The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery was arguably the most anticipated lottery ever; in the past, we’ve had lotteries with franchise-defining results for the #1 pick (like the Victor Wembanyama draft), but rarely is there a Draft like this year’s, where there are arguably four potential superstars and a boatload of other players with All-Star upside.
The legendary tank-off concluded with the Washington Wizards getting the #1 pick, followed by the Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers rounding out the top 5.
So who’s going where come June 23rd? Let’s run through the top 10.
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Top 10 NBA Post-Lottery Mock Draft
1. WIZARDS: SF AJ DYBANTSA
Dybantsa will be the #1 pick – the question now is if the Wizards will be the ones making the 6’9″ wing their future franchise player. My gut says yes, as the final piece to the Wizards’ rebuild is a go-to alpha scorer to pair with Trae Young’s playmaking and the AD/Alex Sarr defensive front court, but if Utah offers Ace Bailey and extra draft picks, it’s going to be hard for the Wizards to say no.
2. BULLS (TRADE WITH JAZZ): SG DARRYN PETERSON
So what if the Jazz don’t pull the trigger on a trade up? In that scenario, I think they could actually look to trade down to 4 to recoup one or two of the first rounders they gave away for Jaren Jackson Jr. The new Bulls front office is going to look to make a splash and reinvigorate the fanbase.
Jordan. Rose. Peterson. It’s a new era in the Windy City.
3. GRIZZLIES: PF CAMERON BOOZER
Boozer fits everything the Grizzlies do. Gritty, tough, and analytically sound, Boozer replaces JJJ at the four for Memphis, and his defensive IQ, floor spacing, driving ability, and playmaking are perfect next to Zach Edey with guys like Ja Morant, Cam Spencer, Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, and Jaylen Wells running the wings.
4. JAZZ (TRADE WITH BULLS): PF CALEB WILSON
Danny Ainge isn’t afraid to trade out of a top pick – see what he did in 2017, when he traded the #1 pick to the 76ers for the #3 pick, which ended up being Jayson Tatum. Wilson’s blend of freakish athleticism, high motor, defensive versatility, passing, and a developing midrange jumper creates arguably the highest upside prospect in the draft – and he was incredibly productive as a freshman at North Carolina as well.
5. CLIPPERS: SG KEATON WAGLER
This pick depends on how the Clippers’ front office views Darius Garland, who was great down the stretch after they acquired him in the James Harden trade. If the 26-year-old Garland is their PG of the future, then this pick should be the talented Wagler, who, despite some athletic limitations, has a tantalizing combination of ball handling and a nasty step-back three that’s tailor-made for the NBA.
6. NETS: PG DARIUS ACUFF
The Nets need blue-chip talent, and Acuff is arguably the best offensive player in this draft. Pair him with Egor Demin in the backcourt and figure the rest out later.
7. KINGS: PG KINGSTON FLEMINGS
With a name fit for the franchise, Flemings is likely the safest bet of any of the point guards in this tier; lightning quick with great defense and a Chris Paul-like midrange game, Flemings can orchestrate the Kings’ offense from day one.
8. HAWKS: C ADAY MARA
Mara is one of the fastest rising players in the draft after leading Michigan to the National Championship; he moves well for 7’3″ and is a game wrecker defensively while also having more low post game than you might think. Onyeka Okongwu is a nice player for the Hawks, but he’s undersized. Mara is supersized.
9. MAVERICKS: PG MIKEL BROWN JR
If we’re taking bets on a non-top 4 pick in this draft to be a future All-NBA caliber player, my money’s on Brown Jr. You just don’t find 6’5″ point guards with his combination of flashy playmaking, off-the-dribble three-point shooting, and finishing around the rim. Pairing him with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving would be lethal.
10. BUCKS: PG LABARON PHILON
Philon is slightly different than the other guards in that he’s a sophomore, but that shouldn’t stop the Bucks from taking the super talented three-level scorer, whether Giannis is on the team Opening Night or not.
Explore more! Join Drew in ‘Predicting the NBA’s Top 10 Players in 2031.
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