2026 NBA Mock Draft: Cameron Boozer goes to Jazz at No. 2, Clippers like Mikel Brown for fifth pick

If you're building an NBA star in a lab, he's going to come out looking like AJ Dybantsa. A muscular, 220-pound wing with a 6-foot-8.5-inch frame and a 42-inch vertical leap, Dybantsa has the highest two-way upside in this bountiful draft class. At BYU he became just the fourth freshman to lead men's Division I in scoring. He can dominate all over the offensive end. Dybantsa has ferocity on paint attacks and gets to the line a lot (he led the NCAA in foul shots). He loves the midrange range shot and considers it his bread-and-butter. His 3-point shot is still a little flat but is established enough to be a reliable part of his all-around package. Dybantsa has All-Defense upside if he can fully commit. In his defense, pun intended, he was asked to do a lot at BYU and at times his defense sagged as a result. But he's exceptionally intelligent and possesses the rare combination of being a gifted scorer who is still all too willing a passer. Has a very good reputation as a teammate. The Wizards last drafted a player with star potential in 2012 (Bradley Beal). Dybantsa is a much better prospect than that. He will likely lead the NBA in scoring multiple times. Dybantsa is a franchise-altering talent and his name should be called first on June 23.

One of the most consistent and reliable prospects of the past 25 years. Boozer was the unanimous Player of the Year in college basketball and put up performances and streaks that invoked the likes of Larry Bird, Elgin Baylor, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and more. Boozer is a power forward with a reliable deep shot. He has incredible feel for how to maneuver amongst the trees — doing so while off the dribble, too. His second jump isn't twitchy, but it's also nearly unstoppable. He has the knack. Boozer was also a terrific defender. He connects all four of his teammates on the floor on essentially every possession. A winning player who has advanced analytics models suggesting he should go No. 1 overall in maybe the deepest draft class of the 21st century. Given the Ainge family's influence here, I give Boozer a healthy shot at going second. He worked out with the Jazz about a week ago and it apparently went very well. Plus: There are some connections between Utah and Duke coach Jon Scheyer.

The Grizzlies are in the fortunate spot of receiving a franchise-changing talent, no matter who it is, despite being third overall. You can't say that every draft; you can't say that in many drafts. Peterson going third isn't an outcome you'll see in a lot of places, but it's more about my belief/hunch that Utah will go with the surer thing in Boozer than Peterson not being valid at No. 2. Peterson's slippage, of course, has everything to do with his uneven time at Kansas. At his best, he looks like the top prospect. But take his 24 games into account and you'll see a statistical profile that doesn't definitively separate him from Dybantsa, Boozer or even a couple of other players who will be picked a few spots after him June 23. Peterson's ORtg was a solid-not-spectacular 114.1. He shot 38.2% on 165 3-point attempts. And still: His size, sleek attacking style and nonchalant shooting form could turn him into one of the two or three best shooting guards in the league by 2030.

There is a non-zero chance that Wilson ultimately becomes the best player in this stacked class, but even with that being the case, I can't see him getting any higher than fourth — nor any lower. He seems fated for Chicago, and what a win this would be for the Bulls. The franchise has been waiting a long time for a player with Wilson's rare combination of attributes and fortes: elite athleticism, relentless work ethic, upper-echelon defensive potential, NBA length, never-quit mindset. Wilson's season was cut short by a pair of unlucky (and separate) hand injuries. But he'll be ready to go for a rookie campaign that may showcase why his topside capability is as enticing as any of the other three who will be taken before him. When the Bulls eventually play their way back into the postseason, drafting Wilson will be the first good decision that leads them to that future.

One week out, the fifth pick remains largely a guessing game. Brown isn't considered the most likely choice here for Los Angeles, but the Clips may well give the draft a curveball by picking the one guard of the four in this range that was the most dynamic scorer pre-college and has, arguably, the highest upside. Remember that it was Brown who was the best player on the gold medal FIBA U19 team in 2025. Brown was plagued by a back issue at Louisville. Things did not go smoothly in his one and only season for the Cardinals. Now: a reboot. He has a strong base on his shot, good pop on penetration and can elevate against stronger competition. His range is No. 5 at best and No. 10 at worst. A key closing week of workouts awaits.

Acuff has drawn some comparisons to Jalen Brunson, though he'll get the benefit Brunson did not: He's going top-10, whereas Brunson had to wait until the second round. But the commonalities are in their size and shot creation. Acuff's shooting diet at Arkansas was filled out head-turning buckets. He's a dog in the best sense of the term. Knows how to hunt shots, knows how to take advantage of his defenders, knows how to will his way to win way more possessions than not. Acuff will have to use that will to stick in the league for a long time, and I suspect he will. Defensively, similar to Brunson, there's no getting around that he's a net negative. But everything he does with the ball vastly outweighs the drawbacks on the other side of the floor. The Nets are a franchise in limbo who may well have blown their four first-round picks a year ago. They need a star, and in Acuff, I don't think they should or will be able to pass up his potential if the Clippers pass on him at No. 5.

