We’re only about a month into the NBA season – and a few weeks into college basketball – but already, the 2026 NBA Draft picture is becoming clearer.
In the pros, contenders and pretenders are sorting themselves out. Meanwhile, the next wave of talent is building at the collegiate level. This year’s class features three franchise-changing players, but as we’ve learned, you don’t need to be a first-round pick to make a difference.
Below, we’ll project the first 14 picks of the 2026 NBA Draft, commonly known as the lottery. Typically, this is the range in which the most promising prospects hear their names called – and the teams most in need of help hope to find their next star.
2026 NBA Draft: Lottery Picks
There are some key stipulations to keep in mind heading into the 2026 NBA Draft.
Notably, the Atlanta Hawks have full control of the New Orleans Pelicans’ first-round pick, and the Oklahoma City Thunder could land two top-10 picks via the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz, so long as they land outside of a protected range. The Orlando Magic will also see their first-round pick convey to the Memphis Grizzlies as a result of the Desmond Bane trade.
*Draft order determined based on NBA standings as of Nov. 17. Official draft order subject to change.
No. 1 – Washington Wizards: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
The Profile: As it stands, Darryn Peterson is the consensus choice to go No. 1 overall. The 19-year-old freshman guard is a dynamic playmaker and scorer with the skills to play both on and off the ball. He also has the physical tools to be an impactful defender, standing 6-foot-5 with a wingspan of nearly seven feet.
Perhaps what stands out most about Peterson is his poise. He plays at his own pace, is decisive with his movement, and consistently puts himself in the right place on both ends of the floor. He’s already excelling in college, and his skills should immediately translate to the NBA.
Peterson is the odds-on favorite to go No. 1 overall at most sportsbooks, and while that could change depending on which team lands the pick, there’s little doubt that he’s the top-rated prospect on most boards.
The Fit: There’s no better pick the Wizards could make at No. 1. There are some intriguing, young pieces on this roster – most notably 20-year-old center Alex Sarr – but Washington would take a step forward with a player of Peterson’s caliber in the backcourt.
No. 2 – Indiana Pacers: AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
The Profile: Indiana could go one of two ways with this pick, but my personal preference draws me to BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa. A prospect who’s been generating serious hype for a few years now, Dybantsa has a tremendous physical profile and incredible skill to go with it.
He’s fluid with the ball in his hands, has the strength to get to his spots around the basket, and is nimble on his feet. On the low end, I would bet on him becoming a top-tier finisher at the rim who can really help open up the floor for his teammates. Should he reach his full potential, he’s a perennial All-Star who will dominate the game on both ends of the floor.
The Fit: The Pacers have an MVP-caliber guard in Tyrese Haliburton and an underrated star in Pascal Siakam, and they love to get out and run. An elite wing who can punish defenses in transition would tie it all together, and that’s only part of what Dybantsa projects to be.
No. 3 – Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans): Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
The Profile: Cameron, one of two Boozer twins in this year’s draft class, is a physical freak with an unrelenting motor. The ball always seems to find his hands when it comes off the glass, though it’s not uncommon for him to send shots back before they hit the rim, either.
He’s a highly efficient scorer, intelligent passer, and generally just someone who positively impacts winning on offense and defense. You’d be hard-pressed to find a legitimate negative to his game, and he has every reason to be a star in the pros.
The Fit: Alongside former Blue Devil Jalen Johnson, Boozer would wreak havoc in Atlanta. He excels in virtually all facets of the game, and that skillset would allow him to fit into a variety of lineups no matter which direction the Hawks go ahead of a potentially busy offseason.
No. 4 – Brooklyn Nets: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
The Profile: Peterson, Dybantsa, and Boozer are in a tier of their own, but don’t take that as a slight to Nate Ament. A long, lanky forward at 6-foot-10, Ament is already an impressive scorer with superb touch and a high basketball IQ.
