With the 2025-26 NBA Season coming fast, the most recent draftees are working to fit into their respective systems, and all teams look to reach their potential. While they do that, we can take a second look at what the 2026 NBA Draft landscape looks like and see what players make for great fits with teams projected to have top picks.
This class is loaded, set for some surprises when the players play their college or international seasons this upcoming year. Still, there is some generational talent expected to go in the top four picks, which should come as no surprise, and are top recruits for 2025 via 247sports. While we wait to see how it pans out, I am among those excited about how things unfold! Here’s an early look at my current take on how things will go down next June in our latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft.
1) Utah Jazz
AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
While it will be extremely tough to pass on the legacy pick of Cameron Boozer, Dybantsa is a can’t-miss prospect that you cannot let go to another team if he is in front of you. BYU certainly sees the potential, as they are shelling out close to $7 million for his talents on his NIL deal.
There’s a lot to like about AJ Dybantsa but his defensive upside is as big as any. Not good but ELITE potential defensively. Length, quick, recovery speed, hand speed , shot challenges + twitch. Once he gets dealing w/ screens +multiple efforts LOOK OUT ! @BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/Mn0Ace4NNr
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) July 26, 2025
That will be money well spent, as he has the combination of highlight-reel skills, elite length that he uses on both sides of the floor, and a quick first step. All of these skills, combined with a developing three-point shot and real potential as a passer, make this an elite prospect in all facets of the game, with ideal size for a modern NBA wing.
Dybantsa plays with energy and leadership on defense, and plays with a motor on both ends of the floor that the modern NBA is missing lately, and should allow him to dominate early and often upon entering the league.
For the Jazz, it is ideal that Dybantsa chose to be in Utah — when he could’ve gone anywhere for college — and he can be the leader for a team quietly building a nice core of extremely raw talent. This player has the potential to become the face of the franchise, earning numerous personal accolades while also bringing the team to new heights.
2) Washington Wizards
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Darryn Peterson would have been drafted into the NBA with a very high pick last season if the NBA still allowed players to go right from high school. At 18 years old, he has impressive physicality, elite athleticism, and the poise to be an elite guard both at Kansas and in Washington for years to come.
He fits the mold of a modern-day NBA point guard and has received comparisons to the NBA’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with his footwork, frame, feel for the game, and maturity. He may already be a better shooter than Gilgeous-Alexander was from beyond the arc at this stage of his career, and he has elite skills in the pick-and-roll, too.
Darryn Peterson is undoubtedly a really good interior passer even in the early stages of his development as a lead guard.
Going to be looking for him to grow as he’s asked to make more advanced reads and become a proactive playmaker but the baseline is really nice. pic.twitter.com/oxgSIHRs9W
— Latif Love (@realLatifLove) August 5, 2025
Defensively, at 6’5″ and 195 pounds, his frame gives him potential to be an elite two-way superstar. He can guard multiple decisions in the backcourt, flashing his elite feel for the game on defense too, with discipline and signs of the “veteran know-how” at a very young age.
He offers the skills to come in and be the best player on Washington immediately, with an extremely high floor and upside to bring hope to the city they haven’t seen since the days of John Wall. He is also extremely mature off the court and should be a leader in the locker room from Day 1.
3) Brooklyn Nets
Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
This is the pick that excites me the most if it comes to fruition: Nate Ament to Brooklyn. This Nets team has shown flashes, and it is clear that Jordi Fernandez has a robust system in place, but needs a few more pieces to plug in to make it reach the heights that it can. This is the pick that makes them a force in the East for 2026, in my opinion.
Ament possesses elite guard skills for a 6’9″ forward with really smooth ball-handling and incredible shot-making. With shooting skills at a very high release point with a repeatable motion, and constantly improving playmaking, Coach Barnes may have found his next unicorn.
Rick Barnes is all in on Nate Ament 🔥
Tennessee believes they landed the best player in the country.“No. 1 player in the class,” says Barnes. 👀 pic.twitter.com/zP3xjD0nrL
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) August 7, 2025
Defensively, he is no slouch either; he has a nose for getting in passing lanes and projects to be able to be a great help defender at minimum, and if he puts on some weight, he can become a force on that side of the ball, especially in Brooklyn’s system.
With a pick this high, you are hoping to get a difference maker for years, and with the skillset he already has, combined with the massive upside that he has, he is a hard player to pass on at this stage of the draft.
