Sean Barnard details his full picks and predictions for all 30 first-round selections of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, with June 23rd marking a life-changing day for the incoming rookies. There has been plenty of buzz about this upcoming class, with several organizations going to some notable lengths to put themselves in the best possible position to maximize their lottery odds. With several foundational franchise pieces in the early stage of this draft and plenty of notable names deeper down, the 2026 NBA Draft class has a chance to be among the most impressive collections of talent entering the NBA in quite some time. This article will look at my prediction for each first-round selection, with plenty still shifting across NBA circles. While there will surely be some trades on draft night, for the sake of the article, we will make all 30 first-round picks as they are currently assigned.
You can check out my first edition of the 2026 NBA Mock Draft on DraftKings Network here. But with rumors, workout reports, and anticipation heating up, there are a few names that have shifted around with draft day now right around the corner.
Keep in mind that all odds offered on DraftKings Sportsbook are subject to change.
The debate over who is the best prospect is a lot closer than people think. But when push comes to shove, expect A.J. Dybantsa to be the first name off the board. The 6-foot-8 forward has been on the NBA’s radar for several years, and completed his one-and-done season at BYU by posting averages of 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. A high-level athlete with plenty of strength, Dybantsa shot 33.1% from beyond the three-point arc this season and has an extremely high floor as a prospect. While superstar potential is certainly on the table, it is difficult to see a pathway to him not at least being a starting caliber wing for the next decade. Dybantsa is a tone-setter with his effort level, and he still has some polishing to do with his overall skill set over time. He is about all the right things, and just about any organization would be thrilled to have him as a future face. Expect the Wizards to make this decision as Washington quietly becomes one of the most interesting teams in the NBA heading into next season.
Dybantsa is considered the -425 favorite to be the number 1 pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
It was an interesting one-and-done season for Darryn Peterson at Kansas. The talent was eye-popping, but his availability issues brought on plenty of questions, and the lack of publicly available information only increased the speculation. Peterson missed 11 games this season and requested out of the second half in several more. He opened up about the severity of his cramping issue after the year, explaining how creatine intake had some negative effects on his body to the point where he needed IVs on multiple occasions. Overall, the 19-year-old posted averages of 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 38.2% from deep on 6.9 perimeter shots per game. Interviews and medical documents will be important for Peterson leading up to draft day. But he is as polished as an NBA prospect can be regarding his ability to come off pin-downs, getting his feet set for catch-and-shoot opportunities, and with NBA-level athleticism. His high school tape shows more on-ball juice than he was able to show at Kansas, but the vision for him at the NBA level is still clear. Peterson is the most polished prospect in this class and would be the sure-fire number one pick had it not been for some of the availability issues. Even with this in mind, don’t expect him to slip much in this draft. Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson will continue to see some buzz, but when the dust settles, it feels difficult to imagine Utah passing on a score-first guard of Peterson’s caliber, especially when considering the youthful roster infrastructure they have in place.
Peterson currently holds -120 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected second overall.
Son of NBA standout Carlos Boozer, Cameron Boozer put forth about as impressive a one-and-done season as possible at Duke. Posting averages of 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 39.1% from beyond the three-point arc. The 6-foot-8 forward earned AP Player of the Year, Consensus All-American, Wooden Award, Naismith Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and a laundry list of other accolades. The 18-year-old is mature beyond his years with a polished skill set and rave reviews about his character. While he has earned consideration for as high as the number one pick in this draft, the biggest concerns with the Duke product are him being a bit of an old-fashioned style of play and a tweener positionally. Boozer tends to be at his best when quarterbacking the offense out of the post, and this takes a unique offensive system to be maximized. He also lacks a bit as a rim protector, which brings some questions about his ability to play PF or C, and he will be on the slower side when it comes to lateral movement by NBA standards. With this said, he possesses a caliber of basketball IQ that shouldn’t be bet against. His ceiling may not be as high as the names mentioned ahead, but there is a fair case that this is the safest selection of the top picks. Boozer is getting some real momentum for climbing draft boards of the top few teams in the draft, and expect the Grizzlies to be thrilled to select him with the third pick.
