NBA mock draft 2026: Up to date projection after NBA Finals ends

The New York Knicks are NBA champions, and it’s nonetheless onerous to imagine it. The Knicks gained their first NBA championship in 53 years by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs in 5 video games on Saturday night time. New York’s historic 29-point second half comeback in Recreation 4 might be remembered eternally as one of many wildest finishes in league historical past, and it ends a 5 decade title drought for one of many marquee franchises within the sport.

The NBA offseason begins now. The 2026 NBA Draft is coming June 23 and 24, and will probably be adopted by the beginning of free company every week later. All eyes are on a possible Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce, and the arrival of loaded draft class will solely deliver extra strain to finish offers rapidly across the league.

There’s nonetheless a variety of thriller on the high of the draft. The Washington Wizards have been broadly projected to take BYU wing A.J. Dybantsa at No. 1 general since profitable the lottery. There’s no assure that may occur, as a result of Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson are No. 1 general abilities in their very own proper.

Final week, we projected the first-round of the draft based mostly on league buzz. Lots has already modified within the time since. Let’s dive into one other NBA mock draft, with extra evaluation after the desk.

Let’s dive into a number of the greatest themes of this draft.

Why is Darryn Peterson at No. 1 on this projection?

Whereas the media (responsible) has anointed Dybantsa as the highest choose, I actually haven’t seen too many boards with him at No. 1 outside of Jeremy Woo at ESPN and Sam Vecenie at The Athletic. For most individuals, both Cameron Boozer or Darryn Peterson is one of the best participant out there, and up to now Washington has given no indications which approach they’re leaning. This isn’t a tough resolution in my eyes: I might take Boozer at No. 1 for the Wizards or every other crew. I’ve been constant about this since this class was going by way of their senior 12 months of highschool, and I actually wasn’t dissuaded by his one-and-done season at Duke, the place Boozer was clearly one of the best participant in faculty basketball as a real freshman.

There was a quick second the place I thought-about Peterson at No. 1, and that was when he dropped 58 factors on Dybantsa in Feb. 2025 after they matched up close to the tip of their highschool careers. The complete recreation is on YouTube, and it’s nonetheless a spectacular watch:

The very best model of Peterson seems like one of many strongest guard prospects to hit the NBA in latest reminiscence. We didn’t see that participant this 12 months as he handled weird tender tissue strains and cramping at Kansas. He says the issue is below management now — he was taking an excessive amount of creatine with out correct hydration — and I are inclined to assume that getting skilled recommendation from an NBA crew might be higher for his well being than listening to his household or personal trainers.

This draft is beginning to remind of the 2022 class, when everybody was so certain the Orlando Magic have been choosing Jabari Smith Jr. at No. 1 till they determined to take Paolo Banchero after they turned within the card. Dybantsa simply leaves an excessive amount of doubt outdoors of his scoring for a high choose. I predict the Wizards go along with Peterson or Boozer, and right now I’m selecting Peterson.

What are the opposite swing picks on this draft?

• The Clippers at No. 5: The highest-4 feels just like the top-4 on this draft. Ask 20 individuals who they assume is the fifth greatest prospect within the class and also you would possibly get 10 completely different solutions. Which means the Clippers have the largest resolution on this class after incomes the choose from the Indiana Pacers within the Ivica Zubac commerce. I might see the Clippers going with Keaton Wagler or Kingston Flemings and even Yaxel Lendeborg or Aday Mara. On this mock, I’m giving them my choose for the fifth-best participant within the class, Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. Brown’s shot choice can get wild at instances, and it’s scary that he was already hampered by a again harm at age-20, however his intersection of pull-up taking pictures, three-point quantity, passing creativity, and rim strain units him other than the opposite guards within the class in my thoughts.
• The Nets at No. 6: Brooklyn seems like such a wildcard within the draft. I hated the Nets five-man class final 12 months, and time will inform the way it pans out. I don’t actually just like the names related to the Nets this 12 months, both. It seems that is shaping as much as be Nate Ament vs. Darius Acuff, and whereas I’m not as excessive on Acuff as others are, he’s nonetheless the higher choice out of the 2 in my eyes. Acuff’s offensive manufacturing was unreal at Arkansas, however I worry he’s going to want to take care of his greatness on that finish of the ground as a result of his protection is filled with crimson flags. Perhaps he can do it, however I’m skeptical of his shot choice and if he’s actually going to be a 44 p.c three-point shooter long-term within the league. I do know what you’re pondering: didn’t the Nets draft a bunch of ball handlers final 12 months? Sure, however that is the Nets, the roster is horrible and their draft technique doesn’t make any sense. I really feel dangerous for the cool Brooklyn followers on the market.
• The Bucks at No. 10: I had Milwaukee taking Labaron Philon at No. 10 final week. This week, Ament falls to the Bucks after Brooklyn passes on him. I actually wouldn’t take Ament within the top-10 of this draft, however I can see the enchantment for a tall ahead who probably areas the ground and provides some supplemental rim safety. If the Bucks lastly commerce Giannis, they’re absolutely resetting their timeline to zero, and Ament would have a protracted leash to develop.

Who would you like your favourite crew to take?

Tell us within the feedback.