After plenty of anticipation, rumors, and reports, NBA Draft day is finally here.
This is a loaded draft class with every team searching for the player that can change the direction of their franchise for the better. 30 selections will come off the board tonight, with the second round scheduled for tomorrow. While there are sure to be some trades that shake up the order during the draft itself, for the sake of this article, we will keep the order intact for the 30 picks as assigned. You can check out my first and second editions of the mock drafts, but this article lays out my final predictions for tonight’s first-round action.
Keep in mind that all odds offered on DraftKings Sportsbook are subject to change.
2026 NBA Mock Draft:
1. Darryn Peterson – Washington Wizards
Darryn Peterson climbing to the top selection is the most notable shift from the first two DraftKings Network mock drafts. All things equal, Peterson is the most polished and NBA-ready prospect in this entire class. But he is a player whose biggest pre-draft evaluations had much more to do with his mindset and any health concerns than with anything he did on the court. The talent of Peterson is eye-popping, but it was a strange one-and-done season at Kansas. The 6-foot-5 guard missed 11 games this season and requested out during several more without much explanation. Peterson opened up about the severity of his cramping issue after the year, explaining how creatine intake had some negative effects on his body to the point where he needed IVs on multiple occasions. Overall, the 19-year-old averaged 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 38.2% from deep on 6.9 threes per game. Peterson is as polished as a prospect when it comes to his ability to come off pin-downs and get his feet set on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and has NBA-level athleticism. He also showed much more on-ball juice during high school than the Kansas system and/or his body allowed him during college. Momentum has seemed to shift toward Peterson being the top selection, and I think the Wizards will officially pull the trigger to take him first overall.
Peterson is considered the second-favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook at +300 odds to be selected with the top pick. AJ Dybantsa remains the favorite at -425 odds.
2. AJ Dybantsa – Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz will be thrilled if they can draft BYU product AJ Dybantsa. The 6-foot-8 forward is coming off a one-and-done season in which he averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He is a high-level athlete with plenty of strength and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Dybantsa has about as high of a floor as a prospect can posses and has been on the NBA’s radar for several years. If he can polish his game, there is legitimate stardom in his future. The 19-year-old appears motivated by all the right things and is the exact face of the rebuild the Utah Jazz have been searching for.
Dybantsa is currently the third-favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook to be selected second overall at +450 odds. He trails Darryn Peterson (-140) and Cameron Boozer (+180).
3. Cameron Boozer – Memphis Grizzlies
Son of NBA standout Carlos Boozer, Cameron Boozer put forth about as impressive a one-and-done season as possible at Duke, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 39.1% from beyond the three-point arc. The 6-foot-8 forward earned AP Player of the Year, Consensus All-American, Wooden Award, Naismith Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and a laundry list of other accolades. The 18-year-old is mature beyond his years with a polished skill set and rave reviews about his character. While he has earned consideration for as high as the No. 1 pick in this draft, the biggest concerns are him being a bit of an old-fashioned player and a tweener positionally. Boozer tends to be at his best when quarterbacking the offense out of the post, and this takes a unique offensive system to be maximized. He also lacks as a rim protector, which brings some questions about his ability to play PF or C, and he will be on the slower side when it comes to lateral movement by NBA standards. With this said, he possesses a caliber of basketball IQ that shouldn’t be bet against. His ceiling may not be as high as the names mentioned ahead, but there is a fair case that this is the safest selection of the top picks.
Boozer has climbed to the -155 favorite to be selected with the third overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
4. Caleb Wilson – Chicago Bulls
It was a massive bummer for basketball fans that Caleb Wilson’s season ended early due to injury. The North Carolina product was just days away from returning from a fractured wrist on his non-shooting hand when he broke his right thumb while dunking the basketball. This second injury required season-ending surgery. Of the 24 games he was available, Wilson averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Standing a shade over 6-foot-9, he is one of the best functional athletes in this draft with excellent instincts as a weak-side defender and is extremely disruptive on this side of the floor. He doesn’t have the Dybantsa’s ball-handling skills, nor is he a strong three-point shooter, but he has an extremely high floor due to his defense. He should be viewed as much more than a consolation prize for the Bulls with the fourth pick.
Caleb Wilson has climbed to a massive -475 favorite to be selected with the fourth overall pick on DraftKings Sportsbook.
