The 2026 is complete. The two-day event from Brooklyn began with the over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 1 and ended with the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Malique Lewis at No. 60.
Between that, there was drama — especially on Day 2. Perhaps one of the draft’s biggest storylines was North Carolina big man Henri Veesaar falling all the way to pick No. 52. Veesaar was a projected first-round pick and was the No. 23-ranked player in the . When it was all said and done, the Atlanta Hawks ended up with Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor and Veesaar.
One of the biggest winners of the draft was the Oklahoma City Thunder. After losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, Oklahoma City reloaded its roster by drafting Aday Mara, Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh. Mara was linked to Oklahoma City throughout the draft cycle and should provide valuable defense next to in the frontcourt.
With the draft officially in the books, here are team-by-team grades for all 30 teams (except for the , the only team that did not make a pick), with individual selections graded in real time by Director of Basketball Scouting Adam Finkelstein.
2026 NBA Draft essentials
Pick
Player
Grade
8
Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
B+
23
Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s
C+
52
Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
A
After trading away last season, the retooled their roster. And the theme of their draft early on was defense. By landing Flemings at No. 8, Atlanta added one of the quickest guards in the draft who profiles as a two-way player who can run a second unit. At No. 23, the Hawks drafted one of the best defenders in the class in Ejiofor, though he feels like a bit of a reach at this spot. But then on Wednesday, the Hawks got what could be the steal of the draft in Veesaar. The North Carolina big man was a projected first-round pick but slid all the way down to No. 52 after turning down a lucrative NIL offer to return to the Tar Heels.
Pick
Player
Grade
27
Chris Cenac Jr., PF, Houston
B
40
Dillon Mitchell, PF, St. John’s
B
Cenac, the Houston big man, is considered one of the more raw prospects of the class, but has the tools to be an impactful two-way player at the next level. He will go to a situation in Boston where he won’t be asked to do much right away and can take advantage of the ‘ player development. It’s an ideal fit for both parties. On the other hand, Mitchell, after four years of college, can be a plug-and-play defender at the level. His shot is a work in progress, however.
Pick
Player
Grade
6
Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville
B
28
Joshua Jefferson, PF, Iowa State
B
43
Tyler Bilodeau, PF, UCLA
C+
The have had a busy week. After trading for on Monday, the Nets got to work on the first night of the draft by taking a guard with one of the highest ceilings in the class (Brown Jr. ) and a veteran forward who is one of the best passers in the class (Jefferson). The Nets made five picks in the first round last year. And despite that haul including three guards, Brooklyn picked another at No. 6 this year in Brown Jr., who should fit with Egor Dёmin – the No. 8 pick in 2025 – in the backcourt. Brown is considered one of the best shooters in the class, while Dёmin went from almost a non-shooter at BYU to generating a healthy chunk of his scoring from beyond the arc. Bilodeau can rebound and stretch the floor, but will he have the footspeed to stick in the NBA?
Pick
Player
Grade
14
Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington
B
18
Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
B+
The biggest need for Charlotte this offseason was finding a center of the future that fits with its core of , and . The 6-foot-10 Steinbach checks a lot of the boxes Charlotte was looking for. He had some of the best hands in college basketball and is a strong rebounder. The were one team that could’ve looked at the veteran free agent or trade market for a center. Instead, it drafted the best big man on the board. Last season, Knueppel broke the rookie record for the most 3-pointers made in a season. Although Anderson might have a hard time breaking that record, he will have a chance to lead all rookies in makes from beyond the arc after shooting 41.5% from 3 on 260 attempts as a sophomore at Texas Tech. He is a dynamic shooter who can provide scoring off the bench when Ball heads to the bench.
Pick
Player
Grade
4
Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina
A
15
Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas
C+
The made a surprising trade on the eve of the draft by plucking Nic Claxton away from Brooklyn. Claxton should presumably be a Day 1 starter at center for new coach . His likely frontcourt running mate next season will be Wilson after Chicago selected him at No. 4. Wilson is a jump-out-of-the-gym forward who can be a two-way game wrecker for a Bulls franchise in need of a star. While Wilson, who has the upside to be a legitimate superstar if he improves his jumper, was the easiest pick of the night, Chicago added another building block in 6-foot-8 wing Dailyn Swain at No. 15. The former Texas star can be an impactful two-way player off the bench as a rookie, but is a bit of a reach here. Swain was No. 25 on CBS Sports’ final prospect rankings.
Cleveland traded back from pick No. 29 on Day 1 of the draft and selected a player in Thomas who was widely expected to be drafted in the first round. Thomas is a tough shot-maker who needs to be more efficient and reliable on the defensive end, but he will add shooting to a high-priced Cleveland roster that saved money by trading out of the first round.
