All 30 First-Round Picks
1. Washington Wizards — AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
I actually think Darryn Peterson is the better player and might even have the higher ceiling. But the questions around his fit on the ball with Trae Young and the injury/ailment situation this year at Kansas are probably enough to push AJ ahead. Dybantsa was college basketball’s top scorer in his lone season at BYU and showed meaningful growth as a decision-maker and passer — exactly what separates good prospects from franchise cornerstones. Scouts have thrown out Jayson Tatum and Tracy McGrady comps, and both feel earned.
2. Utah Jazz — Darryn Peterson, SG
If Dybantsa is the slam dunk, Peterson is the trickier argument — and a compelling one. His off-ball scoring and movement shooting are attributes Dybantsa doesn’t possess, and his defensive quickness projects as a genuine two-way weapon. He’s a prolific catch-and-shoot threat who can also pressure the rim and create his own offense at all three levels. Utah builds correctly and patiently. Peterson fits that blueprint.
3. Memphis Grizzlies — Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
Boozer has been the most productive and winningest player in this class for years — through AAU, high school, international play, and finally college, where he took home national player of the year honors at Duke. He dominates not just with strength and skill, but with an elite basketball IQ. He distributes, he shoots from range, he makes teammates better, and he defends with physicality and positioning. This is a ready-made cornerstone, not a project. He fits what Memphis typically looks for in its prospects and will combine with Zach Edey to have an incredibly physical frontcourt in the post-Ja era.
4. Chicago Bulls — Caleb Wilson, PF/C
The “SLAP” philosophy is the primary driver behind the Chicago Bulls’ draft strategy. This philosophy was coined by the new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Bryson Graham, and stands for Size, Length, Athleticism, and Physicality. Wilson has that in spades! He is an elite competitor who plays with infectious intensity — a highlight machine who flies around for massive blocks and thunderous dunks. The KG comparisons make a lot of sense! I believe that Caleb has the highest upside in this entire draft because he has unreal athleticism that none of the other guys in the Big 4 have.
5. LA Clippers — Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
The Clippers lock in a connector who can play on or off the ball with a genuine feel for the game. Wagler is a combo guard with size whose instincts and processing speed keep him ahead of his athleticism. I believe that positional size is what allowed him to separate from the other elite guards, because the Clippers ned him to pair with the dimunitive DArius Garland. He’s appeared at #5 in eight of ten mock drafts in recent weeks — the consensus pick here is unusually strong. L.A. gets a smart, versatile piece that fits almost any system.
6. Brooklyn Nets — Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Save for the top quartet, nobody in this class might have a higher ceiling. Brown is 6’5″ with the combination of size, ball-handling creativity, shot creation, playmaking, and defensive impact that almost no one else in the draft offers. He averaged 18.2 PPG and 4.7 APG at Louisville and shot 84.4% from the free throw line — a sign the touch is real. His 3-point shooting (34.4%) and turnover rate (3.1 per game) are the concerns. A back injury cut his season short. Brooklyn is betting on the ceiling. That’s a reasonable gamble at six.
7. Sacramento Kings — Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
Out of the John Calipari point guard pipeline comes Acuff, who analysts have described simply as having everything but the height. He’s quick, creative, and can manufacture offense in ways that translate immediately. The Kings have been linked to him heavily, and the fit makes sense alongside their existing backcourt talent. Short point guards with this kind of feel have always found a home in the league. Acuff will find one in Sacramento. The Kings and Acuff have been connected for virtually the entire pre-draft process.
8. OKC Thunder (trade with ATL) — Aday Mara, C, Michigan
A 7’3″, 260-pound center, with a 9’9 standing reach, is an outstanding passer, a quick processor, and an offensive hub in two-man actions — and OKC gets him at eight. Mara was a massive piece of Michigan’s first NCAA championship since 1989 and is widely viewed as the most offensively gifted center in this class. Sam Presti finds another treasure. And yes, this trade-up and selection is made with an eye on future battles with the Alien in San Antonio.
9. Dallas Mavericks — Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
The best do-it-all guard in the class who projects as a two-way terror. Burries is comfortable playing on or off the ball, excels in spot-up situations from three, and brings real defensive switchability and instincts to whatever team drafts him. Dallas needed guard depth and a player with identity on both ends. They found one at nine.
10. Milwaukee Bucks — Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Ament measured at 6’9.5″ barefoot at the combine with slick handles out of the frontcourt and a solid jumper — high-upside traits that had multiple top-10 teams visiting with him. His execution at Tennessee wasn’t always efficient, but the positional size, shotmaking ability, and defensive tools are the kind of things you can’t teach. Milwaukee sees the tools and is willing to bet on the upside. He has the positional size, length, and athleticism that the Jon Horst regime tends to covet.