Boozer has climbed to the -140 favorite to be selected with the third overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
It was a massive bummer for basketball fans that Caleb Wilson saw his season end early due to injury. The North Carolina product was just days away from returning from a fractured wrist on his non-shooting hand when he broke his right thumb while dunking the basketball. This second injury required season-ending surgery and caused him to miss the NCAA Tournament and more. Of the 24 games he was available, Wilson posted averages of 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Standing a shade over 6-foot-9, he is one of the best functional athletes in this draft with excellent instincts as a weak-side defender and is extremely disruptive on this side of the floor. He does not possess the level of ball-handling of a player like Dybantsa, and shot just 7-for-27 from beyond the three-point arc on the season. But the floor for Wilson is extremely high due to what he brings defensively, and it felt like he was just fully coming into form when his injuries popped up. He should be viewed as much more than a consolation prize for the Bulls with the fourth pick, and it feels like a good bet that Wilson was just scratching the surface for what he can bring to the table when his season ended prematurely.
Caleb Wilson has climbed to a massive -475 favorite to be selected with the fourth-overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
This NBA Draft class really opens up at the fifth pick, with the top four names fairly consensus, even if the order may be different. The Clippers also find themselves in an interesting spot as a franchise, as they officially turned a page on the James Harden era midseason, along with moving on from Ivica Zubac. With Kawhi Leonard still on the roster, along with Darius Garland and limited draft capital moving forward, the mindset should be to take the best player available and figure out the details down the line. While he is just 19 years old and likely a few years away from his best basketball, I would have a hard time turning down Keaton Wagler with this fifth pick. The Illinois product posted averages of 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from beyond the three-point arc in his one-and-done season. A 6-foot-5 guard that can play on or off ball, Wagler never wavered at the weight of the moment at any point this season. He processes the game well, but is not an elite athlete and almost exclusively plays below the rim. There will be some growing pains, but he possesses good size, has a mature feel for the game, and a jump shot that should remain high-level for the duration of his career. Wagler was not an expected one-and-done coming into the season, but outperformed all expectations, and don’t expect this to stop at the next level.
Wagler has dropped to the third-favorite to be selected with the fifth pick at +300 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He trails Mikel Brown Jr. (+145) and Darius Acuff Jr. (+245) as the odds-on favorite to be selected with the fifth pick.
The Nets spent four first-round picks last year to bring in Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf. It was a mixed bag of results in each’s rookie season, with the results far from what was desired. Brooklyn is still too early in its rebuilding process to prioritize fit and should approach this draft with the mindset of taking the best player on the board. Enter Kingston Flemings, who posted averages of 16.1 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. The 6-foot-3 guard shot 38.7% from beyond the three-point arc, although it came on more limited volume than you would hope at 2.7 perimeter shots per game. It is also fair to point out that there are some concerns about the shot form, and this will likely be the make-or-break factor for what his ceiling as a player will be. But Flemings is a hard-nosed defender and culture-setter who is the toughest guy on the floor on just about every court he walks on. He is a functional athlete who plays bigger than his size, and Kelvin Sampson showing the willingness to hand the keys of the Houston offense to the freshman speaks volumes about Flemings’ maturity.
Flemings enters as the fifth-favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected with the 6th overall pick at +900 odds. He trails Darius Acuff Jr. (+175), Mikel Brown Jr. (+270), Keaton Wagler (+310), and Nate Ament (+700).
