2026 NBA Mock Draft: First-Round Predictions From Latest Combine Buzz and Intel

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Predictions for all 30 first-round picks after buzz and intel from draft combine week

Following a full week in Chicago, here's what we're hearing about how the 2026 NBA Draft could shake out

By Isaac Trotter

May 20, 2026 at 8:50 am ET • 1 min read

The NBA Draft Combine provides ample time for gossip and chatter because for a week, everybody in basketball is sequestered in a tight radius around Chicago's Wintrust Arena. Beyond the measurements and testing, the conversations behind the scenes provide an illuminating look at where some of the top NBA Draft prospects are trending.

Some of the buzz exiting Chicago was certainly informative about who is going to be on the board for NBA franchises in next month's 2026 NBA Draft.

It will all become official on May 27, which is the stay-or-go deadline to maintain collegiate eligibility. Michigan got good fortune last year when Yaxel Lendeborg passed up a first-round grade to transfer to Ann Arbor, but there's no such luck this time around. Michigan big man Morez Johnson declared his intentions to stay in the draft on Tuesday after a sterling showing at the NBA Draft Combine. He's the first domino of numerous key stay-or-go decisions that will come to light in the next eight days.

NBA Draft Combine: Predicting stay-or-go decisions for Milan Momcilovic, Malachi Moreno, other draft hopefuls Isaac Trotter

With the NBA Draft Combine in the rearview mirror, the 2026 Big Board has been updated , and now it's time for an updated mock draft based on what we heard and saw in Chicago.

Let's dive in.

Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

AJ Dybantsa

SF

BYU

• Fr • 6'9" / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

25.5

RPG

6.8

APG

3.7

3P%

33.1%

Darryn Peterson is my top-rated prospect, but the margin of separation is thin. Drafting for fit can get you in hot water, but not in this spot. Dybantsa fits like a glove with a Wizards outfit that wants to make a surge in the Eastern Conference. Dybantsa's combination of real-deal wiggle and advanced footwork helps him put loads of pressure on the rim. Over 40% of Dybantsa's shots came at the rim this past season at BYU. That should translate to the league. He's the big, explosive, powerful wing that this Washington roster needs to complement point guard Trae Young, big man Anthony Davis and a quartet of intriguing youngsters in Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Bub Carrington.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Darryn Peterson

PG

Kansas

• Fr • 6'5" / 200 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

20.2

RPG

4.2

APG

1.6

3P%

38.2%

Utah can expedite its rebuild in a hurry with a Darryn Peterson addition. The 6-foot-6 combo guard can play on or off the ball next to Keyonte George, and Utah coach Will Hardy can use Peterson in a host of ways. Don't be surprised if it's a blend of the off-movement, net shredder that we saw at Kansas with an on-ball primary creator that we saw in high school at Prolific Prep. That malleability makes Peterson so attractive because he can wear a ton of different hats depending on the personnel. With the cramping fiasco hopefully in the rearview mirror for good, Peterson is primed to be a Day One difference-maker.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Cameron Boozer

PF

Duke

• Fr • 6'8" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

22.5

RPG

10.2

APG

4.1

3P%

39.1%

Boozer-or-Caleb Wilson will be a heated debate for some, but not in these parts. Boozer has the attractive combination of excellent positional size (6-8.25 barefoot, 252 pounds, 7-1.5 wingspan) and sweet shooting (41% on 98 catch-and-shoot 3s). Boozer's sky-high IQ is the cherry on top that may prove to be his go-to asset. Boozer was one of the best-passing big men in college basketball last season. Size, shooting and feel trump some of the small concerns about Boozer's heavy feet, which flare up semi-routinely on both ends of the floor. Boozer would also mesh nicely next to Memphis center Zach Edey. That duo would just evaporate teams on the glass, raising the floor for the Grizzlies considerably.

Round 1 - Pick 4

Caleb Wilson

PF

North Carolina

• Fr • 6'9" / 210 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

19.8

RPG

9.4

APG

2.7

3P%

25.9%

Undertaking a massive overhaul like this isn't for the faint of heart, but picking fourth in this draft is a jolt for new Chicago Bulls general manager Bryson Graham. He has to take the best player available. Illinois point guard Keaton Wagler, Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. or Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr. should get a real sniff, but Wilson is the play here. The motor is the superpower. The 6-foot-9 wing should get busy in transition from the jump. Wilson has vertical explosiveness that rivals Blake Griffin, and he plays ridiculously hard every night. Wilson is not a good defender yet, but he strikes all the notes of a future difference-maker on that end with the right development. There's enough here to buy into the future of the jumper and the playmaking, too.

From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5

Keaton Wagler

PG

Illinois

• Fr • 6'5" / 188 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

17.9

RPG

5.1

APG

4.2

3P%

39.7%

Wagler is a special shooter. The 6-foot-6 point guard has a clean, repeatable, gorgeous strap from downtown, and it's easy to see why this fit would tantalize the Clippers. If they keep this pick, Wagler is the no-brainer choice. Wagler's shooting prowess allows him to play off the ball when it's time for Darius Garland or Kawhi Leonard to rock, but his value skyrockets because he has all the tools to toggle to an on-ball role as well. Wagler isn't a blow-you-away athlete, but his underrated strength, rhythm, balance and body control make him such a tough cover. Wagler is programmed to make the right play over and over again. He rebounds well for his position, including getting after it on the offensive glass. He has the length and IQ to be a useful defender down the road, which unlocks some Derrick White-like outcomes in his projection, with room for even more.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Darius Acuff Jr.