11. Golden State Warriors — Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan
Another Michigan Wolverine, another championship contributor — this time a physical, two-way threat whose ceiling is directly tied to the development of his three-point shot. Executives think he has an outside shot at cracking the lottery on talent alone, and his physicality, finishing ability, defensive versatility, and motor all translate. He fits like a glove in Steve Ker”s defensive scheme, which calls on bigs to hedge, switch, and move. I keep hearing another Wolverine, Yax, connected here, but I’m going with his teammate in my mock.
12. Atlanta Hawks (trade with OKC) — Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
This would be the steal of the draft. Flemings is the real deal — an excellent two-way guard who was consistently mocked in the 7-to-12 range. Coming out of a loaded Houston program (he’s the brother of Duke commit Bella Flemings, and both were Gatorade Texas Players of the Year in back-to-back seasons), he’s wired to compete. Atlanta adds a player with real defensive credibility and offensive upside. He would give them a true downhill threat, with blazing speed to take advantage of all of the talent they have amassed on the winfs.
13. Milwaukee Bucks — Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
Perhaps the biggest winner of the draft combine scrimmages. Carr is a 6’5″ shooting guard with a ridiculous 7’1″ wingspan who showcased elite scoring ability in workouts. The son of Chris Carr (yes, the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest runner-up to Kobe), he has legitimate shot creation and scoring chops. He has the tools, athleticism, and elite shooting to be an absolute steal at 13.
14. Charlotte Hornets — Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Three Michigan players in the lottery. Lendeborg transferred from UAB and promptly led the Wolverines to their NCAA title — a testament to how quickly he took over in Ann Arbor. Charlotte gets a forward with proven big-game experience and winning DNA. They need a long-term answer at the 4 as both Grant Williams and Miles Bridges are on expiring deals. Yax fits well as a cross between the two due to his outstanding physical tools, offensive and defensive versatility, and connective playmaking.
15. Chicago Bulls — Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas
More SLAP. Swain is an elite athlete who can handle and create. Shot has to get more consistent, but he could be a great secondary playmaker to Giddey, while also finishing the shots he creates, while teaming up with Caleb to create a real defensive foundation. If the newly acquired Nic Claxton can recapture his previous defensive form, the Bulls could be an elite team on that side of the court quickly.
16. Memphis Grizzlies — Christian Anderson Jr., PG, Texas Tech
Anderson was a long-time commit to the University of Michigan that ended up at Texas Tech due to being a poor fit for Dusty May’s incoming scheme. Anderson turned that slight into a monster 2-year run with Texas Tech. Anderson is a 6’1″ pure point guard whose basketball bloodlines run deep — his father played professionally overseas. Memphis gets a real floor general who can manage a game and make the right pass. While only 6’1 , he features an impressive 6’7 wingspan that negates any size concerns. He’s probably the best shooter in the draft and one of the best playmakers. Couple that with a 40-inch vertical leap, and he quietly has the profile to vastly outplay this position, particularly on a team that tends to develop young players as well as the Grizz do.
17. Atlanta Hawks (trade with OKC) — Chris Cenac Jr., F/C, Houston
Cenac is a project, and Atlanta knows it. At 6’10” with a 7’5″ wingspan, his mobility is exceptional for a player his size, and he’s flashed shooting ability and rebounding instincts at Houston. The evaluation here is a couple of years away from a real verdict, but the physical profile is almost impossible to ignore. Atlanta doubles down on Houston prospects and bets on the wingspan, tools, and talent.
18. Charlotte Hornets — Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
A monster freshman season — 18.5 PPG and 11.8 RPG in the Big Ten — and he measured at 6’10.25″ barefoot with a 7’2″ wingspan at the combine. He’s already made meaningful progress from three (35%) and brings unteachable instincts and advanced footwork around the basket. The question is whether he can guard at center without elite shot-blocking or rim protection skills. He is an elite rebounder, and analytics-focused teams like the Hornets will value that highly.
19. Toronto Raptors — Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
Okorie’s stock has steadily climbed throughout the spring, culminating in multiple mock drafts slotting him in this range. Toronto, true to form, grabs a guard with interesting tools and the defensive upside to fit their identity. Similar to Anderson, he has incredible length (6’8 wingspan) to negate any size concerns, but he brings even more explosive scoring talent to the position. Another sleeper pick.