He’s not as polished off the dribble and he’ll need to add strength to continue scoring at a high rate in the NBA, but the foundation is there for him to become an important part of a team’s core along the perimeter.
The Fit: Brooklyn made five first-round picks in 2025, and none of them look or play like Ament. A true wing, he’d be a smart choice to eventually replace Michael Porter Jr. in the starting rotation should the Nets choose to move on once he becomes a free agent in 2027.
No. 5 – Sacramento Kings: Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
The Profile: A dynamite shooter, crafty finisher, and exciting playmaker, Louisville’s Mikel Brown is arguably the best pure point guard in the class. You can tell he’s a product of the Stephen Curry era, because his quick release and willingness to fire away in limited space are hallmarks of what made the superstar guard so dangerous in his prime.
He may struggle defensively and he needs to clean up the turnovers, but there’s a certain swagger about him that provokes energy and confidence. Brown is an invigorating talent who should maintain his standing near the top of the class.
The Fit: The Kings have one of the NBA’s oldest rosters by average age, and for what? Drafting Brown would allow the franchise to move on from the old guard and begin building for a younger, more exciting future.
No. 6 – Memphis Grizzlies: Tounde Yessoufou, G/F, Baylor
The Profile: Tounde Yessoufou is the kind of player who immediately grabs your attention. A hyper-athletic guard, Yessoufou has one speed (fast) and plays with a real intensity on both ends of the floor. He’s more than willing to invade personal space and make opposing ballhandlers uncomfortable.
There’s work to be done with his jumper, and his passing is essentially an afterthought right now. But while he’s a work in progress, the upside is obvious. Yessoufou has plenty of star potential.
The Fit: Yessoufou has Grizzly written all over him. He embodies the franchise’s “grit and grind” mentality and could be the dynamic wing that Memphis has sorely needed. Assuming the Grizzlies are in position, I’d be shocked to see them pass on him.
No. 7 – Dallas Mavericks: Koa Peat, F, Arizona
The Profile: In his college debut, Koa Peat showcased all the reasons why he’s deserving of a lottery pick. A 6-foot-8 forward with a strong feel for the game, Peat notched 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a block in a win over the defending champion Florida Gators.
That game also put his weaknesses on display, as Peat is hardly a perimeter threat or efficient shooter at the free-throw line. There’s reason to be optimistic that he can become a three-level scorer, but there’s also some bust potential here.
The Fit: The Mavericks appear to be heading for a reset after firing Nico Harrison, and a youth movement is in store. There are a few different ways they could go with this pick, but Peat could be an intriguing fit alongside 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
No. 8 – Charlotte Hornets: Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
The Profile: An explosive finisher, dominant defender, and gifted rebounder, Caleb Wilson is one of the highlights of this year’s freshman class. He’ll stuff the stat sheet and put himself in position to make big plays on both ends of the floor, and he does it in an unselfish manner.
His jumper is lacking and he’s not a great free-throw shooter, but he has ideal size for an NBA wing and the ability to go with it. Whoever ends up with him will get one of the best two-way players in the draft.
The Fit: Charlotte has a penchant for picking players from blue blood programs, so Wilson naturally seems like someone this front office would have interest in. Plus, if the Hornets have any interest in shoring up what is consistently one of the NBA’s worst defenses, Wilson is a great starting point.
No. 9 – Oklahoma City Thunder (via Jazz): Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
The Profile: At 6-foot-11 with a silky touch and a knack for tracking down rebounds, Chris Cenac Jr. has everything you’d want in a modern-day big. He’s still just 18, too, and has a desire to work hard, choosing to play at Houston despite receiving offers from Kentucky, Baylor, Tennessee, and Arkansas, to name a few.
He can be a bit of a black hole on offense, and foul trouble has been an issue early in his collegiate career. Overall, he’s still quite raw despite displaying some promising skills.
