By Sam Vecenie | The Athletic, 2026-05-10 21:45:48
NBA选秀抽签仪式已经结束。华盛顿奇才队 (Washington Wizards) 成为了2026年选秀争夺战的大赢家，而选秀顺位的尘埃落定，也恰好为前四顺位的每支球队解决了各自的核心需求。
奇才队赢得了一次真正具有里程碑意义的抽签；犹他爵士队 (Utah Jazz) 在抽签日历史上首次顺位上移，升至第2位；孟菲斯灰熊队 (Memphis Grizzlies) 上升三位拿到探花签；而在新管理层领导下的芝加哥公牛队 (Chicago Bulls)，则从第9位一路狂飙至第4位。
在其他重大新闻中，印第安纳步行者队 (Indiana Pacers) 本赛季的选秀权归属了洛杉矶快船队 (LA Clippers)，后者因2月份交易伊维察·祖巴茨 (Ivica Zubac) 的结果，现在将拥有第5顺位。其他顺位下滑较多的球队包括掉到第6位的布鲁克林篮网队 (Brooklyn Nets) 和掉到第7位的萨克拉门托国王队 (Sacramento Kings)。
这届被公认为选秀大年的“皇冠上的明珠”分别是杨百翰大学的AJ·迪班萨 (AJ Dybantsa)、堪萨斯大学的达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson)、杜克大学的凯梅伦·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer) 以及北卡罗来纳大学的凯莱布·威尔逊 (Caleb Wilson)，同时在第5到第10顺位还有一组实力强劲的后卫。因此，在顺位确定后，让我们第一次更新模拟选秀，并注意以下几点：
• 每当我做这类预测时，总有人问某些球员去哪了。如果一名大一新生根据我从各支球队得到的反馈没有进入公认的前35名，我就没有把他们列入其中。对于这类前景不明的球员来说，放弃大学三年的收入潜力去面对未知的命运，将是一个糟糕的决定。此外，关于球员是否留在选秀名单中，我目前是根据直觉和收集到的情报来判断的。我在此未列入但已宣布提前参加选秀的球员包括泰勒·坦纳 (Tyler Tanner)、弗洛里·比东加 (Flory Bidunga)、比利·里士满三世 (Billy Richmond III) 和鲁本·奇涅鲁 (Rueben Chinyelu) 等。如果他们在提前报名撤回截止日期后仍决定留在选秀中，届时我会将他们列入模拟名单。
• 年龄计算截止至2026年选秀之夜（6月23日）。
• 大一新生的身高以其学校公布的数据为准。
• 为换取球探们畅所欲言，文中均采用匿名处理。
1. 华盛顿奇才队
AJ·迪班萨 (AJ Dybantsa) | 6尺9寸 侧翼 | 19岁 | 杨百翰大学 (BYU)
AJ·迪班萨 (AJ Dybantsa) 是我在全联盟范围内听到的最一致的状元人选，他加盟奇才队非常有意义。他是一名充满活力、爆发力十足的得分手，本赛季他身高6尺9寸所展现出的全方位得分能力（三层得分手段）非常耀眼。迪班萨场均贡献25.5分、6.8个篮板和3.7次助攻，投篮命中率为51%，三分命中率为33.1%，罚球命中率为77.4%，且场均能获得8.5次罚球机会。根据 Basketball Reference 的数据，他和迈克尔·比斯利 (Michael Beasley) 是大学篮球历史上（追溯到1953-54赛季）仅有的两名场均得分25+、命中率50%+且场均罚球尝试至少8次的球员。
他打球时身体柔韧性极佳且兼具爆发力，这使他作为直线突破手能持续杀入防守腹地。在转换进攻中，他是个威胁。他的中距离跳投已成为大杀器。同时，他还没有完全定型，提升空间显而易见。随着年龄增长，他的投篮会变得更好。本赛季他在传球方面有了长足进步，但当他身边有更有天赋的NBA球员时，他在这一领域还有更大的成长空间。防守端，迪班萨的影响力目前还远未达到其身体天赋所预示的高度。
迪班萨被认为拥有极高的上限和非常稳健的下限。对于奇才队来说，无论球队下赛季的走向如何，他都能完美填补侧翼空缺。他能完美契合在安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis) 和特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 之间，也能与球队的年轻核心亚历克斯·萨尔 (Alex Sarr)、特雷·约翰逊 (Tre Johnson)、威尔·莱利 (Will Riley) 和凯肖恩·乔治 (Kyshawn George) 良好融合，因为他能做到那四个人做不到的事：给篮筐施加压力。
2. 犹他爵士队
达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson) | 6尺5寸 后卫 | 19岁 | 堪萨斯大学 (Kansas)
达林·彼得森 (Darryn Peterson) 奇特的大学历程让对他的评估变得复杂。在经历了一个因腿筋伤势和抽筋问题导致经常缺席下半场或无法出战的赛季后，他在最后九场比赛中每场至少出战了28分钟。与媒体相比，与堪萨斯大学有联系的球探一直对此不太担心，而彼得森最近透露，他的抽筋问题是因为服用肌酸引起的。NBA球队还将在选秀联合试训中看到彼得森的医疗检测结果，这应该会提供更多答案。
彼得森作为一名投篮创造型得分手的天赋是不容置疑的。他场均得到20.2分，投篮命中率43.8%，三分命中率38.2%，罚球命中率82.6%。他在各个位置都投中了惊人数量的高难度持球跳投。然而，他冲击篮筐的能力受到了质疑，球探们怀疑他在更高水平的比赛中创造轻松得分机会是否会更加困难。在堪萨斯大学出现的这些问题，部分可能仅仅是因为伤病；他看起来没有高中时期那么有爆发力。另一部分原因可能是捷鹰队缺乏空间。这与安东尼·爱德华兹 (Anthony Edwards) 在佐治亚大学时的表现并无二致。
爵士队和其他前四顺位的球队将不得不依赖他们对彼得森高中时期的评估。在 Prolific Prep 高中时期，彼得森在传球和挡拆策应方面取得了长足进步。他一直是一名出色的得分手，但他开始能够阅读防守的第二和第三层，并根据协防者的位置做出反应，甚至有时能操纵防守。在堪萨斯大学，他没有机会展示这些技能。球队会希望在选秀前过程中更多地了解他观察球场的方式，以及他是否能将这些部分重新融入到比赛中。
不过，对犹他来说，关键在于他能完美契合在他们极具天赋的侧翼和前场组合——艾斯·贝利 (Ace Bailey)、劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen)、小贾伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson Jr.) 和沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler) 之间，并与控卫基昂特·乔治 (Keyonte George) 搭档。彼得森的得分和投篮能力应该能很好地融合，使他成为一支有望在西部实现飞跃的球队中的重要球员。
3. 孟菲斯灰熊队
凯梅伦·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer) | 6尺9寸 前锋 | 18岁 | 杜克大学 (Duke)
凯梅伦·布泽尔 (Cameron Boozer) 是这届新秀中最稳妥能成为高产球员的人选。NBA内部的共识是，卡洛斯·布泽尔 (Carlos Boozer) 的儿子将追随父亲的脚步成为全明星。分歧在于他是否能成为球队的第一选择。
布泽尔在ACC锦标赛和NCAA锦标赛中的表现让球探们对他作为建队核心的前景产生了疑问。在杜克大学的七场季后赛中，布泽尔的投篮命中率仅为44%，三分命中率仅为32%。他的产出依然惊人，但在面对拥有NBA级别内线体型球员（如肯塔基大学的乌戈纳·奥尼恩索 (Ugonna Onyenso)）时，他在篮筐下的终结能力显得有些挣扎。
如果布泽尔有尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokić) 那么高，评估就会容易得多。约基奇进入联盟时穿鞋身高约为6尺11寸，臂展7尺3寸；而布泽尔预计身高在6尺9寸左右，臂展7尺。他的体型更接近凯文·乐福 (Kevin Love) 而非约基奇，后者的身高和长度让他能利用特殊的球感从各种刁钻角度出手。在NBA中，布泽尔能否像在高中和大学那样，持续拉开空间并吸引协防？
尽管如此，他场均依然能贡献22.5分、10个篮板和4次助攻，并荣膺全美年度最佳球员，这很大程度上是因为杜克大学证明了你可以通过无数种方式使用他。对于灰熊队来说，他符合他们喜爱的所有特质。他产出极高，人品被认为非常出色，而且在各个阶段都赢过球。将他与扎克·埃迪 (Zach Edey) 搭档，将组成我们在NBA许久未见的身体对抗最强的前场双塔之一——前提是埃迪能保持健康。
4. 芝加哥公牛队
凯莱布·威尔逊 (Caleb Wilson) | 6尺10寸 侧翼 | 19岁 | 北卡罗来纳大学 (North Carolina)
凯莱布·威尔逊 (Caleb Wilson) 因右手拇指骨折和左手骨折缺席了赛季最后一个月。在此之前，他场均贡献19.8分、9.4个篮板、2.7次助攻、1.5次抢断和1.4次盖帽，且几乎在每场比赛中都有出色表现。
对于威尔逊来说，力量和爆发力就是一切。作为一名持球突破手，他展现了极佳的身体柔韧性和平衡感。结合他的力量和弹跳能力，你会得到一名可以在篮筐附近统治比赛的特殊球员。随着选秀周期的深入，我听到越来越多球探将威尔逊与彼得森、迪班萨和布泽尔归为同一梯队，甚至有人将他排在这一届的前三名。在北卡罗来纳大学本赛季对阵这三人的比赛中（对阵迪班萨是季前赛，但依然作数），威尔逊的表现都优于他们，这无疑增加了他的身价。
不过，威尔逊的缺点比其他人更容易观察。他不怎么投三分（全赛季仅27投7中），尽管他在中距离延伸地带的投篮动作看起来不错。防守端，盖帽和抢断数据很强，但他在持球防守时并不像人们对他这种级别的运动员所期望的那样敏捷；此外，他在无球端的轮换和反应速度也有些混乱。他的大部分助攻来自于战术体系内预设的阅读，而不是在移动和反应中创造的。但现实是，很少有球员能像他这样持续保持这种比赛活力和侵略性。他与多次入选最佳阵容的帕斯卡尔·西亚卡姆 (Pascal Siakam) 有许多相似之处。
他是一名拥有出色位置身高的运动型球员，打球风格硬朗，如果公牛队在新任总经理布赖森·格雷厄姆 (Bryson Graham) 聘请的教练指导下继续运行快节奏进攻，他将非常契合。
基顿·瓦格勒曾是一名籍籍无名的招募对象，但他作为大一新生带领伊利诺伊大学杀入了最终四强。(Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
5. 洛杉矶快船队（来自步行者）
基顿·瓦格勒 (Keaton Wagler) | 6尺6寸 侧翼 | 19岁 | 伊利诺伊大学 (Illinois)
快船队从步行者队手中获得这个选秀权，对于这支急需注入年轻天才的球队来说，无异于一次全垒打。
然而，这个顺位并不好选。这个区间预测的大多数球员都是核心后卫。但是，快船队已经在截止日期前通过詹姆斯·哈登 (James Harden) 的交易换来了达柳斯·加兰 (Darius Garland)，并与其签下了一份长期大合同。其中的一些后卫与加兰的长期搭档并不是理想选择。
基顿·瓦格勒 (Keaton Wagler) 凭借其体型和接球投篮能力，可能是最合适的选择。他毫无疑问是今年选秀顺位上升最快的球员，甚至可能是“打一年就走”时代顺位上升最快的人，因为他带领伊利诺伊大学杀入了最终四强。