The Kings would be over the moon if Wagler was still around at No. 7. The lead guard has gone from being the 150th prospect coming out of high school (per 247 Sports) to top-10 lock as a one-and-done player. There isn't another player in modern history that has made that big of a jump so quickly. Wagler has a good release point on his jumper, doesn't need to have the ball in his hands to be an additive player on offense and will have ideal point guard size for the next level. His finishing around the rim isn't quite as good as his height would suggest, but Wagler's got plenty of time to grow out his portfolio on penetration and playmaking. Is viewed as a prospect who is highly unlikely to flop.

From role player at UCLA to top-10 pick coming out of Michigan, Mara's had a transmutation as a prospect in a mere 12 months' time. He's going to be all the more coveted in this year's draft because bigs are big again in the NBA. Mara's a massive human (9-9 standing reach at the combine) who has made significant advancements in his awareness playing in space and in and around the rim. The Hawks would be shrewd to take him off the board at No. 9, provided he's still here for the taking. (The Clippers have shown serious interest.) Defensively, he's got windmill arms and plays tough through his chest. He'll probably put on 10 pounds of muscle within a year's time. Interested to see if his trajectory continues out of college or if he turns into more of a project in the next couple of years. I love his fit with what Quin Snyder does in Atlanta.

Almost no one can come in as a freshman to play for Kelvin Sampson and be Houston's best player almost right away. Flemings did it. That alone has caused every team picking from No. 5 through No. 10 to seriously consider the point guard out of San Antonio. The rangy Flemings plays without fear, but also isn't a reckless floor general. He can get to just about any spot on the court and has a mindset that won't allow him to fail. Flemings can draw contact, chase rebounds, keep up with quick guards and plays with the ball on a string. Oh, and he's a terrific defender. (Mandatory at Houston, after all.) The Mavericks aren't in dire need of a point guard, but Flemings would be a good fit for a franchise with multiple first round picks that expects to be in the top 10 of the Western Conference next season.

This is the top end of Philon's range (with No. 22 probably being the worst-case scenario), but I'm going bullish on the Bama sophomore due to his blitzing speed, devilish playmaking and nothing-loath mindset as a passer. He's slender but draws contact and jumps from third gear to fifth gear in a blip. Can score at all three levels, and probably will benefit from a pro scheme to emphasize his spacing acuity. Milwaukee has shown serious interest, but given the uncertainty with the franchise's pick depending on what happens with Giannis, this draft slot is as foggy as any you'll find in the lottery. Philon would inject some fun into a franchise transitioning toward a new era.

Inarguably one of the most complete players in this year's stacked draft class. Lendeborg's age (he'll be 24 later this year) is the only reason why he's fated to be picked outside of the top seven or eight. He was the best player on the best team in college basketball and has the athleticism, size, strength, shot-making, passing ability, rebounding aptitude and selflessness as a teammate to give him a terrific shot at being a long-term NBA starter. Lendeborg has good feel from the midrange but can also shoot from deep (36.5% 3-point shooter) and is one of the three or four best defensive prospects in this draft. Given Golden State's situation right now, adding a Day 1 impact player should be the move over a prospect who's more of a gamble, particularly in the winter of Steph Curry's career.

Ament's stock is all over the place. Though we'll never know the answer, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he sits as high as No. 7 on some teams' boards and as low as No. 20 on others going into draft night. The Thunder have the deepest roster in the league and can afford to swing on a prospect who was widely regarded as top-six material for the 2026 draft when he left high school a year ago. Ament's shooting was erratic at Tennessee, but he's got NBA size and untapped potential with the right franchise. He needs time to develop and OKC gives him the best chance of maybe any franchise in the first 15 picks to do so.

Quiet but confident. Stronger than you think at first glance. Started slow at Arizona, then became the team's best player by February. Though not quite as quick-twitchy overall or as crafty with his handle, Burries compares well, albeit one stage down, from Dylan Harper coming out of college. He can switch onto positions 1, 2 and 3 defensively and is good at playing on or off the ball. You probably won't see him mocked lower than this, and it speaks to the beautiful depth in the '26 lottery that someone as promising as Burries could be rationally slotted 13th. Going to the Heat would be a dream scenario for Miami, because there is a very good chance he doesn't last this long.