5. Mikel Brown Jr. – Los Angeles Clippers
If it were not for a back injury that shut down his season and stemmed from before this year, there may be a legitimate case for Mikel Brown Jr. climbing into the top four of this draft. The 6-foot-5 guard spent his one-and-done season at Louisville, where he averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. He was limited to 21 games, missing over a month of the season due to a back injury and then re-injuring it upon returning, forcing his season to come to an early conclusion. Brown Jr. shot 34.4% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.6 attempts per game. His shot form looks better than the raw numbers suggest, and he is smoother than he is explosive. He needs to clean up his turnovers, but this should come naturally with NBA spacing. There are some really encouraging defensive flashes from the scrappy guard as well. This selection is where the draft fully opens up, but Brown Jr. has worked out with the Clippers, and momentum feels like it is shifting toward this being the pick. Adding his toughness and on-and-off ball ability next to Darius Garland has some exciting potential for this next era of Clippers basketball.
Mikel Brown Jr. has climbed to the favorite to be selected with the fifth overall pick at +210 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Keaton Wagler is just behind him with +240 odds.
6. Keaton Wagler – Brooklyn Nets
Keaton Wagler was one of the biggest positive surprises in college basketball this season. After entering the season largely off the radar from a one-and-done conversation, Wagler averaged 17.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 39.7% from beyond the three-point arc. A 6-foot-5 guard who can play on and off ball, the Illinois product never wavered at the weight of the moment and grew into the team’s most dependable player. While he is just 19 years old, and his best basketball is likely a few years away, this is a fit for the Brooklyn Nets’ timeline. The organization spent first-round picks on Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf last year, but Brooklyn should still be approaching this draft with the mindset of taking the best player available. Wagler’s ability off the ball is especially intriguing, and he is a high-level processor of the game. Expect him to carve out an NBA niche for himself as a high-level shooter with some ability off the dribble. He is not a superb athlete and plays almost exclusively below the rim, but the Nets should be thrilled with his potential.
Wagler is the second-favorite to be selected with the sixth pick on DraftKings Sportsbook at +275 odds. He trails Mikel Brown Jr. at +210 odds.
7. Darius Acuff Jr. – Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr. has become one of the more polarizing players in this draft class. The SEC Player of the Year is a bulldog with the ball and is not afraid of the moment. In his one-and-done season at Arkansas, Acuff Jr. averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game. He shot 44% from beyond the three-point arc on 5.8 attempts per game, and further opened some eyes by averaging 29.8 points per game across the SEC and NCAA Tournament. On the flip side, the defensive tape is concerning for the 6-foot-2 guard. Acuff Jr.’s defense leaves plenty to be desired from both an effort and technical standpoint. NBA opponents will hunt him until he can make some significant improvements. Ultimately, it hasn’t been wise to bet against a John Calipari guard, and Acuff Jr. is a special enough offensive talent that the tradeoff with the defensive concerns is a net positive. The Sacramento Kings are in a difficult place as a franchise, and this is the type of star swing they should be looking to take.
Acuff Jr. is the favorite to be selected with the seventh overall pick at +175 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
8. Aday Mara – Atlanta Hawks
One of the biggest risers late in the college season and pre-draft process has been Michigan standout Aday Mara. The 7-foot-3 center was a vital part of Michigan’s National Championship run, in which he averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. His playmaking instincts are even more impressive than the raw numbers show and rare for a player at his size. Mara spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at UCLA, where he did not play a major role. But he proved increasingly vital to Michigan’s success as the season went on. There are limitations that come with his game. Mara will never be a guy capable of switching out to the perimeter defensively; he attempted just 10 total three-pointers across his collegiate career, and he shot just 56.4% at the free-throw line. But the touch around the rim is encouraging, and Mara possesses a massive 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-9 standing reach. The Atlanta Hawks have done an impressive job changing their identity with a defense-first mindset following the Trae Young trade. While they are loaded at the wing position, Onyeka Okongwu is the lone big man under contract heading into next year. Mara would be a great fit as a tone-setting defensive big man. His ceiling may be lower than some of the players set to be drafted behind him, but there is a clear path to the 21-year-old having a successful 10+ year career in the league at the big man spot.
Mara has climbed to the co-favorite to be selected with the eighth overall pick at +280 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Kingston Flemings also holds +280 odds.