瓦格勒在2025届招募排名中甚至排在150名开外，但他是一名令人印象深刻的后卫，凭借狡黠、富有创造力的控球和出色的比赛感觉，他既能为自己也能为队友创造投篮机会。伊利诺伊大学在12月6日将他移到了主控位置；从那时起，他场均贡献19.1分、5个篮板和4.9次助攻，投篮命中率45%，三分命中率41%，罚球命中率79%。
瓦格勒的第一步起动并不算快，垂直爆发力也很一般。他也不怎么强壮。但他比这届选秀中的任何球员都更能利用急停跳投的威胁，且打球节奏感极佳，让对手很难防在他身前。
6. 布鲁克林篮网队
达柳斯·阿库夫二世 (Darius Acuff Jr.) | 6尺2寸 后卫 | 19岁 | 阿肯色大学 (Arkansas)
达柳斯·阿库夫二世 (Darius Acuff Jr.) 凭借在赛季末段对比赛的统治力赢得了全美第一阵容的荣誉。在最后13场比赛中，他场均砍下惊人的28分和6.7次助攻，场均获得7.5次罚球。他的表现既高效又犀利，投篮命中率48%，三分命中率超过40%。
阿库夫二世可能是我评估过的技术最成熟的大一后卫新秀。他的脚步和平衡感无懈可击，往往能做出高效的决策。他习惯双脚起跳，在无球移动方面表现出色，以此为持球进攻做铺垫。他的传球总是干脆利落且目标精准，尽管他的视野并不总是顶级。
但他能否在NBA级别的长度面前持续杀入油漆区，以及他能否防住任何人？在前者方面，凭借投篮威胁和顶级的比赛节奏，他已经尽其所能让我相信他可以拉开空间。但后者就是另一回事了。尽管阿库夫二世身体敦实强壮，但他绝对是前十名新秀中防守最差的。他很难挤过掩护，且在无球端经常表现出参与度不足。
布鲁克林在去年的首轮选秀中选了多名后卫，但没有一个能达到阿库夫二世的水平。如果他是选秀板上剩下的最好的球员，他们的存在不应阻止篮网队选择他。
7. 萨克拉门托国王队
金斯顿·弗莱明斯 (Kingston Flemings) | 6尺4寸 后卫 | 19岁 | 休斯顿大学 (Houston)
金斯顿·弗莱明斯 (Kingston Flemings) 是一名爆发力极强且力量十足的主控后卫，利用闪电般的第一步可以轻松过掉防守者。尽管在空间极度拥挤的进攻体系中打球，他场均依然能得到16.1分和5.2次助攻，投篮命中率47.6%，三分命中率38.7%。每当他踏上球场，你都能感受到他的爆发力。他也是一名出色的决策者，整个赛季在防守端都有进步。
主要的担忧围绕着他投篮的稳定性以及他的得分方式。弗莱明斯的命中率在Big 12联盟比赛中有所下降。在最后14场比赛中，他的投篮命中率仅为41.3%，场均罚球仅3次。球探们怀疑他能否持续冲击篮筐。休斯顿大学本赛季的篮筐压力是全美最差的球队之一，根据 Synergy 的数据，弗莱明斯在半场进攻中的篮筐命中率仅为51.2%。这究竟是因为弗莱明斯选择了妥协，还是他比赛中的缺陷？弗莱明斯需要改进他在篮下收球时的脚步，但球探们仍应对他的速度和决策能力如何转化为NBA水平感到兴奋，在那里他将获得能彻底改变他比赛的节奏和空间。
弗莱明斯将是萨克拉门托替代达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 的完美人选。
8. 亚特兰大老鹰队（来自鹈鹕）
米克尔·布朗二世 (Mikel Brown Jr.) | 6尺4寸 后卫 | 20岁 | 路易斯维尔大学 (Louisville)
米克尔·布朗二世 (Mikel Brown Jr.) 最惊艳的闪光点足以让他排进前五顺位。他在对阵北卡罗来纳州立大学的比赛中狂砍45分并投进10记三分，随后在对阵贝勒大学时得到29分、6次助攻和3个篮板，对阵南卫理公会大学时得到29分、5个篮板和4次助攻。当布朗二世进入状态时，大学篮球界没有比他更具活力的挡拆组织者了。他的射程可达30英尺，在挡拆中的传球视野超过了这届选秀中的所有人。如果这届深厚的选秀中有人能在NBA场均贡献9到10次助攻，那一定就是布朗二世。
那么他为什么会跌到第8位呢？他比赛中的一些负面因素与拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball) 存在的问题相似，但他又不像巅峰时期的鲍尔那样充满活力。首先也是最重要的，布朗二世打球非常野。失误是个大问题。他还没学会如何调节自己的决策。其次，他的防守仍处于半成品阶段。在换防对位更强壮的球员时，他是个严重的负资产，且他的无球防守直觉时好时坏。布朗二世的背伤在赛季后期复发，导致他缺席了季后赛。从高中赛季结束到大学赛季开始，他几乎没有休息时间，直接从全明星巡回赛进入U19世界杯，然后进入路易斯维尔大学的季前赛。球探们想知道布朗二世的背伤仅仅是过度使用造成的短期问题，还是可能成为长期隐患。
对于一支在截止日期前送走特雷·杨且在主控位置面临紧迫问题的球队来说，布朗二世非常有意义。他能与戴森·丹尼尔斯 (Dyson Daniels) 和尼基尔·亚历山大-沃克 (Nickeil Alexander-Walker) 等球员搭档，他的投篮能力将有助于突显杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson) 的突破能力。
9. 达拉斯独行侠队
布雷登·伯里斯 (Brayden Burries) | 6尺4寸 后卫 | 20岁 | 亚利桑那大学 (Arizona)
布雷登·伯里斯 (Brayden Burries) 是全美前三球队中的头号得分手，尽管他开局缓慢，前五场比赛场均仅得到7.8分。从那时起，他在最后34场比赛中场均贡献17.3分，投篮命中率51%，三分命中率41%，罚球命中率81%。他也是一名积极的篮板手，在此期间场均抢下5.5个篮板，同时场均贡献2.4次助攻，作为一名稳健的球权转移者，他很少有糟糕的投篮选择。
问题在于他能否持续摆脱防守人，因为他更像是一名力量型后卫，利用投篮威胁让防守者失去平衡。伯里斯到年底已成长为一名非常出色的防守者，场均贡献1.5次抢断。对于达拉斯来说，当他们寻求下赛季实现飞跃时，伯里斯将是库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 和凯里·欧文 (Kyrie Irving) 的极佳补充。
10. 密尔沃基雄鹿队
内特·阿门特 (Nate Ament) | 6尺10寸 侧翼/前锋 | 19岁 | 田纳西大学 (Tennessee)
内特·阿门特 (Nate Ament) 的赛季表现像过山车一样，因此他的选秀行情也有些微妙。他在前15场比赛中场均得到14.7分、6.5个篮板和2.6次助攻，但投篮命中率仅为40%，三分命中率仅为27%。这些数据还受到了对阵弱旅时出色表现的加持，比如对阵北肯塔基大学得到23分，对阵莱斯大学和北佛罗里达大学得到19分，以及对阵罗格斯大学得到20分。随后，在对阵阿拉巴马大学扭伤脚踝前的12场比赛中，几乎没有球员在高级别联盟比赛中表现得比他更好。在那段赛程中，他场均贡献22分、6.8个篮板和2.5次助攻，投篮命中率44%，三分命中率38%，罚球命中率84%，且场均能获得惊人的9次罚球。但当他在季后赛回归时，显然没有恢复到100%。他场均仅得到13.3分，投篮命中率31.3%，其中三分线内命中率仅为28.6%，因为他完全没有爆发力。
尽管如此，他在三分线内的得分问题暴露了他比赛中的弱点。他仍然非常瘦，球探们不确定他的骨架能否长肉。他在进入大一赛季前的休赛期增加了很多优质体重，这使他至少能应对大学篮球的强度。然而，他并没有太多的运动爆发力。他在篮下的终结能力在没有获得犯规时令人担忧，根据 Synergy 的数据，身高6尺10寸的他篮下命中率低得离谱，仅为42%。
11. 金州勇士队
阿戴·马拉 (Aday Mara) | 7尺3寸 大个子 | 21岁 | 密歇根大学 (Michigan)
阿戴·马拉 (Aday Mara) 绝对是在NCAA锦标赛中身价提升最快的球员。我拥有最终四强最杰出球员 (MOP) 的投票权，我选择了马拉，因为他在半决赛对阵亚利桑那大学时统治了比赛（砍下26分、9个篮板、3次助攻和2次盖帽），并且他在防守端完全改变了球场空间，在单防塔里斯·里德二世 (Tarris Reed Jr.) 的同时，还封锁了对手的禁区突破。
马拉结合了NBA球队对中锋的两项核心技能要求：封锁禁区和在高位作为策应点阅读比赛的能力。根据 CBB Analytics 的数据，本赛季当马拉在场时，对手在篮下的命中率为54.5%，而当他不在场时，这一比例超过了60%。当马拉在场时，对手在油漆区内的两分球命中率仅为36%。进攻端，马拉非常擅长利用身高和比赛感觉来剖析场上局势并做出正确的传球选择，无论是简单的手递手传球，还是寻找空切篮下队友的复杂反应。他场均送出2.4次助攻，投篮命中率为66.8%。马拉的手感在接球和失误方面可能存在问题，且他的横向移动速度令人担忧。
12. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆队（来自快船）
亚克塞尔·伦德伯格 (Yaxel Lendeborg) | 6尺9寸 大个子 | 23岁 | 密歇根大学 (Michigan)
尽管亚克塞尔·伦德伯格 (Yaxel Lendeborg) 在最终四强赛中是忍着脚踝伤势在战斗，但他带领密歇根大学夺得了冠军，并实现了比赛风格的转型。他的数据虽然比在阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校 (UAB) 巅峰时期有所下降，但场均仍能贡献15.1分、6.8个篮板和3.2次助攻，同时保持着极具侵略性的防守。他展示了出色的换防能力，经常在弧顶防守对方的主控球员，并在马拉或莫雷兹·约翰逊二世 (Morez Johnson Jr.) 下场时对位大前锋。他也是一名活跃的协防者，拥有一双出色的快手。
他本赛季的三分命中率为37.4%，这得益于赛季末的一段火热状态——在最后16场比赛中命中率高达48.1%，这还包括了他在冠军赛对阵康涅狄格大学时因明显伤病导致的5投0中。伦德伯格非常符合俄克拉荷马城的引援标准：一名拥有攻防两端才华的长人、硬汉，这正是雷霆队一直在寻找的。此外，如果看到俄克拉荷马城尝试整合选秀权并在这届选秀中向上交易，也不要感到惊讶。
13. 迈阿密热火队
拉巴隆·菲隆二世 (Labaron Philon Jr.) | 6尺3寸 后卫 | 20岁 | 阿拉巴马大学 (Alabama)
拉巴隆·菲隆二世 (Labaron Philon Jr.) 在去年5月的最后时刻选择留校，他充分利用了这一年。他接过了阿拉巴马大学的主控角色，场均贡献22分、3.5个篮板和5次助攻，投篮命中率50%，三分命中率39%，罚球命中率80%。虽然他的防守比上赛季有所下滑（上赛季他与马克·西尔斯 (Mark Sears) 搭档时表现出色，且只需分担持球责任），但他仍是全美最顶尖的进攻球员之一。
那么他为什么没有排得更高呢？首先，这届选秀充满了像布朗二世、阿库夫二世和瓦格勒这样真正的顶级控卫。其次，各支球队担心他的身板，他在留校这一年里似乎并没有增加多少肌肉。第三，阿拉巴马大学的体系显然对他非常有利，在半场和转换进攻中都给了他渴望的操作空间和时间。
在芝加哥举行的Big 12锦标赛期间，华盛顿大学的汉内斯·斯坦巴赫封盖了南加州大学卡姆·伍兹的投篮。(Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Images)
14. 夏洛特黄蜂队
汉内斯·斯坦巴赫 (Hannes Steinbach) | 6尺11寸 大个子 | 20岁 | 华盛顿大学 (Washington)
汉内斯·斯坦巴赫 (Hannes Steinbach) 是球探们最看好的下一位中锋。作为这届选秀中最好的篮板手，斯坦巴赫拥有一双大手，他在挡拆和争夺篮板时将这一优势发挥到了极致。他今年场均抢下11.8个篮板，其中包括惊人的4.2个前场篮板，这将非常契合查尔斯·李 (Charles Lee) 指导下黄蜂队的建队体系，因为他们非常看重回合数的争夺。斯坦巴赫的移动也非常流畅，拥有宽阔的肩膀，在掩护中表现出色，且作为顺下球员拥有很强的时机感。
