The 2026 NBA draft is underway, and the lottery phase of the night is over. Some teams added franchise cornerstones who will guide them into the next chapter. Some teams made shocking selections that could come back to haunt them. Here is some instant analysis and grades for the first 14 picks.
The Washington Wizards absolutely nailed the first pick of the night. AJ Dybantsa is the most talented player in the draft class. He is the prototypical modern NBA wing; any team looking to win a championship anytime soon would’ve jumped on him immediately.
The Utah Jazz have a young nucleus who are ready to thrive. Adding Darryn Peterson to that group is incredible. He is a great all-around guard who plugs perfectly into any lineup. His scoring ability is elite, and his defense does not lack far behind. Home run pick for Utah.
The Memphis Grizzlies had the easy choice of the top three, getting whichever player fell into their laps. Cameron Boozer would’ve been in conversations for the first overall pick in a majority of draft classes. His talent is headlined by his physical interior play and high basketball IQ from the PF spot. His combination with Zach Edey will be a fun one to watch in Memphis.
The Chicago Bulls had another easy pick at four, grabbing someone who could easily be looked back on as a top three player in this class. Caleb Wilson had a fantastic draft season at UNC, putting a charge in his draft stock. He jumped up into a guaranteed top five player throughout the process. He has the potential to surpass some of the top three guys, making this an easy, but great pick for Chicago.
Keaton Wagler is one of the most talented players amongst the guards in the draft class. With that being said, there may have been better options here, including Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown Jr. He probably fits the Los Angeles Clippers and Darius Garland a little more than the others, but they did sacrifice some talent.
The Brooklyn Nets had a choice of some of the best guards in the draft. Acuff and Brown were still available, and Kingston Flemings was still on the board as well. They selected Brown over Acuff, a decision which may come back to bite them. They still got more talent than the Clippers but still left Acuff on the board.
The Sacramento Kings get gifted the best pick of the draft. They get perhaps the best guard after Peterson with pick seven. Acuff is a natural scorer who can be trusted with the ball in his hands all game. He’s projected to be the next great John Calipari product from the guard position.
Kingston Flemings rounds out the true elite guards of the class. He may be the twitchiest athlete in the draft; his first step is nothing short of explosive. His defense will carry him to a lengthy NBA career. The Atlanta Hawks pairing him with Dyson Daniels gives them a really elite defensive backcourt.
The Dallas Mavericks have paired recently hired Dusty May with one of his NCAA champion Michigan Wolverines. Morez Johnson is a proven winner who will bring everything any NBA team needs. He excels at rebounding and defense, always bringing a high motor to the arena.
Brayden Burries is one of the best two-way players in the 2026 NBA draft. His 6’4 frame at the SG position may raise some concerns, but his great POA defense will allow him to hold it down in the NBA. Pairing him with Tyler Herro would be a very intriguing backcourt, but they may have a logjam now. With Ryan Rollins and Kasparas Jakucionis on top of Burries and Herro, is there another move brewing? It’s not a bad pick, more so just a confusing one.
Yaxel Lendeborg will fit beautifully next to Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors. This is a move that signifies the Warriors are still trying to push for another championship with Curry still around. Give Lendeborg a season to learn from Draymond Green and let him be his successor as the leader in the frontcourt for Golden State.
The Oklahoma City Thunder just got even richer. Aday Mara is an absolute animal on the interior. He is such a smart player, and his rebounding is often overlooked. His numbers weren’t anything crazy at Michigan, but the roster around him limited his production. This is the obvious Isaiah Hartenstein replacement. This gives OKC one of the tallest frontcourts in the NBA with Chet Holmgren (7’1) and Mara (7’3). Mara will also be used to be their Victor Wembanyama stopper when facing the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs.
The Bucks acquired this pick last night from the Miami Heat in the massive Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Nate Ament brings a rare combination of athleticism and physicality. His game comes with major inconsistencies he will need to sort out at the NBA level. He has potential, but he will need to be properly developed. Milwaukee seemed interested in Ament at 10 but get him at 13.
The Charlotte Hornets got one of the most underrated players in this 2026 NBA draft. Hannes Steinbach is a perfect big to pair with Lamlo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel. He can play PF with Moussa Diabate or Ryan Kalkbrenner on the court or move to center when they want some extra spacing.
The 2026 NBA draft is off to a great start. Players are getting the national attention they deserve, while teams get franchise cornerstones to carry them into the future. These NBA draft grades are instant, and more time may change the feeling regarding the specific pick.
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