The 2026 NBA Draft wrapped up with several teams taking chances on young talent and trying to build for both the present and the future. From the Washington Wizards landing the top prospect in the class to teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder adding more pieces to already promising cores, the draft brought plenty of storylines.

The Wizards made the biggest move of the night by selecting forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring during his freshman season at BYU and is viewed as a potential franchise player because of his ability to score from all over the floor. Washington already has veterans Anthony Davis and Trae Young on the roster, which could allow Dybantsa to develop without carrying all of the pressure right away.

The Utah Jazz picked second and selected Kansas guard Darryn Peterson. Peterson is known for his scoring ability and his versatility, showing that he can play both with and without the ball in his hands. Utah’s young roster already includes several talented players, and Peterson joins a team that appears to be building a deep core for the future.

At No. 3, the Memphis Grizzlies took Duke forward Cameron Boozer, one of the most polished players in the draft. Boozer had a standout season in college, winning National Player of the Year honors and showing the ability to score inside and from the perimeter. Memphis also added international forward Karim López later in the first round, giving the franchise another promising young player.

The Chicago Bulls were among the teams receiving high marks after selecting Caleb Wilson with the fourth pick and Dailyn Swain later in the first round. Wilson is considered the most athletic player in the class and could become a major defensive piece for Chicago. Swain brings energy and scoring around the basket, though questions remain about his outside shooting.

Another team that had a strong night was the Charlotte Hornets. They addressed two needs by adding big man Hannes Steinbach and guard Christian Anderson. Steinbach has already played professionally in Germany and enters the NBA with experience as a rebounder and interior scorer. Anderson developed into a first-round prospect because of his shooting and playmaking ability.

The Atlanta Hawks selected Houston guard Kingston Flemings at No. 8. Flemings is viewed as the potential successor to veteran guard CJ McCollum, who recently re-signed with the team. His ability to score in the midrange and create opportunities for teammates made him one of the more interesting guard prospects in the draft.

The Milwaukee Bucks also entered a new era after moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The team used two lottery picks on Brayden Burries and Nate Ament. Burries emerged as a versatile scorer during his freshman season at Arizona, while Ament is considered a high-upside player because of his size and ability to handle the ball.

Golden State selected Yaxel Lendeborg, a player whose path to the NBA was far from traditional. Lendeborg began at the junior college level before eventually helping Michigan win a national championship. The Warriors are searching for young talent as injuries and roster changes have left questions about the team’s future beyond Stephen Curry.

Oklahoma City continued adding talent despite already having one of the league’s strongest young rosters. The Thunder drafted center Aday Mara and later traded up for guard Bennett Stirtz. Mara’s size and shot-blocking ability could help the team match up with some of the NBA’s biggest frontcourts, while Stirtz gives the Thunder another creator in the backcourt.

The Sacramento Kings stayed patient and landed guard Darius Acuff with the seventh pick. Acuff is known for his scoring and passing ability, and the organization hopes he can become an important piece moving forward. Sacramento later added forward Alex Karaban and shooter Emanuel Sharp to strengthen its roster.

Several playoff teams also focused on adding depth. The Los Angeles Lakers traded up to select wing Cameron Carr, a player who shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range in college. Miami acquired Ryan Conwell in the second round after the guard improved at every stop during his college career.

Not every team received glowing reviews. Orlando earned a lower grade after drafting Izaiyah Nelson because the team still lacks perimeter shooting. New Orleans also received criticism after failing to move into the first round and eventually selecting Jaron Pierre Jr. late in the draft.

The Portland Trail Blazers were the only team that did not make a selection in either round, leaving their future plans unclear for now.

As the draft concluded, a clear theme emerged across the league. Many teams focused on athletic wings, versatile defenders, and players who can fill multiple roles. Whether those decisions pay off will not be known for years, but the 2026 draft already looks like one that could reshape several franchises and begin new chapters for teams across the NBA.

