Stephen NohFri, May 8, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC·12 min readNBA Mock Draft 2026: Complete 2-round edition includes Aday Mara to Bulls, Bennett Stirtz to Thunder originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With the draft lottery just around the corner, the first round is becoming much clearer. Several high-profile picks have elected to go back to school, including Patrick Ngongba, Braylon Mullins, Thomas Haugh, and Motiejus Krivas. That has thinned out the back of the first round, but this is still set up to be a generational draft.
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer all remain in consideration for the No. 1 pick. The possibility of Caleb Wilson breaking into that top three is becoming more realistic day by day. And the rest of the first round has shifted slightly since the last time we did this at the end of the regular season.
Here's the most recent version of our 2026 mock draft, with predictions for all 60 picks.
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Dybantsa has First Team All-NBA potential. He showed that as a freshman at BYU, leading the nation in scoring with 25.5 points per game. The 6-9 wing has rare fluidity and a complete scoring package, giving him the highest ceiling in this deep draft.
Despite missing significant time with cramping and lower leg issues, Peterson should be ready to fit into the Pacers' fast-paced offense. He's an effortless scorer and a potentially capable defender. He should be able to operate as a primary or secondary playmaker alongside Tyrese Haliburton.
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Boozer is the analytical darling of this class. He put up better numbers than last year's No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, dominating college basketball with his size, playmaking, post touch, and shooting. While he might not be the highest jumper or the fastest, he's the safest pick in this draft and could easily be the best player 10 years from now.
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Wilson is a special two-way prospect. Standing at 6-10, he's a defensive Swiss Army knife that gets excited about locking down opponents. Offensively, he's a terror in transition and hard to stop with a head of steam. He'll have good spacing around him playing alongside Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Acuff is the closest thing to Stephon Marbury that the league has seen since 2009. The silky-smooth guard knows how to get buckets, using a killer pull-up jumper alongside a shifty handle. Sacramento can reset their franchise around his talent.
Burries is the quintessential Grizzlies target. He's an analytically-friendly guard who hits their internal thresholds for defensive rebounding, playmaking, steals, and efficient scoring. He can play on or off the ball, giving them flexibility on what to do with Ja Morant.
The Hawks are an up-and-coming team that relies on an offensive system with multiple ballhandlers who can all pass, dribble, and shoot. Wagler certainly fits that bill. The 6-6 guard is tall enough to see all of the angles, and he's a great shooter that can spread the floor or easily create for others. He can fix some of Atlanta's halfcourt creation issues that cropped up in the playoffs.
The Mavericks need a point guard, and they'd prefer one that can defend. There are a lot of explosive offensive guards to choose from in this class. Flemings offers the best blend of tough defense, playmaking, and offensive shot creation. His blazing speed in the open floor should pair perfectly with Cooper Flagg.
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The Bulls don't have any high-level center prospects on their roster. They've struggled with rim protection for years, and they need someone who can compensate for Josh Giddey's weak perimeter defense.
Mara fixes a lot of their issues. He's a great outlet passer who will fit into Chicago's transition-based offense. He's their best shot blocker since Joakim Noah was roaming the floor. And his great passing fits the egalitarian approach of the team.
Whether trying to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay or setting up the next iteration of their team, Lendeborg can fit whatever the Bucks need. The talented forward was one of the best players in college basketball last season, contributing versatile defense, playmaking, and shooting to the Wolverines. He's a high-motor forward who could start over Kyle Kuzma immediately.
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