2026 NBA Mock Draft: Wizards Pick Darryn Peterson at No. 1; Kings, Thunder Trade Up

The deadline to withdraw from the 2026 NBA Draft to maintain college eligibility has passed. With that date now in the rearview, we now have a clearer picture of who will actually be available to select next month, which brings more questions than answers.

The important names to know who kept their name in the draft after going through the process are Arizona's Koa Peat, Arkansas' Meleek Thomas and Santa Clara's Allen Graves. Those three players will likely be selected somewhere in the mid-to-late first round. Peat is the most polarizing prospect of the bunch after a lackluster shooting performance at the NBA Draft Combine , where he appeared to alter his shooting mechanics entirely.

We still don't know for sure what the Washington Wizards will do with the No. 1 pick next month . Washington has several options, and almost all of them would be justifiable. It's a testament to how good the top of this class is, while also emphasizing that there's no clear consensus at No. 1, unlike last year, when Cooper Flagg should've been at the top of the board for all 30 teams.

NBA Draft withdrawal deadline winners and losers: St. John's lands Tounde Yessoufou, Koa Peat spurns Arizona Cameron Salerno

This mock draft is different than my first three of the cycle because I mixed in some trades while also factoring in what I would do  with each of the 30 picks in the first round. That's why I have Darryn Peterson going No. 1. He is the best player in the class. Had it not been for a season headlined by cramping issues, he would be the consensus top-ranked player.

This draft is deep at the top and in the middle, but the end of the first round/the entire second round are diluted after players elected to take the payday at the college level rather than risk a non-guaranteed NBA contract. The good news is that it should make the 2027 class slightly better. The bad news is, if you have multiple second-round picks, it might be time to start working the phones to trade up.

With that out of the way, let's dive into the first mock draft post-withdrawal deadline.

Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

Darryn Peterson

PG

Kansas

• Fr • 6'5" / 200 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

20.2

RPG

4.2

APG

1.6

3P%

38.2%

Peterson has been my No. 1 player since the start of the 2026 draft cycle last summer. Yes, there are concerns about Peterson after an up-and-down season at Kansas, but I'm still buying all the stock on him being the best player in the class. The Wizards can go in several directions with this pick -- including a trade with Utah -- but Peterson is the best option. If it were up to me, Peterson would be off the board first. He has legit superstar potential.

Round 1 - Pick 2

AJ Dybantsa

SF

BYU

• Fr • 6'9" / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

25.5

RPG

6.8

APG

3.7

3P%

33.1%

This would be Utah's dream scenario. Being able to draft a player who played his senior year of high school basketball at nearby Utah Prep and last season at BYU would make Dybantsa immediately the most popular man in the state of Utah. Dybantsa still has a very strong case to go No. 1. If somehow the Wizards decide to roll with Peterson, or even Boozer at No. 1, I have a hard time believing Dybantsa would fall past this pick. He was the best scorer in college basketball and has the upside to be one of the best scorers in the NBA by the end of this decade.

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%

As we get deeper into the draft cycle, more people are underestimating Boozer. He produced one of the best statistical one-and-done seasons in college basketball history and has a history of winning everywhere he goes, yet he is the consensus No. 3 prospect among many. It's a testament to how good the top of the draft is. Boozer has an elite basketball IQ and rebounds and passes at a very high level. The frontcourt of Zach Edey and Boozer would be lethal on the glass.

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%

The Bulls have the easiest decision to make on draft night. Whatever player between Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, or Wilson is available here, that's the pick. There's no need to overthink it. There's a clear tier break after this pick. Wilson would be a foundational building block for Chicago as the franchise enters a new era.

From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5

Keaton Wagler

PG

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%

Pick No. 5 is where the draft starts. Wagler has been a player connected to the Clippers over the last few weeks and it's easy to see why. Wagler can play off the ball and would complement Darius Garland in the backcourt, if that's the direction Los Angeles wants to go in. It's also possible the Clippers shop this pick and let the highest bidder come up to No. 5. If the Clippers keep their pick, Wagler is the best fit.

Mock Trade from Brooklyn Nets Round 1 - Pick 6

Darius Acuff Jr.

PG

Arkansas

• Fr • 6'2" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

23.5

RPG

3.1

APG

6.4

3P%

44%

We have a trade! It's the worst-kept draft secret that the Kings are big fans of Darius Acuff Jr. Although I think there's a real possibility Acuff falls to No. 7 and the Kings don't have to trade up, it's also possible another team equally values Acuff and jumps Sacramento for him. The price to move up one spot would likely be a handful of second-round picks or some combination of a protected first-round pick and/or pick swap, depending on the demand. I've been on record to say Acuff is a tier above the other guards in this range. He's an elite scorer, facilitator and shooter. He is exactly what Sacramento needs.