他今年在华盛顿大学场均得到18.5分，这支球队的控卫表现糟糕，空间更是匮乏，三分命中率仅为31.5%。即便如此，斯坦巴赫的两分球命中率仍高达62%，投篮命中率为58%。他还展示了作为射手的潜力，场均两次三分尝试，命中率为34%。防守端，斯坦巴赫在开阔空间的横向移动不佳，我认为他并不是一个极具影响力的护筐者。他的顺位区间似乎在第10到第20位之间。
15. 芝加哥公牛队（来自开拓者）
凯梅伦·卡尔 (Cameron Carr) | 6尺6寸 后卫 | 21岁 | 贝勒大学 (Baylor)
凯梅伦·卡尔 (Cameron Carr) 在赛季初表现极其火热，随后基本稳定在全美顶级得分手之列。他场均贡献18.9分，投篮命中率49.4%，三分命中率37.4%，罚球命中率80.1%。卡尔是一名出色的射手，拥有极佳的直线突破直觉，利用长腿和臂展可以快速覆盖地面并杀向篮筐。
很难找到像卡尔这样身高6尺6寸左右、拥有极长臂展且能投篮的球员。他缺乏身体对抗能力且腰线较高，这在防守端表现得很明显，除非他是在弱侧轮换封盖，否则他很难对比赛产生影响。卡尔需要继续增加体重并变得更强壮，还必须练习如何增加身体柔韧性并更好地利用杠杆作用。公牛队新的篮球运营负责人格雷厄姆在纽奥良时期曾主导选中了特雷·墨菲三世 (Trey Murphy III)，由于卡尔的长度和运动能力，两人之间确实有一些真实的对比点。
16. 孟菲斯灰熊队（来自太阳）
考阿·皮特 (Koa Peat) | 6尺8寸 侧翼 | 19岁 | 亚利桑那大学 (Arizona)
考阿·皮特 (Koa Peat) 在NBA球探中引发了广泛的争议。优点方面，他无论在哪都能赢球，是同龄人中荣誉最多的球员之一。他在青少年赛事中随美国队获得了州冠军和四枚金牌，随后帮助亚利桑那大学杀入了最终四强。他场均得到14.1分，投篮命中率为53%，是一名强硬、球风硬朗的篮板手。他传球出色，决策果断，能让球队保持进攻流畅，无论是在挡拆后的短顺下还是在侧翼。如果你需要他得分，正如我们在NCAA锦标赛中看到的那样，他场均能贡献17.2分和7.6个篮板，命中率为48.5%，并承担了更大的进攻负荷。或者，他也可以转型为一名强硬的防守者，负责对位不同的对手并做出快速阅读。
然而，缺点也显而易见。他算不上真正的射手，全赛季仅尝试了20次三分并命中了7个，罚球命中率仅为62.3%——基本与其低级别联赛的平均水平持平。防守端，他的速度不算快，在一些回合中你会看到他被更敏捷的球员横向过掉，尽管我认为他在赛季末已经是一名出色的防守者了。
对于孟菲斯来说，再用一个选秀权选一名主打3、4号位的全能大个子可能看起来有些奇怪，但皮特在青少年时期的美国队曾与布泽尔有过成功的搭档经历，且符合孟菲斯对球员长期竞争力的诸多要求。考虑到布兰登·克拉克 (Brandon Clarke) 的情况，灰熊队绝对需要增加这里的深度。不过不可否认的是，我确信他们至少会考察埃布卡·奥科里 (Ebuka Okorie)、本内特·斯蒂茨 (Bennett Stirtz) 和克里斯蒂安·安德森二世 (Christian Anderson Jr.) 等核心后卫。
17. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆队（来自费城）
莫雷兹·约翰逊二世 (Morez Johnson Jr.) | 6尺9寸 大个子 | 20岁 | 密歇根大学 (Michigan)
莫雷兹·约翰逊二世 (Morez Johnson Jr.) 是我在大学篮球中最喜欢的球员之一。他是全美效率最高的球员之一，场均得到13.1分，投篮命中率为62.3%。他场均能获得4次罚球，命中率为78%。他是一名强硬的篮板手，内线对抗激烈，利用长臂拼抢。但我最喜欢约翰逊二世的防守；他是全美前三防守强队（包括伦德伯格和马拉在内）中表现最好的全能防守者。他在低位防守中表现出色，在协防中飞身扑救，并在外线展示了换防能力。
但尽管约翰逊二世很强壮，对于他的角色来说他还是有些偏矮，且进攻端缺乏多样性。本质上，他是一名内线终结者。这种技能组合让人想起以赛亚·斯图尔特 (Isaiah Stewart)，而斯图尔特已成为活塞队非常有价值的球员。俄克拉荷马城此前曾与斯图尔特联系在一起，尽管雷霆队去年选中了托马斯·索伯 (Thomas Sorber)，但他们各位置人才储备充足，负担得起再选一名大个子。全联盟也都认为俄克拉荷马城很可能会尝试合并选秀权以向上交易，或者交易掉其中一个选秀权以退出选秀。
18. 夏洛特黄蜂队（来自太阳）
克里斯蒂安·安德森二世 (Christian Anderson Jr.) | 6尺2寸 后卫 | 20岁 | 德克萨斯理工大学 (Texas Tech)
如果你让我选出这届选秀中最好的射手，那一定是克里斯蒂安·安德森二世 (Christian Anderson Jr.)。他场均尝试8次三分，命中率高达41.5%，在控卫位置上是一名极其恐怖的投篮创造者。他可以向右或向左横移投篮，可以在移动后接球投篮，也可以通过创造空间急停跳投。在挡拆传球方面他也很出色，场均送出7.4次助攻。
两个核心疑问很简单。首先，安德森二世能否持续杀入油漆区并冲击篮筐？在这方面他的表现时好时坏，尤其是在Big 12联盟的比赛中。由于缺乏体型和力量，他场均在两分球区域内的尝试仅为5次。体型问题在防守端也是个麻烦，虽然安德森二世很努力且积极卡位，但他的核心和下肢力量还不足以在持球防守中站稳脚跟。即便在赛季中引进了科比·怀特 (Coby White)，黄蜂队在拉梅洛·鲍尔之后仍需要更多的替补控卫深度。
19. 多伦多猛龙队
杰登·昆坦斯 (Jayden Quaintance) | 6尺10寸 大个子 | 18岁 | 肯塔基大学 (Kentucky)
杰登·昆坦斯 (Jayden Quaintance) 今年只打了四场比赛，因为他试图从上赛季末遭受的前交叉韧带 (ACL) 撕裂中提前复出。他看起来像是肯塔基大学梦寐以求的内线防守支柱，在复出首场对阵圣约翰大学的胜利中表现出色。当他17岁在亚利桑那州立大学时，他的移动能力和防守直觉就令人惊叹，并入选了Big 12联盟最佳防守阵容，场均贡献1.1次抢断和2.6次盖帽。
在联合试训得到关于他医疗状况的答案，以及了解他能否在NBA赛季开始前完全康复之前，预测昆坦斯是徒劳的。如果他今年完全健康，我认为他会是这届选秀的前十顺位，因为他让我想起了罗伯特·威廉姆斯三世 (Robert Williams III)，后者曾入选波士顿凯尔特人队的最佳防守阵容。但昆坦斯的顺位范围非常广。他非常契合猛龙队全员长人、高移动性、高防守智商的建队思路。
20. 圣安东尼奥马刺队（来自老鹰）
卡里姆·洛佩斯 (Karim Lopez) | 6尺8寸 侧翼 | 19岁 | 新西兰破坏者队 (New Zealand Breakers)
卡里姆·洛佩斯 (Karim Lopez) 的数据与以往澳洲NBL“明日之星”计划产出的乐透秀持平，他场均贡献12分、6个篮板、2次助攻、1次抢断和1次盖帽。他拥有一双大手，持球技术娴熟，在破坏者队经常扮演错位混合前锋的角色。他像保龄球一样极具冲击力，能打挡拆和短顺下。他可以从外线直线突破，且是一名稳健的终结者。
他在新西兰的两年里三分球命中率起伏不定（32%），但他看起来手感不错，应该能在某个阶段解决这些担忧。更大的问题来自防守端，他的横向速度并不理想。进攻端他缺乏持球晃动的能力；防守端，他的髋部转动不够快，容易被更快的后卫过掉。如果随着年龄增长他在两方面都有所改善，他将成为一名出色的轮换球员。
21. 底特律活塞队（来自森林狼）
戴林·斯温 (Dailyn Swain) | 6尺8寸 侧翼 | 20岁 | 德克萨斯大学 (Texas)
活塞队在杰登·艾维 (Jaden Ivey) 的交易中将选秀权从第28位提升到第21位，这简直是神来之笔。这是他们在那个前20顺位保护的选秀权互换中能得到的最好结果。在当今的NIL（姓名、形象、肖像）时代，第28位和第21位之间的价值差距几乎相当于一个首轮末位签。
戴林·斯温 (Dailyn Swain) 追随他的前辛辛那提泽维尔大学教练肖恩·米勒 (Sean Miller) 加盟德克萨斯大学，这极大地提升了他的身价。这位冲击型侧翼承担了更多的主攻角色并大放异彩，场均贡献17.3分、7.5个篮板和3.6次助攻，投篮命中率为54.2%，场均能通过突破获得超过5次罚球。他的风格非常像另一位前泽维尔大学侧翼纳吉·马绍尔 (Naji Marshall)，他是一名极具侵略性的冲击型球员，在NBA中冲击篮筐应该毫无压力，但也需要提高投篮能力以最大化这种威胁。此外，斯温的整体爆发力要好得多，他的身体机能让他能轻松进入球场更狭窄的区域。
斯温的投篮准备动作较长且出手缓慢，这意味着防守球员可以轻松扑防并迫使其在高难度下出手。虽然他显然有手感且职业生涯罚球命中率为80%，但他的投篮稳定性一直不足。虽然斯温在防守端是个场均1.5次抢断的抢球手，但他也是个喜欢赌博式防守的球员，经常漏掉协防轮换，在防守端往往是个负资产。
22. 费城76人队（来自火箭）
阿马里·艾伦 (Amari Allen) | 6尺8寸 侧翼 | 20岁 | 阿拉巴马大学 (Alabama)
阿马里·艾伦 (Amari Allen) 是一名出色的“瑞士军刀”型侧翼，虽然对他来说回校深造可能更有意义，但他确实令球探们兴奋。他场均贡献11.4分、6.9个篮板、3.1次助攻、1次抢断和近1次盖帽，投篮命中率44%，三分命中率34%，罚球命中率74%。就像年轻时的乔什·哈特 (Josh Hart)，他什么都会一点，除了篮板外没有特别顶尖的领域。但NBA球队总是在寻找能运球、传球和投篮，且在防守端拥有标准尺寸的侧翼。
阿马里·艾伦本赛季为阿拉巴马大学贡献了全能的表现。(Matt Pendleton / Imagn Images)
23. 亚特兰大老鹰队（来自骑士）
克里斯·塞纳克二世 (Chris Cenac Jr.) | 6尺10寸 大个子 | 19岁 | 休斯顿大学 (Houston)
克里斯·塞纳克二世 (Chris Cenac Jr.) 是另一个两极分化严重的新秀。有些人认为他是潜在的乐透秀，而另一些人则认为他应该在休斯顿大学再待一年。作为2025届最受瞩目的招募对象之一，塞纳克二世是一名极其灵活的运动员，在外线移动出色，且拥有不断进步的外线进攻技术。他在休斯顿大学打了很多时间的大前锋，经常蹲在底角或沿底线空切以拉开空间。他已成长为一名出色的篮板手，在场均25分钟内能抢下8个篮板。
塞纳克二世今年在半场进攻中场均在篮下的尝试不足1.5次，这个数字少得可怜。他极其偏向外线，且过分依赖跳投。他尝试了141次跳投，而篮下尝试仅47次。你当然可以部分归咎于休斯顿大学的体系，但他由于缺乏力量和垂直爆发力，也很难杀入那些区域。他的防守表现也褒贬不一。他在移动能力和弱侧轮换覆盖方面有高光时刻，但也有多次反应迟钝、轮换不到位的情况。
24. 纽约尼克斯队
塔里斯·里德二世 (Tarris Reed Jr.) | 6尺11寸 大个子 | 22岁 | 康涅狄格大学 (Connecticut)
除了马拉，没有人比塔里斯·里德二世 (Tarris Reed Jr.) 在NCAA锦标赛中获益更多，他在统治篮板和内线得分方面的能力非常出色。他在NCAA锦标赛期间场均贡献近20分和13个篮板，带领哈士奇队杀入了全国冠军赛。
里德二世在内线是一名强悍的篮板手，260磅的体重极具存在感，不仅如此，他在防守端的挡拆覆盖中也很全面，因为他的脚步移动比你对这种体型球员的预期要好。凭借约7尺4寸的臂展，预计里德二世将在体测环节胜出，并很可能通过二次进攻机会和篮下得分在选秀联合试训中表现出色。
米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson) 在赛季结束后将成为自由球员，因此对于尼克斯队来说，寻找一名能在卡尔-安东尼·唐斯 (Karl-Anthony Towns) 之后提供内线强硬度的替补中锋是非常合理的。他也符合球队疯狂拼抢前场篮板的诉求。
