Last Updated on April 6, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Here’s an original 2026 NBA mock draft lottery based on the current reverse standings snapshot on March 17, 2026, not the eventual lottery order. Indiana, Washington, Brooklyn, Sacramento, and Utah currently sit atop the draft-order board, and most public boards still center the class around AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings, Darius Acuff, Nate Ament, and Mikel Brown Jr.
Round One
- Indiana Pacers — AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
If Indiana stays here, I’d swing for the highest-upside wing in the class. Dybantsa’s size and scoring profile make him my No. 1 pick today. (Tankathon) - Washington Wizards — Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson gives Washington a jumbo creator with real star equity. The top-two debate between Peterson and Dybantsa is still live across major boards, so this is a defensible coin flip. (Tankathon) - Brooklyn Nets — Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
Brooklyn can simply take the best player left. Boozer’s production and consensus top-three standing make him a clean value play here. (Tankathon) - Sacramento Kings — Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina
Wilson is the kind of modern frontcourt defender every team wants: long, active, mobile, and productive without needing the offense built around him. (Tankathon) - Utah Jazz — Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
Utah needs more primary-guard juice. Flemings’ assist rate, defensive activity, and current top-five placement make him a strong fit. (Tankathon) - Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans) — Darius Acuff, PG, Arkansas
If Atlanta is drafting this high through the Pelicans’ slot, I’d bet on Acuff’s scoring-and-playmaking upside. He has one of the best offensive stat lines among the lead guards in this class. (Tankathon) - Dallas Mavericks — Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee
Dallas needs size and upside on the wing. Ament is still a traits bet, but a 6-foot-10 forward with real shot-creation flashes is the kind of swing worth taking in this range. (Tankathon) - Memphis Grizzlies — Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
This is my first real deviation from the more common mocks. Peat’s frame, feel, and all-around forward game make him a strong bet to rise, and both Tankathon and NBADraft.net have him firmly in the first-round conversation. (Tankathon) - Chicago Bulls — Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
Chicago could use another on-ball organizer, and Brown’s size at guard plus real scoring/playmaking output fits well here. (Tankathon) - Milwaukee Bucks — Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama
Philon is one of the better downhill guards in this range and feels like a strong upside bet if Milwaukee lands in the back half of the lottery. (Tankathon) - Portland Trail Blazers — Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois
Portland already has size in the frontcourt; I’d add another perimeter shot-maker and secondary creator. Wagler’s scoring efficiency keeps him in my lottery. (Tankathon) - Golden State Warriors — Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
This is another original-fit call rather than a consensus slot. Anderson’s assist volume and current big-board traction make him a strong late-lottery target. (Tankathon) - Charlotte Hornets — Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
Charlotte could use more interior size and rim protection. Ngongba gives them a true center prospect with real physical tools. (Tankathon) - Atlanta Hawks (via San Antonio) — Tounde Yessoufou, SG/SF, Baylor
With a second lottery pick, I’d chase wing scoring and physicality. Yessoufou has enough momentum on current big boards to justify this swing. (NBADraft.net) - Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) — Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, Kentucky
OKC can afford to swing on upside, and Quaintance is exactly that: young, huge, mobile, and already a real defensive playmaker. Tankathon currently has this same pairing at 15, and I think it makes sense because OKC is one of the few contenders that can wait on the offense. (Tankathon) - Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers) — Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
With a second mid-first, I’d balance the frontcourt swing with a perimeter scorer. Mullins gives them size on the wing, shotmaking, and a cleaner offensive bet than some of the older guards in this range. (Tankathon) - Miami Heat — Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida
Miami loves versatile, competitive forwards, and Haugh fits that mold. He’s productive, plays with force, and feels like the kind of connector/rotation-forward the Heat can develop quickly. (Tankathon) - Toronto Raptors — Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
Toronto could use more backcourt organization and half-court control. Stirtz has put up serious scoring-playmaking numbers and looks like one of the steadier guard values in the late teens. (Tankathon) - Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic) — Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
I had Peat at No. 8 in my version, so if he’s still here at 19 this is a steal. He brings strength, feel, and two-way forward utility that would fit Memphis well. (Tankathon) - Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) — Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
If Charlotte already added a big earlier, coming back for a lead guard makes sense. Anderson’s assist production and efficient scoring profile give them another real shot-creator to develop. (Tankathon) - Denver Nuggets — Karim López, SF, New Zealand Breakers
Denver is a great place to stash and develop a big wing. López brings size and upside, and this is the kind of pick contenders should use on long-term two-way tools. (Tankathon) - Atlanta Hawks (via Cavaliers) — Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
Atlanta already took a guard in my lottery, so here I’d add a big. Cenac gives them a young frontcourt project with size, rebounding, and defensive growth potential. (Tankathon) - Detroit Pistons (via Timberwolves) — Joshua Jefferson, PF/SF, Iowa State
Jefferson is one of my favorite value picks in this range because he does a bit of everything. Detroit could use another big wing/forward who rebounds, passes, and defends across spots. (Tankathon) - Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets) — Amari Allen, SF, Alabama
Philadelphia can justify another wing swing here. Allen’s size and broad stat profile make him a solid late-first upside bet even if he’s not as polished as the older prospects. (Tankathon) - Los Angeles Lakers — Aday Mara, C, Michigan
This is a very Lakers-style value play if Mara lasts this long. At 7-foot-3 with elite rim-protection indicators, he’s one of the more interesting role-specific bets in the back half of the round. (Tankathon) - New York Knicks — Tounde Yessoufou, SG/SF, Baylor
Yessoufou gives New York downhill scoring, physicality, and defensive activity on the wing. He feels like the kind of aggressive, competitive scorer Tom Thibodeau would trust. (Tankathon) - Boston Celtics — Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan
Boston can take the best long-term frontcourt talent left. Johnson’s rebounding, interior efficiency, and defensive production make him a strong developmental fit behind a veteran core. (Tankathon) - Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons) — Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
Minnesota could use more perimeter shot creation and athletic scoring pop. Carr’s offensive profile makes sense as a late-first flier for a team that doesn’t need an immediate savior. (Tankathon) - Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs) — Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt
Tanner is small, but the production is loud: scoring, playmaking, steals, efficiency. Cleveland can use another live-dribble guard who pressures the ball and keeps the offense moving. (Tankathon) - Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder) — Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas
Swain is a smart end-of-round bet because of his size, versatility, and two-way wing frame. Dallas would be getting a player who can slot into a role without needing star-level usage. (Tankathon)
That gives you the full first round from my board as of March 17, 2026. The biggest personal deviations from consensus are Peat staying comfortably in my top 20, Jefferson sneaking into the first round, and Mara still hanging onto first-round value because elite size still matters. Public boards and mocks currently vary a lot once you get past the top group, which is why the back half is where team fit really starts to matter. (Tankathon)
Sources:
Tankathon — 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Simulator
Tankathon — Full 2026 NBA Draft Order
Tankathon — 2026 NBA Mock Draft with Lottery Simulator
Tankathon — 2026 NBA Draft Big Board
ESPN — 2026 NBA mock draft: Who’s rising and falling ahead of March Madness?