4) Charlotte Hornets
Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
With the four true generational talents that this draft has to offer, I think that it will do the league some service if they all go to teams that are incredible matches for their skill sets. Cameron Boozer, son of NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, has real polish for a player entering college, and is a great fit next to LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel.
Boozer is versatile offensively and rebounds at an extremely high level, and is a super unselfish playmaker with real shooting touch. Sounds like a chip off the old block. He plays a high-IQ game and defends at a high level. In this day and age, everyone shoots threes, so his skills, combined with his ability to stretch the floor, make him an excellent prospect with an extremely high floor.
His feel for the game, combined with his steady production whenever he’s asked to contribute, makes him an intriguing piece for Charlotte to potentially make a big leap forward as a much more complete team.
5) Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers (NBL)
One thing that I think Karim Lopez solves for the Grizzlies is positional versatility, with an ability to play multiple forward positions at a very high level. The 6’8″ forward from Mexico chose to play professional basketball abroad in the NBL’s Next Stars program, and it has been great for his development as a shooter and learning to make the most of his skillset.
He is a brilliant player who has handled the ball like a guard and is an energetic defender. He plays very hard, is a strong team player, and rebounds well. For what he lacks in strength, he makes up for in having a very smooth, fundamentally strong game that lacks glaring holes.
At just 18 years old, he is an exciting prospect, and I think that the Grizzlies find him to fit perfectly into a system with a point-forward like Jaren Jackson Jr. locked up for the foreseeable future.
6) Chicago Bulls
Jayden Quaintance, F/C, Kentucky
Given the uncertainty about Nikola Vucevic fitting into the Bulls’ plans, this feels like a match made in heaven. The 18-year-old big man is elite physically and shows promise on both sides of the ball.
He has a knack for shot-blocking, as evidenced by his 2.6 blocks per game as a freshman last season, and is also an elite rebounder who utilizes his athleticism and body very well to get great position on the glass.
He is a great fit next to Josh Giddey, and that makes him an immediate lob threat. He could work on being more decisive in his decision-making, but the maturity to his game, combined with upside on both sides of the floor, makes him a great pick at six here for Chicago.
7) Portland Trail Blazers
Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Caleb Wilson is a great player for Portland to consider at seven. With the core starting to come together, adding an anchor to the team like Wilson will make everyone better. He is 6’9″ with a 7’0″ wingspan and has elite athleticism and can slide in at the four between Avdija and Clingan.
He operates as a secondary scorer and an excellent decision maker, but his calling card is his defense. He never takes any plays off, can guard multiple positions, and makes good decisions on the court.
Offensively, while I mentioned that he is a secondary scorer, with some NBA coaching and time to work on it, he has the smooth athleticism to develop a shot in the future, potentially.
8) Sacramento Kings
Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
The Kings traded away De’Aaron Fox last year, and they have yet to replace his athleticism. That makes this a perfect fit. Mikel Brown Jr. is a super athletic point guard who is creative with the ball and a perfect fit for a team that is itching to fill those shoes.
What makes him a top pick to this degree is his vision and IQ, as he can utilize his versatile offensive skillset to whatever the defense gives him and his team to work with. He has the potential to be an outstanding offensive player and is working to get stronger to improve defensively, but I wouldn’t call him a liability on defense either.
Expect the world to learn his name at Louisville, and while the players above him are better prospects for those teams, to me, there is no better floor general in the draft, which holds a ton of weight to me.
9) Atlanta Hawks (via NO)
Dash Daniels, G, Melbourne United (NBL)
The Hawks made a trade with the Pelicans to acquire former eighth overall pick Dyson Daniels from the Pelicans, and that worked out amazingly as they watched him blossom into one of the best defensive players in the NBA. Fast-forward to the 2026 NBA Draft, and they have a chance to make New Orleans pay for trading with them again, through the same family.
Dyson Daniels is almost a carbon copy of his brother, with the only difference being that he is two inches shorter. He is long, strong, and intense like his brother, and wreaks havoc on opponents on both sides of the ball.
He has the potential to score at all three levels, and I think if he flashes that potential again, he will find himself living out a childhood dream. His U19 FIBA World Cup performance put him on the map as a potential impact player in the future, and having two of what Dyson put out last year (or even close to it) would be scary for any team to face.
