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NBA mock draft 2026: Update after college basketball entry deadline with final lottery odds The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.PickTeamPlayerPositionSchoolAge1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 200714Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomoreLet’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pickIt feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higherCaleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lotteryThe Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.I spent March Madness following Michigan and reporting out a feature on how Yaxel Lendeborg grew up into a potential lottery pick. He told me about the NBA’s feedback at the combine last year, how he views his pro translation, and what this year at Michigan meant to him. I think you’ll like what he had to say:I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streamingHere’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing: #NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds

NBA mock draft 2026: Update after college basketball entry deadline with final lottery odds

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age

1Washington WizardsAJ DybantsaWingBYUFreshman
2Indiana PacersDarryn PetersonGuardKansasFreshman
3Brooklyn NetsCameron BoozerForwardDukeFreshman
4Utah JazzCaleb WilsonForwardNorth CarolinaFreshman
5Sacramento KingsDarius AcuffGuardArkansasFreshman
6Memphis GrizzliesKeaton WaglerGuardIllinoisFreshman
7Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)Kingston FlemingsGuardHoustonFreshman
8Dallas MavericksMikel Brown Jr.GuardLouisvilleFreshman
9Chicago BullsAday MaraCenterMichiganJunior
10Milwaukee BucksBrayden BurriesGuardArizonaFreshman
11Golden State WarriorsYaxel LendeborgForwardMichiganSenior
12Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers)Nate AmentWingTennesseeFreshman
13Miami HeatKarim LopezForwardNZ BreakersBorn 2007
14Charlotte HornetsJayden QuaintanceCenter/ForwardKentuckySophomore
15Chicago BullsMorez JohnsonCenter/ForwardMichiganSophomore
16Memphis GrizzliesDailyn SwainWingTexasJunior
17Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ersHannes SteinbachForward/CenterWashingtonFreshman
18Charlotte Hornets (via Magic)Cameron CarrWingBaylorJunior
19Toronto RaptorsLabaron PhilonGuardAlabamaSophomore
20San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks)Chris CenacCenterHoustonFreshman
21Detroit Pistons (via Wolves)Bennett StirtzGuardIowaSenior
22Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets)Allen GravesForwardSanta ClaraFreshman
23Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs)Joshua JeffersonForwardIowa StateSenior
24New York KnicksIsaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore
25Los Angeles LakersHenri VeesaarCenterNorth CarolinaJunior
26Denver NuggetsKoa PeatForwardArizonaFreshman
27Boston CelticsTyler TannerGuardVanderbiltSophomore
28Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons)Meleek ThomasGuardArkansasFreshman
29Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs)Christian AndersonGuardTexas TechSophomore
30Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder)Isaiah EvansGuardDukeSophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

#NBA #mock #draft #Update #college #basketball #entry #deadline #final #lottery #odds

Sports news ,

The 2026 NBA Draft class has been hyped for years. The big pay off is finally coming on May 10 with the drawing of the draft lottery, and now the odds for the ping-pong balls have been finalized.

The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Indiana Pacers earned the top odds with a 14 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. The Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings each have an 11.5 percent chance at No. 1, while the Memphis Grizzlies have the next-best odds at nine percent. The Atlanta Hawks have a 6.8 percent chance at winning the top-pick thanks to their brilliant trade with the New Orleans Pelicans, and then Atlanta also has another three percent chance at the top pick thanks to swap rights with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Dallas Mavericks have a 6.7 percent chance at No. 1, the Chicago Bulls have a 4.5 percent chance at winning the lottery, and the Golden State Warriors have a two percent chance at the first pick. The Thunder (1.5 percent thanks to a swap with the Clippers), Heat (1 percent), and Hornets (0.5 percent) round out the lottery.

This draft class has already lost some talent to NIL money. UConn’s Braylon Mullins, Duke’s Patrick Ngongba, Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas, and Baylor’s Tounde Yessoufou were all projected first-round picks in our previous mock draft before deciding to return to school. Only Yessoufou left himself the option to still enter this draft.

The best thing about this draft class if you don’t need the No. 1 pick to find a future franchise player. Just landing in the top-4 should get the job done. Here’s our latest 2026 NBA mock draft using the lottery standings as the order.

