it's been done before! No one in Chicago, however, would likely complain about the derivative nature of such a scenario, one where the Bulls and Caleb Wilson are apparently smitten: Wilson met with the Bulls and only the Bulls as he made his way to New York and he's a rare consensus No. 4 that works about perfectly for a Chicago group that's seeking any form of clarity after a tumultuous season that saw them denied even their usual Play-In dwelling. 

A physical four that probably could've been a top-three lock if not for a late thumb injury, Wilson fills an immediate need for a Bulls group that's still reeling from 2020's mistake of Patrick Williams. It got to a point where they started taking on other squads' abandoned projects (i.e., Isaac Okoro from Cleveland, Guerschon Yabusele from New York) to atone for the Williams mistake, and Wilson, armed with a seven-foot wingspan and nine-foot standing reach, carries the best realistic possibility to end Chicago's search for a star.

5. LA Clippers (from Indiana): Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas

Last year's red SoCal point guard situation got so desperate that the Clippers had to turn to the efforts of the 2021 All-Star Game. The struggles of Bradley Beal and Chris Paul dug the Clip Show into an early hole that brought about an early cancellation, but they eventually made up for it by snagging Darius Garland as a cornerstone. While it sandwiched a disappointment in the Play-In Tournament, further good fortune came the Clippers' way when the lottery balls bounced in their direction, bouncing the Indiana Pacers in the process.

At first glance, drafting the similarly-skilled and sized Acuff feels like a redundant move with Garland in tow, but the Clippers are a rare lottery-dweller that is in a position where it can invest in the best player available rather than being beholden to an immediate need (even if insurance for John Collins in the post-Ivica Zubac era could be worth looking into). Acuff has a sterling two-way game that should mesh well with Kawhi Leonard and give the Clippers another backcourt scoring option to work alongside Garland and Bennedict Mathurin. 

6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

If Darius Acuff is off the board, going with Brown is a nice option for the Nets as long as his medical issues grade out okay. Brown missed 14 games, including the NCAA Tournament, with lingering back issues. The question is, for how long have those back issues been a problem, and how much did they contribute to his inconsistency at Louisville?

At times, Brown looked like a top-five talent in this draft with his versatile scoring skills and good positional size (reported 6’7"wingspan). How good a shooter Brown (34.4 percent as a freshman) grades out to be and displaying the ability to be a full-time ball handler in the NBA will determine his success.

Overall, it looks promising. His pre-draft portfolio has also graded out well with terrific workouts that seem to have made up for any perceived shortcomings that showed during his lone college season. There may be a few safer picks at this spot, but can Brooklyn pass on the upside Brown possesses?   

7. Sacramento Kings: Keaton Wagler, Illinois

It's clear that Russell Westbrook had a little something left in the tank in year 18 while Zach LaVine lingers on the California capital's payroll. But it's time for the Kings to find more concrete, lasting solutions, that render the recent successes of Mike Brown, De'Aaron Fox long forgotten  While trading up for Acuff is certainly a possibility, Wagler has a poetic and practical fit that franchises in such dire straits yearn for. 

Wagler was a four-star recruit who was but a blip on the recruiting radar, but he spent this season proving his doubters wrong. Such naysayers were served humble pie in the form of Big Ten Freshman of the Year and All-American honors, while he also prevailed in the vote for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award.

A player who has already faced such adversity could thrive in a consequence-free setting that Sacramento has generated with nary a playoff series victory in over two decades. He has a little more to prove with a 185-lb. frame, but Wagler thrives in the pick-and-roll and playmaking situations, areas where the Kings have left plenty to be desired.

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8. Atlanta Hawks (from New Orleans): Brayden Burries, Arizona

While it ended in first-round heartbreak (albeit against the newly-crowned champions from Manhattan), the Hawks are on solid ground after moving on from Young. They unofficially tipped off the offseason by re-upping with CJ McCollum and posted plenty of intriguing two-way talents like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson. 

It's worth keeping that theme alive in the draft, where Burries impressed in Tucson with a Derrick Rose-inspired game that got the Wildcats to their first Final Four in a quarter-century. His outside game (which saw him sink just over 39 percent with an extra point on the line) should also help the Hawks keep up their post-deadline scoring momentum that placed them fourth in the league in points from March onward.

As it seeks to take the next step of its postseason journey, Atlanta needs an intangible-laden x-factor that impacts the game from all areas of the floor. Burries was that for the Wildcats and could leave a similar impact for a Hawks group on the rise.

9. Dallas Mavericks: Aday Mara, Michigan

His stock is high coming off a terrific postseason performance, as Michigan captured the NCAA title, and he put forth a 26-point, nine-rebound, two-block performance against an Arizona team with some terrific prospects on its frontline. It’s unlikely Mara lasts too much longer after this pick, not only because the big man is back en vogue, but because Western Conference teams forecast the need to find ways in attempting to slow down the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama for the next 10 years if they have any realistic shot of coming out of the West. Dallas also reportedly brought on his college head coach, Dusty May, to succeed the departed Jason Kidd in the same spot.

