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2026 NBA Mock Draft: Boozer to Bulls at No. 4, Grizzlies Take Gamble at No. 3

Gary Parrish's initial mock draft following Sunday's lottery reveals several unexpected picks, including Cameron Boozer potentially landing with the Bulls at fourth overall after the Grizzlies make a surprising choice at number three.

CBS Sports·May 11, 2026·via CBS Sports

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Boozer to Bulls at No. 4, Grizzlies Take Gamble at No. 3

NBA Mock Draft 2026: Cameron Boozer falls to Bulls at No. 4 after Grizzlies gamble on potential at No. 3

Gary Parrish's first mock draft after Sunday's lottery has a few surprises

By Gary Parrish

May 11, 2026 at 9:18 am ET • 1 min read

In what's been described as the greatest freshmen class in men's college basketball history, AJ Dybantsa has emerged as the favorite out of all of them to be selected first overall in the 2026 NBA Draft . And now we know, after Sunday's lottery , that if it does indeed go down that way, the one-and-done star from BYU will be a Wizard.

Congrats, Washington fans!

Thanks to the way the ping pong balls bounced, your reward for suffering through a 17-65 season is the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, where the expectation is that the Wizards will pick Dybantsa. Is that a lock? No, I wouldn't consider it a lock -- mostly because there's nothing unreasonable about Washington (or any other franchise) taking a hard look at Darryn Peterson, the combo guard from Kansas whose talent is undeniable.

Peterson deserves a serious look.

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But the uneven way in which Peterson's one season at Kansas unfolded, combined with how statistically incredible Dybantsa's one year was at BYU, has made the former BYU star a -450 favorite in the betting markets to be the first player picked. That's pretty overwhelming. So, barring a surprise, Dybantsa-to-Washington will happen.

Peterson should go second. And then, for the rest of their careers, Dybantsa and Peterson will be tied together, contrasted and compared. My guess is that both will be great. But Dybantsa is largely considered the safer bet between the two, and that's likely why he'll hear NBA commissioner Adam Silver call his name first June 23.

Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

AJ Dybantsa

BYU

• Fr • 6'9" / 215 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

25.5

RPG

6.8

APG

3.7

3P%

33.1%

Partly because he had an incredible freshman year, partly because Peterson did not, Dybantsa, again, has emerged as the favorite in the betting markets to be selected first next month. He's a jumbo-wing and natural scorer who led the EYBL in points per game after his freshman season of high school and the entire nation in points per game during his freshman season at BYU. Based on that trajectory, and Dybantsa's awesome physical tools, it should surprise nobody if he also someday leads the NBA in scoring, and suddenly the Wizards have a chance to be interesting next season with Dybantsa in a starting lineup alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Darryn Peterson

Kansas

• Fr • 6'6" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

20.2

RPG

4.2

APG

1.6

3P%

38.2%

Peterson's talent is undeniable but there are questions among some front offices about his ability to maximize his gifts because of the way his one season at Kansas unfolded. He was special in spots, clearly. But Peterson was also in and out of the lineup a lot -- sometimes by his own choice -- and that fact has raised concerns in some corners that the electric playmaker will need to alleviate in the pre-draft process to ensure he remains an option at No. 1 and solidifies a spot in the top two. Either way, Utah's rebuild should officially be over with a core of Peterson, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Caleb Wilson

North Carolina

• Fr • 6'10" / 215 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

19.8

RPG

9.4

APG

2.7

3P%

25.9%

The Grizzlies advanced three spots from where they were slotted, making the tough "moving forward" portion of the season that fans endured more than worth it. Needless to say, Cameron Boozier is an option here -- and he very well could be the pick. But after dealing Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., and with Ja Morant also expected to be moved, Memphis needs a star, and I simply believe Wilson is the best swing-for-a-star option after Dybantsa and Peterson are off of the board.

Round 1 - Pick 4

Cameron Boozer

Duke

• Fr • 6'9" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

22.5

RPG

10.2

APG

4.1

3P%

39.1%

Boozer has low bust-potential, I think, given how he's never not been awesome in a way that impacts winning at every level at which he's played. He was the national high school player of the year in 2026, then the national college player of the year in 2026. There are no shortage of accolades connected to Boozer. That said, some do worry that his star-potential is also low in part because he's mostly a below-the-rim forward who can struggle with the type of size and athleticism he'll consistently face in the NBA. As always, we'll see. But if Boozer does fall to this spot, the Bulls could snatch him up and make him the face of their rebuild in the post Billy Donovan era.

From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5

Darius Acuff Jr.