Pick

Team

Player

Position

School

Age
1 Washington Wizards AJ Dybantsa Wing BYU Freshman
2 Indiana Pacers Darryn Peterson Guard Kansas Freshman
3 Brooklyn Nets Cameron Boozer Forward Duke Freshman
4 Utah Jazz Caleb Wilson Forward North Carolina Freshman
5 Sacramento Kings Darius Acuff Guard Arkansas Freshman
6 Memphis Grizzlies Keaton Wagler Guard Illinois Freshman
7 Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) Kingston Flemings Guard Houston Freshman
8 Dallas Mavericks Mikel Brown Jr. Guard Louisville Freshman
9 Chicago Bulls Aday Mara Center Michigan Junior
10 Milwaukee Bucks Brayden Burries Guard Arizona Freshman
11 Golden State Warriors Yaxel Lendeborg Forward Michigan Senior
12 Oklahoma City Thunder (via Clippers) Nate Ament Wing Tennessee Freshman
13 Miami Heat Karim Lopez Forward NZ Breakers Born 2007
14 Charlotte Hornets Jayden Quaintance Center/Forward Kentucky Sophomore
15 Chicago Bulls Morez Johnson Center/Forward Michigan Sophomore
16 Memphis Grizzlies Dailyn Swain Wing Texas Junior
17 Oklahoma City Thunder (via 76ers Hannes Steinbach Forward/Center Washington Freshman
18 Charlotte Hornets (via Magic) Cameron Carr Wing Baylor Junior
19 Toronto Raptors Labaron Philon Guard Alabama Sophomore
20 San Antonio Spurs (via Hawks) Chris Cenac Center Houston Freshman
21 Detroit Pistons (via Wolves) Bennett Stirtz Guard Iowa Senior
22 Philadelphia 76ers (via Rockets) Allen Graves Forward Santa Clara Freshman
23 Atlanta Hawks (via Cavs) Joshua Jefferson Forward Iowa State Senior
24 New York Knicks Isaiah Evans Guard Duke Sophomore
25 Los Angeles Lakers Henri Veesaar Center North Carolina Junior
26 Denver Nuggets Koa Peat Forward Arizona Freshman
27 Boston Celtics Tyler Tanner Guard Vanderbilt Sophomore
28 Minnesota Timberwolves (via Pistons) Meleek Thomas Guard Arkansas Freshman
29 Cleveland Cavaliers (via Spurs) Christian Anderson Guard Texas Tech Sophomore
30 Dallas Mavericks (via Thunder) Isaiah Evans Guard Duke Sophomore

Let’s dive into one of the biggest themes to watch on lottery night.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery odds to land a top-4 pick

It feels like every team in the lottery would be thrilled just to land in the top-4 — that’s just how strong this draft class is. Here are the odds each lottery team has to land in the top-4, via Tankathon:

Caleb Wilson might be rising into the top-3 — or higher

Caleb Wilson didn’t play in the 2026 NCAA tournament for North Carolina after suffering a broken bone in his left hand in February and then a broken thumb in his right hand in March. Those injuries shouldn’t and reportedly haven’t dulled NBA interest. In the last few weeks, there have been reports that some teams value Wilson more than Duke forward Cameron Boozer, and that he could even be the second player taken on draft night.

Wilson has the single best highlight reel in the class for my money. Sit back and enjoy:

There’s a compelling sales pitch for the UNC forward. He’s a freak athlete at 6’10 who dunks everything (67 dunks in 24 games), he’s a high-motor defender who guard all over the floor, he’s a good passer, and he has an ability to create scoring opportunities for himself away from the rim with excellent mid-range shooting touch. The two big knocks on him are his shooting and ball handling. Wilson is not a good three-point shooter right now after making 25.9 percent of his 27 attempts from deep in college. He also isn’t really a viable on-ball creator because his lack of handle refinement limits where he can get on the floor. For now, he’s an electric play-finisher on offense and a buzzsaw on defense who should be an absolute terror in transition from day one.

I’ve been consistent that Boozer is my top player in the class. Boozer and Wilson were teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit for Nightrydas, and there was never any question on who the best player on the team was (it was Boozer). Wilson did arguably out-play him in the first Duke vs. North Carolina game this season, which was one of the best prospect matchups we got all year in college hoops.

I have liked Wilson for a while, even putting him on my 2023 list of the best NBA prospects in high school hoops. I’m considering sliding him up to No. 2 on my board, and I would not be shocked if he’s eventually picked in the top-3. Just moving up to No. 4 in the lottery — likely in position to draft Boozer or Wilson — would be an incredible boon for teams like the Bulls, Warriors, and Bucks, who all have long-shots odds entering the lottery. Wilson is so much better than the No. 4 overall prospect in a typical draft, and that’s a big reason why this class is so highly-touted.

Who moves up after the college basketball early entry deadline?

I thought Braylon Mullins and Patrick Ngongba were lottery-caliber talents. Instead, both are going back to UConn and Duke respectively. Thomas Haugh was considered a lottery pick on ESPN’s big board, but he’s going back to Florida for arguably the biggest NIL bag in college basketball history. Flory Bidunga’s decision to transfer to Louisville rather than enter the draft (though he is on the early entry list) is another hit to the depth of the class. It’s possible players like Tyler Tanner, Allen Graves, Juke Harris, Alijah Arenas, and Ebuka Okorie — who could all be drafted in the first round — eventually decide returning to school is their best decision. I named Graves as the best available player in the transfer portal, and there are some whispers that he could end up at Duke if he doesn’t enter the draft.

Here’s full early entry list, via Jeremy Woo:

The list of returners undeniably impacts the second half of the first round and the entirety of the second round. Expect plenty of seniors to hear their names once we get into the 20s, and new prospects are already emerging in pre-draft camps like the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. I enjoyed this YouTube breakdown from Ben Pfeifer on the biggest winners of the PIT.