He’s huge (7’3", 260 pounds, 9’9 standing reach) and a better athlete than people will give Mara credit for, plus his skill level means he’ll be the first true big man off the board in this draft. Mara has a good feel and has winning intangibles, but how well he makes up for his lack of foot speed and learns how to guard away from the basket in pick-and-roll situations will have a big impact on how much he plays. His size-skill ratio somewhat offsets his lack of defensive versatility, and how a team perceives the weight of each will determine if he lands here or slips. Our guess is Dallas won’t let him slip to Golden State at No. 11.

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Kingston Flemings, Houston

Oh, Deer ... the Bucks are back after finally getting the inevitable over with and trading Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee got itself a sizable haul in the blockbuster trade with Miami, headlined by Jaime Jaquez Jr., Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, and, perhaps, the most valuable brand of currency on the Association ledgers, three unaltered, caveat-free first-round picks. 

While time will tell exactly who prevailed in this trade, the Bucks, at the very least, placed themselves in a position where they're able to draft for both need and want at the draft. They can go for the latter at the end of the top 10, going with the downhill backcourt threat Flemings, one of the top athletes on the board, and a teenage talent that survived the relentless defensive rigors of a Kelvin Sampson system. The Bucks are building from the ground up after Antetokounmpo, but are at least importing a solid foundation from South Beach. Flemings would be a solid quarterback to lead the cause, especially with Taylor Jenkins taking over the antlered affairs.

11. Golden State Warriors: Nate Ament, Tennessee

The Warriors need a highlight in Stephen Curry's twilight, having struggled to expand their reign thanks to some drafted misfires in the backcourt (Jonathan Kuminga) and post (James Wiseman) alike. Such struggles have placed the Dubs in an uncomfortable spot where they're far too good for more ping-pong balls and probably multiple pieces away from hanging with the revamped West.

With that in mind, it'd be intriguing to see the Warriors use this pick on a developing project like Ament, whose anticipated tour as a Volunteer was marred by injuries. While he declined a workout in the Bay Area, San Francisco offers him a sufficient landing spot that allows him to hone his craft while contributing immediately: small forward duties are currently filled by Moses Moody, who has likewise hit a potential crossroads in his professional career. Ament's height and physicality could also turn him into a prime successor to Draymond Green, whose twilight is no doubt approaching as the Warriors try to extend this fun as long as they can. 

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from LA Clippers): Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

This is a pick from the L.A. Clippers from a trade that continues to bear fruit and helped turn OKC into a perennial contender. Let’s face it, the Thunder don’t need much help via the draft choosing at the back end of the lottery. But this solid frontcourt player gives the Thunder what it needs: a rugged post man with functional skills who plays bigger than his height, who won’t expect to see the ball much.

Lendeborg brings intensity, the ability to be coached up, and depth and muscle to a frontline that clearly needs help to get past San Antonio in the coming seasons. OKC needs frontcourt muscle and talent right now to get over the hump and help take some of the defensive pressure off third-team All-NBA pick Chet Holmgren.

What other teams might view as a limited ceiling because of his age (24 in September) is just what the doctor ordered for OKC. The Thunder need the best fit and best available player who is physically strong and going to enter his prime soon, not a teenage project with more “upside”. Keep in mind, the Thunder could package this pick with No. 17 to go after a bigger fish.

13. Milwaukee Bucks (from Miami): Karim Lopez, Mexico

The Bucks found Heaven in mid-first-round purgatory with an international-born prospect back in 2013. It'd only be appropriate if lightning struck twice upon Antetokounmpo taking his talents to South Beach. Lopez, one of the draft's hyped international prospects, has made a name for himself with the New Zealand Breakers of Oceania's National Basketball League.

Antetokounmpo has two inches and just about 20 lbs. on Lopez, but they already have a spell option for the departed Greek Freak in the form of Myles Turner, should they choose to press forward. Lopez is still armed with a seven-foot wingspan and can force his way into the post to get the easy points, generating such a reputation while guiding the Breakers to a win in the NBL Ignite Cup.

With scouts comparing his game to that of champion Aaron Gordon, Lopez's downhill game and professional experience make him a reason to stick around after the top ten, and he could prove to be a strong complementary piece for the new-look Bucks, who figure to otherwise rely on backcourt men stationed in their 20s in the infantile stages of the post-Antetokounmpo era. 

14. Charlotte Hornets: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa

Once again, a professional draft features a significant bit of hype around a backcourt talent from Iowa. Okay, Stirtz is no Caitlin Clark in terms of game-changing (or league-changing) abilities, but can still make a difference for a Charlotte group that's simultaneously rolling on last season's post-break high that featured over 18 three-pointers per game (ex-Duke prospect Kon Knueppel being demonic from deep) while ruing its shortcomings in the Play-In Tournament. 

Provided the fading contenders toward the bottom of the first round (i.e., Golden State, Memphis) don't pry this pick away, Stirtz (who previously starred at Drake) serves as the perfect insurance policy that's often an unattainable luxury in Charlotte. The Hornets seem set up handsomely in the backcourt with LaMelo Ball and prized deadline addition Coby White. But the medical bug has followed Ball despite his success, while White seems destined to test free agency after playing an undeniable role in flipping the Hornets' fortunes. Even if he gets caught in a potential backcourt logjam, there are far worse fates for the Hornets, who could stand to have an offensive mastermind in their project cabinet.

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