NBA Draft Room — 2026 NBA Mock Draft
ESPN — NBA draft intel: Execs, scouts on Peterson, Dybantsa, top draft prospects
Bleacher Report — New 2026 NBA Mock Draft with Another Top-3 Shakeup
NBADraft.net — 2026 Big Board: Top 100 Prospects
Round Two
Here’s the redone full Round 2 of my original 2026 NBA Mock Draft, rebuilt for March 17, 2026 using the current second-round order and a current 2026 prospect pool. I corrected the earlier issue by excluding players who were already taken in the 2025 NBA Draft, including Maxime Raynaud, Jamir Watkins, Adou Thiero, and Rocco Zikarsky. (Tankathon)
- Memphis Grizzlies (via Indiana) — Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
Memphis can start the second round with a guard who brings pace, scoring pressure, and some real shot-creation juice. Okorie feels like a worthwhile swing for a team that could use another young ball-handler with upside. (Tankathon) - New York Knicks (via Washington) — Isaiah Evans, SF, Duke
If Evans is still on the board here, New York should bet on the talent. He gives the Knicks long-term scoring upside on the wing and the kind of shot-making profile that is hard to find this late. (Tankathon) - Brooklyn Nets — Alijah Arenas, SG, USC
Brooklyn is still in asset-accumulation mode, so taking a scoring guard with upside makes sense. Arenas gives them a real offensive swing as a shot-maker who could outplay this range if the efficiency stabilizes. (Tankathon) - Sacramento Kings — Malachi Moreno, C, Kentucky
The Kings can justify adding another young frontcourt piece with size and defensive tools. Moreno gives them a developmental big who fits better as a long-term upside play than a short-term plug-in. (Tankathon) - San Antonio Spurs (via Utah) — Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
San Antonio can keep leaning into size, skill, and developmental upside. Veesaar brings length, mobility, and enough offensive feel to make him a sensible Spurs-type bet in this range. (Tankathon) - Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans) — Braden Smith, PG, Purdue
This feels like good second-round value. Smith is older and smaller than many teams prefer, but he processes the game well, can run offense, and has a much better chance to help quickly than a lot of raw swings. (Tankathon) - Oklahoma City Thunder (via Dallas) — Sergio de Larrea, PG/SG, Valencia
OKC is one of the best places in the league to take an international guard with size and feel. De Larrea would give the Thunder another smart connective player with enough ball skill to fit their style. (Tankathon) - Los Angeles Clippers (via Memphis) — Juke Harris, SG, Wake Forest
The Clippers can target scoring punch here, and Harris offers exactly that. He looks like the type of wing scorer who could become useful if his shot selection and off-ball habits sharpen up. (Tankathon) - Houston Rockets (via Chicago) — Zuby Ejiofor, PF, St. John’s
Houston can use a physical, productive forward who competes every possession. Ejiofor brings interior toughness, finishing, and defensive playmaking, and he feels like a pretty clean value swing in the late second. (Tankathon) - Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee) — JT Toppin, PF, Texas Tech
If Toppin lasts this far, Boston should be thrilled. He gives them activity, rebounding, scoring around the basket, and the kind of energy forward who can earn minutes on talent alone. (Tankathon) - San Antonio Spurs (via Portland) — Motiejus Krivas, C, Arizona
This is another patient Spurs-style pick. Krivas offers huge size and real interior utility, and San Antonio has the kind of timeline where letting a big develop properly is not a problem. (Tankathon) - Miami Heat (via Golden State) — Milan Momcilovic, SF/PF, Iowa State
Miami is a strong landing spot for a forward who can shoot and scale next to better players. Momcilovic fits as a floor-spacing combo forward whose offensive skill gives him a cleaner path than many second-rounders. (Tankathon) - Sacramento Kings (via Charlotte) — JoJo Tugler, PF, Houston
Sacramento can add some frontcourt defense and energy here. Tugler is not the polished scorer some teams want, but the motor, activity, and defensive disruption are real. (Tankathon) - Brooklyn Nets (via Clippers) — Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
Brooklyn should be thrilled if Lendeborg gets this deep into the round. He brings production, maturity, defensive playmaking, and enough all-around utility to give himself a strong chance to stick. (Tankathon) - Denver Nuggets (via Atlanta) — Ryan Conwell, SG, Louisville