9. Yaxel Lendeborg – Dallas Mavericks
The outlook for this draft pick changed a good bit yesterday with the news that Michigan head coach Dusty May has accepted the head coaching job for the Dallas Mavericks. With three of his key players projected to be selected in this mix, expect May to make a push to draft one of his standouts. Yaxel Lendeborg headlines the production for the National Champions last year, posting averages of 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 37.2% from beyond the three-point arc. Lendeborg was a late bloomer who played three years of JUCO ball, two seasons at UAB, and finished off his collegiate career in Ann Arbor. After playing as more of a big man at UAB, where he averaged 10.6 and 11.4 rebounds per game over the past two seasons, Lendeborg was asked to play more of a wing role at Michigan. This will be beneficial to him as he takes the NBA leap, and he is an intriguing front-court pairing with Cooper Flagg. A 6-foot-9 forward, the 23-year-old consistently finds ways to impact winning and has better vision than you would expect for a player of his size. Expect him to be ready to make an NBA day-one impact and help accelerate Dallas’ path to contention as he reunites with his head coach.
Lendeborg currently is tied for the fourth-best odds with Morez Johnson Jr. at +650 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. This trails Brayden Burries (+250), Kingston Flemings (+425), and Aday Maray (+425).
10. Kingston Flemings – Milwaukee Bucks
A conclusion has finally come to the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, and Milwaukee will begin turning a page on the next era of Bucks basketball. Kingston Flemings is the type of culture-setting young guard that they should be targeting, and an intriguing backcourt mate with Ryan Rollins. Flemings spent his one-and-done season at Houston, where he posted averages of 16.1 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. The 6-foot-3 guard has drawn some criticism for his shot form, but knocked down 38.7% of his three-point attempts this year and has made it clear he is committed to his release. There has been plenty made about his thin 183-pound frame, but Flemings is a stout defender and a tone-setter on this side of the ball. He will not be able to handle some matchups due to his size, but he will make life difficult on opposing guards and never roll over on this side of the ball. It also should carry some weight the way Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson was willing to hand the freshman guard the keys to the program, and Flemings delivered in just about every opportunity. Antetokounmpo set the tone for this entire Bucks’ organization from a culture standpoint, and Flemings will help fill these shoes in addition to what he brings from a skillset standpoint.
Kingston Flemings is currently tied with Nate Ament for the favorite to be selected with the 10th overall pick DraftKings Sportsbook at +330 odds.
11. Nate Ament – Golden State Warriors
It was an underwhelming one-and-done season for Nate Ament at Tennessee, but the talent and pedigree still speak volumes. A 6-foot-10 forward who moves well on the perimeter, Ament was ranked fourth in the freshman class coming out of high school. He averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists with the Volunteers, while connecting on 33.3% of his three-point attempts. The 19-year-old needs to play in attack mode at a more consistent rate and add some weight to his frame in order to succeed at the NBA level. The good news is that he plays with a level head and is expected to grow into being one of the most versatile defenders in this class. Finding players with his level of shooting touch at his size is rare, even if his tendency to disappear for stretches gives me some pause. Golden State finds itself in a strange place as a franchise. Steph Curry still headlines the production and continues to be one of the best players in the league, even if the window to win has largely shrunk around him. Ament would be an intriguing selection who should be able to make some level of day one contribution while growing into a foundational piece for the next era of Warriors basketball. If his shot gets sped up a bit and he can connect with more consistency, Ament will be a real weapon in the Golden State system.
Nate Ament is currently the third-favorite to be selected with the No. 11 pick at +550 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He trails Yaxel Lendeborg at +275 odds and Brayden Burries at +425 odds.
12. Morez Johnson Jr. – Oklahoma City Thunder
The third member of Michigan’s National Championship roster to come off the board, Morez Johnson Jr., has plenty to like about his skill set and likely more than he was able to show based on the role he was asked to play. The 6-foot-9 forward started his college career at Illinois, where he averaged 7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just 17.6 minutes per game. Johnson Jr. transferred to Michigan this year and improved his output to 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game across 25.1 minutes of action. While his offensive ceiling is a bit limited, the 20-year-old is a rebounding force who plays with plenty of physicality and is more of an outlier athlete than he sometimes gets credit for. Given the jumbo size of the Michigan front court, he was asked to play more as a wing, which should only help his NBA outlook. He moves well laterally for his size, and there is a clear path to him being a defensive force at the NBA level. Johnson Jr. checks the box of a high-level complementary player who will contribute to winning at a high level on contending teams. He feels perfectly in line with the collection of high-level role players Oklahoma City possesses. As the Thunder are forced to make some tough decisions about who they can commit to financially, expect Johnson Jr. to be a phenomenal new option on a rookie deal.