I have Henri Veesaar moving up into the first-round in this mock draft thanks to all the players slated to return back to school. The North Carolina center was one of the my favorite potential second-rounders in this class for his interior scoring efficiency and three-point shooting improvement, but now he might move up by default. It feels like Christian Anderson is likely staying the draft too, but there’s only so many potential landing spots for smaller guards. I’ve also projected Spanish guard Sergio de Larrea as a first-round pick at times during the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts to generate buzz again in the lead up to the draft.

The withdrawal deadline is only 10 days before the draft on June 13 at 5 p.m. ET. The draft board will continue to evolve until then.

Michigan’s 3 stars all end up in the lottery

The Wolverines were a wagon on their way to a college basketball national championship. While I would expect Elliott Cadeau to return to school, I think Morez Johnson will be joining Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg in the draft.

  • I spent March Madness following Michigan and reporting out a feature on how Yaxel Lendeborg grew up into a potential lottery pick. He told me about the NBA’s feedback at the combine last year, how he views his pro translation, and what this year at Michigan meant to him. I think you’ll like what he had to say:
  • I also spent a lot of time chatting with Aday Mara throughout Michigan’s March Madness run. Read my feature on how Mara developed into a lottery pick after two years on the bench at UCLA.
  • Morez Johnson is a Chicagoland kid who didn’t leave the area for a prep school like so many of his highly touted peers. In this mock, Mara and Johnson are reunited with the Chicago Bulls, who earned a second top-15 pick via the Portland Trail Blazers thanks to their 2021 Lauri Markkanen trade.

NBA Draft 2026 lottery date, TV time, and streaming

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s draft lottery drawing:

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Deadspin | Ryan Vilade, Rays chase series-clinching win over Guardians <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28826510.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28826510.jpg" alt="MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Guardians" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 27, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) and right fielder Ryan Vilade (26) celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Ryan Vilade had brief stints with four teams during his first three seasons in the majors. The 27-year-old outfielder looks as if he finally has found a home with the Tampa Bay Rays.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Vilade is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a .500 on-base percentage over his past 10 games for the surging Rays.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Tampa Bay continues its three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday when Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (1-1, 2.10 ERA) takes on Guardians righty Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45).</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Vilade was the catalyst behind the Rays’ fifth consecutive win on Monday. He produced a career-high-tying three hits and had two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the eighth inning off Hunter Gaddis. Tampa Bay overcame a two-run deficit to pull out a 3-2 victory.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>“Whenever my name is called, I want to help my team win,” Vilade said. “It’s been good and we’re getting more gritty by the day.”</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Tampa Bay acquired Vilade from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for cash on Nov. 3, 2025. He only appeared in one game with the Reds after playing in seven for the St. Louis Cardinals earlier last season.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Those brief stops followed a 17-game stay with the Detroit Tigers in 2024 and a three-game stop with the Colorado Rockies in 2021. His career totals coming into this spring were nine hits in 64 at-bats (.141 average).</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Vilade currently is batting .344 on the season, and he is 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position. His two-game streaks of multiple hits and an RBI are career firsts.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>“Ryno really complements our team really well and helps us all over the field,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Veteran pitcher Steven Matz, who earned the win in the series opener, also is impressed with Vilade’s contributions on and off the field.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-11"> <p>“Ryan has such a great personality and has fit right in,” Matz said. “That’s the great thing about this group. Everyone feels like they fit in and there aren’t any cliques or anything in the clubhouse.”</p> </section> <section id="section-12"> <p>Assuming he remains in the lineup on Tuesday, Vilade will try to help Martinez win a second straight start. </p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Martinez limited the Reds to one run in eight innings while striking out a season-high six on Wednesday. He has struggled badly in six career outings (two starts) against Cleveland, going 1-2 with an 8.56 ERA.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>The Guardians have lost three in a row, their longest skid of the season, and appear to have reached a turning point after falling to .500 for the first time since March 31.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Cleveland is expected to recall former No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana from Triple-A Columbus before Tuesday game and make him its everyday second baseman. The Australian had a .287 average with two homers, 10 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 24 games with the Clippers.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>“We know it’s a long season,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We’re 30 games in. There’s a long way to go. And again, for a lot of our guys, they’re in these situations for maybe the first or second time.”</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>Cleveland hopes Bazzana can adapt as quickly as rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter, who hit four homers in his first three career regular-season games. DeLauter doubled in the ninth inning Monday off Bryan Baker, giving the Guardians two on with one out, but the Tampa Bay closer struck out the next two batters for his seventh save.</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>DeLauter has collected a hit in five of his past six contests, and he has reached base in 24 of 27 total games. He also is the eighth-hardest player to strike out in the majors.</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>“The moment’s not too big for him,” Vogt said. “Chase has been great all year and continues to have good at-bats.”</p> </section><section id="section-20"> <p>Once considered Cleveland’s ace in waiting, Bibee has put together strong starts in his past two outings, tossing 12 innings of two-run ball against the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. The Guardians are 1-5 in his six starts.</p> </section><section id="section-21"> <p>Bibee beat the Rays the first time he faced them in 2023, but he is 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA against them in four career starts. He has worked deep into games vs. Tampa Bay, averaging more than 6 1/3 innings per appearance.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-22"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Ryan #Vilade #Rays #chase #seriesclinching #win #Guardians

