It’s quite surprising, really, but the New York Knicks have clinched the NBA championship. They triumphed over the San Antonio Spurs in five games, marking their first title in 53 years. The Knicks’ incredible 29-point comeback in the second half of Game 4 will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the wildest finishes ever, effectively ending a 50-year title drought for one of basketball’s iconic teams.
Now, the NBA offseason is kicking off. The 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 23rd and 24th, with free agency starting a week later. Everyone seems to be buzzing about a potential trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the arrival of a star player in the draft could heighten the urgency for deals across the league.
There are still plenty of unanswered questions at the top of the draft. The Washington Wizards are heavily favored to select BYU’s AJ DiVanza with the first overall pick after winning the lottery. However, there’s no certainty here, as both Cameron Boozer from Duke and Darrin Peterson from Kansas also present strong cases for the top spot.
Just last week, we threw out a prediction for the first round of the draft based on emerging trends, but things have already shifted. So, let’s review a new mock draft with some added insights.
| pick | team | player | position | school | class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | washington wizards | Darrin Peterson | forward | duke | freshman |
| 2 | utah jazz | AJ Divanza | wings | BYU | freshman |
| 3 | memphis grizzlies | cameron boozer | guard | Kansas | freshman |
| 4 | chicago bulls | caleb wilson | forward | north carolina | freshman |
| 5 | Los Angeles Clippers | Mikel Brown Jr. | guard | louisville | freshman |
| 6 | brooklyn nets | Darius Acaf | guard | arkansas | freshman |
| 7 | sacramento kings | kingston flemings | guard | houston | freshman |
| 8 | atlanta hawks | Keaton Wagler | guard | illinois | freshman |
| 9 | dallas mavericks | Brayden Barrys | guard | arizona | freshman |
| 10 | milwaukee bucks | Nate Ament | forward | tennessee | freshman |
| 11 | golden state warriors | Jaxel Lendeborg | forward | michigan | senior |
| 12 | oklahoma city thunder | Aday Mara | center | michigan | junior |
| 13 | miami heat | Karim Lopez | forward | NZ Breakers | Born in 2007 |
| 14 | charlotte hornets | Mores Johnson | center/forward | michigan | sophomore |
| 15 | chicago bulls | Ebuka Okorie | guard | stanford | freshman |
| 16 | Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic) | Bennett Staats | guard | iowa | senior |
| 17 | Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) | Hannes Steinbach | Forward/Center | washington | freshman |
| 18 | Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) | cameron carr | wings | baylor | junior |
| 19 | toronto raptors | Labalon Fillon | guard | Alabama | sophomore |
| 20 | san antonio spurs | Chris Cenac Jr. | big | houston | freshman |
| 21 | Detroit Pistons (via Wolves) | christian anderson | guard | Texas Tech University | sophomore |
| 22 | philadelphia 76ers | Daylene Swain | wings | texas | junior |
| 23 | Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs) | jaden quintance | big | kentucky | sophomore |
| 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 | freshman |
| 27 | boston celtics | Zuby Ejiofor | big | st john’s | senior |
| 28 | Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons) | Maryke Thomas | guard | arkansas | freshman |
| 29 | Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs) | Henri Vissard | big | north carolina | junior |
| 30 | Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder) | Sergio de Larrea | guard | valencia | Born in 2005 |
Now, let’s delve into some of the key themes surrounding this draft.
Why Darrin Peterson is Tipped as #1
There’s been quite a buzz around DiVanza as the top pick, but honestly, I haven’t really seen many drafts placing him at number one. Outside of a couple of analysts, most seem to agree that either Cameron Boozer or Darrin Peterson stands out as the top talent. However, the Wizards haven’t really shown their hand yet. Personally, I’d go with Boozer if I were in charge. I’ve held this view since high school and wasn’t swayed by Boozer’s brief stint at Duke where he really shined as a freshman.
There was a time when I thought Peterson might grab the top spot, especially back in February 2025 when he scored an amazing 58 points against DiVanza in an epic high school face-off. The game footage is still impressive.
At his best, Peterson feels like one of the strongest guard prospects to come out in a while. Unfortunately, he’s had a tough time this season at Kansas due to soft-tissue issues. He claims it’s under control now; apparently, he was using too much creatine without enough hydration. To be honest, it might be best for him to seek professional advice instead of relying on family or personal trainers.
This draft brings memories of the 2022 class, where everyone thought the Magic were set to choose Jabari Smith Jr. only for them to go with Paolo Banchero. DiVanza raises plenty of questions beyond just scoring for a top pick. I suspect the Wizards are leaning toward either Peterson or Boozer, but currently, Peterson seems to be in the lead.
Other Pivotal Picks in the Draft
- Clippers at 5th: The top four picks feel pretty locked in. However, opinions differ widely on who the fifth-best player is, leading to uncertainty for the Clippers after they acquired this pick from the Pacers. I could see them opting for Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, or even Jaxel Lendeborg or Aday Mara. Personally, I see Mikel Brown Jr. as the fifth-best player. Sure, his shot selection can be inconsistent, and he’s dealt with a hip injury at age 20, but his shooting range, passing skills, and ability to attack the rim stand out amongst his peers.
- Nets at 6th: The Nets are a bit of a wild card this draft. Last year’s class didn’t impress me much, but only time will reveal their effectiveness. This year’s options aren’t very exciting either. It could come down to Nate Ament and Darius Acuff. I rank Acuff slightly higher based on his outstanding college performance, although his defensive issues raise concerns. I question whether he can sustain his impressive shooting long-term. Yes, the Nets have drafted quite a few ball handlers recently, but given the state of their roster, it seems like a puzzling strategy. My apologies to the Brooklyn fans—it’s a tough time.
- Bucks at 10th: Last week, Milwaukee chose Lavaron Fillon, but this week Ament falls in their lap. I wouldn’t rank Ament in the top ten, yet there’s potential as a tall forward who could add spacing and some rim protection. Should the Bucks trade Giannis, they’d essentially start over, and developing Ament would require patience.
Who Are You Hoping Your Team Picks?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