Johnson Jr. is considered the favorite to be selected with the 12th pick in the draft at +215 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook.
13. Brayden Burries – Milwaukee Bucks
A competitive two-way guard who will be ready to make a Day-1 impact, Brayden Burries had an impressive one-and-done season at Arizona. Across his 39 games played, the 6-foot-4 combo guard averaged 16.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 39.1% from beyond the three-point arc. His ball-handling needs to be cleaned up, and he is a bit more mid-range dependent than is ideal, but he has the defensive chops to guard across multiple positions. Burries has excellent footwork in traffic and is physical when attacking the basket with impressive strength for his frame. Arizona had some spacing issues that limited his performance a bit, but Burries should be a better shooter in the NBA. This is on the lower end of where Burries is projected, but there feels to be some legitimate momentum for each of the Michigan players climbing, and this forces someone to be pushed down in the order. Milwaukee has plenty of questions to address about its future and should approach this selection with the mindset of taking the best player available. You can critique the new-look roster being too guard-heavy, but Burries is effective playing off-ball and should be able to guard up when he settles into his NBA role. This is a home run pick from a talent perspective, and the Bucks will figure out the fit down the line.
Burries is tied for the 12th-best odds of being selected with the 12th pick in this draft at +2500 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. He is considered the betting favorite to be the ninth overall pick at +250 odds.
14. Jayden Quaintance – Charlotte Hornets
Jayden Quaintance arrives as one of the biggest mysteries in this year’s draft class. The 18-year-old has played just 28 total games at the collegiate level, including four this season at Kentucky. He spent his freshman year at Arizona State, where he averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game across just 29.5 minutes per night. His season ended early due to a torn ACL, and Quaintance then transferred to Kentucky. He dealt with complications with the knee issue upon returning to the floor, which led to Mark Pope shutting him down after just four games. Quaintance was a major shot-blocker at Arizona State, with the vision for what he could be at the NBA level clear. The injury concerns add another variable to his outlook, but the Charlotte Hornets are already one of the top lob threat teams in the league, and he could further add to this. This is a high-risk, high-reward type pick, but Quaintance was the eighth-ranked recruit when he first came to college, and there was at least a chance he would be making a push for one of the top picks in this draft if the season had gone differently. With the Hornets’ young core in place and taking a collective step forward this season, they are in a good spot for this type of swing. If Quaintance does not hear his name come off the board in this slot, he has a real chance to slide on draft night.
Quaintance has slipped to being tied for the eighth-favorite to be selected with the 14th pick on DraftKings Sportsbook. Morez Johnson Jr. (+340), Hannes Steinbach (+340), Yaxel Lendeborg (+550), Nate Ament (+750), Cameron Carr (+600), Karim Lopez (+1000), and Labaron Philon Jr. (+1200) round out the list of favorites.
15. Cameron Carr – Chicago Bulls
One of the biggest risers in this pre-draft process, Cameron Carr, has gone from a fringe first-round option to a true lottery pick threat. After spending a pair of seasons at Tennessee, in which he left under some questionable circumstances, Carr found his footing this year at Baylor. Standing 6-foot-5 with a wingspan over 7-feet, Carr averaged 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 37.4% from beyond the three-point arc. He possesses eye-popping athleticism, and there is a pathway to him being an extremely high-level defender in the NBA. Carr is still scratching the surface for what he will be as a basketball player, but the raw tools jump off the page. When he is playing at his best, Carr feels like a potential NBA star hiding in plain sight. There are some notable ups and downs in his game and box scores, but there are too many tools to be overlooked. Chicago’s roster is still largely a blank slate for what their foundation is, and Carr is the type of talent worth taking a swing on.
Carr is currently tied for the favorite to be selected with the 15th overall pick at +450 on DraftKings Sportsbook. He is tied with Hannes Steinbach.
