NBA Lottery Mock Draft 2026—Who Goes Number 1?

Joel Piton
5 hours ago
8 min read

After months of projections, debates, scouting reports, tank-watch drama and suspense, the order is set. The 2026 NBA Draft picture is no longer a guessing game, at least not when it comes to where each team will be picking. Now comes the fun part: figuring out which young star fits best with the franchises hoping to change their future overnight.

With the lottery teams locked into place and the No. 1 pick officially belonging to Washington, the clock to the actual draft is ticking. Some teams are in desperate need of a franchise player. Others just need the perfect complementary role player. With the board finally taking shape, here's our post-lottery mock draft for the first 14 picks of the upcoming draft.

Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa

Position: SF Height: 6'9" Age: 19

I realize this a different direction then last week's article, but Washington was pretty adamant about taking Dybantsa with the first overall pick now that they have the opportunity to. The changes this roster has undergone over the last few months has been historic, and it appears a new dynasty is brewing in Washington. If they can make a long, athletic wing like Dybantsa the driving force of their offense, we could be seeing one of the most dangerous young teams in the league. And this franchise needs it. Washington hasn't had a season about .500 in nearly a decade.

Utah Jazz
Darryn Peterson

Position: SG Height: 6'6" Age: 19

A pure-scorer with seemingly Hall-of-Fame upside, Peterson was the consensus number one overall pick by all measures, but a rather odd season at Kansas is pretty hard to overlook. Cramping issues and near injuries limited his play, but questions about his love for the game were also raised. Still, the kid isn't going past number three and that's guaranteed, and I think Utah is a good fit for him. Next to young wing Ace Bailey and rising star Keyonte George, the Jazz have enough shot creation to make every team in the Northwest Division miserable. A clean bill of health is all we want to see from Peterson moving forward.

Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Boozer

Position: PF Height: 6'9" Age: 19

The loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. and the uncertainty of Ja Morant's future puts Memphis in a very strange position. It's likely they'll have to start rebuilding from day one, and Cameron Boozer is easily one of the best options to build your franchise around. A 40% three point shooter with phenomenal footwork, aggressive post moves and budding defensive chops, Boozer is a long-term, high upside project who can help Memphis win immediately. The Duke freshman was named the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year, a Consensus First-Team All-American and has more than enough talent to set the tone in Memphis.

Chicago Bulls
Caleb Wilson

Position: PF Height: 6'10" Age: 19

The Bulls need to do everything they can to make sure this doesn't turn into another Patrick Williams situation. I think Caleb Wilson is a guaranteed hit. Why? Wilson is a hyper-athletic forward who can dominate on the defensive end, and is also one of the hardest workers on offense. A two-way stud in every sense, Wilson’s length and lateral quickness allow him to cover a massive amount of ground. The primary knock on Wilson is his outside shooting—he shot just 27% from three-point range on limited volume this season but he finishes so well at the cup that the limited range didn't necessarily hurt his game. I think if the Bulls move Matas to the three, the length and timing of Chicago will just be too much for other teams to bear.

Los Angeles Clippers
Keaton Wagler

Position: PG Height: 6'6" Age: 19

Pairing a guy like Wagler with the likes of Kawhi and Garland would be ridiculous. Wagler loves to share the ball and set up his teammates, but he's also equally talented as a shooting guard. Coming off a historic, Jerry West Award-winning freshman season at Illinois where he led the Illini to a Final Four, the 6-foot-6 guard is the most polished pick-and-roll operator in the draft by far. The Clippers adding a lead guard who can organize the offense, make the right reads, and deliver on-target passes would take a significant load off of Kawhi Leonard and reduce playmaking burdens. My only criticism is his build. Stringy at 6'6", 180 pounds, he'll need to bulk up or attacking the rim will be dangerous.

Brooklyn Nets
Kingston Flemings

Position: PG Height: 6'4" Age: 19

Many in the basketball world see Flemings as the best point guard in the draft, bar none. A pure shot creator who excels in fastbreak opportunities, Flemings is a guy who can provide buckets in Brooklyn immediately and take some of the offensive load from Michael Porter. While budding star Nolan Traore and Flemings share similarities (both are ball dominant and aren't extreme passers), I think Flemings will waste no time commanding the backcourt's spotlight. A high-tempo engine with insane ball handles, Flemings knows how to find open looks, rarely turns the ball over and knows when to push the tempo to capitalize on his elite speed. This is a cohesive prospect with virtually no weaknesses.

Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr.

Position: PG Height: 6'3" Age: 19

Acuff just completed one of the greatest freshman seasons in NCAA history at Arkansas. He joined Trae Young as the only Power 5 freshmen this century to average at least 23 points and 6 assists. The only reason I have him going seventh is because I'd hate to see him go to any other team, Sacramento would be open-season for Acuff's potential. Acuff is a true floor general who also happens to be the most efficient shooter in the draft, knocking down 44% from beyond the arc at the NCAA level. No offense to a 37 (soon to be 38) Russell Westbrook, but I think Acuff provides an offensive spark that the Kings lack right now. The only concern with Acuff is his defensive awareness. He'll be putting in extra work to ensure he isn't a liability.

Atlanta Hawks
Mikel Brown Jr.