Denver tends to benefit from adding role-friendly offensive players, and Conwell fits that idea well. He can shoot, play off better teammates, and potentially help a second unit without needing a lot of on-ball reps. (Tankathon) - Phoenix Suns (via Philadelphia) — Alex Karaban, SF/PF, UConn
Karaban would be a very Suns-type pick if they want someone who can think the game, shoot, and fit next to stars. He is not the flashiest swing, but he is the sort of player who tends to make sense quickly. (Tankathon) - San Antonio Spurs (via Miami) — Baba Miller, SF/PF, Cincinnati
San Antonio can afford another long development play, and Miller still makes sense because of the size-skill combination. If the consistency improves, this is exactly the range where that type of bet becomes appealing. (Tankathon) - Toronto Raptors — Joshua Jefferson, PF, Iowa State
Jefferson is the kind of versatile forward Toronto usually values. He rebounds, passes, competes, and can fit into several lineup structures without needing to dominate touches. (Tankathon) - Orlando Magic — Boogie Fland, PG, Arkansas
Orlando can justify taking a smaller guard here because the upside is real. Fland gives them burst, creation, and scoring ability that could change the look of a bench unit. (Tankathon) - Dallas Mavericks (via Phoenix) — Richie Saunders, SF, BYU
Dallas should be looking for functional complementary talent, and Saunders fits that well. He can shoot, move without the ball, and slot next to higher-usage creators without getting in the way. (Tankathon) - Washington Wizards (via Minnesota) — Baye Ndongo, PF/C, Georgia Tech
Washington is still in talent-collection mode, so Ndongo makes sense as an athletic frontcourt swing. His tools, motor, and defensive upside are worth betting on here. (Tankathon) - Los Angeles Clippers (via Cleveland) — Kylan Boswell, PG, Illinois
Boswell fits as a competitive reserve guard bet with real defensive value. The Clippers could use another ball-handler who can settle possessions and bring toughness at the point of attack. (Tankathon) - Chicago Bulls (via Denver) — Ben Henshall, SG, Perth Wildcats
Chicago can take an international wing bet here and see if the shooting and size translate. Henshall looks like the type of perimeter player who could become useful if the physicality catches up. (Tankathon) - Houston Rockets — Miles Byrd, SG, San Diego State
Houston already has enough primary creators that a defensive wing with some feel makes sense. Byrd gives them length, activity, and a role-player profile that is easier to picture in a winning lineup. (Tankathon) - Golden State Warriors (via Lakers) — Milos Uzan, PG, Houston
Golden State has long valued smart guards who can keep the ball moving, and Uzan fits that style. He is steady, poised, and capable of helping connect an offense rather than hijacking it. (Tankathon) - New York Knicks — Keyshawn Hall, SF, Auburn
Hall gives the Knicks another mature wing option with scoring strength and real physicality. In this part of the draft, there is value in taking older players who already know how to produce. (Tankathon) - Atlanta Hawks (via Boston) — Nate Bittle, C, Oregon
Atlanta can use another big with real size and rim protection. Bittle is older, but he has enough length, touch, and interior utility to be worth a late-second investment. (Tankathon) - New Orleans Pelicans (via Detroit) — Kylan Boswell, PG, Illinois
New Orleans can use this late second-round slot on a tough, experienced guard who brings steadiness more than flash. Boswell makes sense here because he offers strong decision-making, on-ball defense, and enough shooting/off-ball utility to fit alongside bigger creators, and current 2026 boards still place him right around the back end of the second round rather than outside the draft picture. (ESPN.com) - Minnesota Timberwolves (via San Antonio) — Alex Condon, PF/C, Florida
Minnesota can take a frontcourt piece with mobility and connective ability. Condon is the sort of big who can do a little bit of everything, which tends to matter in this range. (Tankathon) - Washington Wizards (via Oklahoma City) — Karim Lopez, SF, New Zealand Breakers
Washington can finish the draft with a long-term upside swing. Lopez still has one of the more interesting developmental profiles in this range because of his size and wing tools. (Tankathon)
Sources:
Tankathon — Full 2026 NBA Draft Order
Tankathon — 2026 NBA Mock Draft with Lottery Simulator
ESPN — 2026 NBA draft big board rankings: Top 100 prospects
NBA.com — 2025 NBA Draft Results: Picks 1-59
New York Post — St. John’s legends: ‘No brainer’ Zuby Ejiofor will be good NBA pro
Maize n Brew — Michigan Basketball’s Yaxel Lendeborg wins Big Ten Player of the Year