In the early days of basketball, it consistently had to compete with football for viewership, often losing out. Luckily, it seems the next generation of stars is driving incredible viewership for the NBA, as opening-month viewership hit levels not seen in over a decade.
The NBA is in good hands with players like Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg on the come-up, ready to take the reins on stardom. The 2026 class is no different, with several players enticing analysts and media to crown it one of the deepest (and best overall) in a very long time. Using PFSN’s Mock Draft Simulator to determine the order, here is a 2026 mock draft that finds homes for these future superstars to make an impact.
1) Indiana Pacers
Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
With Tyrese Haliburton out for the season and Myles Turner gone, the Indiana Pacers have failed to capture the magic of last season’s incredible finals run that unfortunately ended in agony. If there were ever a two-year period to go from game seven of the NBA finals to picking number one overall in the draft, it’d be 2025 and 2026.
The Pacers will have the opportunity to grab one of three franchise-changing players at the top of this draft. It’s actually a difficult decision to make, as I think any of the three stars at the top of this draft would fit well with the Pacers. When everyone is healthy, the Pacers have a litany of scoring guards (and smaller forwards) with Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, plus the emergence of Bennedict Mathurin.
That still shouldn’t stop them from selecting a guard that can completely transform this team and take them to new heights. 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. Adding Peterson to the Pacers’ lineup would allow them to create an incredibly talented and deep bench. A lineup of Haliburton, Peterson, Nesmith, Jarace Walker, and Pascal Siakam would be a very effective small-ball lineup with Obi Toppin, Nembhard, Mathurin, and T.J. McConnell off the bench.
2) Brooklyn Nets
Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
The Brooklyn Nets are among the bottom of the league in defense. They struggle at limiting opponents’ shot quality, foul a lot, and are dead last in the league in defensive rebound percentage. Insert Duke legacy Cameron Boozer, and a lot of that has the potential to improve immediately.
Boozer has shown the ability to impact the game defensively at a high level in his limited college experience, averaging 1.7 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while ranking second overall in Evan Miya’s Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating (DBPR), which estimates how many defensive points per 100 possessions a player prevents relative to an average D-1 defender when surrounded by average teammates.
Miya also uses analytics to assign each player an offensive role on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means you are the creator and 5 means you are a receiver. Despite being a power forward on paper, his role is actually a 1.9, indicating that Boozer touches the ball a lot and does well distributing, averaging four assists per game.
Having a front-court presence like Boozer to help take some of the facilitation responsibility on a team with natural scorers like Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. would prove effective for a Nets team in need of talent anywhere and everywhere.
3) Washington Wizards
AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
The Washington Wizards need help everywhere. They rank No. 27 in offensive rating, No. 23 in points per game, second in turnovers, dead last in points allowed per game, and in defensive rating. AJ Dybantsa would be up there for one of the most talented prospects ever to go third overall.
Dybantsa’s length and strength have proven to be one of his best attributes. He attacks the rim with ferocity and has also shown lots of improvement as a playmaker. He also has a lot of potential on the defensive side of the ball, despite being a bit raw compared to the other two players ahead of him. Either way, the Wizards would welcome a score-first forward that they can build around in the future.
4) Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)
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). At 6’10, Wilson could slot in at center for the Hawks if they wanted to go small ball, but he is also a significant upgrade over both Zaccharie Risacher and Jalen Johnson for the Hawks.
5) Sacramento Kings
Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
The current Sacramento Kings lineup, by minutes played, has been DaMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Dennis Schröder, Russell Westbrook, and Domantas Sabonis. Outside of Sabonis, the Kings don’t have a single starter that can play as a true big man. Sabonis ranks No. 14 in post-ups per game among centers, but the Kings rank sixth as a whole.
Imagine how much more dangerous that paint game could become with a player like Chris Cenac Jr., who has the athleticism, tools, and size to be an effective big man around the rim. He needs to clean up his game, as he averages just 0.6 assists, 1.8 turnovers, and 2.8 fouls per game. If he can improve in that regard, they can move to a more traditional lineup and force teams to play them up.
Cenac also attempts a healthy 2.6 threes a game this year, knocking down 46.2% of them thus far in the season. This means the Kings won’t be at a disadvantage on the perimeter if they drafted him to play alongside Sabonis.