Darius Acuff Jr. has become one of the more polarizing players in this draft class. The SEC Player of the Year is a bulldog with the ball, who is not afraid of the moment. In his one-and-done season at Arkansas, Acuff Jr. posted averages of 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. He shot 44.0% from beyond the three-point arc on 5.8 perimeter shots per game, and further opened some eyes by averaging 29.8 points per game across the SEC and NCAA Tournament. On the flip side, the defensive tape is concerning for the 6-foot-2 guard. Acuff Jr. leaves plenty to be desired from both an effort and technical standpoint when it comes to the defensive end. He will be a target on this end of the floor at the NBA level, at least until he can make some significant improvements. While he almost certainly will not be making any All-Defensive teams, there is a pathway to him being passable defensively, but it will take some work to get there. But ultimately, betting against a John Calipari guard is not a pathway to success for NBA teams, and Acuff Jr. is a special enough offensive talent that the tradeoff with the defensive concerns is still a clear net positive. The Sacramento Kings are in a difficult place as a franchise, and this is the type of star swing they should be looking to take.
Acuff Jr. is the second-favorite to be selected with the seventh overall pick at +245 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He trails Keaton Wagler (+200) as the favorite.
One of the bigger risers in the late college season and pre-draft process has been Michigan standout, Aday Mara. The 7-foot-3 center was a vital part of Michigan’s National Championship run, in which he posted averages of 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. His playmaking instincts are even more impressive than the raw numbers show, and rare for a player at his size. Mara spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at UCLA, where he did not play a major role. But he proved increasingly vital to Michigan’s success as the season went on. There are limitations that come with his game. Mara will never be a guy capable of switching out to the perimeter defensively; he attempted just 10 total three-pointers across his collegiate career, and he shot just 56.4% at the free-throw line. But the touch around the rim is encouraging, and Mara possesses a massive 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-9 standing reach. The Atlanta Hawks have done an impressive job changing their identity with a defense-first mindset following the Trae Young trade. While they are loaded at the wing position, Onyeka Okongwu is the lone big man under contract heading into next year. Mara would be a great fit as a tone-setting defensive big man. His ceiling may be lower than some of the players set to be drafted behind him, but there is a clear path to the 21-year-old having a successful 10+ year career in the league at the big man spot.
Mara has climbed to the favorite to be selected with the eighth overall pick at +290 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
A competitive two-way guard who will be ready to make a Day-1 impact, Brayden Burries had an impressive one-and-done season at Arizona. Across his 39 games played, the 6-foot-4 combo guard posted averages of 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 39.1% from beyond the three-point arc. His ball-handling needs to be cleaned up, and he is a bit more mid-range dependent than is ideal, but he has the defensive chops to guard across multiple positions. Burries has excellent footwork in traffic and is physical when attacking the basket with impressive strength for his frame. Arizona had some spacing issues that limited his outlook a bit. But he has a repeatable shooting form that should carry over with more volume at the NBA level, as he shot 4.6 perimeter shots per game. Dallas has some bigger picture questions to address about its future, but Burries will be a plug-and-play rotational player immediately, and there is more to his game than just the complementary skillset. He is a high-floor prospect with more of a chance to be special than some are giving him.
Burries has climbed to the favorite to be selected with the ninth overall pick at +175 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Another player whose interviews and medicals will have a significant role in his draft outlook is Mikel Brown Jr. The All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman team member was limited to just 21 games during his one-and-done season at Louisville. He missed over a month of the season due to a back issue, and re-injured it upon returning to ultimately shut down his season. When he was on the floor, Brown Jr. averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 34.4% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.6 perimeter attempts per game. Measuring 6 feet 3.5, Brown Jr. carries himself with confidence and rarely looks out of control. The shot form is better than the raw metrics suggest, but his shot selection could be improved. Brown Jr. turned the ball over 3.1 times per game, which could also be improved, and he leaves a bit to be desired athletically. The 20-year-old is much smoother than he is explosive. It would likely be a different conversation if Brown Jr. had a full season of film regarding his draft range. He could be in play as high as the fifth pick and has a chance to be a steal. Ultimately, there is too much impressive feel for the game, shooting flashes, and encouraging defensive tape for him to slip out of the top 10. Look for the Bucks to snatch him up as they begin to figure out their best direction moving forward as a franchise.