16. Karim Lopez – Memphis Grizzlies
The top international prospect in this draft class, Karim Lopez, is a fluid athlete at the wing position that teams tend to fall in love with. Born in Mexico, Lopez spent the last two seasons playing with the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL. This year, he posted averages of 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in just 25.8 minutes per game. Standing 6-foot-8 with a decent frame, Lopez is an excellent finisher around the basket. He is capable of defending multiple positions and is an excellent cutter when the ball is not in his hands. He will need to improve as a shooter and figure out his exact identity positionally. Lopez shot 30-92 (32.6%) from beyond the three-point arc this season, which left a bit to be desired from both a volume and efficiency standpoint. However, the raw tools are there, his effort level pops, and he possesses an advanced feel for the game. Memphis pulled the plug on the previous era of Grizzlies basketball, but still has plenty of questions to answer about their direction. Lopez is an intriguing mix of win-now talent with untouched potential. Wings are still at a premium in today’s NBA, so expect Memphis to be eager to jump on the chance to add a player like Lopez.
17. Labaron Philon Jr. – Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder have an embarrassment of riches and no major holes for their needs. Taking the best player available and figuring out the rest has been the game plan that has served them best, and Labaron Philon Jr. fits this identity. The 20-year-old spent two seasons at the collegiate level. In his freshman year, Philon Jr. averaged 10.6 points and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.2% from the field and 31.5% from three. Last season, his production grew to 22 points and 5.0 assists per game, while shooting 50.1% from the field and 39.9% from beyond the three-point arc. Standing 6-foot-4 and with a slight frame, Philon Jr.’s athleticism is limited, but he is a high-IQ player who will be able to play on and off the ball at the next level. The leap in efficiency he took was extremely encouraging, and there is a path for him to be a three-level scorer. He is one of the best pure scorers in this class, and Oklahoma City must be proactive in building out its depth with so many of its role players due for major contracts in the near future. Philon Jr. has been expected to go much higher for much of the pre-draft process, and expect the Thunder to be content taking advantage of the talented guard falling into their lap.
18. Dailyn Swain – Charlotte Hornets
Another intriguing prospect who changed his perception entirely this season was Dailyn Swain. The 20-year-old spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Xavier, where he largely played a defensive role and was a borderline non-shooter. He transferred to Texas this season, where he was given more offensive freedom, and Swain responded by leading the offense with 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 34.4% from three. Standing 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he is a bit of a tweener from the guard and wing positions, but he is extremely fluid and athletic. Swain needs to improve as a shooter and be more consistent with his decision-making, but the flashes of strong play are impossible to ignore. With this being the second selection of the draft, the Hornets should be willing to take this type of swing on a player who will be a top 10 player in this draft if it all clicks.
19. Christian Anderson Jr. – Toronto Raptors
Christian Anderson Jr. is a dynamic lead guard with impressive polish and feel for the game. In his second season at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41.5% from beyond the three-point arc on 7.9 attempts per game. Anderson has impressive touch from all over the court and does an impressive job leveraging his scoring to open up shots for others. He shows impressive instincts in pick-and-roll situations and does a nice job playing at his own pace. His biggest red flag is his lack of size and athleticism. Anderson will likely always be limited on the defensive end, and it will be more difficult to finish around the rim at the next level. That said, the Toronto Raptors have the right defensive infrastructure in place for this not to be a major concern, and they need some help at the guard position. Expect Anderson to make a fairly immediate impact at the NBA level and provide a massive boost to the Raptors’ guard rotation.
20. Allen Graves – San Antonio Spurs
Another polarizing draft prospect, Allen Graves has a wide range of opinions on his draft stock. The Santa Clara product primarily came off the bench this season, being limited to 22.6 minutes per game and averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals, while shooting 41.3% from beyond the three-point arc. Standing a shade under 6-foot-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, Graves has the makings of an impact three-and-D role player at the NBA level for a long time. There are fair questions about the lack of experience against top talent, and his tendency to end up in foul trouble contributed to his limited role. But Graves is a high-IQ player who contributes to winning, and there may be more upside that he has not yet tapped into. San Antonio has its young core and stars in place, and Graves would be an awesome addition as a complementary piece.
