The much-anticipated 2026 NBA draft is finally upon us. Here is a look at each of the 30 first-round picks and how they fit with the teams that selected them, and grades.<\/p>\n
The 2026 NBA draft is considered to be among the most talented and deepest in the last 10 years. The top four players — AJ Dybantsa<\/a>, Darryn Peterson,<\/a> Cam Boozer<\/a> and Caleb Wilson<\/a> — are considered about as can’t miss prospects as possible. However, there seems to be some belief that Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer are in a class by themselves. Moreover, the draft gets high kudos for the depth and quality of the guards in the class.<\/p>\n The draft has already seen some movement. The Milwaukee Bucks received the No. 13 pick as part of their blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade<\/a> and are now one of seven teams to own multiple first-round selections, as they also hold the 10th choice. The Brooklyn Nets — who received the No. 28 pick from Minnesota as part of the surprising Julius Randle trade<\/a> — Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Charlotte Hornets are the other teams.<\/p>\n The Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, and Phoenix Suns didn’t have a first-round pick heading into the night. The Kings and Trail Blazers ended up trading into<\/p>\n The Wizards, with the No. 1 pick for the fifth time ever and the third time in the modern draft era, selected Dybantsa as expected. Dybantsa has the highest ceiling of any prospect, as he is a three-level bucket-getter who is at his best getting to the basket, whether in the halfcourt or in transition.\u00a0 He also has the defensive tools to be a two-way player.<\/p>\n Just like with the Wizards with Dybantsa, Peterson is an outstanding fit due to his elite shooting and movement scoring. Peterson also has the defensive length that fits Will Hardy’s system and the Jazz’s improving core. Peterson shot 43% on catch-and-shoot threes this past season and 41% off screens and handoffs. He projects to start in the backcourt alongside Keyonte George this upcoming season.<\/p>\n Boozer would have fit with the Jazz and been an intriguing addition due to his father, Carlos Boozer, ‘s history with the franchise.\u00a0 though the frontcourt wasn’t as big as needed compared to their backcourt, with the acquisition of Jaren Jackson Jr<\/a>. and the expectation that Walker Kessler<\/a> re-signs.<\/p>\n With the third pick of the 2026 NBA draft, the Grizzlies kept the status quo going with the selection of Boozer. The Grizzlies appear to be rebuilding, and Boozer is the ideal player to start with. Boozer fits perfectly with the Griz as they don’t need a primary scorer, which Boozer isn’t, though he can put the ball in the basket as he has shown this past season at Duke. Rather, what they need is a 6-9 forward who provides physicality and is a connector.<\/p>\n The Bulls, who need to add talent all over the place, were left with Wilson, and they didn’t allow him to fall through the cracks. Wilson is the epitome of the Bulls vice president Bryson Graham’s SLAP philosophy that emphasizes size, length, athleticism, and physicality.<\/p>\n Wilson is long and rangy with elite vertical pop. At the same time, there are some questions about his offense; the 6-10 forward projects as an elite defender with high motor.<\/p>\n The Clippers lucked into this pick as they acquired this selection (top-4 protected) from the Indiana Pacers as part of the Ivica Zubac<\/a> trade. Keaton Wagler<\/a> provides the Clippers with exactly the player they lacked: a big guard who is a capable creator. He also fits well with Darius Garland due to his midrange game and ability to score on the move.<\/p>\n Despite choosing three guards in the top 20 picks last year, the Nets selected another guard in Mikel Brown Jr.<\/a> with their top selection in the 2026 NBA draft. But Brown Jr. is a high-level fit for the Nets due to his ability to create an advantage off the dribble with his elite handles. He excels in pick-and-rolls and demonstrated the ability to make tough shots at Louisville.<\/p>\n The Kings needed a lead guard who could orchestrate an offense, and Darius Acuff Jr.<\/a> definitely fits the bill. He is an elite creator and a capable bucket-getter.<\/p>\n Grade A+<\/p>\n The Atlanta Hawks would probably have been better suited to go with a frontcourt player after re-signing CJ McCollum<\/a> and trading for wing Aaron Wiggins<\/a>, rather than selecting a developmental player for the 2026-2027 season, like Kingston Flemings<\/a>. But the 19-year-old is poised to be the Hawks’ point guard of the future, and he possesses elite athleticism and is a disruptive defensive force thanks to his physicality, active hands, and ability to pressure the ball.