Mikel Brown Jr. has slipped to the seventh-favorite of being drafted with the 10th overall pick at +1200 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He trails Brayden Burries (+370), Kingston Flemings (+425), Nate Ament (+475), Aday Mara (+475), Yaxel Lendeborg (+900), and Labaron Philon Jr. (+900)
Few rookies will walk into the NBA with as clear of an image of what they will be in the way Yaxel Lendeborg will. A late-bloomer who played a vital role in Michigan’s National Championship, Lendeborg played three years of JUCO ball, two seasons at UAB, and put a bow on his college career in Ann Arbor. The 23-year-old averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2% from beyond the three-point arc this season. After serving as more of a big man role at UAB, where he averaged 10.6 and 11.4 rebounds per game over the two seasons, Lendeborg was asked to play more of a wing style of play at Michigan as he shared the floor with Mara and Morez Johnson. This will be beneficial for him as he makes the NBA leap, with his near 6-foot-9 height in mind. His ceiling as a prospect is a bit low, as there are some concerns about his foot speed and shot form. But Lendeborg finds a way to impact winning at a high level on both ends of the floor. He is a versatile defender with better vision than you would expect from his size and the type of player every organization should be eager to add. Expect Lendeborg to be ready to play a day-one rotational role in the NBA and for the Warriors to be eager to add this type of talent as they attempt to keep the contention window around Steph Curry open.
Lendeborg is currently the favorite to be selected with the 11th overall pick at +300 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
It is tough to find a real need on this Thunder roster, and they could go various ways with the 12th pick. Nate Ament has lost a bit of momentum in the pre-draft process and late stages of the year. The one-and-done freshman was ranked fourth in the class coming out of high school and posted averages of 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while shooting 33.3% from beyond the three-point arc during his lone year at Tennessee. Standing just shy of 6-foot-10, Ament has good size and moves well. He plays with a level head and should be one of the more versatile defenders in this class. His scoring versatility is impressive, but there will need to be some work done to speed up his shot form and find some more consistent shooting success. The 19-year-old also needs to play in attack mode at a more reliable rate and must add some weight to his frame. Oklahoma City can be patient with his development and has already hosted Ament for a workout. He is the type of high-character, versatile defender that fits their identity, and this feels like a great fit for both sides.
Ament is currently the third-favorite to be selected with the 12th overall pick at +750 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He trails Yaxel Lendeborg (+350), Morez Johnson Jr. (+350), and Aday Mara (+650).
When several players are rising on draft boards, this means someone has to fall, and Labaron Philon Jr. has unfortunately fallen into this category. The Alabama product flirted with remaining in the NBA Draft last season, but returned to school and took a major step forward in production. In his freshman year, Philon Jr. averaged 10.6 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 31.5% on three-point attempts. Last season, his production grew to 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game, while shooting 50.1% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the three-point arc. Standing 6-foot-2.5 and with a slight frame, Philon Jr. is more limited in athleticism compared to some of his peers. But he is a high-IQ player who will be able to play on and off the ball at the next level. The leap in efficiency he took was extremely encouraging, and there is a path for him to be a three-level scorer. The 20-year-old has a fairly wide draft range, but he showed a lot to be encouraged by this season and has a style of play that feels a cleaner fit for the NBA than college basketball. Miami has a ton of big-picture questions about its future that it must address. But Philon Jr. is the type of guard that can play his way into an immediate role and have a chance for establishing himself as a foundational piece if things break correctly for him and the franchise.