25. 洛杉矶湖人队
亨利·维萨尔 (Henri Veesaar) | 7尺0寸 中锋 | 22岁 | 北卡罗来纳大学 (North Carolina)
亨利·维萨尔 (Henri Veesaar) 看起来倾向于留在2026年选秀中，对于拥有众多外线天才的湖人队来说，他将是一个非常出色的空间型补充。是的，卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić) 往往更喜欢吃饼型大个子而非空间型，但湖人队单纯需要中锋位置上的天才。身高7尺的维萨尔移动非常灵活，且拥有高端的技能包，包括传球（场均2.1次助攻）和远投（场均三次三分尝试，命中率42.6%）。
26. 丹佛掘金队
本内特·斯蒂茨 (Bennett Stirtz) | 6尺4寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 爱荷华大学 (Iowa)
在缓慢的开局后，本内特·斯蒂茨 (Bennett Stirtz) 凭借统治级的表现带领爱荷华大学杀入了精英八强。在最后25场比赛中，他场均贡献21.5分、4.1次助攻，投篮命中率47.2%，场均8次三分尝试命中率为33.5%，罚球命中率87.2%。凭借他的节奏和技巧，他在一支以Big Ten联盟标准来看并不算天才云集的球队中，成为了一名拥有顶级篮球智商的强力得分手。在主帅本·麦科勒姆 (Ben McCollum) 的指导下，鹰眼队的节奏是大学篮球中最慢的之一，这使得这些数据更加令人印象深刻。
关于斯蒂茨能否在NBA持续杀入篮下以及防守水平是否达标存在一些担忧。但球队总是想要那些顶级射手、能运球传球且拥有极佳比赛感觉的后卫。尤其是明尼苏达，他们需要一名能在安东尼·爱德华兹身边梳理进攻的控卫。
27. 波士顿凯尔特人队
赛亚·埃文斯 (Isaiah Evans) | 6尺6寸 侧翼 | 20岁 | 杜克大学 (Duke)
赛亚·埃文斯 (Isaiah Evans) 在赛季末表现强劲，帮助杜克大学打进了精英八强。他场均得到15分，投篮命中率43%，三分命中率35%，但在最后15场比赛中，他场均贡献16.5分，投篮命中率46.7%，场均超过8次三分尝试，命中率高达39.7%。埃文斯是一名出色的移动型射手，在挡拆和掩护中与布泽尔配合默契，自己也经常通过无球掩护跑出机会。
埃文斯今年在突破方面也有了长足进步，从大一时期81%的出手来自三分，转变为今年三分出手占65%，且场均有四次两分线内尝试。他在防守端也变得更强壮了一些，尽管仍有成长空间。
28. 明尼苏达森林狼队（来自活塞）
埃布卡·奥科里 (Ebuka Okorie) | 6尺2寸 后卫 | 19岁 | 斯坦福大学 (Stanford)
森林狼队曾尝试通过选秀日交易得到罗布·迪林厄姆 (Rob Dillingham)，但最终未能如愿，所以让我们给他们另一个机会，在安东尼·爱德华兹身边安排一名充满活力的运动员和创造者。我非常看好埃布卡·奥科里 (Ebuka Okorie) 的持球能力。他始终处于攻击模式，大一赛季场均砍下23.2分，投篮命中率46.5%，三分命中率35.4%，罚球命中率83.2%。他速度极快，能在油漆区的狭窄缝隙中穿梭自如。凭借这种钻营防守空隙的能力，他创造了大量的篮下出手。
那么他为什么没有排得更高呢？根据 Synergy 的数据，他在半场进攻中的篮下命中率仅为52%，这意味着他到那后的终结效率并不算高。他场均还通过7.3次罚球来维持效率。虽然他的三分命中率很稳健，但球队希望看到他更多的投射表现。尽管如此，我敢打赌奥科里会在选秀前过程中表现惊人，因为很难想象有比他更适合NBA球队采用的那种三对三试训的球员了。
29. 克利夫兰骑士队（来自马刺）
梅利克·托马斯 (Meleek Thomas) | 6尺5寸 侧翼 | 19岁 | 阿肯色大学 (Arkansas)
梅利克·托马斯 (Meleek Thomas) 是一名充满活力的进攻武器，也是阿库夫二世在阿肯色大学的强力搭档。作为大一新生，他场均贡献15.6分和2.5次助攻，三分命中率超过41%，这一出色数据展示了他无论在移动中还是持球单打中都能得分。他完全具备成为NBA强力第六人/微波炉得分手的潜质。这里的问题主要集中在决策能力和防守端。托马斯倾向于过多地采取不合理的投篮，尤其是在中距离和篮下，而不是选择传球。此外，他在防守端的预判和时机把握很挣扎，即便展示了一定的持球防守能力，也并不总能出现在正确的位置。他需要变得更强壮并学习如何防守，但对于那些能激发他潜力的球队来说，他确实拥有不俗的上限。
30. 达拉斯独行侠队（来自雷霆）
汤德·耶苏福 (Tounde Yessoufou) | 6尺5寸 侧翼 | 20岁 | 贝勒大学 (Baylor)
从得分角度来看，汤德·耶苏福 (Tounde Yessoufou) 是全美最高产的大一新生之一。他场均贡献17.8分，同时每晚能抢下5.9个篮板。他身体素质极佳，打球时拥有永不枯竭的活力，场均贡献两次抢断，是一名强硬的持球防守者，非常擅长破坏传球路线。
然而，各支球队担心他的比赛风格以及如何转化。耶苏福很大程度上是一名力量型球员，最近通过背身单打或在中距离面框攻击身材矮小的对手获得了很多分数。这种风格在NBA行不通。此外，虽然耶苏福拥有惊人的抢断率，但他的整体防守速度和意识并不强。他经常被速度更快的球员一步过。尽管如此，球探们对他依然感到兴奋，纯粹是因为他在各个级别都能保持稳定的产出。
第二轮
**31. 纽约尼克斯队（来自奇才）：**亚历克斯·卡拉班 (Alex Karaban) | 6尺7寸 侧翼 | 23岁 | 康涅狄格大学
**32. 孟菲斯灰熊队（来自步行者）：**艾伦·格雷夫斯 (Allen Graves) | 6尺8寸 前锋 | 19岁 | 圣克拉拉大学
**33. 布鲁克林篮网队：**约书亚·杰斐逊 (Joshua Jefferson) | 6尺9寸 侧翼 | 22岁 | 爱荷华州立大学
**34. 萨克拉门托国王队：**塞尔吉奥·德·拉雷亚 (Sergio De Larrea) | 6尺5寸 侧翼 | 20岁 | 瓦伦西亚（西班牙）
**35. 圣安东尼奥马刺队（来自爵士）：**祖比·埃乔福 (Zuby Ejiofor) | 6尺9寸 大个子 | 22岁 | 圣约翰大学
**36. 洛杉矶快船队（来自灰熊）：**瑞安·康威尔 (Ryan Conwell) | 6尺4寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 路易斯维尔大学
**37. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆队（来自独行侠）：**马利克·布朗 (Maliq Brown) | 6尺8寸 大个子 | 22岁 | 杜克大学
**38. 芝加哥公牛队（来自鹈鹕）：**乌戈纳·奥尼恩索 (Ugonna Onyenso) | 6尺11寸 大个子 | 22岁 | 弗吉尼亚大学
**39. 休斯顿火箭队（来自公牛）：**布雷登·史密斯 (Braden Smith) | 6尺0寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 普渡大学
**40. 波士顿凯尔特人队（来自雄鹿）：**里奇·桑德斯 (Richie Saunders) | 6尺5寸 侧翼 | 24岁 | 杨百翰大学
**41. 迈阿密热火队（来自勇士）：**布鲁斯·桑顿 (Bruce Thornton) | 6尺2寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 俄亥俄州立大学
**42. 圣安东尼奥马刺队（来自开拓者）：**伊曼纽尔·夏普 (Emanuel Sharp) | 6尺3寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 休斯顿大学
**43. 布鲁克林篮网队（来自快船）：**巴巴·米勒 (Baba Miller) | 6尺11寸 侧翼 | 22岁 | 辛辛那提大学
**44. 圣安东尼奥马刺队（来自热火）：**泰勒·尼克尔 (Tyler Nickel) | 6尺7寸 侧翼 | 22岁 | 范德堡大学
**45. 萨克拉门托国王队（来自黄蜂）：**特雷·考夫曼-雷恩 (Trey Kaufman-Renn) | 6尺9寸 前锋 | 23岁 | 普渡大学
**46. 奥兰多魔术队：**杰登·布拉德利 (Jaden Bradley) | 6尺3寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 亚利桑那大学
**47. 菲尼克斯太阳队（来自费城）：**特雷冯·布拉齐尔 (Trevon Brazile) | 6尺9寸 大个子 | 23岁 | 阿肯色大学
**48. 达拉斯独行侠队（来自太阳）：**贾科比·吉莱斯皮 (Ja’Kobi Gillespie) | 6尺1寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 田纳西大学
**49. 丹佛掘金队（来自老鹰）：**彼得·苏德 (Peter Suder) | 6尺3寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 迈阿密大学（俄亥俄）
**50. 多伦多猛龙队：**泰勒·比洛多 (Tyler Bilodeau) | 6尺8寸 前锋 | 22岁 | 加州大学洛杉矶分校 (UCLA)
**51. 华盛顿奇才队（来自森林狼）：**塔明·利普西 (Tamin Lipsey) | 6尺1寸 后卫 | 22岁 | 爱荷华州立大学
**52. 洛杉矶快船队（来自骑士）：**米洛斯·乌赞 (Milos Uzan) | 6尺4寸 后卫 | 23岁 | 休斯顿大学
**53. 休斯顿火箭队：**托比·劳瓦尔 (Tobi Lawal) | 6尺8寸 大个子 | 23岁 | 弗吉尼亚理工大学
**54. 金州勇士队（来自湖人）：**尼克·马蒂内利 (Nick Martinelli) | 6尺6寸 侧翼 | 22岁 | 西北大学
**55. 纽约尼克斯队：**伊赛亚·尼尔森 (Izaiyah Nelson) | 6尺10寸 大个子 | 22岁 | 南佛罗里达大学
**56. 芝加哥公牛队（来自掘金）：**奥特加·奥维 (Otega Oweh) | 6尺5寸 后卫 | 23岁 | 肯塔基大学
**57. 亚特兰大老鹰队（来自凯尔特人）：**杰登·亨利 (Jaden Henley) | 6尺6寸 侧翼 | 22岁 | 大峡谷大学
**58. 新奥尔良鹈鹕队（来自活塞）：**费利克斯·奥克帕拉 (Felix Okpara) | 6尺10寸 大个子 | 22岁 | 田纳西大学
**59. 明尼苏达森林狼队（来自马刺）：**狄龙·米切尔 (Dillon Mitchell) | 6尺7寸 侧翼 | 22岁 | 圣约翰大学
**60. 华盛顿奇才队（来自雷霆）：**尼克·博伊德 (Nick Boyd) | 6尺3寸 后卫 | 25岁 | 威斯康星大学
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：2026 NBA mock draft: AJ Dybantsa to Wizards; Darryn Peterson to Jazz
2026 NBA mock draft: AJ Dybantsa to Wizards; Darryn Peterson to Jazz