Have been told this is his floor. Johnson's had a lot of really good feedback after the past month's worth of workouts. He plays even bigger than his frame suggests and can be a plus player almost immediately in Charlotte. Johnson figures to have a long NBA career because he's not a selfish player, will play into his role, can draw fouls well, eats up rebounds and has vice-grip hands. He plays tough, wants to be that enforcer-type. Charlotte needs a bit more of this. He's not a frequent step-out shooter yet, but that's the only thing that's keeping him from being a universally listed lottery pick.

The Bulls have a lot to fix in the next two years to become a playoff team. Drafting a confident point guard with an outstanding shooter's eye would be a nice place to initiate the rebuild. Anderson was an All American-caliber player at Texas Tech, the kind of factor on the floor who could flip games with his sure-eyed shooting and array of ball-distribution habits. He's undersized but not a pushover, not at all. A lot of teams selecting No. 16 and lower are hoping he'll fall to them, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. The statistical profile is too strong and Anderson's shooting ceiling is too good for him to stick around past the mid-teens.

Steinbach's Huskies were a mediocre team, so most basketball fans aren't familiar with his game. But his measurables are exceptional. The German big man has some of the broadest shoulders and largest hands of any prospect in recent memory. He is playable as a power forward or a center thanks to a steady shot diet from beyond 15 feet. The rebounding numbers were great and his discipline on defense is encouraging. While he might get taken in the lottery, I think this is his most likely range. Keep in mind I am sending him to Memphis here with the idea that Boozer goes to Utah and Memphis plucks Peterson. If that doesn't happen, Memphis obviously takes Boozer and would not take Steinbach in this scenario.

It will take some time to get there, but the first pick from outside the college ranks will wind up being the wing from Mexico who's spent the past two seasons playing in New Zealand. Lopez, who will be the first Mexican-born player drafted in the first round in history, has some work to do when it comes to shot consistency. Despite being viewed as a project at the NBA level, his size and rebounding prowess make him an intriguing option for OKC at No. 17, especially considering the Thunder will take a larger swing at No. 12 if they don't trade out of either slot.

I don't think anyone has a real, clear idea on where Carr's going. I think his range is legitimately as high as No. 14 and as low as No. 24. The 21-year-old hasn't had marquee moments the past three years, as he played just 18 games in two years at Tennessee, then was a fun swing man last season at Baylor … but BU was not good. Carr's going to be 22 at the start of next season, which is bringing his stock down a bit. I love his shooting acumen, though, and pairing him with Kon Knueppel could turn the Hornets into one of the fun flame-throwing teams in the Eastern Conference. It would also be a good change-up if Charlotte winds up getting Morez Johnson Jr. four picks prior.

Hooper. Stirtz, who began his college career in Division II, has incredible durability (he played more minutes in D-I the past two seasons than just about anyone), rarely gets into foul trouble, understands the feel of the game regardless of opponent and seldom rattles. Very good passer who could evolve into a terrific one by the time he's 24. Dogged work ethic. The buzz on him has been rising; some think he could pop into the top 15. He's projected as an NBA backup, but it wouldn't shock me if he gets into the right situation to eventually start consistently by the end of his rookie deal. The Raptors need more facilitation and will be a better team if they draft him vs. some of the other options in this area.

Santa Clara has produced two other feel-good draft stories this decade in Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski. Can Graves be the third? Just like Williams and Podz did in their draft years, Graves is experiencing the thrill ride of being one of the biggest risers in the months leading to draft night. But unlike his predecessors, Graves is a one-and-done player … who only started four games. Despite being a non-entity on draft boards as recently as February, Graves is a lock first-rounder thanks to being a metrics darling. Massive boom-or-bust proposition for the 19-year-old who was unranked coming out of high school. A lot of scuttlebutt this week that San Antonio is ready to put in for him when the 20th pick comes due.

The one-and-done Stanford prospect came out of nowhere to be a surefire first round pick. Okorie was one of the best scorers in college basketball last season — though he wasn't a dead-eye shooter. Okorie's 3-point selection was good-not-great. He's slightly undersized (but has a 6-8 wingspan) and makes up for it with on- and off-ball savvy. He probably needs to go to the right franchise to avoid getting squeezed off a roster in the next few years. The Pistons could use a quick-learning backup combo guard who can play his way into the rotation sooner than later and help Cade Cunningham's supporting cast. Okorie had some outstanding moments, and if the fit is right, could prove to be a sleeper pick if he's still available anywhere in the 20s.

The one-and-done Arizona product is among the most uncertain draft picks heading into next Tuesday. Peat had a brutal shooting showing at the combine after shooting just 7-of-20 from 3-point range all season with the Wildcats. He passed on $5 million to return to school because he's set on starting his NBA life ASAP. Peat's got great physical attributes and has probably taken a bigger reputation hit than deserved. His range could reasonably be anywhere from 16 to 28, but I think his build and style fits well with Philadelphia, who is getting a look at him this week. Philly is coming off a dispiriting playoff exit to the Knicks. Peat would be a good piece to reinforce their toughness quotient.