Philon Jr. is currently tied with Nate Ament and Cameron Carr for the best odds of being drafted with the 13th pick. Each player currently holds +475 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Jayden Quaintance arrives as one of the bigger mysteries in this year’s draft class. The 18-year-old has played just 28 total games at the collegiate level, including four this season at Kentucky. He spent his freshman year at Arizona State, where he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game across just 29.5 minutes per night. His season ended early due to a torn ACL, and Quaintance then transferred to Kentucky. He dealt with complications with the knee issue upon returning to the floor, which led to Mark Pope shutting him down after just four games, and the 6-foot-9 big man shifted his focus to the NBA Draft. Quaintance was a major shot-blocker at Arizona State, with the vision for what he could be at the NBA level clear. The injury concerns add another variable to his outlook, but the Charlotte Hornets are already one of the top lob threat teams in the league, and he could further add to this. This is a high-risk, high-reward type pick, but Quaintance was the eighth-ranked recruit when he first came to college, and there was at least a chance he would be making a push for one of the top picks in this draft if the season had gone differently. With the Hornets’ young core in place and taking a collective step forward this season, they are in a good spot for this type of swing. If Quaintance does not hear his name come off the board in this slot, he has a real chance to slide on draft night. But he feels just about a perfect match for the Hornets’ style of play and expected them to be willing and eager to take this type of swing.
Quaintance is tied with Philon Jr. for the seventh-best odds to be selected with the 14th pick at +900 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Morez Johnson Jr. (+400), Yaxel Lendeborg (+600), Nate Ament (+600), Hannes Steinbach (+600), and Cameron Carr (+600) round out the list of favorites.
One of the biggest risers in this pre-draft process, Cameron Carr, has gone from a fringe first-round option to a true lottery pick threat. After spending a pair of seasons at Tennessee, in which he left under some questionable circumstances, Carr found his footing this year at Baylor. Standing 6-foot-5 with a wingspan over 7-feet, Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 37.4% from beyond the three-point arc. He possesses eye-popping athleticism, and there is a pathway to him being an extremely high level defender at the next level. Carr is still scratching the surface for what he will be as a basketball player, but the raw tools pop off the page. When he is playing at his best, Carr feels like a potential NBA star hiding in plain sight. There are some notable ups and downs in his game and box scores, but there are too many tools to be overlooked. Chicago’s roster is still largely a blank slate for what their foundation is, and Carr is the type of talent worth taking a swing on.
Carr currently holds the second-best odds of being the 15th overall pick at +550 on DraftKings Sportsbook. He trails Hannes Steinbach (+475) as the favorite.
The top international prospect in this draft class, Karim Lopez, is a fluid athlete at the wing position that teams tend to fall in love with. Born in Mexico, Lopez spent the last two seasons playing with the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL. This year, he posted averages of 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in just 25.8 minutes per game. Standing 6-foot-8 with a more filled out frame that is oftentimes the case, Lopez is an excellent finisher around the basket who is most comfortable dunking at a high rate. He is capable of defending multiple positions and is an excellent cutter when the ball is not in his hands. In the wider scale of his outlook, he will need to improve as a shooter and figure out his exact identity positionally. Lopez shot 30-92 (32.6%) from beyond the three-point arc this season, which left a bit to be desired from both a volume and efficiency standpoint. But the raw tools are there, his effort level pops, and he possesses an advanced feel for the game. Memphis pulled the plug on the previous era of Grizzlies basketball, but still has plenty of questions to answer about their direction. Lopez is an intriguing mix of win-now talent with untouched potential. Wings are still at a premium in today’s NBA, and expect Memphis to be eager to jump on the chance to add a player like Lopez.
The current draft position over/under for Karim Lopez is set at 14.5 with the over holding -105 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The third member of Michigan’s National Championship roster to come off the board, Morez Johnson Jr., has plenty to like about his skill set and likely more than he was able to show based on the role he was asked to play. The 6-foot-9 forward started his college career at Illinois, where he averaged 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just 17.6 minutes per game. Johnson Jr. transferred to Michigan this year and improved his output to 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game across 25.1 minutes of action. While his offensive ceiling is a bit limited, the 20-year-old is a rebounding force who plays with plenty of physicality and is more of an outlier athlete than he sometimes gets credit. Given the jumbo size of the Michigan front court, he was asked to play more as a wing, which should only help his NBA outlook. He moves well laterally for his size, and there is a clear path to him being a defensive force at the NBA level. Johnson Jr. checks the box of a high-level complementary player who will contribute to winning at a high level on contending teams. He feels perfectly in line with the collection of high level role players Oklahoma City possesses that other teams would love to have larger roles for their respective teams. As the Thunder are forced to make some tough decisions about who they can commit to financially, expect Johnson Jr. to be a phenomenal new option on a rookie deal.