The NBA Draft lottery is complete. The Washington Wizards are the big winners of the 2026 sweepstakes, and the order has shaken out in a way to solve exactly what every team needs within the top four.
The Wizards won a truly momentous lottery, with the Utah Jazz moving up on lottery day for the first time in the organization’s history to No. 2, the Memphis Grizzlies moving up three spots to the No. 3 pick, and the Chicago Bulls, under a new front office, jumping all the way from No. 9 to No. 4.
In the other big news, the Indiana Pacers lost their draft pick this season to the LA Clippers, who will now select at No. 5 as a result of the Ivica Zubac trade in February. The other teams that slipped multiple spots were the Brooklyn Nets falling to No. 6 and the Sacramento Kings dropping to No. 7.
The crown jewels of what is widely regarded as a loaded draft class are BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cameron Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson, with a strong guard group from No. 5 to No. 10. So let’s update the mock draft for the first time since the order has been set, with the following notes:
• Every time I do one of these, I get asked where certain players are. If a freshman isn’t in the consensus top 35 based on the feedback I get from teams, I haven’t placed them here. It would be a poor decision for such prospects to leave, given the three years of earning potential in college they would be passing up for an uncertain fate. Additionally, I’m going a bit off feel and intel that I’ve gathered at this point as to whether players are staying in the draft. The players I have not included here who have declared for the draft early include Tyler Tanner, Flory Bidunga, Billy Richmond III and Rueben Chinyelu, among others. If they decide to stay in the draft past the early-entry withdrawal date, I will mock them at that point.
• Ages are as of draft night in 2026 (June 23).
• Heights for college freshmen are what their schools list.
• Scouts were granted anonymity in exchange for speaking freely about prospects.
1. Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | BYU
Dybantsa is the name I get most consistently at No. 1 across the league, and he makes a ton of sense with the Wizards. He’s a dynamic, explosive scorer whose three-level scoring ability at 6 foot 9 shone brightly this season. Dybantsa averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 51 percent from the field, 33.1 percent on 3-pointers and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line while getting there 8.5 times per game. He and Michael Beasley are the only two freshmen in college basketball history — stretching back to 1953-54, per Basketball Reference — to average 25 points, shoot 50 percent from the field and take at least eight free-throw attempts per game.
He plays with serious bend mixed with explosiveness, allowing him to consistently get into the teeth of the defense as a straight-line driver. In transition, he’s a menace. His midrange game has become a serious weapon. He’s also not a finished product. It’s clear where the improvement areas are for him. His jumper will get better as he ages. He improved drastically as a passer this season but has even more room for growth there when he plays next to more talented NBA players. And defensively, Dybantsa is not nearly as impactful as his measurements suggest he could become.
Dybantsa is seen as having extremely high upside with a tremendously high floor. For the Wizards, he would slot in perfectly on the wing regardless of the team’s direction next season. He fits perfectly between Anthony Davis and Trae Young but also blends nicely with the team’s young core of Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Kyshawn George because he does something those four don’t: put pressure on the rim.
2. Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | Kansas
Peterson’s strange collegiate journey complicated his evaluation. After a season of missing second halves of games and being unavailable because of a hamstring injury and cramping issues, he did play at least 28 minutes in each of his last nine games. Scouts connected with Kansas were always much less concerned about that than the media, and Peterson recently revealed that his cramping issues were because of creatine. NBA teams will also see Peterson’s medical testing at the draft combine, which should provide more answers.
Peterson’s talent as a shot-making scorer is undeniable. He averaged 20.2 points while shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from 3 and 82.6 percent from the line. He drilled an incredible number of difficult pull-up jumpers from all levels. However, his ability to get to the rim has come into question, as scouts wonder if life will be more difficult for him creating easy shots at the next level. Part of these issues at Kansas could have simply been because of his injuries; he looked less explosive than he was in high school. Another part could have been the Jayhawks’ lack of spacing. It was not dissimilar to what Anthony Edwards looked like at Georgia.
