Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, Duke big man Cameron Boozer, and UNC forward Caleb Wilson are the top four picks — in that order — in the latest 2026 mock draft from Jeremy Woo of ESPN.
As Woo writes, while Peterson is the most talented offensive player in the 2026 class, injuries and inconsistency have led to a perception that selecting him first overall might carry more risk than adding Dybantsa or Boozer, who are both still in the mix for the top spot. Woo suggests which team wins the draft lottery might ultimately determine which player goes No. 1, with Peterson and Dybantsa viewed as the two frontrunners.
Illinois guard Keaton Wagler (No. 6) and Texas wing Dailyn Swain (No. 29) are among the prospects who have boosted their stocks this season, while Arizona forward Koa Peat (No. 19) and Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou (No. 30) are trending in the opposite direction, according to Woo.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Dean Oliver of ESPN takes a look at how teams’ remaining strength of schedule could impact which NBA teams secure the third and fourth seeds in the Western Conference, the No. 2 spot in the East, and the fifth and sixth seeds in the East.
- Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report predicts which NBA contracts will be the riskiest ahead of the 2027/2028 season. Although he’s the “most likely” player to live up to his lucrative long-term contract, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s super-max extension will be the riskiest deal in the league in a couple seasons, per Pincus. The reigning MVP will be owed a projected $273.3MM over four years in ’27/28.
- Former NBA assistant Will Weaver has been named head coach and president of basketball operation of the Brisbane Bullets, he told Olgun Uluc of ESPN. The Bullets compete in the National Basketball League, which features nine Australian teams and one based in New Zealand. Weaver, who previously coached the Sydney Kings in 2019/20, is currently a coaching advisor for the Hornets and will continue in that role through the end of ’25/26, Uluc reports.
Wow NBA salaries are getting more crazy than other sports. SGA is great but Wow good thing he’s got his ring and only cares about money amount now. I expect JB to do the same but he needs to win to deserve more money from Knicks. JB you win you will get a blank check. You don’t you don’t win in New York because of the cap restrictions.
@mlb
please remind of the last major nba star that signed to the Knicks again? Exactly. Brunson has averaged 30/7/4 in the playoffs. he’s not the reason the Knicks haven’t won anything. He will get every bit of whatever he wants. Keep in mind he took a pay cut last time to fit in Bridges.
Peterson and Dybantsa may have bigger upside. To me Boozer is a sure thing and ready now. A 4 who can start day 1 and fit in. Kings would be wise to take Boozer and go full rebuild. They can get good value for Sabonis. As a Knick fan. I would love Sabonis on Knicks. Move KAT to another team.
I am rooting for Pacers to get 5th pick. They don’t deserve a pick this year. I see Jazz taking Peterson. Wizards taking AJ or Peterson, Nets taking AJ.
Kings can’t go wrong with either one.
Yea, they suck! Bad teams shouldn’t get good picks! Spurs and Pistons should get #1 and #2.
?????????????????!!!!???????????!!!!!!!!!! ok
who doesn’t deserve a pick this year? I’m assuming you mean Sac perhaps?
Pacers are defending East champs. Now they have the worst record. You need me to explain that. Last time this happened they changed the rules ..
Yeah…. they’re a last place team. I wonder why? Oh yeah… they were an overachieving team last year that played with a very slim margin of error and their best player was Halliburton, who most would agree is, at best a top 15-20 player in the nba, is out for the season. In addition, they lost MylesTurner to free agency, and two of their key rotational players missed significant games this year with Nesmith out for 25 games and Oppin out for most of the season. So yeah, they didn’t have the depth of a team like Okc and Boston. They suck this year. I wouldn’t accuse them of tanking. That’s silly talk. Same thing happened to the GSW the year Steph was injured for most of the season.
When David Robinson got injured and then were able to draft Tim Duncan is probably another one
I agree and think Indiana doesn’t deserve a top 5 pick. They were almost champions and then drop to number 30? That’s pathetic regardless of one possible star player out. Myles did leave on his own merrit but Indiana did nothing to fill that hole. Playing high minutes to Walker and Brown right now is tanking behavior. The coach should be ashamed of himself really. I admire Boston and Tatum more than Hali in Indiana. Look at Indiana’s player turnover rate this season, people coming and going. Bad chemistry and tanking
SGA contract is about 68.4 mill a yr. With the second apron set at 207 mill this yr. Lets say next yr it goes to 215 mill. That would make SGA contract 32% of that 2nd apron. Considering you carry a 15 man roster. Doesn’t give you much room to fill out a good team. Imo no max contract should be more than 25%. Then you can pay out three max contracts. If you need to.
In 2027-28 Thunder will pay SGA 64 mill, Chet, 44.5 mill, JWill 44.5 mill. Thats 153 mill for three players. On a team sport. Your guys 4-8 should also be taken care off. If you want a contender. Then your picks have to get paid. Makes it easier if you cap off max contracts at 25%. Big stars ALL make more off the field today. So it isn’t a big deal. Spread the wealth ……