21. Bennett Stirtz – Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons took another major step forward this season, but are still lacking enough consistent offense and ball handling. Bennett Stirtz checks these boxes, and Detroit has the defensive infrastructure to limit any concerns on this side of the ball. The 22-year-old started his collegiate career at Northwest Missouri State before transferring to Drake University and then Iowa last season for a further leap in competition. Stirtz led the Big Ten with 37.7 minutes per game and averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists, while shooting 35.8% from three. Standing 6-foot-3, he processes the game at a rapid rate and makes good decisions with the ball. He had as large an offensive role as any player in college basketball this season, and will see his efficiency improve with more talented players around him. Stirtz played the full 40 minutes in 19 of 37 games this season and had to fight to create every shot he got due to the lack of other creators on the Iowa roster. He is one of the older prospects in this class, but should be ready to make a day-one impact and would be an immediate upgrade in the Detroit backcourt.
22. Chris Cenac Jr. – Philadelphia 76ers
Chris Cenac Jr. is a 6-foot-10 forward with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and one of the best motors in this draft class. A one-and-done prospect at Houston, he averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds across 24.8 minutes per game. Cenac Jr. has a wide range in what his expected NBA ceiling is. There are fair critiques about his shot selection and lack of aggressiveness in attacking the rim at his size. But it also should be noted that he was the sixth-ranked recruit a year ago, and there are more encouraging offensive flashes in his high school tape than he was able to show in Houston’s defensive-minded system. Cenac Jr. will be a freak athlete even by NBA standards, and is effective as both a rim deterrent and when asked to switch out to the perimeter. As Philadelphia attempts to straddle the two timelines of competing now with Joel Embiid and Paul George, while building for the future around Tyrese Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe, Cenac Jr. can check both boxes. In the short-term, he would immediately be the best rebounder on the 76ers’ roster and be a tone-setter in a way the team needs. In the long-term, the 19-year-old has a chance to grow alongside the young guard duo and be a major piece of the future.
23. Isaiah Evans – Atlanta Hawks
A confident shot-maker who flourished in his second season at Duke, Isaiah Evans averaged 15 points and 3.2 rebounds, while shooting 36.1% from three on 7.4 attempts per game. He also shot 41.6% from deep his freshman year, with his volume more limited. Standing 6-foot-6, he has a quick release on his jump shot and is comfortable pulling up from well beyond the three-point arc. There are some limitations with his athleticism and could add some strength to his frame, but he’s capable of making plays off the bounce and as a three-level scorer. He can be overpowered defensively when in the wrong matchup, but he has good instincts for where to be and does a solid job forcing turnovers. Shooting is at more of a premium than ever before in the NBA. His ceiling may be a bit limited, but a high-IQ player who can shoot from the perimeter effectively will always find a place in the league. Atlanta is loaded with high-level defenders that can hide Evans while he plays an important role as a floor spacer.
24. New York Knicks – Hannes Steinbach
A recent riser on draft boards, Hannes Steinbach is a physical and tough big man who knows exactly who he is as a basketball player. Across his one-and-done season at Washington, the 6-foot-10 big man averaged 18.5 points, a college basketball-best 11.8 rebounds per game, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks. There are some encouraging signs in his shooting touch, with Steinbach shooting 18-for-53 (34%) from beyond the three-point arc, and 75.9% at the free-throw line. He has really good hands and impressive footwork while moving well for his size. Steinbach is limited in his ability to switch out to the perimeter and can get beaten to the basket by quicker ball-handlers. Still just 20 years old, he will be one of the better rebounders immediately when he walks into the NBA, and should be a player who can be the anchor of a high-level defense. How true his shooting touch is will decide his ceiling as a player, but there are plenty of ways he can impact the game even if this doesn’t come to fruition. The Washington product has one of the higher floors of this draft range.
25. Henri Veesaar – Los Angeles Lakers
Another intriguing big man option in the late first round, Henri Veesaar would make an awesome long-term pairing alongside Luka Doncic. The 22-year-old spent three seasons at Arizona, one of which was a redshirt season, before transferring to North Carolina this year and fully flourishing. Standing 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Veesaar averaged 17 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. The Estonia native is a capable lob threat and is a real threat to stretch the floor. He shot 42.6% from beyond the three-point arc on 3.0 attempts per game. Veesaar lacks some physicality and can be late on his defensive rotations, but has nice touch and is a really impressive connective passer for his size. There will be some major remodeling across the Lakers’ roster this offseason, and Veesaar would be a great pairing as Doncic becomes the clear face of the franchise.