The Jazz and other teams in the top four will have to lean on their high school evaluations of Peterson. The big step forward for Peterson at Prolific Prep came with his passing and playmaking out of ball screens. He’s always been a tremendous scorer, but he began to read the second and third levels of the defense and make plays off how help defenders played him, even at times manipulating them. At Kansas, he didn’t get the opportunity to showcase those skills. Teams will want to know more about how he sees the court in the pre-draft process and whether he can re-incorporate those parts into his game.
The big key here for Utah, though, is that he’s a perfect fit between their massively talented wings and frontcourt of Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Walker Kessler, and next to point guard Keyonte George. Peterson’s scoring and shooting should blend nicely and make him an impact player for a team that will be expected to take a leap in the Western Conference.
3. Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer | 6-9 forward | 18 years old | Duke
Boozer is the safest bet in the class to become a highly productive player. The consensus around the NBA that the son of Carlos Boozer will follow in his father’s footsteps as an All-Star. The consensus falls apart over whether he profiles as a No. 1 option.
Boozer’s games in both the ACC and NCAA tournaments raised questions for scouts about building their team around him. In Duke’s seven postseason games, Boozer shot just 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from 3. He was remarkably productive, but his below-the-rim finishing ability was messy against players with legitimate NBA interior size such as Virginia’s Ugonna Onyenso.
If Boozer were as tall as Nikola Jokić, this evaluation would be much easier. Jokić entered the league around 6-11 in shoes with a 7-3 wingspan; Boozer is expected to measure more in the 6-9 range with a 7-foot wingspan. He’s more the size of Kevin Love than Jokić, whose height and length allow him to use his special touch to get shots off from wild angles. Can Boozer consistently separate and draw help defenders in the NBA the same way he did in high school and college?
Still, he averaged 22.5 points, 10 rebounds and four assists on his way to the national player of the year award, largely because of the myriad ways Duke proved that you can use him. And for the Grizzlies, he ticks every box that they love. He’s wildly productive, he’s considered to be elite from a character perspective and he’s won at every level. Pairing him with Zach Edey would result in one of the most physical frontcourt duos we’ve seen in the NBA in a while — if Edey can get healthy.
4. Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson | 6-10 wing | 19 years old | North Carolina
Wilson missed the final month of the season with a broken right thumb and a broken left hand. Before that, he averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks and was good in just about every game he played.
It’s all about power and explosiveness for Wilson. He plays with terrific bend and balance as a driver. Combine that with his strength and leaping ability, and you get a special player who can dominate at the rim. The further into the cycle we get, the more I hear from scouts who see Wilson in the same group as Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer, with some even ranking him as a top-three player in the class. It didn’t hurt Wilson’s case that he outperformed all three of those players when North Carolina played them this season (in Dybantsa’s case, in the preseason, but still).
Wilson’s flaws are easier to scout than the others’, though. He doesn’t take many 3s (he was just 7-of-27 shooting on the season), although his mechanics looked good from the extended midrange area. Defensively, the block and steal numbers are strong, but he’s not as twitchy on the ball as you’d expect for an athlete of his caliber; plus, he’s messy off the ball with his rotations and with how quickly he reacts. Most of his assists come on pre-ordained reads within structure, rather than when he’s on the move and reacting. But the reality is that few players consistently play with his type of motor and aggressiveness. He has many similarities to Pascal Siakam, who has made multiple All-NBA teams.
He’s an athletic player with great positional size who plays with physicality and would fit nicely if the Bulls continue to operate an uptempo offense under the coach whom new general manager Bryson Graham hires.
Keaton Wagler was an unheralded recruit who led Illinois to the Final Four as a freshman. (Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn Images)
5. LA Clippers (via IND)
Keaton Wagler | 6-6 wing | 19 years old | Illinois
The Clippers getting this pick from the Pacers is a home run for a team that needs an influx of young talent.
And yet, it’s not the easiest spot. Most of the players projected in this range are lead guards. However, the Clippers already have their long-term lead guard signed to a large contract in Darius Garland after acquiring him for James Harden at the deadline. A few of these guards aren’t exactly ideal fits with Garland long-term.
Wagler is probably the best fit with his size and ability to shoot off the catch. He is unequivocally this year’s biggest draft riser and maybe the biggest draft riser in the one-and-done era after leading Illinois to the Final Four.
Wagler was ranked outside the top 150 in the 2025 recruiting class but is a wildly impressive guard who can generate shots both for himself and his teammates, thanks to a crafty, creative handle and outstanding feel for the game. Illinois moved him to the lead guard position on Dec. 6; from that point, he averaged 19.1 points, five rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 79 percent from the line.
Wagler is not very quick-twitch with his first step, and he has very little vertical explosiveness. He’s also not all that strong. But he uses the threat of his pull-up jump shot better than any player in the class and plays with an incredibly rhythmic, well-paced tempo that makes it hard for opponents to stay in front of him.
6. Brooklyn Nets
Darius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 guard | 19 years old | Arkansas
Acuff earned first-team All-America status by dominating games down the stretch. Over his final 13 games, he averaged an absurd 28 points per game and 6.7 assists while getting to the line 7.5 times per game. He was efficient and sharp, shooting 48 percent from the field and over 40 percent from 3.
Acuff might be the most polished freshman guard prospect I’ve ever evaluated. His footwork and balance are pristine, and he tends to make efficient decisions. He plays off two feet and moves well without the ball to set up his on-ball moves. His passes are always crisp and on-target, even if his vision isn’t always elite.
But can he consistently get paint touches against NBA length, and can he guard anybody? In terms of the former, he’s done just about everything in his power to make me a believer that he can separate, thanks to the threat of his shot and elite pace. But the latter is another story. Even though Acuff is stocky and strong, he’s easily the worst defender among the top 10 prospects. He struggles to get through screens and shows a lack of off-ball engagement too regularly.
Brooklyn just took multiple guards in last year’s five-man, first-round draft class, but none of them is remotely at Acuff’s level. Their presence should not stop them from taking him if he’s the best player available on their board.
7. Sacramento Kings
Kingston Flemings | 6-4 guard | 19 years old | Houston
Flemings is a wildly explosive and powerful lead guard, using a lightning-quick first step to get by defenders with ease. Despite playing in an offense in which he had precious little space around him, he averaged 16.1 points and 5.2 assists while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from 3. You can see his burst every time he touches the court. He’s also an excellent decision-maker who improved defensively throughout the season.
The main concerns revolve around his jumper consistency and the way that he scores. Flemings’ percentages dropped in Big 12 play. In his final 14 games, he shot just 41.3 percent from the field and got to the line only three times per game. Scouts wonder if he can consistently get to the rim. Houston’s rim pressure this season was among the worst in the country, and Flemings only averaged 51.2 percent at the rim in half-court settings, per Synergy. Was that a function of Flemings settling, or is it a flaw in his game? Flemings needs to improve his footwork on his gathers around the rim, but scouts should still be excited about how his speed and decision-making will translate to the next level, where he will get the kind of pace and space that will transform his game.
Flemings would make perfect sense as a speedy De’Aaron Fox replacement in Sacramento.
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP)
Mikel Brown Jr. | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | Louisville
Brown’s best flashes were those of a top-five pick. He dropped 45 points with 10 made 3s in a game against NC State, then followed it up with 29 points, six assists and three rebounds against Baylor and 29 points, five rebounds and four assists against SMU. When Brown had it rolling, there was no more dynamic ball-screen playmaker in college basketball. He has range out to 30 feet, and his vision as a playmaker for others exceeds everyone in the class when playing in a screen. If anyone in this deep draft class could average nine or 10 assists per game in the NBA, it’s Brown.
So why does he slip to No. 8? Some negative aspects of his game resemble the issues LaMelo Ball has, while he’s not quite as dynamic as Ball is in his best moments. First and foremost, Brown is extremely wild. The turnovers are an issue. He hasn’t figured out how to moderate his decision-making. Second, his defense is a work in progress. He’s a serious negative in switch situations against stronger players, and his off-ball instincts are hit or miss. Brown’s back injury recurred later in the season, too, causing him to miss the postseason. He got very little time off from the end of his high school season to the start of his college season, going from the all-star circuit directly into the under-19 World Cup and then into Louisville’s preseason. Scouts want to know if Brown’s back is merely a short-term issue from overuse or if it could be a long-term problem.
For a team that moved Trae Young at the deadline and has some pressing questions at the lead guard spot, Brown makes a ton of sense. He’d fit next to players like Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and his shooting ability would help accentuate Jalen Johnson’s driving skills.
9. Dallas Mavericks
Brayden Burries | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | Arizona
Burries was the leading scorer on one of the top three teams in the country, despite a slow start that saw him average just 7.8 points in his first five games. From that point, he averaged 17.3 points while shooting 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 81 percent from the foul line in his final 34 games. He’s also an aggressive rebounder who grabbed 5.5 boards per game in that time, while averaging 2.4 assists as a solid ball mover who didn’t take many bad shots.
The question is about separating from his man consistently, as he’s more of a power guard who uses the threat of his shot to keep defenders off-balance. Burries turned into a really good defender by the end of the year and averaged 1.5 steals. For Dallas, Burries would be a terrific complement to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving as they look to make a jump next year.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
Nate Ament | 6-10 wing/forward | 19 years old | Tennessee
Ament’s season was a true roller coaster, and his draft stock is a bit funky as a result. He averaged 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in his first 15 games but was only shooting 40 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3. Those numbers were also buoyed by big games against bad teams, like his 23 points against Northern Kentucky, his 19 against Rice and North Florida and his 20 against Rutgers. Then, over 12 games before he sprained an ankle in Tennessee’s game against Alabama, few players were better in high-major conference play. He averaged 22 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 44 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line while getting there a ridiculous nine times per game in that run. But when he returned for postseason play, he clearly wasn’t 100 percent. He averaged just 13.3 points while shooting 31.3 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent from inside the arc as he had zero lift.
Still, that issue with his scoring inside the arc showcases problems with his game. He’s still quite skinny, and scouts aren’t sure how his frame will fill out. He added a lot of good weight in the offseason leading into his freshman year, which allowed him to at least deal with the rigors of college basketball. However, he doesn’t have a ton of athletic explosiveness. His finishing at the rim has been concerning when he doesn’t get fouled, as he made a ridiculously low 42 percent of his shots at the rim at 6-10, per Synergy.
11. Golden State Warriors
Aday Mara | 7-3 big | 21 years old | Michigan
Mara, by far, helped himself the most in the NCAA Tournament. I had a vote for Final Four Most Outstanding Player and chose Mara because of how he dominated the semifinal against Arizona (going off for 26 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks) and how he completely changed the geometry defensively against Connecticut with his ability to guard Tarris Reed Jr. on an island while also shutting down the interior for drivers.