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Deadspin | With Manny Machado in question, Padres take aim at Cubs Apr 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a single during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Manny Machado might not be available for the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night when they vie for a series win against the visiting Chicago Cubs. The All-Star third baseman left San Diego’s 9-7 victory on Monday with a left calf injury. Machado, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs, was seen on Padres TV getting his calf rubbed by the team’s training staff. San Diego manager Craig Stammen said Machado exited the game as a precaution after Stammen saw how he came out of the batter’s box on a groundout to end the sixth inning. “Manny is fine,” Stammen said. “He came out of the box a little awkwardly. We’ll talk to him tomorrow and see how he feels, and we’ll go from there.” If Machado does have to sit out, the Padres at least have the depth to make up for his absence in the short term. Ty France drove in four runs Monday night with a two-run double and two-run triple, while Nick Castellanos added a two-run single that put San Diego ahead to stay in the bottom of the fifth. Padres general manager A.J. Preller didn’t make many moves until February, but the additions of France, Castellanos and Miguel Andujar have bolstered the team’s depth and lengthened a lineup that at times last year had too many holes. “There’s an unbelievable amount of talent in the lineup,” France said, “so if everyone plays their game, we’ll come out on top.” Right-hander Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA) will try to bounce back from his shaky start on Wednesday night in Colorado. He absorbed an 8-3 loss, permitting four runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings, with three walks. Buehler is 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career outings (six starts) against Chicago. The Cubs will counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73), who’s coming off a no-decision during his team’s 8-7, 10-inning win Thursday against Philadelphia. He pitched seven innings, yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits. Cabrera has dominated San Diego in three career starts, going 1-0 with an 0.54 ERA. Chicago could use another good performance from Cabrera for multiple reasons. The team has lost three games in a row following a 10-game winning streak, and its bullpen is experiencing issues. Three relievers gave up four runs in the last four innings on Monday night, enabling the Padres to rally from a 5-3 deficit. Phil Maton gave up two runs in the seventh inning in his first outing since April 7 in Tampa Bay. Right knee tendinitis, which contributed to a drop in his velocity, kept him out for nearly three weeks. “I’m kind of hoping we addressed it now and we can focus on getting guys out for the rest of the year,” Maton said. The good news for the Cubs is their high-scoring offense was back in form Monday, getting a grand slam from Moises Ballesteros and becoming the first team to score off San Diego closer Mason Miller this season when they touched him for two runs in the ninth. It was the first career slam for Ballesteros, who’s hitting .387 with five homers and 16 RBI. “I was really excited when I was rounding first,” he said. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Manny #Machado #question #Padres #aim #CubsApr 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a single during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Manny Machado might not be available for the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night when they vie for a series win against the visiting Chicago Cubs.

The All-Star third baseman left San Diego’s 9-7 victory on Monday with a left calf injury. Machado, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs, was seen on Padres TV getting his calf rubbed by the team’s training staff.

San Diego manager Craig Stammen said Machado exited the game as a precaution after Stammen saw how he came out of the batter’s box on a groundout to end the sixth inning.

“Manny is fine,” Stammen said. “He came out of the box a little awkwardly. We’ll talk to him tomorrow and see how he feels, and we’ll go from there.”

If Machado does have to sit out, the Padres at least have the depth to make up for his absence in the short term. Ty France drove in four runs Monday night with a two-run double and two-run triple, while Nick Castellanos added a two-run single that put San Diego ahead to stay in the bottom of the fifth.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller didn’t make many moves until February, but the additions of France, Castellanos and Miguel Andujar have bolstered the team’s depth and lengthened a lineup that at times last year had too many holes.

“There’s an unbelievable amount of talent in the lineup,” France said, “so if everyone plays their game, we’ll come out on top.”

Right-hander Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA) will try to bounce back from his shaky start on Wednesday night in Colorado. He absorbed an 8-3 loss, permitting four runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings, with three walks.


Buehler is 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career outings (six starts) against Chicago.

The Cubs will counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73), who’s coming off a no-decision during his team’s 8-7, 10-inning win Thursday against Philadelphia. He pitched seven innings, yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits.

Cabrera has dominated San Diego in three career starts, going 1-0 with an 0.54 ERA.

Chicago could use another good performance from Cabrera for multiple reasons. The team has lost three games in a row following a 10-game winning streak, and its bullpen is experiencing issues. Three relievers gave up four runs in the last four innings on Monday night, enabling the Padres to rally from a 5-3 deficit.

Phil Maton gave up two runs in the seventh inning in his first outing since April 7 in Tampa Bay. Right knee tendinitis, which contributed to a drop in his velocity, kept him out for nearly three weeks.

“I’m kind of hoping we addressed it now and we can focus on getting guys out for the rest of the year,” Maton said.

The good news for the Cubs is their high-scoring offense was back in form Monday, getting a grand slam from Moises Ballesteros and becoming the first team to score off San Diego closer Mason Miller this season when they touched him for two runs in the ninth.

It was the first career slam for Ballesteros, who’s hitting .387 with five homers and 16 RBI.

“I was really excited when I was rounding first,” he said.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Manny #Machado #question #Padres #aim #Cubs">Deadspin | With Manny Machado in question, Padres take aim at Cubs Apr 27, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a single during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Manny Machado might not be available for the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night when they vie for a series win against the visiting Chicago Cubs. The All-Star third baseman left San Diego’s 9-7 victory on Monday with a left calf injury. Machado, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs, was seen on Padres TV getting his calf rubbed by the team’s training staff. San Diego manager Craig Stammen said Machado exited the game as a precaution after Stammen saw how he came out of the batter’s box on a groundout to end the sixth inning. “Manny is fine,” Stammen said. “He came out of the box a little awkwardly. We’ll talk to him tomorrow and see how he feels, and we’ll go from there.” If Machado does have to sit out, the Padres at least have the depth to make up for his absence in the short term. Ty France drove in four runs Monday night with a two-run double and two-run triple, while Nick Castellanos added a two-run single that put San Diego ahead to stay in the bottom of the fifth. Padres general manager A.J. Preller didn’t make many moves until February, but the additions of France, Castellanos and Miguel Andujar have bolstered the team’s depth and lengthened a lineup that at times last year had too many holes. “There’s an unbelievable amount of talent in the lineup,” France said, “so if everyone plays their game, we’ll come out on top.” Right-hander Walker Buehler (1-2, 5.75 ERA) will try to bounce back from his shaky start on Wednesday night in Colorado. He absorbed an 8-3 loss, permitting four runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings, with three walks. Buehler is 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA in seven career outings (six starts) against Chicago. The Cubs will counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-0, 2.73), who’s coming off a no-decision during his team’s 8-7, 10-inning win Thursday against Philadelphia. He pitched seven innings, yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits. Cabrera has dominated San Diego in three career starts, going 1-0 with an 0.54 ERA. Chicago could use another good performance from Cabrera for multiple reasons. The team has lost three games in a row following a 10-game winning streak, and its bullpen is experiencing issues. Three relievers gave up four runs in the last four innings on Monday night, enabling the Padres to rally from a 5-3 deficit. Phil Maton gave up two runs in the seventh inning in his first outing since April 7 in Tampa Bay. Right knee tendinitis, which contributed to a drop in his velocity, kept him out for nearly three weeks. “I’m kind of hoping we addressed it now and we can focus on getting guys out for the rest of the year,” Maton said. The good news for the Cubs is their high-scoring offense was back in form Monday, getting a grand slam from Moises Ballesteros and becoming the first team to score off San Diego closer Mason Miller this season when they touched him for two runs in the ninth. It was the first career slam for Ballesteros, who’s hitting .387 with five homers and 16 RBI. “I was really excited when I was rounding first,” he said. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Manny #Machado #question #Padres #aim #Cubs

A football match official who was a potential pick to work at FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America was arrested for an alleged sexual assault at a hotel while in Britain for a game.

World Cup organiser FIFA said on Tuesday it was “aware of the serious allegation,” after details of an alleged assault of a teenage boy were first reported by British daily The Sun.

“In the meantime, the match official will not be considered for any FIFA competition matches,” the football governing body said in a statement.

ALSO READ | John Stones to leave Manchester City at end of season

FIFA published a list this month of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials selected for the 104-game World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The match official was not identified in reports, nor was the European competition game he was working at for UEFA.

“We are monitoring the situation with great concern and will continue to follow developments closely,” UEFA said.

UEFA added it also will not be selecting the official for its games, and the alleged incident was part of “an active investigation.”

The Sun reported the Metropolitan Police in London released a man in his 30s on bail.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#Football #match #official #arrested #alleged #assault #Britain #game">Football match official arrested for alleged assault while in Britain for a game A football match official who was a potential pick to work at FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America was arrested for an alleged sexual assault at a hotel while in Britain for a game.World Cup organiser FIFA said on Tuesday it was “aware of the serious allegation,” after details of an alleged assault of a teenage boy were first reported by British daily The Sun.“In the meantime, the match official will not be considered for any FIFA competition matches,” the football governing body said in a statement.ALSO READ | John Stones to leave Manchester City at end of seasonFIFA published a list this month of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials selected for the 104-game World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.The match official was not identified in reports, nor was the European competition game he was working at for UEFA.“We are monitoring the situation with great concern and will continue to follow developments closely,” UEFA said.UEFA added it also will not be selecting the official for its games, and the alleged incident was part of “an active investigation.”The Sun reported the Metropolitan Police in London released a man in his 30s on bail.Published on Apr 28, 2026 #Football #match #official #arrested #alleged #assault #Britain #game

John Stones to leave Manchester City at end of season

FIFA published a list this month of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials selected for the 104-game World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The match official was not identified in reports, nor was the European competition game he was working at for UEFA.