Mock Trade from Sacramento Kings Round 1 - Pick 7

Mikel Brown Jr.

PG

Louisville

• Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Brooklyn

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

18.2

RPG

3.3

APG

4.7

3P%

34.4%

Brown has one of the highest upside potentials in the class. The raw shooting numbers (34.4% from 3) don't represent how good of a shooter he actually is. If Brown's medicals come back clean from a lingering back issue that limited him to 21 games at Louisville, he should be locked somewhere in the top 10.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8

Kingston Flemings

PG

Houston

• Fr • 6'3" / 183 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.1

APG

5.2

3P%

38.7%

In this scenario, the two players Atlanta should consider are Kingston Flemings and Aday Mara. If the Hawks opt for Flemings, he would provide scoring and defense to Atlanta. Flemings is an elite mid-range shooter and uses his speed to put pressure on the defense.

Mock Trade from Dallas Mavericks Round 1 - Pick 9

Aday Mara

C

Michigan

• Jr • 7'3" / 260 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

12.1

RPG

6.8

APG

2.4

3P%

30%

Another trade! Oklahoma City has a treasure chest of draft picks and only a few roster spots (pending any offseason moves). It would make sense for OKC to consolidate picks No. 12, 17 and another future pick to move up inside the top 10. If OKC does move up, Mara makes a ton of sense if the organization declines Isaiah Hartenstein's $28.5 million team option this summer. Mara was one of the best shot blockers in college basketball and was efficient around the rim.

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%

Ament remains one of the most polarizing prospects in the class. He entered the year as a potential top-five pick, but his stock took a hit after an up-and-down season at Tennessee. His efficiency wasn't great at Tennessee. He shot under 40% from the field and 33.3% from 3. Still, someone will take a chance on him in the early/mid-first round.

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%

When it's all said and done, Lendeborg will comfortably be a top 10 prospect on my personal board. His combination of size, strength and athleticism is hard to pass on in the late lottery. Yes, his age is a question mark, but it won't be as big a deal if he joins a win-now team like Golden State. Lendeborg will slot into any NBA rotation immediately and make an impact.

Mock Trade from Oklahoma City Thunder Round 1 - Pick 12

Brayden Burries

SG

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%

In this scenario, the Mavericks take someone at 12 (Burries) that they should be considering at 9, too. Arizona wasn't a great 3-point shooting team last season, but Burries was by far its best shooter. He's an older freshman and will turn 21 before the start of the NBA season. Still, I'm a big believer in his talent, which is exactly what Dallas needs as it looks to build a roster around Cooper Flagg.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Labaron Philon

PG

Alabama

• Fr • 6'3" / 175 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

14th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

22

RPG

3.5

APG

5

3P%

39.9%

Philon is coming off a breakout season at Alabama in which he averaged 22 points and 5 assists while shooting just under 40% from the 3-point line. I can see Philon going higher than 13 on draft night, but in this mock, Miami doesn't let Philon fall past them.

Round 1 - Pick 14

Morez Johnson Jr.

PF

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 has been one of the biggest risers throughout the last month. He's a versatile forward who can defend at a high level inside and outside the arc and also exploits mismatches on the offensive end. It's becoming a real possibility that Michigan's entire starting frontcourt gets selected in the lottery.

From Portland Trail Blazers Round 1 - Pick 15

Cameron Carr

SG

Baylor

• Soph • 6'5" / 184 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

20th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

18.9

RPG

5.8

APG

2.6

3P%

37.4%

After playing just 41 minutes total last season at Tennessee, Carr transferred to Baylor, where he blossomed into the Bears' leading scorer. He averaged 18.9 points on 49.4/37.4/80.1 shooting splits. His offensive upside is worth the swing here for Chicago. It also wouldn't be surprising if he went in the mid- to late teens.

From Phoenix Suns Round 1 - Pick 16

Ebuka Okorie

PG

Stanford

• Fr • 6'1" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

24th

POSITION RNK

9th

PPG

23.2

RPG

3.6

APG

3.6

3P%

35.4%

Okorie made the right decision to remain in the NBA Draft. He is one player who will go higher than expected. He was one of the best scorers in college basketball and his ability to get to the rim as a guard is special. The G

_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-nba-mock-draft-wizards-select-darryn-peterson-at-no-1-kings-and-thunder-make-trades-to-move-up/)._