10) Toronto Raptors
Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
With the moves Toronto made before this season, they appear to be on the right track for next year, but adding a player like Chris Cenac Jr. could help them reach new heights. He is 6’10”, with a 7’4″ wingspan, and would fill a glaring hole at center that Toronto was hoping to fill this year with Malauch.
Cenac runs the floor well, switches well defensively, and protects the rim at a very high level. These are all things that Toronto has not had in a player in a very long time, and these are not his only skills.
His offensive game is developing, and I don’t see him pushing his range out beyond the arc, but he looks to have the potential to have an excellent mid-range shot and be an impact player here for a long time.
11) Miami Heat
Koa Peat, F, Arizona
Koa Peat feels like another player that the masses overlook, and Eric Spoelstra turns into another gem that makes the Heat better. We’ve seen this with Kel’el Ware and many others over the years, and this seems like a perfect match.
Peat has a strong 6’8″ frame and is widely regarded as one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft physically. He plays hard with advanced footwork, and it remains to be seen if he can finish at the basket with such strength against grown men, but I would put my money on him putting in the work to be strong enough for that.
Defensively, his toughness translates very well as he has no problem holding down the power forward position or even as a center in a small-ball lineup. He is a skilled rebounder and has all of the skills to make up for his lack of true quickness.
12) Memphis Grizzlies
Tounde Yessoufu, F, Baylor
Tounde Yessoufou is someone I think many people are unsure about. I have seen him as high as five and as low as mid-20s in some people’s rankings, but I have him here. He is a player with top-tier athleticism, strength, and upside, and Scott Drew is one of the best at preparing his guys for the next level.
While he is a work in progress offensively, he has shown skills as a downhill finisher and the ability to use his body to create for himself,f even against top competition. He is one player who has meteoric upside, and I think could be a steal at this spot, but also may take some time to realize that potential.
I always like to take guys that play with high energy, brilliant shot selection, and are elite with either strength or athleticism. He is all of the above and a fascinating prospect, especially to pair with another elite athlete in the form of Ja Morant.
13) Indiana Pacers
Tomislav Ivišić, C, Illinois
When Tyrese Haliburton went down, nobody expected Pacers fans to be without him and Myles Turner, who left in free agency for Milwaukee. This left a gaping hole in the frontcourt for the Pacers that I think they will address in the 2026 draft by drafting Tomislav Ivišić.
While it will be hard to replace what Turner brought to Indiana for all of those years, Ivišić will be the best possible way to replace that type of player. I think he has the potential to be a better ball mover than Turner ever was. He isn’t as good a shot blocker, but holds down the paint with good positioning and improving footwork.
If the coaches at Indiana can unlock him as a shot blocker, this could be a steal after the generational four that will lead the draft.
14) San Antonio Spurs
Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Lendeborg made a wise decision, staying in school one more year and transferring to Michigan to try and get that first-round assurance he is looking for. With the losses of Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin, he will have plenty of opportunity to show that the Combine was no fluke to a much bigger audience.
He has shown the ability to completely take over a game, as he showed in the American Tournament with 30 points, 20 rebounds, eight assists, five steals, and four blocks against Wichita State. He is a strong power forward with a highly versatile offensive game.
Defensively, he brings a lot to the table, and playing next to Victor Wembeyama will only enhance his opportunities to take drivers on and showcase his impressive shot-blocking prowess, making it the opposite of a fun day to enter the paint against San Antonio.
15) Milwaukee Bucks
Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
Bennett Stirtz enters the 2026 draft with a profile similar to Payton Pritchard and T.J. McConnell, who, in my opinion, are underappreciated for consistently being a sturdy force running the offense, albeit on much different paths. Stirtz went from Division II to Drake and then to Iowa, where he will have a real opportunity to showcase his skills in the best conference in basketball.
Stirtz is a great pick-and-roll player who uses an extremely high basketball IQ, great handles, and intelligent off-the-ball movement to make up for his lack of elite athleticism. He is also an efficient scorer who consistently makes the right play.
Defense may be an issue for him at the next level, but Milwaukee is a solid landing spot with a good rotation of guards to offset each other’s skillsets and Giannis to keep the defense focused on as well.
16) Boston Celtics
Braylon Mullins, G, UConn
Considering the Celtics’ shooting style and Braylon Mullins’ shot, they might have drafted him if they had the first overall pick. Of course, this is a joke, but he is my best shooter in the draft and would be a perfect fit in the system that they like to run there.