“We are monitoring the situation with great concern and will continue to follow developments closely,” UEFA said.

UEFA added it also will not be selecting the official for its games, and the alleged incident was part of “an active investigation.”

The Sun reported the Metropolitan Police in London released a man in his 30s on bail.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#Football #match #official #arrested #alleged #assault #Britain #game">Football match official arrested for alleged assault while in Britain for a game

A football match official who was a potential pick to work at FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America was arrested for an alleged sexual assault at a hotel while in Britain for a game.

World Cup organiser FIFA said on Tuesday it was “aware of the serious allegation,” after details of an alleged assault of a teenage boy were first reported by British daily The Sun.

“In the meantime, the match official will not be considered for any FIFA competition matches,” the football governing body said in a statement.

ALSO READ | John Stones to leave Manchester City at end of season

FIFA published a list this month of 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video match officials selected for the 104-game World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

The match official was not identified in reports, nor was the European competition game he was working at for UEFA.

“We are monitoring the situation with great concern and will continue to follow developments closely,” UEFA said.

UEFA added it also will not be selecting the official for its games, and the alleged incident was part of “an active investigation.”

The Sun reported the Metropolitan Police in London released a man in his 30s on bail.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#Football #match #official #arrested #alleged #assault #Britain #game
Why Top NBA Draft Prospects Aren’t Guaranteed Stars | Deadspin.com Feb 25, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs (2) defends during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images For most of the season, the consensus top three players in the draft have been AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Dybantsa has been my consensus top prospect for the entire season, and he will likely be the top pick come draft time. Prediction markets currently give Dybantsa a 75% chance of going first overall, with Peterson and Boozer close behind. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: basketball Peterson and Boozer were stars in college, but I’m not entirely sold on either one of them at the NBA level. My issues with the two guys are different, but I believe there are other players closely behind them on big boards that do what they can, but better.The issues with Peterson are pretty simple: Does he have the mentality of an NBA player? Offensively, he has all the skills in the world and is freakishly athletic. There aren’t many guys I have as much faith in to apply consistent rim pressure like he does. He also has a well-developed jumper and can score at all three levels.Aside from his durability and off-court mentality, he isn’t a high-motor defender, and his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired. I think if you’re okay taking a risk on that changing with a full 82-game NBA schedule, then you can take him second overall. If not, Darius Acuff might be a more enticing offensive first guard.Acuff has a lot to work on defensively, but a shooting prospect like him does not come around too often. He can’t provide the rim pressure that Peterson does, but he’s a much better facilitator off the dribble. Offensively, he’s such a complete prospect and should be getting way more top-five buzz.The next guy likely to go top three could not be much different than Peterson. Boozer has an NBA body and looks like a guy who could play all 82 games for the next decade. Unlike Dybantsa or Peterson, Boozer feels like a guy who will be ready to provide real value right away. I’m just not sold on his ceiling.You’re taking a top-three pick because you think they’ll turn into an All-Star, not just an everyday starter. Boozer relied on way too much back-to-the-basket offense at Duke, and he’s just not going to get touches like that in the NBA. Even if he did, he’d be far less efficient.UNC’s Caleb Wilson can provide that same level of post-production, but with far more athleticism. Wilson has work to be done on his jumper, but it’s still fundamentally strong, and I think he can at least be a threat from the outside once he gets further into his professional career. Defensively, versatility is so valuable at the NBA level, and I think Wilson’s explosive play style makes him an equally high-floor option at forward.The 2026 NBA draft class is incredibly deep. If you don’t love the guys at the top of the board, this could be the year to move back and still get a great player for the future. Acuff and Wilson are the guys I’d move back for. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: basketball #Top #NBA #Draft #Prospects #Arent #Guaranteed #Stars #Deadspin.comFeb 25, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs (2) defends during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

For most of the season, the consensus top three players in the draft have been AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Dybantsa has been my consensus top prospect for the entire season, and he will likely be the top pick come draft time. Prediction markets currently give Dybantsa a 75% chance of going first overall, with Peterson and Boozer close behind.

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: basketball

Peterson and Boozer were stars in college, but I’m not entirely sold on either one of them at the NBA level. My issues with the two guys are different, but I believe there are other players closely behind them on big boards that do what they can, but better.

The issues with Peterson are pretty simple: Does he have the mentality of an NBA player? Offensively, he has all the skills in the world and is freakishly athletic. There aren’t many guys I have as much faith in to apply consistent rim pressure like he does. He also has a well-developed jumper and can score at all three levels.

Aside from his durability and off-court mentality, he isn’t a high-motor defender, and his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired. I think if you’re okay taking a risk on that changing with a full 82-game NBA schedule, then you can take him second overall. If not, Darius Acuff might be a more enticing offensive first guard.

Acuff has a lot to work on defensively, but a shooting prospect like him does not come around too often. He can’t provide the rim pressure that Peterson does, but he’s a much better facilitator off the dribble. Offensively, he’s such a complete prospect and should be getting way more top-five buzz.