Position: PG Height: 6'5" Age: 20

After the departure of Trae Young, the Hawks are in serious need of a true point guard. CJ McCollum doesn't really fit the build—he can make the extra pass but he's a score first shooting guard. Insert Mikel Brown Jr., a prospect who looked NBA ready from the jump. While a mid-season back injury caused him to slide from a projected top-five spot, Brown remains the most dynamic pure scorer in the 2026 class. An oversized point guard who can see over the defense or find his shot, Brown tied the legendary Wes Unseld’s Louisville record with 45 points and looks like a player immune to rough defense. The kid is also being mentored by former Louisville alumni Donovan Mitchell and if he's half as good as that, this is a steal right here for the Hawks.

Dallas Mavericks
Brayden Burries

Position: SG Height: 6'4" Age: 20

Arizona standout Brayden Burries is Top-5 on some draft boards and mid-to-late first round on others. It's hard to know just where to stick this kid but I think "lottery pick" is a safe bet, and here's why. Burries is a borderline marksman and has "pluggability" with just about any team you think of. I have him going ninth (call it early if you want) because of the synergy he'd have playing alongside Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. This kid isn't going to step on Ryan Nembhard's toes easier. Burries is a shoot first prospect who shot a blistering 39.1% from three at Arizona. He's a low-maintenance scorer who doesn't need high usage or heavy minutes to be seen on the box score.

Milwaukee Bucks
Nate Ament

Position: PF Height: 6'10" Age: 19

Giannis at a crossroads now. The Bucks could be looking to maximize the remaining years of Giannis' career, or—flip him and pivot towards a high-upside rebuild around a prospect like Nate Ament. Now, Nate is no Giannis, but he could be a future star. At 6'10" with a silky-smooth jumper and a frame that screams "must-draft", the Tennessee standout has the height and length of a big and the fluidity of a guard. Ament’s freshman season under Rick Barnes was a tale of two halves. After an early-season slump, he found his rhythm and looked unguardable on the offensive end. One of the most intriguing aspects of Ament's game is his ball-handling. He doesn't just finish plays; he can start them. The passing, the scoring—I think this a good spot for him.

Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg

Position: SF Height: 6'9" Age: 23

With Gui Santos being the projected starting small forward for the Dubs next season, it's no secret that the Warriors are look for another wing—especially in the wake of Jimmy Butler's devastating injury. Why not draft an NCAA champ with years of experience if he's available? A 6'9" connector, Yax is probably the most NBA ready prospect in the draft. A three-level scorer who can also be a problem on defense (earned Big Ten All-Defensive honors) and loves to get his teammates involved (averaged 3.2 assists in his senior campaign at Michigan), this kid is a Swiss Army Knife who could solve Golden State's woes.

Koa Peat
Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: PF Height: 6'8" Age: 19

Koa Peat is one of my favorite prospects in the draft and it's been fun watching him dominate from high school, to the Olympics, and then in the NCAA. Peat just impacts winning and knows how to force wins wherever he goes. Following the trajectory of his Arizona teammate Brayden Burries, Peat brings a different kind of "Wildcat" energy: pure physicality. At 6'8" and 235 pounds, Peat is built like an NFL linebacker. In his freshman year at Arizona, Peat excelled at "puncturing sternums" with bouldering drives. A bruiser in every sense, the only thing lacking his the ability to stretch the floor, which, as a power forward, is crucial at the next level. If he showcased more of a jumper at the collegiate level I think he'd be in Caleb Wilson conversations.

Miami Heat
Aday Mara

Position: C Height: 7'1" Age: 23

Potentially Isaiah Hartenstein 2.0, Mara is a fascinating prospect and the best pure five in the draft. This kid can pass like no other. During his sophomore surge at UCLA, Mara’s assist percentage for a center was in the 95th percentile. At 7'3" with a massive wingspan, Mara provides a gravity well in the paint and unlike many other bigs, has phenomenal footwork in the post and uses his size to his advantage for easy lays. My only criticism is that his athleticism and mobility seem a bit dull on paper. If he shows a bit of hustle at the combine, I think he's a shoe in for the lottery.

Charlotte Hornets
Labaron Philon

Position: PG Height: 6'4" Age: 20

While the Hornets’ roster is indeed guard-heavy following their 44-win season, Philon offers a specific role that complements the perimeter-centric games of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. Philon is a "lightning-quick" guard whose greatest strength is his ability to slice through defenses and collapse the paint and he did it with ease at Arizona. In a lineup with LaMelo’s 6'7" frame and elite vision, Philon could be the elite ball handler that manipulates defenses and disrupts the opposition as an on ball pest. Despite having a slender build, this is the rare instance where I think it actually works in a player's favor. Also, with the Hornets holding the 18th pick as well, they could easily pair him with a young big or forward and maximize young upside on both ends of the floor

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

That's it, lottery order is set and now the real debate begins. Still so much is yet to be known about these young prospects. Basketball fans will get the opportunity to find out just what these kids bring to the table during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, which is this week in Chicago and has approximately 75 prospects coming in to compete.

So what do you think? Is this how the first 14 picks will play out, or did we miss the mark? Which prospect do you want your favorite team to take, and who would be the perfect fit? It's surreal to think the NBA Draft is just over a month away, and it could be historic.

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Thanks for reading!

-Joel Piton

(@jpiton7)