2026 NBA Mock Draft: Uncertainty Reigns at the Top Amid Guard Prospect Debate
The 2026 NBA Draft is less than a week away, and intel from sources trying to decipher what teams will do on Tuesday is beginning to flow.
This draft is considered strong at the top and throughout the lottery, although withdrawals of college players lured by NIL riches have substantially hindered the class's depth. Most executives I've spoken with have first-round grades on about 20 to 25 players and believe the final 20 picks could result in some interesting selections. They say teams could be making deals with players ahead of time to lock them in on two-way contracts, as they see little difference in talent between players ranked from, say, No. 45 to No. 100.
A few notes before the mock:
• Each first-round pick features a link to the in-depth scouting report in my NBA Draft Guide on that player.
• Ages are as of the night of Tuesday's first round.
• Heights are from the NBA Draft Combine in May.
• NBA executives, scouts, agents, players and other sources across the basketball ecosystem were granted anonymity in exchange for speaking freely about prospects.
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | BYU
I'm sticking with Dybantsa here, but sources say Washington continues due diligence and the Wizards haven't made a decision yet. One thing that has become clear in recent days is that the team is doing extensive research into Darryn Peterson to understand everything it needs to know about him.
However, sources also said not to read too much into the fact that Peterson is not currently scheduled to work out for the Utah Jazz; they don't think that means the Wizards have made an undisclosed promise to pick Peterson.
Wizards president of basketball operations Michael Winger said in an interview with the local NBC station in Washington that leadership is an attribute he looks for in a No. 1 pick. Peterson is considered an exceptionally hard worker by all sources connected to him, but his leadership ability has been questioned, as he's regarded as a quiet introvert. Peterson is a stone-cold killer on the court in terms of competitiveness. But Dybantsa is viewed by NBA sources as a more dynamic personality with leadership tendencies, both in the locker room and in the community.
Elite tools for a wing; could easily become a top-10 NBA player.
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2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Kansas
The fact that Peterson has not yet come in for a workout will not dissuade the Jazz from taking the player at the top of their board. This was proved last season, when they took Ace Bailey at No. 5 despite him not going to Utah and with his camp seemingly working to direct him to Washington at No. 6.
Beyond that, there's an easy connection to make as to why The Team, Peterson's representation group, would be apprehensive about sending him to Utah. The Team also represents Jazz point guard Keyonte George, who is up for a contract extension this offseason. Whether it's wanting to avoid competition for George or using a potential Peterson visit as leverage for a George extension, The Team could simply be utilizing every lever in its arsenal to try to make both its clients happy.
Regardless, sources indicate that the Jazz are also undecided on what to do at No. 2. Do not expect, however, that connections to Cameron Boozer through his father Carlos (who works in the Jazz front office) or Dybantsa through team owner Ryan Smith at BYU will be the deciding factor here.
An elite shooter with All-NBA scoring guard upside, despite his strange Kansas year.
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3. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | Duke
If Boozer is on the board, I would be stunned to see Memphis pass on him. He ticks all the boxes that the organization has looked for in its draft picks over the years under president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman.
The Grizzlies have been consistently better at drafting than any other team in the league, having hit on Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer and even guys such as GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. beyond pick No. 20, let alone past lottery picks Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Typically, the Grizzlies like skilled players who produce well for their age and possess high-level basketball IQ, while also being extremely competitive. Boozer is elite in all of those categories. He is almost the prototypical player Memphis wants to build around as it enters a new era following the trades of Jackson and Bane.