The next guy likely to go top three could not be much different than Peterson. Boozer has an NBA body and looks like a guy who could play all 82 games for the next decade. Unlike Dybantsa or Peterson, Boozer feels like a guy who will be ready to provide real value right away. I’m just not sold on his ceiling.

You’re taking a top-three pick because you think they’ll turn into an All-Star, not just an everyday starter. Boozer relied on way too much back-to-the-basket offense at Duke, and he’s just not going to get touches like that in the NBA. Even if he did, he’d be far less efficient.

UNC’s Caleb Wilson can provide that same level of post-production, but with far more athleticism. Wilson has work to be done on his jumper, but it’s still fundamentally strong, and I think he can at least be a threat from the outside once he gets further into his professional career. Defensively, versatility is so valuable at the NBA level, and I think Wilson’s explosive play style makes him an equally high-floor option at forward.

The 2026 NBA draft class is incredibly deep. If you don’t love the guys at the top of the board, this could be the year to move back and still get a great player for the future. Acuff and Wilson are the guys I’d move back for.

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Channel debug: basketball

#Top #NBA #Draft #Prospects #Arent #Guaranteed #Stars #Deadspin.com">Why Top NBA Draft Prospects Aren’t Guaranteed Stars | Deadspin.com Feb 25, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs (2) defends during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images For most of the season, the consensus top three players in the draft have been AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Dybantsa has been my consensus top prospect for the entire season, and he will likely be the top pick come draft time. Prediction markets currently give Dybantsa a 75% chance of going first overall, with Peterson and Boozer close behind. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: basketball Peterson and Boozer were stars in college, but I’m not entirely sold on either one of them at the NBA level. My issues with the two guys are different, but I believe there are other players closely behind them on big boards that do what they can, but better.The issues with Peterson are pretty simple: Does he have the mentality of an NBA player? Offensively, he has all the skills in the world and is freakishly athletic. There aren’t many guys I have as much faith in to apply consistent rim pressure like he does. He also has a well-developed jumper and can score at all three levels.Aside from his durability and off-court mentality, he isn’t a high-motor defender, and his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired. I think if you’re okay taking a risk on that changing with a full 82-game NBA schedule, then you can take him second overall. If not, Darius Acuff might be a more enticing offensive first guard.Acuff has a lot to work on defensively, but a shooting prospect like him does not come around too often. He can’t provide the rim pressure that Peterson does, but he’s a much better facilitator off the dribble. Offensively, he’s such a complete prospect and should be getting way more top-five buzz.The next guy likely to go top three could not be much different than Peterson. Boozer has an NBA body and looks like a guy who could play all 82 games for the next decade. Unlike Dybantsa or Peterson, Boozer feels like a guy who will be ready to provide real value right away. I’m just not sold on his ceiling.You’re taking a top-three pick because you think they’ll turn into an All-Star, not just an everyday starter. Boozer relied on way too much back-to-the-basket offense at Duke, and he’s just not going to get touches like that in the NBA. Even if he did, he’d be far less efficient.UNC’s Caleb Wilson can provide that same level of post-production, but with far more athleticism. Wilson has work to be done on his jumper, but it’s still fundamentally strong, and I think he can at least be a threat from the outside once he gets further into his professional career. Defensively, versatility is so valuable at the NBA level, and I think Wilson’s explosive play style makes him an equally high-floor option at forward.The 2026 NBA draft class is incredibly deep. If you don’t love the guys at the top of the board, this could be the year to move back and still get a great player for the future. Acuff and Wilson are the guys I’d move back for. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: basketball #Top #NBA #Draft #Prospects #Arent #Guaranteed #Stars #Deadspin.com

his durability and off-court mentality, he isn’t a high-motor defender, and his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired. I think if you’re okay taking a risk on that changing with a full 82-game NBA schedule, then you can take him second overall. If not, Darius Acuff might be a more enticing offensive first guard.

Acuff has a lot to work on defensively, but a shooting prospect like him does not come around too often. He can’t provide the rim pressure that Peterson does, but he’s a much better facilitator off the dribble. Offensively, he’s such a complete prospect and should be getting way more top-five buzz.

The next guy likely to go top three could not be much different than Peterson. Boozer has an NBA body and looks like a guy who could play all 82 games for the next decade. Unlike Dybantsa or Peterson, Boozer feels like a guy who will be ready to provide real value right away. I’m just not sold on his ceiling.

You’re taking a top-three pick because you think they’ll turn into an All-Star, not just an everyday starter. Boozer relied on way too much back-to-the-basket offense at Duke, and he’s just not going to get touches like that in the NBA. Even if he did, he’d be far less efficient.

UNC’s Caleb Wilson can provide that same level of post-production, but with far more athleticism. Wilson has work to be done on his jumper, but it’s still fundamentally strong, and I think he can at least be a threat from the outside once he gets further into his professional career. Defensively, versatility is so valuable at the NBA level, and I think Wilson’s explosive play style makes him an equally high-floor option at forward.

The 2026 NBA draft class is incredibly deep. If you don’t love the guys at the top of the board, this could be the year to move back and still get a great player for the future. Acuff and Wilson are the guys I’d move back for.