Mara combines two skills NBA teams seek in their centers: the ability to shut down the paint and read the court out high as a passer. Opponents shot 54.5 percent at the rim this season when Mara was on the court compared to better than 60 percent when he was off it, per CBB Analytics. Opposing teams also shot just 36 percent on 2-pointers from the paint when Mara was on the court. On offense, Mara is terrific at using his height and feel for the game to dissect what is happening and make the right passing reads, be it a simple handoff or a more complex reaction to find a cutter at the rim. He dished out 2.4 assists per game and shot 66.8 percent from the field. Mara’s hands can be an issue with bobbles and turnovers, and his lateral foot speed is concerning.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-9 big | 23 years old | Michigan
Even though Lendeborg gutted through an ankle injury in the Final Four, he led Michigan to a title and transformed his game. His counting numbers were down from his heights at UAB, but he averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while playing aggressive defense. He showcased serious switchability, often picking up lead ballhandlers at the point of attack as well as playing against power forwards when Mara or Morez Johnson Jr. would leave the court. He’s also an active help defender with excellent hands.
He drilled 37.4 percent of his 3s for the season, thanks to a hot streak at the end of the year in which he made 48.1 percent over his final 16 games — and that includes a 0-of-5 mark when he was clearly hobbled against UConn in the title game. Lendeborg tracks for Oklahoma City as a long, physical player with two-way acumen, something the Thunder are always on the lookout for. Don’t be surprised to see Oklahoma City try to consolidate some pick capital and move up in this class, either.
13. Miami Heat
Labaron Philon Jr. | 6-3 guard | 20 years old | Alabama
Philon returned to school at the last minute last May, and he took advantage of his extra year. He stepped into Alabama’s lead guard role and averaged 22 points, 3.5 rebounds and five assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 80 percent from the foul line. Though his defense took a step back from last season, when he was terrific while playing next to Mark Sears and only sharing the on-ball responsibilities, he was one of the best offensive players in the country.
So why is he not higher? First, this class is loaded with truly elite point guards like Brown, Acuff and Wagler. Second, teams worry about his frame and that he seemingly has not put on much mass this year after returning to school. Third, Alabama’s scheme is clearly favorable to him and gives him the space and time he desires to operate, both in half-court and transition settings.
Washington’s Hannes Steinbach blocks USC Kam Woods’ shot attempt during the Big 12 tournament in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Imagn Images)
14. Charlotte Hornets
Hannes Steinbach | 6-11 big | 20 years old | Washington
Steinbach is the next center on the board whom scouts feel strongest about. The best rebounder in the draft, Steinbach has massive hands that he uses to his utmost potential both in ball screens and on the glass. He averaged 11.8 rebounds per game this year, including a monstrous 4.2 offensive rebounds per game that would fit incredibly well with what the Hornets are building scheme-wise under Charles Lee, as they care immensely about the possession battle. Steinbach also moves very fluidly and has huge, broad shoulders that he uses well in screens and also has strong timing as a roller.
He averaged 18.5 points this year for Washington, a team that had horrendous point guard play and even less spacing around him, as they shot just 31.5 percent from 3. And yet still, Steinbach shot 62 percent from 2-point range and 58 percent from the field. He also showcases potential as a shooter, having made 34 percent of his two 3-point attempts per game. Defensively, Steinbach doesn’t move well laterally in space, and I didn’t think he was an overly impactful rim protector. His range seems to be in the N0. 10 to No. 20 part of the draft.
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR)
Cameron Carr | 6-6 guard | 21 years old | Baylor
Carr had a nuclear hot start to the season and then largely settled in as one of the best high-major scorers in the country. He averaged 18.9 points per game while shooting 49.4 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from 3 and 80.1 percent from the foul line. Carr is a terrific shooter with great straight-line slashing instincts, using his long strides and length to cover ground quickly before getting to the rim.
It’s very difficult to find players who are in the ballpark of 6-6 with incredibly long arms like Carr’s who can shoot. His lack of physicality and his high waist show up defensively, as he still doesn’t impact the game unless he’s rotating across for a weak-side contest. Carr needs to keep putting on weight and getting stronger and also has to work on playing with more bend and accessing leverage better. New Bulls’ head of basketball operations Graham played a big role in drafting Trey Murphy III in New Orleans, and there are some real points of comparison that can be made between he and Carr due to Carr’s length and athleticism.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
Koa Peat | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | Arizona
Peat prompts a wide range of opinions from NBA scouts. On the plus side, he has won everywhere he’s been and is one of the most decorated players in his age group. He won state titles and four gold medals with Team USA in youth events, then helped carry Arizona to a Final Four. He averaged 14.1 points while shooting 53 percent from the field and is a tough, physical rebounder. He passes well and makes excellent decisions to keep his team in the flow of the offense, be it in short rolls out of ball screens or on the wing. If you need him to score, he can do that as we saw in the NCAA Tournament, where he averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and taking a bigger offensive load. Or, he can slide into a role as a tough, physical defender who takes on different matchups and then makes quick reads.
Yet, the flaws jump off the page. He’s not really a shooter, as he’s only taken 20 3-point attempts and made seven of them while hitting just 62.3 percent of his attempts at the foul line — basically in line with his averages at lower levels. Defensively, he’s not overly fast, and there are possessions when you see him get beaten laterally by quicker players, although I did think he was a good defender by the end of the season.
It might look a bit strange for Memphis to use another pick on a big skilled player who profiles best at the 3 and 4, but Peat has played successfully with Boozer at lower levels with Team USA and ticks a lot of the competitive boxes that Memphis desires long-term in its players. With questions surrounding Brandon Clarke, too, the Grizzlies could absolutely use more depth here. Undeniably though, I’m sure they’ll at least look at the lead guards such as Ebuka Okorie, Bennett Stirtz and Christian Anderson Jr.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
Morez Johnson Jr. | 6-9 big | 20 years old | Michigan
Johnson was one of my favorite players in college basketball. He was one of the most efficient players in the country, averaging 13.1 points per game while shooting 62.3 percent from the field. He got to the foul line four times per game and made 78 percent of those. He’s a tough rebounder who is physical on the interior and crashes with his long arms. But I love Johnson the most on defense; he was the best all-around defender on one of the three best defenses in the nation, and that included Lendeborg and Mara. He’s tremendous as a post defender, flying around in help and showcasing switchability on the perimeter.
But Johnson is undersized for his role despite his strength and doesn’t have a ton of offensive versatility. Essentially, he’s a play finisher around the interior. That skill set is reminiscent of Isaiah Stewart, and Stewart has turned into a very valuable player for the Pistons. Oklahoma City has been linked to Stewart before, and even though the Thunder took Thomas Sorber last season, they’re loaded everywhere and can afford to take another big. Teams across the league look at Oklahoma City, as well, as a team primed to likely try to combine its picks to move up or to try to move one of these picks to move out of the draft.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via PHX)
Christian Anderson Jr. | 6-2 guard | 20 years old | Texas Tech
If you made me choose the best shooter in this class, it would be Anderson. He hit 41.5 percent of his eight 3-point attempts per game and is an absurd shot maker at the point guard position. He can make them going to his right or to his left, hits them off the catch after movement or off pull-ups by creating space. He’s also a terrific passer out of ball screens, averaging 7.4 assists per game.
The two big questions are simple. First, can Anderson generate consistent paint touches and get to the rim? It was hit or miss in that respect, particularly in Big 12 play. He averaged just five attempts per game inside of 2-point range because of his lack of size and strength. That size question is also an issue on defense, where Anderson is a willing worker and fights for position but isn’t strong enough yet to hold up at the point of attack through his core and lower half. Even with the in-season acquisition of Coby White, the Hornets could use a bit more cover at the backup at the lead guard spot behind LaMelo Ball.
19. Toronto Raptors
Jayden Quaintance | 6-10 big | 18 years old | Kentucky
Quaintance only played in four games this year, as he attempted to return early from a torn ACL he suffered late last season. He looked like a potential defensive anchor for a Kentucky team that desperately needed one on the interior and played really well in the team’s win over St. John’s in his first game back. His mobility and defensive instincts jumped off the page when he was a 17-year-old at Arizona State and made the Big 12 All-Defensive team while averaging 1.1 steals and 2.6 blocks per game.
Projecting Quaintance is a fool’s errand until we get answers at the combine on his medicals and whether he can make a full comeback by the time the NBA season starts. If he were fully healthy this year, I think he’d be the 10th pick in this class, as he reminds me a lot of Robert Williams III, who made an All-Defensive team for the Boston Celtics. But the range is extremely wide for Quaintance. He’d fit in nicely with the Raptors’ decision to go all-in on mobile defenders with length and high-level defensive IQ.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
Karim Lopez | 6-8 wing | 19 years old | New Zealand Breakers
Lopez’s numbers look in line with past lottery picks coming out of Australia’s NBL Next Stars program, as he’s averaging 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block per game. He has excellent hands, is very skilled with the ball and often operates as essentially a mismatch hybrid forward for the Breakers. He’s a physical bowling ball who can play in screens and short rolls. He can attack in a straight line from the perimeter, and he is a solid finisher.
The 3-point shooting has been up and down in his two years in New Zealand (32 percent), but he looks to have good touch and should work through any concerns there at some point. The bigger questions come on defense, as his lateral speed isn’t particularly good. He doesn’t have much shake on the ball offensively; on defense, his hips don’t flip quickly enough, and he can be beaten by faster guards. If he improves in those two areas as he ages, he’ll be an excellent rotation player.
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
Dailyn Swain | 6-8 wing | 20 years old | Texas
How about this for the Pistons, moving up from pick No. 28 to No. 21 in the Jaden Ivey deal, the best possible selection they could have received in what was a top-20 protected pick swap for a player whom the Bulls waived? The difference in value from No. 28 to No. 21 is pretty close to a late first-round pick in value, especially in this class and in the NIL era.
Swain helped himself a lot by following his former Xavier coach, Sean Miller, to Texas. The slashing wing moved into more of a primary role and thrived, averaging 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and driving his way into more than five free-throw attempts per game. His style is very reminiscent of another former Xavier wing, Naji Marshall, as he is an aggressive downhill player who should have zero issue pressuring the rim, even in the NBA, but who also needs to improve as a shooter to maximize that ability. Swain also has far better overall explosiveness, and his body mechanics allow him to get into tighter areas of the court with ease.