Mullins is a 6’5″ shooter with a quick release, seemingly limitless range, and is decisive with the ball in his hands. He finishes nicely at the rim, even without elite athleticism, but I don’t know how much he will need to finish at the rim in Boston.
He is a solid defender, too, with a very high competitive level and skills to grow into a great 3-and-D player who could make an impact next to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum for a very long time.
17) Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
Nikolas Khamenia, F, Duke
Nikolas Khamenia will be the next entrant into the Thunder dynasty. With a 6’8″ frame, he has excellent court vision and has a nasty shot fake that facilitates his sharp decision-making. He can be inserted into the rotation immediately as a backup to multiple positions, thereby facilitating the offense.
Defensively, he won’t win any accolades, but he won’t cost the team any games either. He has average athleticism and is capable of guarding multiple positions, which is needed in an already deep system like the Thunder has. They don’t need him to be a star, but this high-floor asset is perfect for the Thunder or another championship-caliber team and will make for the best career for him, where he can settle into a role and own it.
18) Atlanta Hawks
Dame Sarr, G/F, Duke
Pairing Dash Daniels and Dame Sarr makes for an intriguing second unit for Atlanta, and having them in rotation with Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson could make life extremely difficult for opponents trying to run an offense.
Sarr is a 6’6″ wing with a 7-foot wingspan, and he is highly athletic and uses that to his advantage. He is very experienced for his age, having played professional basketball in Europe since 2021-22, at age 15.
Considering his size, length, and athleticism, he struggles with consistency in his jumper and often makes poor decisions with the ball. Look for some NBA coaching to put some polish on an extremely raw offensive prospect.
Defensively, he is NBA-ready, he is disruptive, and he plays with a high motor and with poise beyond his years. I think the Hawks will try to draft him and Daniels, sending a message to the league that they will be looking to suffocate their opponents starting in 2026.
19) Detroit Pistons
Tahaad Pettiford, G, Auburn
Tahaad Pettiford showcased his skills in the SEC Tournament and again in the NCAA tournament this upcoming season, and I think he is an excellent complement to Cade Cunningham or to run the offense with Jaden Ivey when Cunningham is taking a breather.
For what he lacks in size, and the obvious defensive challenges that provides, there is a specific gene that can’t be explained that when the offense stalls and one player puts the entire load of getting the team back in the game in the most pivotal of moments, Pettiford already showed to have this at an advanced level as a freshman at Auburn. With that confidence, the sky is the limit for him offensively.
Pettiford fits the bill of instant offense, as he showed that he has a quick first step, is nifty with his finishing, and showed flashes of what his elite playmaking could look like when fully developed. I think this is an excellent fit for a Detroit offense that will look to pivot from the volume that Malik Beasley will leave behind.
20) Dallas Mavericks
Cayden Boozer, G, Duke
The second Boozer twin gets a respectable slot here as a point guard in training behind Kyrie Irving, who can make an immediate improvement over Dante Exum and Brandon Williams as floor general depth, and learn from one of the best to run the point.
Boozer has outstanding basketball IQ and is an advanced playmaker as a result. While he isn’t as big as his brother, he has a solid frame for a guard, and he has gotten better each year from beyond the arc, suggesting that continued work on the shot will make for continued progress with it.
He has an incredible feel for the game, and he uses that on both sides of the floor, which is important because he doesn’t have much in terms of speed, but still has success using his body and anticipation to be a solid defender.
21) Golden State Warriors
JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech
With Draymond Green getting older and staple big man Kevon Looney heading out, the Warriors all of a sudden have a hole to fill. I think JT Toppin is the perfect big man to come in next. They haven’t recently had someone with a skillset like Toppin’s or a big man who poses as much of an offensive threat, and it could allow for a more modern big man to keep the Warriors going strong.
Toppin is an outstanding scorer in the paint and in the short-mid range, and is working to expand that range, but even without that, I think he can make an impact on an NBA team now with his defense and rebounding.
Last year at Texas Tech, Toppin averaged 9.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, and I fully expect these numbers again, if not even more substantial numbers from Toppin.
He is a steadfast anchor to a defense, with a nose for blocks and a high-level ability to clean the glass, showing upside to become even more complete offensively.
22) Los Angeles Lakers
Isaiah Evans, G/F, Duke
Isaiah Evans is a versatile 6’6″ wing that would be an excellent fit with Luka and the Lakers. As a freshman, Evans averaged 6.8 points in under 14 minutes while shooting 41.6% from three. His quick release, NBA-range shooting, and ability to score off movement or the dribble make him a dangerous perimeter threat with high-upside scoring potential.