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#Top #NBA #Draft #Prospects #Arent #Guaranteed #Stars #Deadspin.com">Why Top NBA Draft Prospects Aren’t Guaranteed Stars | Deadspin.com
Why Top NBA Draft Prospects Aren’t Guaranteed Stars | Deadspin.com Feb 25, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs (2) defends during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images For most of the season, the consensus top three players in the draft have been AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Dybantsa has been my consensus top prospect for the entire season, and he will likely be the top pick come draft time. Prediction markets currently give Dybantsa a 75% chance of going first overall, with Peterson and Boozer close behind. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: basketball Peterson and Boozer were stars in college, but I’m not entirely sold on either one of them at the NBA level. My issues with the two guys are different, but I believe there are other players closely behind them on big boards that do what they can, but better.The issues with Peterson are pretty simple: Does he have the mentality of an NBA player? Offensively, he has all the skills in the world and is freakishly athletic. There aren’t many guys I have as much faith in to apply consistent rim pressure like he does. He also has a well-developed jumper and can score at all three levels.Aside from his durability and off-court mentality, he isn’t a high-motor defender, and his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired. I think if you’re okay taking a risk on that changing with a full 82-game NBA schedule, then you can take him second overall. If not, Darius Acuff might be a more enticing offensive first guard.Acuff has a lot to work on defensively, but a shooting prospect like him does not come around too often. He can’t provide the rim pressure that Peterson does, but he’s a much better facilitator off the dribble. Offensively, he’s such a complete prospect and should be getting way more top-five buzz.The next guy likely to go top three could not be much different than Peterson. Boozer has an NBA body and looks like a guy who could play all 82 games for the next decade. Unlike Dybantsa or Peterson, Boozer feels like a guy who will be ready to provide real value right away. I’m just not sold on his ceiling.You’re taking a top-three pick because you think they’ll turn into an All-Star, not just an everyday starter. Boozer relied on way too much back-to-the-basket offense at Duke, and he’s just not going to get touches like that in the NBA. Even if he did, he’d be far less efficient.UNC’s Caleb Wilson can provide that same level of post-production, but with far more athleticism. Wilson has work to be done on his jumper, but it’s still fundamentally strong, and I think he can at least be a threat from the outside once he gets further into his professional career. Defensively, versatility is so valuable at the NBA level, and I think Wilson’s explosive play style makes him an equally high-floor option at forward.The 2026 NBA draft class is incredibly deep. If you don’t love the guys at the top of the board, this could be the year to move back and still get a great player for the future. Acuff and Wilson are the guys I’d move back for. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: basketball #Top #NBA #Draft #Prospects #Arent #Guaranteed #Stars #Deadspin.comFeb 25, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs (2) defends during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

For most of the season, the consensus top three players in the draft have been AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Dybantsa has been my consensus top prospect for the entire season, and he will likely be the top pick come draft time. Prediction markets currently give Dybantsa a 75% chance of going first overall, with Peterson and Boozer close behind.

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Peterson and Boozer were stars in college, but I’m not entirely sold on either one of them at the NBA level. My issues with the two guys are different, but I believe there are other players closely behind them on big boards that do what they can, but better.

The issues with Peterson are pretty simple: Does he have the mentality of an NBA player? Offensively, he has all the skills in the world and is freakishly athletic. There aren’t many guys I have as much faith in to apply consistent rim pressure like he does. He also has a well-developed jumper and can score at all three levels.

Aside from his durability and off-court mentality, he isn’t a high-motor defender, and his playmaking leaves a lot to be desired. I think if you’re okay taking a risk on that changing with a full 82-game NBA schedule, then you can take him second overall. If not, Darius Acuff might be a more enticing offensive first guard.

Acuff has a lot to work on defensively, but a shooting prospect like him does not come around too often. He can’t provide the rim pressure that Peterson does, but he’s a much better facilitator off the dribble. Offensively, he’s such a complete prospect and should be getting way more top-five buzz.

The next guy likely to go top three could not be much different than Peterson. Boozer has an NBA body and looks like a guy who could play all 82 games for the next decade. Unlike Dybantsa or Peterson, Boozer feels like a guy who will be ready to provide real value right away. I’m just not sold on his ceiling.

You’re taking a top-three pick because you think they’ll turn into an All-Star, not just an everyday starter. Boozer relied on way too much back-to-the-basket offense at Duke, and he’s just not going to get touches like that in the NBA. Even if he did, he’d be far less efficient.

UNC’s Caleb Wilson can provide that same level of post-production, but with far more athleticism. Wilson has work to be done on his jumper, but it’s still fundamentally strong, and I think he can at least be a threat from the outside once he gets further into his professional career. Defensively, versatility is so valuable at the NBA level, and I think Wilson’s explosive play style makes him an equally high-floor option at forward.

The 2026 NBA draft class is incredibly deep. If you don’t love the guys at the top of the board, this could be the year to move back and still get a great player for the future. Acuff and Wilson are the guys I’d move back for.

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