Sports

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Post-Combine Edition by Adam Finkelstein

Adam Finkelstein

CBS Sports·May 21, 2026·via CBS Sports

The feedback on my first mock draft following the NBA Draft lottery was largely affirming, as the latest intel verifies that while there may be some dialogue between Washington and Utah, the Wizards are most likely to walk away with AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, and the Jazz will snag Darryn Peterson at No. 2.

After that, the Grizzlies have yet to tip their cap about whether they prefer Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson at No. 3, but Memphis' recent draft history shows a clear preference for the type of physicality and productivity that Boozer brings.

The Chicago Bulls take whichever player is left between Boozer or Wilson, likely landing the UNC star.

Then it becomes about the point guards, and specifically the four one-and-done freshmen. While there is genuine skepticism that they could go with four consecutive picks, the only team without a legit positional need is the Clippers , and they may not be able to justify taking anyone else that high.

This mock draft is my first since returning from last week's NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. So it comes with much more intel and perspective, while the first few picks don't change too much and there isn't much movement in the top 10, it's the latter half of the draft that is impacted the most.

Where things shake up in this latest mock draft are the teams selecting in the 20s. That is where some of the feedback from last week's NBA Combine, both in terms of what we saw on the floor and what we heard behind the scenes, weighed heavily on my latest projections.

Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

AJ Dybantsa

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%

In many ways, Dybantsa is the prototype player that NBA teams covet. He's a big wing with positional size, length, athleticism, and an elastic build who can score from all three levels and create his own offense almost on demand. There may be cases to be made for taking others at No. 1, but Dybantsa is perceived as the heavy favorite at this point, so it would be quite a risk for Will Dawkins and the Wizards to move in another direction.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Darryn Peterson

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%

Nothing I saw or heard last week in Chicago dissuaded me from thinking Peterson was a top-two pick. If Dybantsa is off the board, this is a pretty clear decision for Utah. The hope is that the durability issues from last season are now behind him, and he can merge the shot-making we saw at Kansas with the creation we saw in high school. Slot him next to Keyonte George, and the Jazz have their backcourt of the future.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Cameron Boozer

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 has the highest floor in this draft, and probably an underrated ceiling. Not only can no other player in the field match his history of winning or production, but Boozer also has an unmatched overlap of size, physicality, skill, and feel for the game. Plug him in next to Zach Edey and Cedric Coward and Memphis' rebuilding project already has its frontcourt of the future figured out.

Round 1 - Pick 4

Caleb Wilson

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%

Wilson is a prospect with a legit star-type outcome and potential. He's a high-level athlete with a big-time motor with unusual elasticity (or bend) for a player his size. Wilson exceeded expectations offensively last year, and yet still has immense room for progress, not just with his perimeter skill-set, but even his defensive polish. Those tools should check a lot of boxes for Bulls' new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham.

From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5

Keaton Wagler

Illinois

• Fr • 6'5" / 188 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

17.9

RPG

5.1

APG

4.2

3P%

39.7%

The Clippers are viewed as a potential trade partner for anyone looking to move up, but if they keep the pick and choose between the quarter of freshmen lead guards, Wagler may be the only one who can fit with Darius Garland. The positional size and shooting give him on/off-ball versatility that would be critical in this context, but it's his feel for the game and natural instincts that may be his true superpower.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Darius Acuff Jr.

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 is a multi-level creator with shooting splits that were off the charts last year at Arkansas and the passing metrics to match. Of all the true freshmen point guards in this draft, he is the readiest to play a major role offensively from day one. For a Brooklyn team that is still lacking an alpha creator, Acuff is too good to pass up on, even if there are plenty of defensive questions.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Kingston Flemings

Houston

• Fr • 6'3" / 183 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.1

APG

5.2

3P%

38.7%

Flemings is an elite athlete who can get a piece of the paint on demand, rise up explosively at the rim, get to his pull-up at virtually any time, and be solid on the defensive end. His swing skill is his shooting. He exceeded expectations at Houston and shot it well again at the combine. If that proves to be sustainable, Flemings could have star-type outcomes, and Sacramento should have a stage to offer him from day one.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8

Mikel Brown Jr.