First Round Picks

  • No. 1 – Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
  • No. 2 – Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
  • No. 3 – Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
  • No. 4 – Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
  • No. 5 – Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
  • No. 6 – Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
  • No. 7 – Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff, G, Arkansas
  • No. 8 – Atlanta Hawks: Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
  • No. 9 – Dallas Mavericks: Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan
  • No. 10 – Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
  • No. 11 – Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
  • No. 12 – Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, C, Michigan
  • No. 13 – Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
  • No. 14 – Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, C, Washington
  • No. 15 – Chicago Bulls: Dailyn Swain, G/F, Texas
  • No. 16 – Oklahoma City Thunder: Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa
  • No. 17 – Detroit Pistons: Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford
  • No. 18 – Charlotte Hornets: Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
  • No. 19 – Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara
  • No. 20 – San Antonio Spurs: Jayden Quaintance, F/C, Kentucky
  • No. 21 – Memphis Grizzlies: Karim López, F, New Zealand Breakers
  • No. 22 – Philadelphia 76ers: Labaron Philon, G, Alabama
  • No. 23 – Atlanta Hawks: Zuby Ejiofor, F/C, St. John’s
  • No. 24 – Los Angeles Lakers: Cameron Carr, G/F, Baylor
  • No. 25 – Dallas Mavericks: Sergio De Larrea, G, Spain
  • No. 26 – San Antonio Spurs: Tarris Reed, C, UConn
  • No. 27 – Boston Celtics: Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston
  • No. 28 – Brooklyn Nets: Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
  • No. 29 – Sacramento Kings: Alex Karaban, F, UConn
  • No. 30 – Phoenix Suns: Koa Peat, F, Arizona

Second Round Picks

  • No. 31 – Houston Rockets: Bruce Thornton, G, Ohio State
  • No. 32 – Memphis Grizzlies: Richie Saunders, G/F, BYU
  • No. 33 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Isaiah Evans, G, Duke
  • No. 34 – Cleveland Cavaliers: Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
  • No. 35 – Denver Nuggets: Trevon Brazile, F, Arkansas
  • No. 36 – Los Angeles Clippers: Baba Miller, F, Florida State
  • No. 37 – Miami Heat: Ryan Conwell, G, Louisville
  • No. 38 – Indiana Pacers: Braden Smith, G, Purdue
  • No. 39 – New York Knicks: Jack Kayil, G, Germany
  • No. 40 – Boston Celtics: Dillon Mitchell, F, St. John’s
  • No. 41 – Oklahoma City Thunder: Otega Oweh, G/F, Kentucky
  • No. 42 – San Antonio Spurs: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, G, Tennessee
  • No. 43 – Brooklyn Nets: Tyler Bilodeau, F, Oregon State
  • No. 44 – San Antonio Spurs: Maliq Brown, F, Duke
  • No. 45 – Sacramento Kings: Emanuel Sharp, G, Houston
  • No. 46 – Washington Wizards: Felix Okpara, C, Tennessee
  • No. 47 – New York Knicks: Tyler Nickel, F, Vanderbilt
  • No. 48 – Dallas Mavericks: Tobi Lawal, F, Virginia Tech
  • No. 49 – Denver Nuggets: Bryce Hopkins, F, St. John’s
  • No. 50 – Toronto Raptors: Jaden Bradley, G, Arizona
  • No. 51 – Orlando Magic: Izaiyah Nelson, F, Arkansas State
  • No. 52 – Atlanta Hawks: Henri Veesaar, C, Arizona
  • No. 53 – Detroit Pistons: Ugonna Onyenso, C, Virginia
  • No. 54 – Golden State Warriors: Lajae Jones, F, Saint Joseph’s
  • No. 55 – Los Angeles Clippers: Nick Martinelli, F, Northwestern
  • No. 56 – Dallas Mavericks: Vsevolod Ishchenko, G/F, Russia
  • No. 57 – Los Angeles Clippers: Narcisse Ngoy, C, France
  • No. 58 – New Orleans Pelicans: Jaron Pierre Jr., G, Jacksonville State
  • No. 59 – Minnesota Timberwolves: Trey Kaufman-Renn, F/C, Purdue
  • No. 60 – Milwaukee Bucks: Malique Lewis, F, Trinidad and Tobago

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