PG

Arkansas

• Fr • 6'2" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Brooklyn

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

23.5

RPG

3.1

APG

6.4

3P%

44%

Acuff has every answer to the test in pick-and-rolls. He could very well be the No. 1 ball-screen navigator in this draft. The craftsmanship is clear as day. The pace and precision, combined with his broad shoulders and a 6-foot-7 wingspan, does give off some Deron Williams or Dame Lillard vibes. Even with significant defensive questions, Acuff's ability to shoot off the dribble, navigate into the paint at will, create easy shots and make tough ones is so coveted. Brooklyn drafted a handful of guards last year, but that shouldn't stop this Nets' braintrust from adding a potential face of the franchise point guard.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Mikel Brown Jr.

PG

Louisville

• Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

18.2

RPG

3.3

APG

4.7

3P%

34.4%

Based off the feedback in Chicago, Mikel Brown Jr. has a chance to be a major riser. The 6-foot-5 point guard has logo range, a smooth shooting stroke and major upside as a playmaker. Brown checks off the boxes when it comes to positional size and shooting, plus there's a dynamic creator in here somewhere. Brown is a terrific push-ahead passer who is always trying to press the gas and create easy buckets in transition. The Kings certainly need more of that. If Brown can start taking the singles instead of trying to consistently smash grand slams with audacious reads in pick-and-rolls, he could outplay his draft slot.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8

Aday Mara

C

Michigan

• Jr • 7'3" / 260 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

12.1

RPG

6.8

APG

2.4

3P%

30%

Atlanta needs point guard help, but Mara to the Hawks is mouth-watering. The 7-foot-3 Michigan center has a 7-foot-6 wingspan and improved his mobility tremendously. Mara has elite size for the position, and he'd be one of the top shot-blockers in the NBA from the jump. He got tougher at Michigan and also showed additional defensive versatility, along with his unique feel as a top-of-the-key playmaker who can make reads in DHOs or backdowns. Atlanta could trot out some hellacious defensive lineups with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson and Mara.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Kingston Flemings

PG

Houston

• Fr • 6'3" / 183 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.1

APG

5.2

3P%

38.7%

Kingston Flemings' ability to get his shoulders past defenders is a coveted trait that every team needs. Flemings doesn't have terrific length (6-3.5 wingspan), but he's an outstanding athlete who can change directions on a dime, explode vertically and absolutely fly in the open floor. He has jet packs attached to his feet. Flemings has some mechanical tweaks to make on his jumper, but the trio of elite work ethic, elite attention to detail and elite winning habits make him a no-brainer bet to maximize his skillset. You just want Flemings in your building, and boy, that transition game of Flemings and Cooper Flagg would be something. Vroom vroom.

Round 1 - Pick 10

Nate Ament

PF

Tennessee

• Fr • 6'10" / 211 lbs

Projected Team

Milwaukee

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

16.7

RPG

6.3

APG

2.3

3P%

33.3%

This is the logical spot for Ament, especially amid the speculation that Giannis Antetokounmpo could be on the trade block, kickstarting a massive rebuild in Milwaukee. Ament's skillset is exactly what the NBA continues to prioritize. He is all of 6-foot-10 with perimeter skills and a soft jumper. As Ament continues to develop, he will likely become closer to a stretch 4 who can attack long closeouts rather than this jumbo wing handler, but the jury is still out on that front. Ament's defense is another key variable. Can he become one of the A+ defenders from this class? It's in the range of potential outcomes. I think the defense will be ahead of the offense for the not-so-distant future.

Round 1 - Pick 11

Yaxel Lendeborg

PF

Michigan

• Sr • 6'9" / 241 lbs

Projected Team

Golden St.

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

15.1

RPG

6.8

APG

3.2

3P%

37.2%

Lendeborg could have played in any NBA rotation … a year ago at this time. He was a NBA player just housed in Ann Arbor a year leading the Wolverines to the National Championship. The Warriors need a ready-to-play piece to sop up minutes while Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody recover from injuries. Lendeborg fits the bill. The 6-foot-9 wing has an enormous 7-3 wingspan and is a straight five-tool player. He can pass, dribble, shoot, cut and defend. Oh, and he's an absolute monster in transition. The Dominican LeBron nickname was well-deserved. Lendeborg's surplus of size and athleticism would stick out like a sore thumb on this creaky Golden State roster.

From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12

Morez Johnson Jr.

PF

Michigan

• Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

7th

PPG

13.1

RPG

7.3

APG

1.2

3P%

34.3%

Morez Johnson is a problem-solver on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward is enormous, athletic and a dirty-work menace. The NBA craves physical thumpers who can fly

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-nba-mock-draft-post-combine/)._