26. Ebuka Okorie – Denver Nuggets
A shifty guard with some serious offensive upside, Ebuka Okorie is an intriguing late first-round target. Across his one-and-done season at Stanford, he averaged 23.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. He shot 35.4% from three on 5.7 attempts per game. Okorie is a more inconsistent shooter than is ideal, but his change of pace is a real threat, and he has had some really encouraging playmaking flashes. The 19-year-old gets to the free-throw line at a high rate and brings effort defensively, even with his 6-foot-1 frame leaving him a bit limited. Because of his shooting and defensive flaws, it’s possible Okorie is limited to a microwave scorer off the bench at the NBA level. Still, some of the flashes are impossible to ignore, and there is certainly a pathway to him growing into a starting-caliber point guard with time. The Denver Nuggets are facing some major questions about their direction, but this is a stage of the draft where taking the best talent available should be the mindset.
27. Zuby Ejiofor – Boston Celtics
An accomplished collegiate player who spent his freshman season at Kansas and the last three at St. John’s, Zuby Ejiofor is a 6-foot-8 bruising forward who plays bigger than his size. With a 7-foot-2 wingspan and relentless energy, the 22-year-old averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game this season. He’s shown growth as a shooter, connecting on 18-for-59 (30.5%) from deep this season and knocking down 71.8% of his free throws. He is limited as a self-creator and decision-maker, and can end up in foul trouble at a bit too frequent. However, Ejiofor should step in as an impactful rotational big with energy as one of his calling cards. The reigning Big East Player of the Year moves fluidly, and there is a pathway for him to develop as more of a wing than a big man over time. His most notable impact will come defensively, with his 3.3 combined steals and blocks this season being an impressive mark. Ejiofor would fit right into the hard-nosed identity that Joe Mazzulla has created in Boston, and has a higher ceiling than he is sometimes given credit. An intriguing mix between big man and wing, the Celtics are a spot that can bring out the best in the Texas native.
28. Koa Peat – Minnesota Timberwolves
If Koa Peat had any semblance of a jump shot, he would likely be discussed as one of the top players in this draft. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-7 forward shot just 7-for-20 (35%) from beyond the three-point arc this season, with some inconsistent mechanics in the process. Concerns were further raised when he revealed he re-worked his jump shot form ahead of the combine and his Pro Day. However, even with the jumper being an issue, he bullied his way to averages of 14.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game during his one-and-done season at Arizona. Peat plays with an impressive motor and great physicality. He has an NBA-ready body and does a nice job finishing around the rim, while possessing an advanced handle for his size. The 19-year-old can guard multiple positions and is equally a matchup problem on the other end, with too much strength for perimeter players and being too quick for most big men. If the jump shot clicks, there is a world where he ends up being the steal of this class. But it should be made clear that this is a major if. Even still, Peat embodies the level of toughness that has become the identity of the Timberwolves. There will be some growing pains with his lack of shooting, but Peat will bring enough to the table that it is worth sticking through.
29. Joshua Jefferson – Cleveland Cavaliers
Another hard-nosed, defensive-minded player who stuffs the stat sheet, Joshua Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game at Iowa State. He spent his first two seasons at Saint Mary’s and the past two with the Cyclones. The 22-year-old is a good ball-handler for his size and is really physical when getting downhill and attacking the basket. He is not a great athlete by NBA standards, and his shooting efficiency will be a swing skill. Jefferson shot 34.5% from beyond the three-point arc on 3.1 attempts per game this season, which is the best efficiency and volume across his college career. If the shooting can improve, there is a pathway to Jefferson serving as a key connective piece and potentially more than this on a contending NBA team. But even without it, he brings a toughness and high basketball IQ that should allow him to make an immediate impact. Cleveland has prioritized drafting high-level rebounders for their size, and Jefferson checks this box. As the Cavaliers look to add another win-now rotational piece, Jefferson is one of the more NBA-ready options at this stage of the draft.
30. Tarris Reed Jr. – Dallas Mavericks
Wrapping up the first round, Tarris Reed Jr. is a bruising big man who spent a four-year career at the collegiate level. After spending his first two seasons at Michigan, Reed Jr. transferred to UConn, where he continued his development. He finished this season averaging 14.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, while leading the Big East by shooting 60.7% from the floor. Standing just under 6-foot-10 with a wingspan over 7-foot-4, Reed Jr. embraces contact and moves well for his size. The ceiling is somewhat limited as he isn’t the greatest athlete or shooter. Still, Reed Jr. is the type of winning player that every team should be thrilled to have in their rotation, and the Dallas Mavericks would not be asking too much too soon from him.
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