Pick
Player
Grade
9
Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan
C+
25
Sergio De Larrea, SG, Spain
B
48
Tobi Lawal, PF, Virginia Tech
B-
56
Vsevolod Ishchenko, SG, Russia
C
The single most important goal for Dallas this offseason was to give Rookie of the Year a long-term running mate. By selecting Johnson, the Mavs added toughness, familiarity and size in a forward who played for new Mavs coach Dusty May last season at Michigan. There was debate about who would be the first Michigan player off the board, and it ended up being Johnson — who was one of the biggest risers of the draft cycle. But does he have the upside to justify the No. 9 pick? De Larrea, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Spain who played important minutes for a Valencia team that was one of the EuroLeague’s best, should fit well as a complementary piece around Flagg and . Lawal is a freakish athlete who can run the floor and finish at the rim. He will have to embrace a defensive identity to stick in the NBA.
Pick
Player
Grade
35
Trevon Brazile, PF, Arkansas
B+
49
Bryce Hopkins, SF, St. John’s
B-
The are in store for a busy offseason, headlined by the pending restricted free agency of . If the Nuggets lose Watson, Brazile could be a cost-effective replacement. He’s an athletic big man who can space the floor, catch lobs and cause havoc on the defensive end. Hopkins big-bodied combo forward who can play through contact and is an excellent offensive rebounder. He will need to prove he can guard NBA wings and improve his shooting.
Pick
Player
Grade
17
Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
B
53
Ugonna Onyenso, C, Virginia
B+
The made a bold move to jump up a few spots — specifically, ahead of the at No. 19 — to secure one of the top point guards in the class and provide valuable insurance for . Okorie, who averaged 23.6 points per game as a freshman at Stanford, is quick and offers a different dynamic than the Pistons’ star guard. There will be opportunities to play those two together. Onyenso is an elite rim protector who led the country with a 17.4% block rate. That’s good value at No. 53,
Pick
Player
Grade
11
Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
B-
54
Lajae Jones, SF, Florida State
C+
The No. 1 priority for the this offseason is to add talent next to . With out for the foreseeable future after suffering an injury last season, the Warriors, who are in a win-now mode, need help on both ends of the floor. Insert Lendeborg, who is one of the oldest prospects in the class (he turns 24 in September) but also one of the best. His blend of size, athleticism, and two-way ability should offer immediate help for Curry, but we can’t help but wonder if the Warriors will regret passing on a player like 19-year-old Nate Ament as their aging roster turns over. Jones is a big lefty wing who didn’t quite live up to expectations after transferring to Florida State.
The ‘ biggest need heading into the offseason was 3-point shooting. It was part of the reason why they lost to the in the first round of the playoffs. In Thornton, the Rockets are adding an efficient guard who can run a second unit and add shooting to the lineup. Thornton, Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer, checks the main box the Rockets were looking for.
Indiana has had success developing point guards in its system. Smith was one of the best pure floor generals throughout his entire college career at Purdue and will have a chance to crack the rotation immediately in his home state. He also offers insurance and depth behind , who missed the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn Achilles.
Pick
Player
Grade
5
Keaton Wagler, PG, Illinois
B+
36
Baba Miller, PF, Cincinnati
B+
55
Nick Martinelli, PF, Northwestern
B-
57
Narcisse Ngoy, C, France
C
After trading for at last season’s trade deadline and getting lucky at last month’s draft lottery, the were in a position to take the best player available at No. 5. Although they could’ve opted for someone like Darius Acuff, picking Wagler signals a vote of confidence for Garland’s immediate future in Los Angeles. Wagler is one of the best shooters in the class and can play off the ball. Garland should dominate a majority of the on-ball reps next season, but Wagler should get his fair share of them when Garland is off the floor. Garland and Wagler will be able to co-exist in the backcourt. That probably wouldn’t be the case for someone like Acuff or Kingston Flemings. Miller, meanwhile, is a high-upside pick who can rebound, score and defend. At 6-foot-11, he is very mobile for his size and has the tools to be a versatile defender. Marintelli is a gritty overachiever who put up huge numbers in college but lacks athleticism. Ngoy, interestingly, has signed to play at Auburn next season. A college draft-and-stash?
The Lakers moved up one spot in the draft in a deal with the to fill a clear team need for more athleticism. Carr is one of the best athletes in this class. His slide all the way to pick No. 24 was surprising after a very strong combine. He will add shooting and size to the Lakers in what should be a very important summer for the franchise.
Pick
Player
Grade
3
Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
A+
21
Karim Lopez, PF, New Zealand Breakers
B
32
Richie Saunders, SG, BYU
A-
The are an organization that values college production. It makes sense why the franchise made the no-brainer decision to select Boozer, who was the most productive player in the country last season. However, Memphis’ second pick of the first round — after trading back twice from No. 16 — is the opposite of that. Lopez, a native of Mexico who most recently played in the NBL in Australia, is a raw prospect who will need time to develop at the NBA level. He will likely begin as a rotation piece, while Boozer should immediately slot into Memphis’ lineup as the starting power forward next to in the frontcourt. Boozer is capable of playing in a five-out offense because of his ability to stretch the floor and be a playmaker out of the low or high block. Saunders, who is coming off an ACL tear, can make an impact at the next level with his shooting whenever he’s healthy.
After making what should be the biggest splash of the offseason by acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo, the next step for Miami is finding cheap, cost-controlled players in the draft and on the open market. Conwell fits that bill. The lefty is a volume 3-point shooter who also defends at a high level. He will be a plug-and-play rotation piece for the Heat.