Swain’s shot is elongated with a slow release, meaning that opposing players can close out on him with little issue and force contested shots. While he clearly has touch and has made 80 percent of his free throws in his career, he hasn’t made shots consistently. While Swain is a ballhawk on defense who averaged 1.5 steals for his career, he’s a riverboat gambler who often misses help rotations, and he’s often a negative on the defensive end.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
Amari Allen | 6-8 wing | 20 years old | Alabama
Allen is a terrific Swiss Army knife wing who excites scouts, even though it might make more sense for him to return to school. He averaged 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, one steal and nearly one block per game while shooting 44 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3 and 74 percent from the foul line. Like a younger Josh Hart, he does a little bit of everything without truly excelling in an area outside of rebounding. But NBA teams are always looking for wings who can dribble, pass and shoot while providing at least solid size on the defensive end.
Amari Allen did a little bit of everything for Alabama this season. (Matt Pendleton / Imagn Images)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
Chris Cenac Jr. | 6-10 big | 19 years old | Houston
Cenac is another polarizing prospect. Some view him as a potential lottery pick, while others think he should do another year at Houston. One of the most highly touted prospects in the 2025 recruiting class, Cenac is a flexible athlete who moves well on the perimeter and has a burgeoning offensive game on the outside to match. He played a lot of minutes at power forward for Houston, often sitting in the corners or cutting baseline to space the court. He’s become an awesome rebounder, averaging eight per game in 25 minutes per night.
Cenac took under 1.5 attempts per game at the rim in half-court settings this year, a paltry number. He was extremely perimeter-oriented and settled far too often. He took 141 jump shots versus 47 attempts at the rim. You can certainly blame Houston’s scheme some, but he also struggled to get into those areas because of his lack of force and vertical pop. His defensive efforts were also mixed. He had positive moments with his mobility and weak-side rotational ability to cover ground, but he also had several moments when he was slow to react and didn’t make the right rotations.
24. New York Knicks
Tarris Reed Jr. | 6-11 big | 22 years old | Connecticut
Outside of Mara, no one helped themselves more in the NCAA Tournament than Reed, whose ability to dominate the glass and score on the interior was terrific. He averaged nearly 20 points and 13 rebounds in NCAA Tournament play while leading the Huskies to the national championship game.
Reed is a rugged rebounder on the interior and a real physical presence at 260 pounds, but more than that, he’s also versatile in ball-screen coverages defensively because he moves his feet better than you expect from someone this size. With something in the ballpark of a 7-4 wingspan, expect Reed to win the measurement game, and he will have the ability to likely perform well at the draft combine by getting second-chance opportunities and buckets.
Mitchell Robinson is a free agent at the end of the season for the Knicks, so it would make sense for the organization to look at a strong contender for that backup center role behind Karl-Anthony Towns who provides toughness in the middle. He’d also fit the team’s desire to crash the offensive glass hard.
25. Los Angeles Lakers
Henri Veesaar | 7-0 center | 22 years old | North Carolina
Veesaar is projecting like he prefers to stay in the 2026 draft, and he’d be a pretty excellent fit as a floor-spacing complement for the Lakers with all of their perimeter talent. Yes, Luka Dončić tends to like more of a rim-running big than a floor-spacer, but the Lakers simply need talent at the center position. At 7-foot, Veesaar moves very well for his size and also has a high-end skill set that involves both passing (as he averaged 2.1 assists per game) and shooting from distance, as he hit 42.6 percent of his three 3-point attempts per game.
26. Denver Nuggets
Bennett Stirtz | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Iowa
After a slow start, Stirtz dominated while leading Iowa to the Elite Eight. In his final 25 games, he averaged 21.5 points, 4.1 assists and made 47.2 percent of his shots from the field and 33.5 percent of his eight 3-point attempts per game and 87.2 percent of his shots from the line. With his pace and skill, he was a dynamite scorer with elite-level basketball IQ for a team that wasn’t that talented by Big Ten standards. The Hawkeyes also played at one of the slowest paces in college basketball under coach Ben McCollum, making these numbers all the more impressive.
There are some concerns about whether Stirtz can consistently get to the rim in the NBA and whether he can guard at a high-enough level. But teams always want guards who are elite shooters and who can dribble and pass, plus have a tremendous feel for the game. Minnesota, particularly, could use a point guard who gets the team in and out of its sets next to Anthony Edwards.
27. Boston Celtics
Isaiah Evans | 6-6 wing | 20 years old | Duke
Evans had a strong close to the season up until his final game, helping Duke reach the Elite Eight. He averaged 15 points per game while shooting 43 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3, but over his final 15 games, he averaged 16.5 points while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3 on over eight 3-point attempts per game. Evans is a dynamic shooter off movement who worked really well with Boozer both in ball screens and as a screener, then also ran off many off-ball screens himself.
Evans expanded his game in a big way this year as a driver, too, going from taking 81 percent of his shots from 3 as a freshman to 65 percent of his shots from 3 while taking four attempts inside the line per game. He also got a bit more physically stronger on defense, although he still has some room to grow.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
Ebuka Okorie | 6-2 guard | 19 years old | Stanford
The Timberwolves tried to make Rob Dillingham work in a draft day trade that ultimately didn’t work out, so let’s give them another shot at the lead guard position with a dynamic athlete and creator next to Anthony Edwards. I’m a buyer on Okorie’s ability with the ball in his hands. He’s constantly in attack mode, averaging 23.2 points per game as a freshman while shooting solid clips of 46.5 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from 3 and 83.2 percent from the line. He’s lightning quick, with the ability to zoom in and out of tight windows in the paint. He drives an immense amount of shots at the rim thanks to that ability to slink through the little cracks in the defense.
So why isn’t he higher? Well, he only made 52 percent of those shots at the rim in half-court settings, per Synergy, meaning he wasn’t wildly effective when he got there. He also averaged 7.3 free-throw attempts per game to make himself efficient. While he shot that solid mark from 3, teams want to see more of him as a shooter. Still, I’m betting Okorie has an impressive pre-draft process, if only because it’s hard to imagine a player more well-suited to three-on-three workouts like the ones that NBA teams employ.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS)
Meleek Thomas | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | Arkansas
Thomas is a dynamic offensive weapon and was a strong running mate for Acuff at Arkansas. As a freshman, he averaged 15.6 points and 2.5 assists while shooting over 41 percent from 3, a strong mark that showcases his ability to make shots both off movement and off pull-up situations. He has every bit of the look of a strong sixth-man/microwave scorer in the NBA. The issues here are mostly centered around decision-making and his defensive play. Thomas had a penchant for taking wild shots a bit too often, especially from the midrange and at the rim, instead of passing. Beyond that, he struggled with his anticipation and timeliness on defense and wasn’t always in the right position, even if he did show some ability on the ball. He needs to get stronger and learn how to guard, but there is some real upside for someone to get the most out of Thomas.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)
Tounde Yessoufou | 6-5 wing | 20 years old | Baylor
From a scoring perspective, Yessoufou was one of the most productive freshmen in the country. He averaged 17.8 points per game while grabbing 5.9 rebounds per night. He’s all sorts of physical and plays with an insatiable motor that never seems to stop running, and he averaged two steals per game as a physical point-of-attack defender who jumped passing lanes well.
Teams, however, are concerned about his style of play and how it will translate. Yessoufou is largely a power-based player and has gotten a lot of recent points through mismatches against smaller players, posting them or attacking out of the midpost. That’s not a style that works in the NBA. Additionally, while Yessoufou sports a remarkably high steal rate, his overall defensive quickness and awareness are not that strong. He regularly gets beat off the bounce by quicker players. Still, there’s some excitement about his game from scouts, purely because he’s been consistently productive at every level.
Second Round
31. New York Knicks (via WAS): Alex Karaban**|**6-7 wing | 23 years old | Connecticut
**32. Memphis Grizzlies (via IND):**Allen Graves | 6-8 forward | 19 years old | Santa Clara
33. Brooklyn Nets: Joshua Jefferson | 6-9 wing | 22 years old | Iowa State
34. Sacramento Kings: Sergio De Larrea | 6-5 wing | 20 years old | Valencia
35. San Antonio Spurs (via UTA): Zuby Ejiofor | 6-9 big | 22 years old | St. John’s
36. LA Clippers (via MEM): Ryan Conwell | 6-4 guard | 22 years old | Louisville
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (via DAL): Maliq Brown | 6-8 big | 22 years old | Duke
38. Chicago Bulls (via NOP): Ugonna Onyenso | 6-11 big | 22 years old | Virginia
39. Houston Rockets (via CHI): Braden Smith | 6-0 guard | 22 years old | Purdue
40. Boston Celtics (via MIL): Richie Saunders | 6-5 wing | 24 years old | BYU
41. Miami Heat (via GSW): Bruce Thornton | 6-2 guard | 22 years old | Ohio State
42. San Antonio Spurs (via POR): Emanuel Sharp | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Houston
43. Brooklyn Nets (via LAC): Baba Miller | 6-11 wing | 22 years old | Cincinnati
44. San Antonio Spurs (via MIA): Tyler Nickel | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | Vanderbilt
45. Sacramento Kings (via CHA): Trey Kaufman-Renn | 6-9 forward | 23 years old | Purdue
46. Orlando Magic: Jaden Bradley | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Arizona
47. Phoenix Suns (via PHI): Trevon Brazile | 6-9 big | 23 years old | Arkansas
48. Dallas Mavericks (via PHX): Ja’Kobi Gillespie | 6-1 guard | 22 years old | Tennessee
49. Denver Nuggets (via ATL): Peter Suder | 6-3 guard | 22 years old | Miami (OH)
50. Toronto Raptors: Tyler Bilodeau | 6-8 forward | 22 years old | UCLA
51. Washington Wizards (via MIN): Tamin Lipsey | 6-1 guard | 22 years old | Iowa State
52. LA Clippers (via CLE): Milos Uzan | 6-4 guard | 23 years old | Houston
53. Houston Rockets: Tobi Lawal | 6-8 big | 23 years old | Virginia Tech
54. Golden State Warriors (via LAL): Nick Martinelli | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Northwestern
55. New York Knicks: Izaiyah Nelson | 6-10 big | 22 years old | South Florida
56. Chicago Bulls (via DEN): Otega Oweh | 6-5 guard | 23 years old | Kentucky
57. Atlanta Hawks (via BOS): Jaden Henley | 6-6 wing | 22 years old | Grand Canyon
58. New Orleans Pelicans (via DET): Felix Okpara | 6-10 big | 22 years old | Tennessee
**59. Minnesota Timberwolves (via SAS):**Dillon Mitchell | 6-7 wing | 22 years old | St. John’s
**60. Washington Wizards (via OKC):**Nick Boyd | 6-3 guard | 25 years old | Wisconsin
By Sam Vecenie, via The Athletic