The former five-star prospect was not one of the three best players on a Houston team that won 30 games and was a 2-seed. And yet, Cenac's measurables are undeniable and so is his rebounding capacity. Cenac would've gone higher in the 2027 draft had he returned, gotten better and possibly been a top-10 player in college basketball. Instead, he's drafting off his high school reputation, when he was a top-10 prospect. His skills will be unlocked slowly but surely in the years to come, but this is way more of a Year 3 and Year 4 play than an immediate contributing piece, regardless of where he's taken. Come off the bench, energy guy for 14 minutes per night, chip in on defense, rebounding, clean up the trash. Try to be a poor man's Channing Frye in the early years.

The UConn big man is coming off one of the best six-game stretches in NCAA Tournament history: 19.5 ppg, 13.2, 54.4% shooting en route to getting UConn to a third title game in four years. He joined Zach Edey as the only two players in the past 20 years to score at least 100 points, grab at least 60 rebounds and dish at least 10 assists in one NCAA Tournament. Reed is fully developed physically and ready to contribute as an off-the-bench big next season, though he's probably an inch shorter than scouts would prefer. Given his hands, passing ability and rebounding nose, I don't think he has any business falling out of the first round. Reed's style of play fits the champs well, too. Why not add another Big East piece to the Garden?

A former five-star prospect, Quaintance played the past two seasons in college but tallied a total of just 28 games due to an ACL injury that ended his time at Arizona State and lingered throughout last season at Kentucky. Still, he's one of the most physically developed young prospects of his generation. Quaintance won't turn 19 until July and is hardwired to be a defensive monster. If his medical evaluation is clean, he shouldn't linger too long into the 20s. Great wingspan, super strong, big-time athlete. Will never be an offensive force, but his brute strength and overall frame will make him a matchup nightmare on defense. LA could use a lot of what he's carrying.

Swain doesn't crack the top 30 of my personal draft big board, but this is a projection on the most likely outcome in the minds of NBA decision-makers. Swain is expected to go somewhere in the 18-28 range. The Texas product is a pliable at the 2 or 3 and has the athletic prowess to validate Sean Miller after playing with him for three seasons. He's got the strength and acuity to make hay in and around the paint, which is good, but there were also too many stretches at Texas where he disappeared. I think Swain's two-way strengths would make him a nice rookie off the bench for one of the better teams in the Western Conference … if he can learn quickly and make the jump.

Left a huge NIL deal on the table at North Carolina to bet on himself being a first-round pick in 2026. I think the decision is validated on draft night as a first-round selection. Veesaar's biggest selling point is he can be a serviceable shooting 5 at a time when bigs are being utilized in a wider variety of ways than ever before. He's a pain in the ass in the paint, can bop elbows with just about anyone and isn't overly foul prone, too. Veesaar's shooting has, for the most part, improved the past three seasons, though his free throw percentages aren't at the level. Will require the right franchise with the right development plan in order to hit, but Boston would figure to be just the spot to groom him for a potential starting spot a couple of years down the road.

Only four high-major players in the past 25 years have averaged at least 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals, and Jefferson's one of them; Ben Simmons, Gary Payton II and Evan Turner are the others. The Iowa State product is polished and ready to play the 3 or the 4 at the next level. Ultra-smart, super-efficient, doesn't blow defensive assignments. He's not the kind of player who is vulnerable to having his career spin sideways as a result of going to the wrong place. Jefferson can, and will, fit into any NBA scheme. Unless you tell me he's gone before the 18th or 19th pick on draft night, then I think he's destined to be taken eight, 10, maybe even 12 spots too low. The Timberwolves can get that much closer to OKC and San Antonio if Jefferson is still available for the taking at No. 28.

The Spanish point guard has been on an uptick with his shooting and is carrying first-round buzz going into next Tuesday's draft. De Larrea has a calm knack for the game and seldom plays in a hurry. He's not a plus defender and definitely will have some uphill adjustments to the speed and physicality of the NBA, but his creativity and propensity for pop plays would give Cleveland another spice on the rack as the Cavs look to position themselves as the No. 1 or 2 seed in next year's Eastern Conference.

Everyone knows that Cameron Boozer was the best player in college basketball last season. At the front of the line behind Boozer among all bigs was Ejiofor. A terrific defender for his size, Ejiofor sharpened his skills thanks to playing for Rick Pitino the past few seasons. He has a limit on his offensive output at the NBA level, but the Mavs would be wise to pick Ejiofor in this spot as someone who can be a pick-up-the-trash energy big off the bench. Would likely spend some time in the G League, but would not be a pick Dallas regrets.