2026 NBA mock draft: Major shifts expected in the lottery just before the first round

June 21, 2026

NBA Draft 2026: A Look at the Top Prospects

The upcoming 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to feature four remarkable talents at the forefront. AJ Divanza and Darrin Peterson are in the running for the No. 1 overall pick. While both players are exceptional, I personally believe Cameron Boozer stands out as the top player in this class—by quite a margin. Caleb Wilson’s impressive stats and athletic prowess have not only expanded the conversation to a Big 4 but also showcased the mindset he possesses to realize his potential.

Even beyond the top four picks, there’s more talent available, yet opinions seem to vary widely among analysts regarding the subsequent selections. The draft kicks off with the Los Angeles Clippers holding the fifth overall pick. A particularly interesting angle will be the order in which the talented guards are picked, especially since the University of Michigan aims to have three players in the lottery following their men’s national championship win.

With the first round set for Tuesday, June 23, we’re witnessing significant shifts in the mock drafts compared to the previous week. So, after covering the standings, let’s unearth what’s changed since the last predictions.

Projected Picks:

1. Washington Wizards – AJ Divanza – Wings – BYU – New Student
2. Utah Jazz – Darrin Peterson – Guard – Kansas – New Student
3. Memphis Grizzlies – Cameron Boozer – Forward – Duke – New Student
4. Chicago Bulls – Caleb Wilson – Forward – North Carolina – New Student
5. Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler – Guard – Illinois – New Student
6. Brooklyn Nets – Darius Acaf – Guard – Arkansas – New Student
7. Sacramento Kings – Kingston Flemings – Guard – Houston – New Student
8. Atlanta Hawks – Mikel Brown Jr. – Guard – Louisville – New Student
9. Dallas Mavericks – Brayden Barrys – Guard – Arizona – New Student
10. Milwaukee Bucks – Nate Ament – Forward – Tennessee – New Student
11. Golden State Warriors – Jaxel Lendeborg – Forward – Michigan – Senior
12. Oklahoma City Thunder – Mores Johnson – Center/Forward – Michigan – 2nd Grade
13. Miami Heat – Labalon Fillon – Guard – Alabama – 2nd Grade
14. Charlotte Hornets – Hannes Steinbach – Center/Forward – Washington – Washington
15. Chicago Bulls – Aday Mara – Center – Michigan – New Student
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic) – Bennett Staats – Guard – Iowa – Senior
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) – Karim Lopez – Forward – NZ Breakers – Born in 2007
18. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) – Daylene Swain – Wings – Texas – Junior
19. Toronto Raptors – Christian Anderson – Texas Tech University – Guard – 2nd Grade
20. San Antonio Spurs – Chris Cenac Jr. – Big – Houston – New Student
21. Detroit Pistons (via Wolves) – Cameron Carr – Wings – Baylor – Junior
22. Philadelphia 76ers – Jaden Quintance – Big – Kentucky – 2nd Grade
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs) – Ebuka Okorie – Guard – Stanford – New Student
24. New York Knicks – Allen Graves – Forward – Santa Clara – RS Freshman
25. Los Angeles Lakers – Joshua Jefferson – Forward – Iowa – Senior
26. Denver Nuggets – Core Peat – Forward – Arizona – New Student
27. Boston Celtics – Sergio de Larrea – Guard – Valencia – Born in 2005
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons) – Isiah Evans – Guard – Duke – 2nd Grade
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs) – Henri Vissard – Big – North Carolina – Junior
30. Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder) – Maryke Thomas – Guard – Arkansas – New Student

Draft Changes Overview

Wizards Choose AJ Divanza Over Darrin Peterson

It seems we’re in for a surprise regarding the Washington Wizards’ No. 1 pick until Adam Silver steps up to announce it. Initially, I had Peterson at the top, but I’m back to Divanza. The Wizards may aim to trade up if they truly want Peterson, but the action around the first two picks has been somewhat stagnant recently. Divanza appears to mesh better with Washington’s expected lineup, considering Trae Young is likely to secure a long-term deal soon, while Tre Johnson, the sixth pick from last year, is already part of the team. Plus, Divanza seems to pose fewer behavioral questions coming off a tumultuous freshman season at Kansas.

While I personally lean toward Cameron Boozer for the top pick and prefer Peterson over Divanza in my rankings, I have to admit AJ might have a slight edge for now.

Clippers Opt for Keaton Wagler Over Mikel Brown Jr.

Brown reminds me of LaMelo Ball—though that comes with some risks. The Louisville guard had issues with back pain during his freshman year, which at just 19 raises some concerns. His shot selection might also make a head coach nervous. To complicate things, he doesn’t quite fit alongside Darius Garland in the backcourt, which could be problematic both defensively and in size. Wagler, who added some height at the combine, is a better match for Garland as he requires less ball handling than Brown.

Still, I appreciate Brown’s three-point shooting and creativity in finding ways to score. However, he strikes me as too much of a gamble for a top-five pick.

Thunder Reconsider Michigan’s Big Man

The Thunder are on the lookout for a challengers to Victor Wembanyama, but there are a few alternatives. Last week, I had Michigan State center Aday Mara pegged for this spot. Standing at 7’3″ with an impressive reach, he seemed like a strong contender to match Wemby’s length. Yet, after watching the NBA Finals, I believe the Spurs superstar would be better challenged by a stronger and more agile big man who can effectively keep the pressure on. Johnson might fill that role, despite being shorter than Mara at 6’9″. It’s possible I’m off base, but I suspect the Thunder might lean toward Johnson if they had to pick between the two at No. 12 overall.

This mock has Mara dropping out of the lottery, now positioned at 15th for the Chicago Bulls. New coach Tiago Splitter could use a promising young center like Mara to aid the team’s development.

Fillon and Steinbach Break Into the Lottery

Interestingly, I had placed Steinbach at No. 17 and Fillon at No. 19 last week, but both seem to warrant higher picks. Steinbach appears to be lottery-worthy with standout offensive rebounding, while his skills and agility are rare for someone his size. Although not a defensive anchor, I think he’ll excel in a league that values versatility.

This projection has Fillon landing in Miami at No. 13, although the Bucks could also be eyeing him in their search for offensive creation, targeting the 10th overall pick, Nate Ament. Considering how remarkable Fillon’s talent is, it’s hard to imagine him slipping all the way to Toronto.