Take PFSN's free NBA Mock Draft Simulator above for a spin, or multiple spins. Maybe make a day of it in an effort to truly prepare yourself for what is most likely to occur in next year's draft.
How Does PFSN’s NBA Mock Draft Simulator Work?
In the PFSN NBA Mock Simulator, users can select any of the 30 teams to control. The user can select no team and just allow the draft to simulate with 30 AI-controlled teams, or they can select any number of teams up to 30 in which to control.
Users can select between one or two-round mock drafts and decide which of three speeds they would like the simulation to happen at (slow, normal, or fast). Once all the settings are in place, users can start the draft.
The NBA MDS will then simulate the NBA lottery to determine the first 14 picks. At that point, the draft will begin. Users can pause the draft at any time to allow them to try and trade for the current selection or they can allow the draft to proceed to their pick.
When it is the user's turn to make a selection, they will see their team’s needs displayed above the player list in order of priority. They can then move between the positions using the toggles to find the player they want to select. Clicking on the player’s name will open their scouting report (when one is available), and users can choose a player to draft by clicking the “Draft” button.
Can You Make Trades In the NBA Mock Draft Simulator?
Yes, there is the ability to make trades in the PFSN NBA Mock Draft Simulator. Users can send trade offers to other user-controlled teams or AI-controlled teams, and the AI can offer trades to user-controlled teams. There are also AI-to-AI trades that happen during drafts.
Offering a trade is a multi-step process. Users must first select which team they would like to trade selections with. Then, they must select which picks they would like to include in the trade. If the trade only continues picks from the current year, then players can review and submit the trade. If the trade includes future selections, users can then select protections on those future selections before reviewing and submitting a trade.
Trades being offered to a user will be available to view by selecting the “Trade Offer” CTA (signaled by a green phone that looks like it is ringing). When a user is offered a trade, they have the ability to accept, reject, or counter the offer. Any selections between the current year (2025) and 2031 can be traded, including selections that have already been made within the current draft.
Who Are Some of the Top 2026 NBA Draft Prospects?
Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Caleb Wilson is quite the consolation prize for falling just outside of a generational top three. Wilson ranks 15th in DBPR with unlimited talent on the defensive side of the ball. His best talent lies in his off-ball defense, where he has effectively led the team to the No. 2 two-point percentage.
Despite not being known for his offense, Wilson is still averaging 20 points per game on an incredible 38.8 PER (player efficiency rating).
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Darryn Peterson has about a million YouTube highlights that show how well he does pretty much everything on a basketball court. He can score at all three levels, using his twitch and explosiveness to get to the rim at will while still shooting efficiently (72% effective field goal percentage).
He’s also a menace on defense and uses his athleticism to get after it. He flips his hips well and is overall really talented at mirroring the ball-handler as an on-ball defender.
Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
Bennett Stirtz runs point for an Iowa offense that ranks No. 302 among 365 Division I basketball teams. He’s a reliable pick-and-roll artist who makes tough shots and is an efficient player overall. He lacks high-end athleticism and true NBA traits, which is why he’d make sense as a rotational player for a budding dynasty.
FAQs
When Is the NBA Draft?
The date of the 2026 NBA Draft is not confirmed yet, but we can identify when it will likely be. Over the last two years, when the NBA Draft has been a two-night affair, it has taken place on Wednesday and Thursday of the final week of June. Assuming that pattern holds into 2026, we can expect the NBA Draft to be on June 24 and 25, with the first round on June 24 and the second round on June 25. The Draft will most likely be held in the Barclays Center once again and will be broadcast by ESPN.