Morez Johnson Jr.’s draft position over/under is currently set at 13.5, with the odds favored to go over at -185 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Another intriguing prospect who changed his perception entirely this season was Dailyn Swain. The 20-year-old spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Xavier, where he largely played a defensive-minded role and was a borderline non-shooter. He transferred to Texas this season, where he was given more offensive freedom, and Swain responded by leading the offense and posting averages of 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists while shooting 34.4% from the perimeter. Standing 6-foot-6.5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he is a bit of a tweener from the guard and wing positions. But he is extremely fluid and athletic, and the different identities he showed across the two programs should be viewed positively. Swain needs to improve as a shooter and be more consistent with his decision-making, but the flashes of strong play are impossible to ignore. With this being the second selection of the draft, the Hornets should be willing to take this type of swing on a player who will be a top 10 player in this draft if it all clicks.
Christian Anderson is a dynamic lead guard with impressive polish and feel for the game. In his second season at Texas Tech, the 6-foot guard averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41.5% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.9 perimeter shots per game. Anderson has impressive touch from all over the court and does an impressive job leveraging his scoring to open up shots for others. He shows impressive instincts in pick-and-roll situations and does a nice job playing at his own pace. His biggest red flag is his lack of size and athleticism. Anderson will likely always be limited on the defensive end, and it will be more difficult to finish around the rim at the next level. But the Toronto Raptors have the right defensive infrastructure in place for this not to be a major concern, and need some help at the guard position. Expect Anderson to make a fairly immediate impact at the NBA level and provide a massive boost to the Raptors’ guard rotation.
Another polarizing draft prospect, Allen Graves will have a wide range of opinions on his draft outlook. The Santa Clara product primarily came off the bench this season, being limited to 22.6 minutes per game and posting averages of 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, while shooting 41.3% from beyond the three-point arc. Standing a shade under 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Graves has the makings of an impact three-and-D role player at the NBA level for a long time. There are fair questions about the lack of experience against top talent, and his tendency to end up in foul trouble contributed to his limited role. But Graves is a high-IQ player who contributes to winning, and there may be more upside that he has not yet tapped into. San Antonio has their young core and stars in place, and Graves would be an awesome addition as a complementary piece. Plenty of the underlying analytics pop off the page regarding his outlook, and the Spurs would be a great match for his style of play.
The Detroit Pistons took another major step forward this season, but are still lacking enough consistent offense and ball handling. Bennett Stirtz checks these boxes, and Detroit has the defensive infrastructure to limit any concerns on this side of the ball. The 22-year-old started his collegiate career at Northwest Missouri State before transferring to Drake University and then Iowa last season for a further leap in competition. Stirtz led the Big Ten with 37.7 minutes per game and posted averages of 19.8 points and 4.4 assists, while shooting 35.8% from beyond the three-point arc. Standing 6-foot-2.5, he processes the game at a rapid rate and makes good decisions with the ball. He had as large an offensive role as any player in college basketball this season, and will see his efficiency improve with more talented players around him. Stirtz played the full 40 minutes in 19 of his 37 games played this season and had to fight to create every shot opportunity he got due to the lack of other creators on the Iowa roster. He is one of the older prospects in this class, but should be ready to make a day-one impact and would be an immediate upgrade in the Detroit backcourt.