6) Charlotte Hornets
Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
The Charlotte Hornets continue their trend of grabbing spot-up shooters to solidify their offense. Ament has struggled early this season, shooting just 25% from three, but his jumper is pure and provides a lot of value, as he can also get teammates involved. He’s also averaging three steals per game and ranks No. 38 in DBPR among all Division I players this season.
7) Dallas Mavericks
Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
It’s time to face the writing on the wall with Kyrie Irving. He probably isn’t going to be around much longer. Building around Flagg likely means getting younger at all positions, and Mikel Brown Jr. gives you the ability to do this while also giving him time to develop. Brown is a volume three-point shooter, averaging 6.8 per game, making 32.4% of them.
Brown provides the Mavericks with another guard who can help activate Flagg and teammates in the pick-and-roll. The Mavericks rank No. 12 in pick-and-roll frequency this season, but 25th in scoring on those plays. Flagg has almost always been the ball-handler on these plays, but drafting Brown gives them the ability to be on the receiving end.
8) Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)
Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
The rich get richer as the Oklahoma City Thunder pick in the lottery thanks to the Clippers. With their first of two top 10 picks, the Thunder select Koa Peat out of Arizona. The power forward averages 16.2 points per game with just one attempted three-pointer on the season. At 6’8″ 235 lbs, Peat will provide the Thunder with another big man to come off the bench and provide high-energy minutes in a rotational role.
9) Oklahoma City Thunder (via Jazz)
Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
After finishing the regular season fifth in pace of play, the Thunder rank 24th this year, which could definitely change as the season goes on. One thing that has been pretty consistent from both last season and this one is their pace of play off the bench. Going from 16th to 18th, the Thunder could use a point guard who can play balanced basketball and offers different value than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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.
10) Memphis Grizzlies
Tounde Yessoufou, SG/SF, Baylor
The Memphis Grizzlies rank fifth in the NBA in post-ups per game, and Tounde Yessoufou would provide them with a tough wing player who brings aggression and downhill capabilities. He will need to work on his jump shot as he’s shooting just 20% from three on five attempts per game, but there is no questioning his ability to attack the rim.
11) Portland Trailblazers
Karim López, SF, New Zealand
The Portland Trailblazers rank No. 2 in offensive rebound percentage this season but 23rd in defensive rebound percentage. Donovan Clingan has been relatively solid for them, averaging 10 points and 10 boards a game while also being extremely impactful on the defensive end of the floor. They could still use some help from the wings to go along with Clingan and their group of promising guards.
Karim López provides a good-sized forward with high-level shooting ability who is young and has clear areas of growth to look forward to. He isn’t the most athletic player in the world, but he would fit nicely next to Scoot Henderson as a spot-up shooter at the three spot.
12) Milwaukee Bucks
Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
The Milwaukee Bucks could stand to upgrade at the shooting guard position with AJ Green being an efficient scorer (70.8% true shooting, 69.9% effective field goal), but overall, just too small. Being 6’3″ at shooting guard has led to teams attacking him physically. 3-Step Basket evaluates defenders based on how effectively they prevent opponents from scoring, both as a team and at the individual level.
Braylon Mullins hasn’t yet played at the collegiate level after suffering an ankle injury, but was a very promising prospect in high school. He’s widely considered one of the top perimeter shooters with an innate ability to score off the ball. The Bucks already rank No. 4 in points per game this season in spot-shooting situations, while also being perfectly average in isolation scoring as a team.
If his college tape ends up showing the same willingness to play defense as he was in high school, his 6’6″ frame should definitely guide him to a path as the starter for a Bucks team that needs help defensively at guard.
13) Boston Celtics
Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, Kentucky
The Boston Celtics get one of the draft’s highest-potential players, thanks to his ability to take over a game defensively. Jayden Quaintance was a 17-year-old true freshman at Arizona State who averaged 2.6 blocks and 1.1 steals per game with his 7’5″ wingspan. Quaintance provides the Celtics with an elite rim protector who can finish lobs and live near the basket.
14) Chicago Bulls
Dash Daniels, SG, Melbourne
The Chicago Bulls are in a position to take the best player available as they begin a clear rebuild. Dash Daniels is an athletic guard with defensive talent, but is a much rawer prospect offensively. Luckily, he is super young (not even 18 yet), and is already earning valuable minutes for a Melbourne United team sitting at 13-2 in the NBL.