Arkansas

• Fr • 6'3" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

23.5

RPG

3.1

APG

6.4

3P%

44%

Acuff just became the first player to lead the SEC in both points and assists since Pete Maravich did it at LSU in 1970. Special talent. Fun player. Do I wish he were taller? Yes. Do I wish he weren't a negative-defender? Also yes. But the offensive skill-set and deadly jumper are too much to pass on at this point in this draft, and that's why I expect Acuff to become the 12th player in history to become a top-five pick after a season with John Calipari, making him the prize of the Clippers' decision to trade Ivica Zubac to the Pacers at the deadline.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Keaton Wagler

Illinois

• Fr • 6'6" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Brooklyn

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

17.9

RPG

5.1

APG

4.2

3P%

39.7%

Any franchise that's averaged just 26 wins over the past three seasons needs to focus on the best prospect available -- and, at this point in this mock, that's Wagler. The big lead-guard went from a sub-100 prospect in the Class of 2025 to a definite top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, all in less than a year, thanks to his great positional size, ability to process things and reliable perimeter jumper. Wagler is very different than Acuff, and they could come off the board in any order, meaning the Nets might just take whichever one drops to them, assuming at least one of them will and does.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Kingston Flemings

Houston

• Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.1

APG

5.2

3P%

38.7%

The Kings were unlucky on lottery day, dropping two spots from their slot in a way that will make landing the star the franchise needs harder to obtain. Still, there are potential stars available at No. 7, and Flemings is among them. The point guard prospect wasn't the highest-rated recruit in Houston's freshman class -- but he emerged as the program's best player while helping the Cougars win 30 games and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He's the rare 19 year-old who is both a top-tier athlete and strong shooter. If Sacramento ever turns things around, Flemings could be the face of it.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8

Mikel Brown Jr.

Louisville

• Fr • 6'5" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

18.2

RPG

3.3

APG

4.7

3P%

34.4%

This is where the draft breaks, at least in my mind, but perhaps only because Brown played just 21 games in his one season at Louisville. His back was an issue over the past year. Will it be moving forward? That's for the doctors to determine. But, if not, Brown is a top-five-ish talent available outside of the top five, and he could join a roster in Atlanta that should be positioned to compete for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Brayden Burries

Arizona

• Fr • 6'4" / 205 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.9

APG

2.4

3P%

39.1%

Koa Peat was the talk of Arizona's freshman class early -- especially after he got 30 points in that season-opening win over Florida. But it was Burries, also a first-year player, who emerged as the leading scorer for a team that won the Big 12's regular-season title and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. He's a physical guard who can shoot and rebound. He'd fit nicely in Dallas next to franchise centerpiece Cooper Flagg.

Round 1 - Pick 10

Nate Ament

Tennessee

• Fr • 6'10" / 207 lbs

Projected Team

Milwaukee

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

16.7

RPG

6.3

APG

2.3

3P%

33.3%

Ament had an up-and-down freshman season for the Vols -- but the upside isn't hard to spot. Less than a year ago, the 2025 McDonald's All-American was considered a possible top-five pick. So getting Ament here would be nice for a Bucks franchise that seems on the verge of rebuilding after presumably tradiing Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason.

Round 1 - Pick 11

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan

• Sr • 6'9" / 235 lbs

Projected Team

Golden St.

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

15.1

RPG

6.8

APG

3.2

3P%

37.2%

Lendeborg transferred from UAB to Michigan and was the best player on a team that won the NCAA Tournament one year after he didn't even win Player of the Year honors in the sport's 11th-best conference (American). Just an awesome story. That he's already 23 years old will turn some franchises off -- but if Golden State is still all-in on trying to put pieces around Steph Curry, Lendeborg's age should mostly be irrelevant to the decision-making process.

From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12

Aday Mara

Michigan

• Jr • 7'3" / 255 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

12.1

RPG

6.8

APG

2.4

3P%

30%

Mara transferred to Michigan after two years at UCLA and was among the biggest reasons the Wolverines won the Big Ten regular-season title outright and then also the national championship. At a time when being big is back in style in the NBA, Mara has great positional size and is constantly altering shots on defense. On offense, he's a high-end passer and efficient scorer. With Isaiah Hartenstein's future unclear in OKC, Mara could be an inexpensive replacement if the Thunder don't want to exercise the $28.5 million team-option on their starting center.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Labaron Philon

Alabama

• Fr • 6'3" / 175 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

15th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

RPG

3.5

APG

3P%

39.9%

Not every prospect who returns to college actually enhances his draft stock -- but Philon definitely did. The sophomore guard played more on-the-ball for Alabama than he did in the previous season, and the result was better assist numbers and a 3-point percentage that jumped to 39.9. The unusual amount of top-shelf lead guards available this year will push Philon down further than he'd go in most drafts, but that just makes him a value-pick at this point for the Heat.

Round 1 - Pick 14

Morez Johnson Jr.

Michigan

• Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs