From AJ Dybantsa to Brayden Burries: 2026 NBA Draft lottery predictions

The 2026 NBA Draft class is a strong one, and we now know which teams will be picking at the top. The Washington Wizards (first), Utah Jazz (second) and Memphis Grizzlies (third) hold the top three selections in the June draft after Sunday afternoon’s lottery.

Our draft expert Sam Vecenie has already shared his view of how the lottery will shake out, but let’s dive into how others on The Athletic NBA staff see the top-14 picks unfolding.

1. Washington Wizards

AJ Dybantsa, forward, BYU: The Wizards will continue to evaluate Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson closely. I suspect their deliberations and data collection will lead them to Dybantsa. He is someone the Wizards don’t have on their roster: a multifaceted offensive wing who can score adeptly at all three levels. And I agree that he’s a safer pick than Peterson. — Josh Robbins

2. Utah Jazz

Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas: If you told the Jazz, or anyone, around this time last year that they would be able to get Peterson with anything other than the No. 1 pick, they would probably think you’re crazy. Peterson is one of the best natural scorers to come into the league in years. And the Jazz just so happen to not have a starting-level shooting guard on their roster. The fit is seamless, and he’s the best player available, a rare double-win. Look for Utah to be one of the most improved teams in the league, and look for Peterson to be squarely in the running for Rookie of the Year. — Tony Jones

3. Memphis Grizzlies

Cameron Boozer, forward, Duke: Boozer may not grab as many headlines as Dybantsa and Peterson, but his arrival would help the Grizzlies establish a foundation for the next phase of “Grit and Grind.” If Zach Edey can move past the ankle issues that limited him to 11 games last season, the Boozer-Edey frontcourt will be a matchup problem for a lot of teams because of size and strength. Add Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells, and the Grizzlies have a chance to build a rough and rugged identity around some young, home-grown pieces. Although Ja Morant could theoretically fit well with Boozer, having a rookie with All-Star potential should make it easier to move on and lean completely into a rebuild. — Will Guillory

4. Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson, forward, North Carolina: This decision should be easy for new Bulls EVP Bryson Graham. Every time he’s spoken on the record, he’s emphasized how far away the Bulls are from contention. He was thrilled Sunday because his priority is talent, and Wilson is widely considered a blue-chip prospect and the best name available. Fans have grown attached to Graham’s S.L.A.P principle, prioritizing size, length, athleticism and physicality. Wilson enters the draft process at 6-foot-10 and 215 pounds. He’s an explosive and powerful above-the-rim athlete. He’s heralded for defensive versatility, likely a power forward at the next level, with the projection to defend multiple positions. He was a low-volume 3-point shooter as a freshman, and unlocking his star potential comes with exploring his offensive game. But his baseline frame and athleticism are too tantalizing to pass on. — Joel Lorenzi

5. LA Clippers

Keaton Wagler, guard, Illinois: The Clippers started their youth movement in February after trading James Harden. That move encouraged a sell-high maneuver on Ivica Zubac, and the Clippers cashed out by getting the highest pick they could have this year. If they stay at No. 5, they could use the best player available, and they could use some ballhandling and decision-making help. I’m not saying Wagler will be like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but look at Wagler’s year at Illinois and look at Gilgeous-Alexander’s year at Kentucky. Positional size has always been a Clippers priority, along with dribble-pass-shoot traits, and the Clippers had an embarrassing dearth of point-guard depth last season. I have concerns about Wagler’s defensive viability, but the Clippers can figure that out somewhere else. Wagler is the rare guard available who could make sense long term next to Darius Garland, and you don’t have to start him right away either. — Law Murray

6. Brooklyn Nets

Darius Acuff Jr., guard, Arkansas: The Nets did not get lucky in the lottery, but with a draft as deep at the top as this one, they could still get lucky. Here, they get to draft Acuff, a dynamic 6-2 guard who can score as well as anyone in this class. He averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 points in his lone season at Arkansas and was the rare John Calipari freshman who did not disappoint. He might be a top-three pick in another draft. Acuff doesn’t have great size in a league going bigger (we’ll see what he measures at the combine), but he has nearly everything else. The Nets will gladly take his playmaking skills, and he can pair well in the backcourt with Egor Demin, last year’s lottery pick. — Mike Vorkunov

7. Sacramento Kings

Kingston Flemings, guard, Houston: The Kings traded De’Aaron Fox last year, and their attempt to replace him in free agency (Dennis Schröder) was a failed experiment. Flemings is the best player available in this scenario, and he happens to fill that need. Flemings has potential to use his speed and athleticism on offense and defense to make an impact — which is how Fox was described as a young player. The Kings need to find a young player with All-Star potential, and Flemings might be that player as he joins some young players who showed potential to be rotational pieces in the NBA. — Jason Jones

8. Atlanta Hawks

Brayden Burries, guard, Arizona: In a perfect world, one of the three point guards (Wagler, Flemings or Acuff) would fall to the Hawks at No. 8. If not, Burries is the best player left on the board, a combination of plug-and-play shooting and off-ball playmaking with the upside to be a Bradley Beal-type weapon. While the temptation to fill the glaring lack of size with 7-3 big man Aday Mara will be tough to resist, Burries is the highest-quality prospect left for a franchise that insists it’s still building. — John Hollinger

9. Dallas Mavericks

Mikel Brown Jr., guard, Louisville: The Mavericks need to put guard creators next to Cooper Flagg. Brown fits that description. He had some huge games at Louisville, including a 45-point performance against NC State in February. He’s a confident 3-point shooter from a standstill or off the bounce who launched nearly eight triples per contest at Louisville. Brown also showed flashes of surgical passing and can finish around the rim with either hand. He can be turnover-prone at times, but his talent is hard to ignore. — Christian Clark

10. Milwaukee Bucks

Labaron Philon Jr., guard, Alabama: This was an incredibly difficult pick to make without knowing what the Bucks are going to do with Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the 10-time All-Star forward remains in Milwaukee, it might make more sense to look at someone like Yaxel Lendeborg, who could make an impact right away and give the Bucks more size and skill. Instead, though, I went with Philon, who has a lot of offensive upside and could be protected on the defensive end by Ryan Rollins. Philon is an electrifying offensive player who shot 50 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3 while averaging 22 points, 3.5 rebounds and five assists per game last season. — Eric Nehm

11. Golden State Warriors

Yaxel Lendeborg, forward, Michigan: The big man fills a lot of gaps for the Warriors. He can shoot from the outside, he has length and he comes from a Michigan team that just won a national title. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 37.2 percent from beyond the arc. He should be able to play well off the space Stephen Curry creates (shouldn’t everybody?) while providing a stabilizing presence on both ends. One of the only real questions about Lendeborg is his age — he’ll be 24 at the start of the season — but with a Warriors team still deciding which direction it wants to go for the future, he’ll still be considered young compared to the core of the team. — Nick Friedell

12. Oklahoma City Thunder

Jayden Quaintance, forward, Kentucky: This will be labeled a reach, but if there’s anyone comfortable with betting on someone with murky medical info, it’s the Thunder. An ACL injury two seasons ago robbed him of much of this year, but the upside is obvious. At his best, Quaintance is a twitchy, 6-10 rim protector. He demonstrated flashes of mobility and could project as an anchor. He’d be a unique athlete for this Thunder frontcourt and could further unlock some freaky lineups. — Joel Lorenzi

13. Miami Heat

Cameron Carr, guard, Baylor: The Heat need dynamic talent and youth at the lead guard spot or wing. In Carr, Miami can get a scorer capable of taking over games from the perimeter and with a knack for getting downhill. Carr’s 642 points trailed only Dybantsa (894) and Kansas State’s P.J. Haggerty (725) for the most among Big 12 scorers last season. On a per-40-minute basis, Carr shot 37.4 percent from deep on 7.2 attempts and 80.1 percent on 5.8 free-throw attempts. After leading the NBA in pace, the Heat could use a young guard with high potential, with Norman Powell being 33 years old and Tyler Herro missing double-figure games six times in seven NBA seasons. Rounding out your potential backcourt for the future a year drafting Kasparas Jakučionis wouldn’t hurt. — James Jackson

14. Charlotte Hornets

Hannes Steinbach, forward, Washington: After getting bullied in the Play-In Tournament, the Hornets need to continue to get bigger, and Steinbach would help in that regard. Moussa Diabate was a revelation this season on the offensive glass, and Steinbach might be the best offensive rebounder in the draft, so there would be a clear path for his skills to be maximized by Charles Lee in Charlotte. The Hornets drafted 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner last year, so they might not want to use draft capital on another big man, but it does look like their most pressing need this offseason. — Eric Nehm