The Fit: Not every team that makes a top-10 pick can afford to take risks and be patient, but the Thunder are a special case. By ending up in Oklahoma City, Cenac would be afforded plenty of time to further develop his game without being rushed out onto the court too soon.
No. 10 – Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers): Jayden Quaintance, F, Kentucky
The Profile: Young and an exceptional defender, Jayden Quaintance earned Big 12 All-Defensive honors as a 17-year-old freshman this past season at Arizona State. A torn ACL ended his campaign in February, and in April, he transferred to Kentucky.
He won’t make his Wildcats debut until December, and it remains to be seen how he’ll be affected by the ACL surgery. He has a monster frame, though, and recorded 63 blocks and 27 steals over 24 games with the Sun Devils in 2024-25.
The Fit: Again, the Thunder can afford to wait for Quaintance to become something more than a finisher around the rim on offense. For the time being, he could earn minutes as a versatile, physical defender on the block and in the paint.
No. 11 – Portland Trail Blazers: Dash Daniels, G, Australia
The Profile: The younger brother of 2024-25 NBA Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels, Dash possesses similar defensive smarts and versatility. He readily defends multiple positions and knows how to bother ballhandlers with his long frame and active hands.
Offensively, Daniels is a solid passer and intelligent cutter, but like his brother, his jumper lacks polish. In a preseason meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans, Daniels logged 11 points, six rebounds, an assist, and a steal over 27 minutes for the NBL’s Melbourne United.
The Fit: With Matisse Thybulle set to hit free agency in 2026, the Trail Blazers could be in the market for another defensive-minded, switchable wing. Daniels checks all the boxes and could excel without taking the ball out of the hands of budding stars Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe.
No. 12 – Chicago Bulls: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
The Profile: Yaxel Lendeborg will be 24 by the time he makes his NBA debut, making him more of a finished product than other prospects in this range. Still, it’s hard not to like what you see. A former JUCO standout and a star at UAB, Lendeborg transferred to Michigan ahead of the 2025-26 season to prove that he’s a head above the nation’s best.
A towering forward with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, he can shoot, rebound, pass, and rack up blocks with ease, and he has great touch at the free-throw line to boot. He’s not an elite athlete, but he more than makes up for it with an elite skillset.
The Fit: The Bulls don’t have a great track record with their recent draft picks, but Lendeborg feels like an obvious choice. Chicago could afford to bolster its forward depth and would be getting someone who can step in and contribute right away on both ends of the floor.
No. 13 – Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic): Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
The Profile: Labaron Philon isn’t a great shooter and he can be turnover-prone at times, but that’s about where the negatives stop. The 19-year-old excels at navigating through defenses and is a fantastic playmaker. He’s constantly orchestrating the offense and is intentional with every move he makes.
He desperately needs to improve at the free-throw line if he really wants to impose his will in the pros, and despite his impressive defense, he has a slight frame. Still, I would bet on him becoming a starting-caliber lead guard in the near future.
The Fit: It’s become increasingly clear that Ja Morant’s time in Memphis is nearing its end. Philon is a heady playmaker, tenacious defender, and improving scorer. He’s a strong cultural fit and a safe choice to invest in.
No. 14 – Boston Celtics: Thomas Haugh, F, Florida
The Profile: Thomas Haugh was one of the best players for the NCAA champion Florida Gators in 2024-25, and he’s taking the next step as a junior. An improving shooter and strong rebounder, Haugh consistently makes the right play in transition and has ideal size for an NBA wing.
He’ll be a 23-year-old rookie, which lowers his projected draft position, but there’s very little to dislike about his game. He may not become a star in the pros, but he looks like the type of player who will stick in a rotation for a long time as a connector and do-it-all wing.
The Fit: The Celtics have shown a willingness to select upperclassmen (Baylor Scheierman, Payton Pritchard) and could benefit from plugging Haugh into the rotation right away. It wouldn’t take much for him to earn Joe Mazzulla’s approval.
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