The only reason he is falling this low is that the prospects he is behind are being drafted ahead of him. Whoever drafts Isaiah Evans is getting a player who has been part of winning teams and will still be hungry to show what he can do beyond his time at Duke. Playing with Luka will put him in significant positions for open shot opportunities to get the Lakers going.
He will need to add some strength to be good enough defensively to have a prominent role on a good team in the NBA, but he has the length and feel for the game to become good on that side of the ball if so. If he carves out a bigger role at Duke this year, we may see him rise this board very quickly, and that wouldn’t be surprising at all.
23) Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
Karter Knox, F, Arkansas
Karter Knox is a perfect second pick for the Thunder, as he is a project, but he has the frame and has shown flashes that he can be a great player. He started to come alive in the second half of the season, showing he already has the size and athleticism to be an NBA defender. However, his offense will be the key to whether he’s just a player in blowouts or a critical piece of a perennial contender.
24) Minnesota Timberwolves
Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas
Daruis Acuff Jr. has the potential to be a fantastic point guard in the NBA, as evidenced by his 2025 Allen Iverson Player of the Year award. He is a hard-nosed, gritty driver to the rim and can score at all three levels. With Mike Conley coming off the books after the 2025-26 season, this pick is a match made in heaven.
Playing next to an elite player like Anthony Edwards is suitable for any player’s development. Still, with the attention that he gets, it will be challenging for Acuff to operate the Minnesota offense when he is tasked with doing that. He has excellent speed, works well in the pick-and-roll, and has the potential to be a top rebounding guard.
25) Charlotte Hornets (via ORL)
Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
Ngongba is a legit 7-footer with a combination of strength, positioning, and a nose for the ball off the glass. He has skill in the post with soft hands and passes extremely well for a player of this prototype. With the Hornets trading Mark Williams and Nick Richards both to the Suns, they have a gaping hole in the middle that Ngongba could be the guy to fill.
26) Cleveland Cavaliers
Isiah Harwell, G, Houston
The Cavaliers traded Isaac Okoro to the Bulls for Lonzo Ball, and part of it, I think, is because they felt like they needed more from him offensively, and he couldn’t provide it. He can finish at the rim, as well as from beyond the arc, and could be an outstanding player for Cleveland’s system. Look at Isiah Harwell as a second chance on that with a much better ground floor offensively to work with and a similar defensive profile.
27) New York Knicks
Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
Brayden Burries fits the mold of what the Knicks want from their two guards next to Brunson. He is an energetic defender who can guard both guard spots and gets into passing lanes often. What he has that the Knicks haven’t seen, in addition to that, is legitimate skill at all three levels of scoring. Being able to play in this system may be a perfect fit for Burries to realize his full potential.
28) Denver Nuggets
Sergio De Larrea, G, Valencia (Spain)
He is a perfect fit playing alongside Jokic and the Nuggets, as he is a great passer, would run a fantastic two-man game in the pick-and-roll in Denver, and has the potential to be an elite shooter, as shown in his 43.9% shooting from beyond the arc. The Nuggets may need to bring in some European flair to get back to their unstoppable ways, and with De Larrea, they are finding a gem here.
29) Oklahoma City Thunder (via HOU)
Alex Condon, C, Florida
With the expectation that, going into 2026-2027, Isaiah Hartenstein will no longer be rostered, it is safe to assume that they will be looking to fill the center position in the draft. Alex Condon is a fantastic fit with Chet Holmgren and Thomas Sorber, as long as he can get his fouling under control. He is a champion in the NCAA, and he fits the model of a player that Sam Presti would bring in with time to fine-tune his way and get a valuable NBA player out of Condon, and yet again hit a home run on draft night.
30) Washington Wizards (via OKC)
Hannes Steinbach, C, Washington
This one may be a surprise to some at this point, but come draft time, this could very well be too late for Steinbach to go off the board. He has developed nicely physically and needs to put on some more muscle to be a threat defensively.
Still, Steinbach’s already above-average rebounding, excellent positioning, and impressive footwork on defense make him seem like a legitimate prospect. He has experience playing in Germany, and he now heads to the NCAA to play legitimate minutes to showcase these skills against more of the nation’s best prospects.
Click to compare this to our July NBA Mock Draft.
