The 2026 NBA Draft is four days away. Teams have finished most of their pre draft work and are now making final decisions on who to pick at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The first round starts Tuesday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC and ESPN. The second round follows on Wednesday. Washington Wizards hold the top pick after winning the lottery. Utah, Memphis, Chicago, and the LA Clippers have the next four selections.
This class centers on a handful of college freshmen who stood out last season. BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke's Cameron Boozer, and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson top most rankings. Scouts like their size and readiness to play right away. Recent reports show the Wizards are weighing Dybantsa and Peterson closely for the first choice.
Mock drafts this week have some shifts in the top spots. Dybantsa often goes first to Washington, with Peterson and Boozer following in different orders. Other names showing up high include Illinois guard Keaton Wagler and a few others in the early lottery.
Trade talk continues but nothing big has broken yet. The Golden State Warriors asked about Charlotte's first round picks, though no deal happened. Houston, without a first round selection, is looking for value later in the second round around the 39th pick.
A group of prospects received invites to sit in the green room on draft night, including Duke wing Isaiah Evans. Some others, like Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance who dealt with injuries, did not get one. The withdrawal deadline has passed, so the player pool is locked in.