20. San Antonio Spurs — Karim López, F, New Zealand Breakers
López is 19 years old, showed pro-league production, and flashes of versatility that intrigue scouts — but he doesn’t yet excel at any single specific skill. San Antonio is the perfect destination. He has all the role-playing chops and connectivity to thrive playing off guys like Wemby, Harper, and Castle.
21. Detroit Pistons — Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama
Philon has one of the wider ranges on draft night — anywhere from the late lottery into the twenties, depending on how things break — and Detroit grabs him here. His creativity as a playmaker is the selling point, and after improving his shooting and finishing at Alabama, there aren’t many obvious holes in his statistical profile. Detroit adds another guard who can make plays and take the burden off of Cade Cunningham.
22. Philadelphia 76ers — Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
Peat staying in the draft after questions about his shooting and fit somewhat tanked his stock — which makes this intriguing value for Philly. He’s a physical interior scorer and frontcourt passing asset who could be a buy-low find if the shooting develops. Philadelphia takes the risk and hopes the upside outweighs the concerns.
23. OKC Thunder (trade with ATL) — Sergio de Larrea, PG, Valencia (Spain)
De Larrea didn’t have the breakout EuroLeague season scouts hoped for, but he remains one of the best passers in Europe — a processor and facilitator with the vision and feel to create offense for others. He’s evolved into a legitimate catch-and-shoot threat. OKC has too many talented players and not enough roster spots, so this could be them stashing another high-level international player for a while.
24. New York Knicks — Tarris Reed, C, UConn
Maleek Thomas is who is heavily connected to New York, but I went a different route. Reed is a former Wolverine, and he has the size, mobility, and rim presence to replace Mitchell Robinson as KAT’s primary backup in time.
25. LA Lakers — Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke
Polarizing prospect, electric at his best. Evans is one of the most dynamic shooters in the draft — capable of getting his shot off with minimal separation — but his overall impact can disappear when the threes aren’t falling. Below-average athlete, mediocre on defense. Teams viewing him purely as a floor spacer will find real value, and he’s improved attacking in straight lines. LA needs shooting. Evans provides it with an asterisk.
26. Denver Nuggets — Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
The quiet gem of the late first. Thomas averaged 15.6 PPG on 41.6% from three at Arkansas and in 210 minutes without teammate Darius Acuff Jr., he averaged 26.5 points per 40 minutes on 62% true shooting. A plus offensive role player hiding in plain sight, and one of the best shooters available. Denver adds more shooting and guard depth around their core. Smart, efficient pick.
27. Boston Celtics — Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
A year ago nobody in NBA circles knew Graves’ name. Now he’s one of the draft’s analytical darlings — a 6’8″ forward who stuffed the stat sheet, posted huge steal and block numbers, and shot over 40% from three. His foot speed to guard on the perimeter is the documented concern. But the feel, analytics, and versatility won over enough front offices to project him firmly into the first round. Most draft analysts say that he does not get past San Antonio at 20, and they are probably right. I’m jsut being a little hard-headed with my mock.
28. Brooklyn Nets — Jayden Quaintance, F, Kentucky
The health question looms large — Quaintance tore an ACL at Arizona State, had surgery in March 2025, and played just four games at Kentucky last season, which is why he didn’t receive a green room invite. But the tools are real: a powerful athlete, excellent length, tremendous defensive upside, and the physical profile to bully weaker bigs. The Nets don’t control their pick next year, so they are going to bet hard on upside. They did earlier with Brown, and here’s another bet late in the first.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers — Jack Kayil, G, Alba Berlin
The German sleeper. Kayil is a 19-year-old, 6’5″ guard who posted 12.3 PPG, 3.5 APG on 40/34/77 shooting splits in limited minutes at Alba Berlin, with a 29.4 assist percentage that signals real command as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. Cleveland has serious luxury tax issues, so if they don’t move this pick (likely), they will want a draft and stash guy.
30. Dallas Mavericks — Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
The perfect 30th pick: a known commodity with a clear path to contributing. Stirtz blossomed into one of the best point guards in the country at Iowa, with size (6’4″) and shooting ability to play on or off the ball. He averaged 18.3 PPG and 3.5 APG in postseason play and remarkably posted 0.8 turnovers per game in four NCAA Tournament games. His age (23) and lack of elite athleticism will keep him out of lottery conversations, but Dallas gets a ready-made floor spacer and connector at a steal. Stirtz will earn rotation minutes and never give them back.
Most draft analysts have him going much higher than this (usually in the 16-21 range). I’m being hard-headed again. I see a Dalton Knect like fall.
The Smartest Guy in the Room 