If Koa Peat had any semblance of a jump shot, he would likely be discussed as one of the top players in this draft. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-7 forward shot just 7-for-20 (35.0%) from beyond the three-point arc this season, with some inconsistent mechanics in the process. Concerns were further raised when he revealed he re-worked his jump shot form ahead of the combine and his Pro Day. However, even with the jumper being an issue, he bullied his way to averages of 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game during his one-and-done season at Arizona. Peat plays with an impressive motor and great physicality. He has an NBA-ready body and does a nice job finishing around the rim, while possessing an advanced handle for his size. The 19-year-old can guard multiple positions and is equally a matchup problem on the other end, with too much strength for perimeter players and being too quick for most big men. If the jump shot clicks, there is a world where he ends up being the steal of this class. But it should be made clear that this is a major if. There is plenty of smoke connecting Peat to Philadelphia, with the Arizona product being repped by the same agency as Tyrese Maxey and reportedly working out in Philadelphia being a noteworthy storyline. Expect the 76ers to talk themselves into Peat being the hard-nosed, physical front court piece they are missing as the organization starts to step out of the Embiid era.
The Atlanta Hawks have made it a clear priority to collect high-level athletes and build a defensive-minded identity as a collective group. This is the exact type of phrase that should be used to describe Chris Cenac Jr., who very well may end up as one of the biggest steals in this draft class. The 6-foot-10 forward possesses a 7-foot-5 wingspan with one of the best motors in this draft class. This is especially evident in the way he fights for rebounds, and he posted averages of 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game across his 24.8 minutes per game in his one-and-done season at Houston. The 19-year-old was also ranked as the sixth-best recruit coming out of high school a year ago and has more encouraging offensive flashes in his high school tape than he was able to show in Houston’s defensive-minded system. He will be a freak athlete, even by NBA standards, and is effective both as a rim deterrent and when switched out to the perimeter. His offensive game needs refinement, but Cenac Jr. would be a hand-in-glove fit for the way Atlanta is building toward playing, and they should show no hesitation if he is still on the board for the 23rd pick.
A recent riser on draft boards, Hannes Steinbach is a physical and tough big man who knows exactly who he is as a basketball player. Across his one-and-done season at Washington, the 6-foot-10 big man posted averages of 18.5 points, a college basketball-best 11.8 rebounds per game, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks. There are some encouraging signs in his shooting touch, with Steinbach shooting 18-for-53 (34.0%) from beyond the three-point arc, and 75.9% at the free-throw line. He has really good hands and impressive footwork, while moving well for his size and good instincts filling the right lanes on the fast break. Steinbach is limited in his ability to switch out to the perimeter and can get beaten to the basket by quicker ball-handlers. Still just 20 years old, he will be one of the better rebounders immediately when he walks into the NBA, and should be a player who can be the anchor of a high-level defense. How true his shooting touch is will decide his ceiling as a player, but there are plenty of ways he can impact the game even if this doesn’t come to fruition. The Washington product has one of the higher floors of this draft range, and expect the Knicks to be comfortable adding to their big man depth with no glaring needs on the roster.
Another intriguing big man option in the late first round, Henri Veesaar would make an awesome long-term pairing alongside Luka Doncic. The 22-year-old spent three seasons at Arizona, one of which was a redshirt season, before transferring to North Carolina this year and fully flourishing. Standing 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. The native of Estonia is a capable lob threat and is a real threat to stretch the floor. He shot 42.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 3.0 perimeter shots per game. Veesaar lacks some physicality and can be late on his defensive rotations, but has nice touch and is a really impressive connective passer for his size. There will be some major remodeling across the Lakers’ roster this offseason, and Veesaar would be a great pairing as Doncic becomes the clear face of the franchise.