Louisville

• Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

18.2

RPG

3.3

APG

4.7

3P%

34.4%

There's skepticism that four freshman point guards will go consecutively, but Brown would make sense for Atlanta after moving off Trae Young at the deadline. He's incredibly skilled, has complete control of the ball, is a pinpoint passer, a much better shooter than his numbers showed at Louisville, and as polished with the ball as any lead guard in the draft. The questions are how he will hold up physically and defensively.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Brayden Burries

Arizona

• Fr • 6'4" / 215 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.9

APG

2.4

3P%

39.1%

Burries is a strong and aggressive two-way guard who can get downhill with force, provide a formidable three-point shooter, and simultaneously defend his position. He's also more physically ready to make the transition to the NBA game than most of the other one-and-done guards in the draft. Now does he have the untapped upside that new GM Mike Schmitz tends to covet? That's debatable, but his fit alongside Cooper Flagg from day one should be clear.

Round 1 - Pick 10

Nate Ament

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%

Ament is a polarizing prospect with a wide range of outcomes on draft night. A late-blooming 6-foot-10 combo-forward who is fluid, has touch, and skill, he's also inconsistent and needs to get stronger. While his freshman year was up and down, Ament's overall arc has been linear, and there's still glaring potential. That upside makes him a logical choice for a Milwaukee team that has a very uncertain future ahead of them.

Round 1 - Pick 11

Aday Mara

Michigan

• Jr • 7'3" / 260 lbs

Projected Team

Golden St.

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

12.1

RPG

6.8

APG

2.4

3P%

30%

Mara has real momentum in the draft process and could be off the board before this. At 7-foot-3 (without shoes), he's a giant, even by NBA standards, and a tremendous rim protector. He's also got sneaky mobility, good hands, real passing ability, and provides vertical spacing. With Steve Kerr returning next season, the Warriors' style of play will be staying largely the same, and Mara's facilitating ability fits that.

From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan

• Sr • 6'9" / 241 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

15.1

RPG

6.8

APG

3.2

3P%

37.2%

It would almost be unfair if Lendeborg slid to the Thunder here. He is one of the more versatile two-way players, and specifically defenders, in the draft. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-3+ wingspan, he often guarded opposing point guards this year, is an excellent passer, and an improved shooter who made 37% of his threes. Like Mara though, he's another one who may not make it this late into the lottery.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Labaron Philon

Alabama

• Fr • 6'3" / 175 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

RPG

3.5

APG

3P%

39.9%

Philon is one of the more gifted shot creators in this draft class. He not only stuffed the stat sheet as the focal point of one of college basketball's fastest offenses, but did it with 50/40/80 shooting splits. He might not have had as much gas in the tank defensively, but there's tape from his freshman year to remind us that he's plenty capable on that end too. On a Miami team that has decisions to make in the backcourt, and would demand his best on both ends, this would be a good fit.

Round 1 - Pick 14

Morez Johnson Jr.

Michigan

• Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Charlotte

PROSPECT RNK

17th

POSITION RNK

7th

PPG

13.1

RPG

7.3

APG

1.2

3P%

34.3%

Johnson was one of the biggest winners of the combine, measuring bigger than expected with massive length, well-rounded athleticism, and simultaneously reaffirming the shooting gains we saw this year. Combine that with his rugged physicality and lateral mobility, and the versatile two-way role he played at Michigan should be extremely translatable to a Hornets team that is looking to solidify its frontline.

From Portland Trail Blazers Round 1 - Pick 15

Jayden Quaintance

Kentucky

• Soph • 6'9" / 255 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

13th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

RPG

APG

0.5

3P%

Bryson Graham is known to covet size, length, athleticism, and physicality (or SLAP for short), and no player left on the board checks those boxes better than Quaintance. After playing only four games this year at Kentucky, he helped himself at the combine by looking explosive in his pro day. He's long, powerful, violently athletic at the rim, and a real game-changer on the defensive end of the floor.

From Phoenix Suns Round 1 - Pick 16

Hannes Steinbach

Washington

• Fr • 6'10" / 248 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

16th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

18.5

RPG

11.8

APG

1.6

3P%

34%

Steinbach is a skilled and smart big man who has elite hands and is a high-volume rebounder. He's a bit between a four and a five, but with the NBA trending back towards more size in the frontcourt, he should be capable of playing both positions on most nights, and a Memphis frontcourt featuring Edey, Boozer, and Steinbach would have depth and optionality alike.

From Philadelphia 76ers Round 1 - Pick 17

Karim Lopez

Mexico

• 6'8" / 222 lbs

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