<\/p>\n Grade: B+<\/p>\n Mavericks’ newly minted head coach Dusty May reunited with Morez Johnson Jr.<\/a> by making his former player the ninth pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Johnson, who possesses high motor, is known for his defense fits alongside Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II, as he is a high-impact player who doesn’t need touches to be effective.<\/p>\n The Bucks are rebuilding this year after trading Giannis. Brayden Burries<\/a> is a big, physical, two\u2011way guard who provides real rim protection, though he is comfortable in pick-and-rolls and midrange.<\/p>\n Golden State got exactly the player they wanted in Yaxel Lendeborg<\/a>, as he is an older plug-and-play type of forward who can guard multiple positions. With the Warriors not having Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody to start the season as they continue to recover from injuries, Lendeborg figures to get plenty of minutes. While defense is his calling card, the 23-year-old possesses good feel and has proven himself a capable scorer who has improved as a shooter throughout his college career.<\/p>\n Did the Thunder tip their hand on their forthcoming decision with Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a>, who has a $28.5 million team option for 2026-27? Aday Mara<\/a> projects as the perfect replacement for a team that needs to retool its roster due to financial constraints.\u00a0 Mara is a massive, high\u2011IQ, elite\u2011passing, and rim\u2011protecting center who fits both their short- and long-term plans.<\/p>\n Milwaukee picked up the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NBA draft from Miami as part of the Antetokounmpo trade. Nate Ament<\/a> is a jumbo forward who showed an ability to create and shooting upside in his lone college campaign at Tennessee. He should get plenty of time to develop this year with the Bucks.<\/p>\n With the last lottery pick in the 2026 NBA draft and needing depth in the frontcourt, the Hornets selected German Hannes Steinbach<\/a>. Steinbach is a 6-11 physical big man who plays hard, is willing to do the little things, and is an elite rebounder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Like Caleb Wilson, Dailrdn Swain<\/a> fits Graham’s SLAP archetype. Slain has outstanding size and length for a wing, standing at 6-foot-8 with a 7-2 wingspan. Swain, who aligns with the Bulls’ young core, is a high-IQ connector who can disrupt things on the defensive end.<\/p>\n Memphis didn’t hold onto the No. 15 pick in the 2026 NBA draft for long, as the Grizzlies traded Bennett Stirtz<\/a> to the Thunder for the No. 16 pick in the 2026 NBA draft and two second-round picks. Stirtz had a fantastic collegiate career, starting at Division II Northwest Missouri State before transferring to Drake and Iowa. He is a perfect fit for the Thunder due to his size, elite feel, efficient scoring, and high\u2011IQ decision\u2011making.<\/p>\n Sources: Memphis is trading No. 16 pick Bennett Stirtz to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks.<\/p>\n \u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU:<\/h3>\n
Grade A+<\/h4>\n
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas<\/h3>\n
Grade A<\/h4>\n
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer, Duke<\/h3>\n
Grade A+<\/h4>\n
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, UNC<\/h4>\n
Grade A<\/h3>\n
5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler, Illinois<\/h3>\n
Grade A<\/h5>\n
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville<\/h3>\n
Grade A<\/h5>\n
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas<\/h3>\n
8. Atlanta Hawks: Kingston Flemings, Houston<\/h3>\n
9. Dallas Mavericks: Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan<\/h3>\n
Grade A+<\/h4>\n
10.\u00a0 Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, Arizona<\/h3>\n
Grade B<\/h4>\n
11.\u00a0 Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan<\/h3>\n
Grade A+<\/h4>\n
12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, Michigan<\/h3>\n
Grade A<\/h4>\n
13. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, Tennessee<\/h4>\n
Grade: B-<\/h4>\n
14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, Washington<\/h3>\n
Grade: B<\/h4>\n
15. Chicago Bulls: Dailyn Swain, Texas<\/h3>\n
Grade: B-<\/h3>\n
16: Memphis Grizzlies: Bennett Stirtz, Iowa<\/h3>\n
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