A shifty guard with some serious offensive upside, Ebuka Okorie is an intriguing late first-round target. Across his one-and-done season at Stanford, he posted averages of 23.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. He shot 35.4% from beyond the three-point arc on 5.7 perimeter shots per game. Okorie is a more inconsistent shooter than is ideal, but his change of pace is a real threat, and he has had some really encouraging playmaking flashes. The 19-year-old gets to the free-throw line at a high rate and brings effort defensively, even with his 6-foot-1 frame leaving him a bit limited. Depending on his shooting consistency and defensive impact, there is a world where Okorie is limited to more of a microwave scorer off the bench at the NBA level. But some of the flashes are impossible to ignore, and there is certainly a pathway to him growing into a starting-caliber point guard with time. The Denver Nuggets are facing some major questions about their direction, but this is a stage of the draft where taking the best talent available should be the mindset, and Okorie would be a worthy swing with the 26th overall pick.
A confident shot-maker who flourished in his second season at Duke, Isaiah Evans posted averages of 15.0 points and 3.2 rebounds, while shooting 36.1% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.4 three-point attempts per game. He also shot 41.6% from deep his freshman year, with his volume more limited. Standing 6-foot-5.5, he has a quick release on his jump shot and is comfortable pulling up from well beyond the three-point arc. There are some limitations with his athleticism, and he could use to add some strength to his frame. But Evans has some ability off the bounce as well and has teased some three-level scoring potential. He can be overpowered defensively when in the wrong matchup, but he has good instincts for where to be and does a solid job forcing turnovers. Shooting is at more of a premium than ever before in the NBA, especially with the three-point heavy mindset the Celtics choose to play with. His ceiling may be a bit limited, but a high-IQ player who can shoot from the perimeter effectively and be counted on to be a day-one rotation player is a great selection with the 27th overall pick for Boston.
An accomplished collegiate player who spent his freshman season at Kansas and the last three at St. John’s, Zuby Ejiofor is a 6-foot-7.5 bruising forward who plays bigger than his size. With a 7-foot-2 wingspan and relentless energy, the 22-year-old posted averages of 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game this season. He has shown some encouraging signs of growth in his shooting touch, connecting on 18-for-59 (30.5%) on three-point attempts this season and knocking down 71.8% of his free throws. He is limited as a self-creator and decision-maker, and can end up in foul trouble at a bit too frequent a rate. However, Ejiofor should step in as an impactful rotational big with energy as one of his calling cards. The reigning Big East Player of the Year moves fluidly, and there is a pathway for him to develop as more of a wing than a big man over time. His most notable impact will come defensively, with his 3.3 combined steals and blocks this season being an impressive mark. Ejiofor would fit right into the hard-nosed identity of this Minnesota Timberwolves team, and has too much production to slip out of the first round.
Another hard-nosed, defensive-minded player who stuffs the stat sheet, Joshua Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game at Iowa State. He spent his first two seasons at Saint Mary’s and the past two with the Cyclones. The 22-year-old is a good ball-handler for his size and is really physical when getting downhill and attacking the basket. He is not a great athlete by NBA standards, and his shooting efficiency will be a swing skill. Jefferson shot 34.5% from beyond the three-point arc on 3.1 attempts per game this season, which is the best efficiency and volume across his college career. If the shooting can improve, there is a pathway to Jefferson serving as a key connective piece and potentially more than this on a contending NBA team. But even without it, he brings a toughness and high basketball IQ that should allow him to make an immediate impact. Cleveland has prioritized drafting high-level rebounders for their size, and Jefferson checks this box. As the Cavaliers look to add another win-now rotational piece, Jefferson is one of the more NBA-ready options at this stage of the draft.
Wrapping up the first round, Tarris Reed Jr. is a bruising big man who spent a four-year career at the collegiate level. After spending his first two seasons at Michigan, Reed Jr. transferred to UConn, where he continued his development. He finished this season posting averages of 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, while leading the Big East by shooting 60.7% from the floor. Standing just under 6-foot-10 with a wingspan over 7-foot-4, Reed Jr. embraces contact and moves well for his size. The ceiling is somewhat limited as he is not in the upper echelon of athletes by NBA standards, and there is not much reason for encouragement about him being able to stretch the floor. But Reed Jr. is the type of winning player that every team should be thrilled to have in their rotation, and the Dallas Mavericks would not be asking too much too soon from him.
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