15) Golden State Warriors
Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida
The Golden State Warriors select Thomas Haugh, who should be NBA-ready from day one, despite a potentially limited ceiling based on his lack of athleticism. He’s one of basketball’s biggest hustle guys, which fits well with the Warriors’ culture. The Warriors rank No. 3 in both points off of screens and deflections, No. 7 in loose balls recovered, and No. 2 in charges drawn.
16) San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
The San Antonio Spurs could target the former UAB big man Yaxel Lendeborg in the latter part of the first round. At 6’9″ with a 7’4″ wingspan, Lendeborg provides much-needed size and rebounding over the current starters. He also has skills offensively from deep (career 35% three-point shooter) and is an overall well-rounded player who complements Wemby well.
17) Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)
Dame Sarr, SF, Duke
After going shooting guard with their first pick, the Grizzlies follow it up by taking the Duke small forward, Dame Sarr. His explosive ability and quickness, paired with his size, make him a lethal perimeter defender. Players like that can carve out a role for themselves while working on their craft offensively to become more well-rounded.
18) New York Knicks
Neoklis Avdalas, SF, Virginia Tech
Neoklis Avdalas is a solid all-around player with good size as a combo guard that can slot in at the two or the three for a team like the Knicks. His 25.3% usage rate at Virginia Tech won’t be as high with the Knicks, as they have one of the league’s top isolation scorers in Jalen Brunson.
19) Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers)
JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech
The Thunder grab national player of the year contender JT Toppin with their third first-round pick of the 2026 NBA draft. Toppin is a really good scorer and rebounder who could provide the Thunder with a score-first big man off the bench. This would gel well with Stirtz as the pass-first point guard. At this point, the Thunder would have enough players to run 12-13-man rotations at a high level legitimately.
20) Minnesota Timberwolves
Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama
The Minnesota Timberwolves rank No. 25 in assist percentage and No. 5 in isolation possessions. Insert Alabama point guard Labaron Philon, who is averaging 7.4 assists per game for the nation’s fourth-fastest college basketball team. The Timberwolves are No. 14 in pace of play in the NBA, but they are No. 12 in transition buckets, showing that they do like playing at a faster tempo than most.
21) Charlotte Hornets (via Suns)
Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
The Hornets pair their selection of Ament with one of the nation’s top players, according to the advanced analytics. Miya has him ranked No. 3 overall in BPR, behind only Braden Smith and Boozer. Patrick Ngongba has great length and is relatively solid at pretty much all aspects of the game.
He’d probably be a slight upgrade over Ryan Kalkbrenner for the Hornets as they surround Ball with players that can finish in all three phases of the game.
22) Miami Heat
Isaiah Evans, SF, Duke
The Miami Heat select the fourth Duke player of the draft, small forward Isaiah Evans. Evans is scoring 13.3 points per game as the team’s second option behind Boozer and provides a consistent three-point efficiency off the bench for a Heat team that ranks No. 4 in three-point percentage among starters but 14th among bench players.
23) Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers)
Tahaad Pettiford, PG, Auburn
Tahaad Pettiford fits right in with a team that already has smaller guards who lack defensively. While he doesn’t have nearly the passing ability of Trae Young, having a stylistically similar scorer off the bench provides a unique asset to the team. It gives them the ability to run the same sets and build overall team continuity.
24) Toronto Raptors
Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas
The Toronto Raptors are playing well right now and have a good enough roster to draft purely on upside. That makes someone like Flory Bidunga a real option. The league values bigs who can finish at the rim and have high motors. Bidunga has proven that he’s got the jets attached to his feet to overcome some size deficits, which would make him an enticing pick for the Raptors at the end of the first round.
25) Oklahoma City Thunder (via Rockets)
Karter Knox, F, Arkansas
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to stockpile forwards, even though they likely won’t enter the season with all of these guys on the roster. Karter Knox could potentially be one of the players they keep because of his floor spacing and defensive ability, both of which the Thunder value.
26) Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)
Isiah Harwell, SG, Houston
The Cleveland Cavaliers could draft a physical, two-way shooting guard who could start for this team immediately, in hopes of competing for a title in the weaker Eastern Conference. Isiah Harwell doesn’t have elite athleticism, but instead wins with skill. He’s an incredibly efficient shooter who passes and rebounds well for a guard and would fit nicely in the Cavs’ rotation.
27) Los Angeles Lakers
Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
Hannes Steinbach is a consistent, floor-raising big who provides the Los Angeles Lakers with a nice and safe option late in the first round. He’s averaging an efficient 14.5 points per game and does a good job of grabbing offensive boards (5.3 a game) and is solid in transition.
28) Denver Nuggets
Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas
The Denver Nuggets need a point guard off the bench who can provide them with some kind of shot-creation when Nikola Jokić isn’t on the floor. The Nuggets bench ranks second-to-last in assists per game, despite ranking No. 1 among starting units.
Darius Acuff has a nice handle and averages 5.2 assists per game for Arkansas, which the Nuggets would want him to lean into off the bench. He’s proven he can score around the rim despite being undersized, but that will likely be a secondary value for him, as the Nuggets really need shot-creation with that second unit.
29) Detroit Pistons
Sergio De Larrea, G, Spain
Sergio De Larrea is shooting an absurd 57.1% from three this season on 2.3 attempts per game in his international play. Larrea’s career three-point percentage is 46.7%, proving that this isn’t some random hot streak that will eventually cool off. The dude has a flamethrower from beyond the ark.
This is exactly what a Pistons squad that ranks No. 18 in three-point percentage and No. 28 in three-point attempts per game needs to continue its climb towards title contention.
30) Washington Wizards (via Thunder)
Braden Smith, PG, Purdue
The Washington Wizards finish the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft by selecting the state of Indiana’s third-favorite point guard (Haliburton and McConnell are No. 1 and No. 2) in Purdue’s Braden Smith.
Beyond being a collegiate legend, Smith’s high IQ and well-rounded game would make him a fun pairing to go along with Dybantsa on the new-look Wizards. He has a natural feel for the game and is a throwback point guard, controlling the tempo and setting up his teammates for success.
It would be a bit of a switch-up going from a Purdue team that is No. 353 (out of 365) in pace of play to a Wizards squad that is No. 4 in the NBA in pace of play. He might not be a starter at the next level with limits in size, but he should be good enough to carve out a valuable backup point guard role for an NBA team.
2026 NBA Mock Draft | Round 2
31) New York Knicks
Miles Byrd, SG/SF, San Diego State
32) Boston Celtics
Cayden Boozer, PG, Duke
33) Memphis Grizzlies
Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
34) Brooklyn Nets
Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
35) Sacramento Kings
Otega Oweh, G, Kentucky
36) Sacramento Kings
Magoon Gwath, C, San Diego State
37) Oklahoma City Thunder
Alex Condon, C, Florida
38) Los Angeles Clippers
Alex Karaban, PF, UConn
39) San Antonio Spurs
Paul McNeil Jr., SG, NC State
40) Los Angeles Clippers
Myles Colvin, G, Wake Forest
41) San Antonio Spurs
Nikolas Khamenia, PF, Duke
42) Boston Celtics
Darrion Williams, SF, NC State
43) Charlotte Hornets
Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
44) Atlanta Hawks
Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
45) Washington Wizards
Aday Mara, C, Michigan
46) Houston Rockets
Tomislav Ivišić, C, Illinois
47) Orlando Magic
Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
48) Brooklyn Nets
Moustapha Thiam, C, Cincinnati
49) Washington Wizards
Dwayne Aristode, SF, Arizona
50) Washington Wizards
Eric Reibe, C, UConn
51) New York Knicks
Zuby Ejiofor, PF, St. Johns
52) San Antonio Spurs
Joseph Tugler, PF, Houston
53) Cleveland Cavaliers
Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona
54) Toronto Raptors
Wesley Yates III, SG, Washington
55) Houston Rockets
Milos Uzan, PG, Houston
56) Toronto Raptors
Andrej Stojaković, SF, Illinois
57) Minnesota Timberwolves
Solo Ball, SG, UConn
58) Phoenix Suns
Adam Atamna, PG, France
59) New York Knicks
Mouhamed Sylla, C, Georgia Tech
60) Washington Wizards
Tucker DeVries, SG, Indiana