Pick
Player
Grade
10
Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona
B+
13
Nate Ament, PF, Tennessee
B+
60
Malique Lewis, SF, Trinidad
C+
After trading away franchise legend , the are in full rebuild mode. Although Milwaukee acquired in the trade with the , it’s safe to say every spot in the starting lineup will be up for grabs. By picking Burries at No. 10, the Bucks are adding one of the highest floor players in the draft. Burries is a two-way, off-ball guard who is a plus 3-point shooter. Another popular connection throughout the draft process was Ament to the Bucks, who grabbed him at No. 13 — a pick acquired from the Heat in the Giannis deal. There’s a natural connection there, as Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam is a graduate of Tennessee, where Ament played his lone college basketball season. Ament has drawn mixed opinions. By going to the Bucks, there won’t be pressure for him to immediately succeed. Ament will have time to develop after having an inefficient freshman campaign in the SEC.
Pick
Player
Grade
33
Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke
A-
59
Trey Kaufman-Renn, PF, Purdue
C
With Evans, the Wolves got a first-round talent in the second round in a pick acquired in the Julius Randle trade. Evans went from strictly a catch-and-shoot guy during his freshman year at Duke to an established No. 2 option as a sophomore. He will add shooting off the bench for Minnesota. He is capable of scaling his role up or down, but needs to get stronger. Kaufman-Renn might not be an NBA player, but he’s an everyday guy who can provide leadership in the G League.
The had one pick in this draft and it came at the very end of the second round. New Orleans used the pick to add insurance to its backcourt by selecting one of the most productive guards in college basketball. Pierre has a chance to carve out a role in the NBA with his size, shot-making and overall scoring ability. The key will be how he adapts to a lesser role.
Pick
Player
Grade
39
Jack Kayil, SG, Germany
B-
47
Tyler Nickel, SF, Vanderbilt
B
The Knicks have been (aggressively) trading back, presumably in an effort to duck the second apron. Finally, New York made its first pick of the night by drafting Kayil, who was originally committed to Gonzaga before staying in the draft. He would have made more money in college, but now gets a shot to join the defending champions. Nickel is a pure 3-point shooting specialist who made 52% of his unguarded catch-and-shoot 3s and ranked in the 96th percentile as a spot-up threat. If New York loses depth on the wing, he gives them a specialist.
Pick
Player
Grade
12
Aday Mara, C, Michigan
A-
16
Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
B+
41
Otega Oweh, SG, Kentucky
B
One of the most popular connections throughout the pre-draft process was Mara to Oklahoma City. Not only did OKC land Mara to fill one of its biggest needs, but it didn’t have to trade up to do so. We saw in the Western Conference Finals how much defense can swing a game. With the 7-foot-3 Mara, OKC is getting one of the best shot blockers in the class. You can call him the “Wemby stopper.” Oklahoma City doesn’t have many weaknesses on its deep roster, but this is definitely one that has been filled. The traded up with Memphis to secure their second player of the first round in Stirtz, one of the most productive guards in the country. Stirtz had quite the journey from Division II to being the starting point guard on an Elite Eight team. Oweh was a big-time scorer at Kentucky who excelled getting downhill. Drafting cost-controlled players has been part of the Sam Presti blueprint for years. This draft is no different.
Orlando finally made a pick at No. 51 and went with Nelson, who will add defense and toughness to the frontcourt, though likely down the line. Nelson is long, super mobile, and an elite offensive rebounder, so there is upside here, but this is an investment in player development because he’s not expected to be ready to contribute at the NBA level next season.
There are always prospects who slide a little further down the board than projected. It happened a few years ago when the drafted at No. 21. It happened this year with the 76ers selecting the best player on the board in Philon, who should add shooting and playmaking to the second unit behind Maxey and .
Peat had to wait until the final pick of the first round to hear his name called, but he will be staying in the state of Arizona after the traded up to No. 30 in a deal with the . Peat is a talented, high-motor prospect, but concerns about his jumper resulted in a slide all the way down to 30. It’s worth the swing if it pans out.
Had no picks.
Pick
Player
Grade
7
Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas
A-
29
Alex Karaban, PF, UConn
B
45
Emanuel Sharp, SG, Houston
B
The biggest need for Sacramento heading into draft night was finding its point guard of the future. And after the Clippers and Nets passed on Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento didn’t hesitate to make him the pick. Acuff had been linked to Sacramento throughout the draft process and will slot in immediately as the ‘ starter at the point. Acuff is an offensive engine who will add scoring and playmaking to a Kings roster in need of a serious facelift this offseason. The Kings had also been linked to Karaban throughout the draft cycle after he worked out with the team. Karaban should be a steady presence with his all-around skill set — passing, basketball IQ, and outside shooting. Sharp out of Houston checks the same boxes as Karaban.
Pick
Player
Grade
20
Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
A-
26
Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
B
42
Ja’Kobi Gillespie, SG, Tennessee
B
44
Maliq Brown, PF, Duke
B-
The have a loaded roster that just went to the NBA Finals, but you can never have enough defense and size — even if you employ . The defensive duo of Wemby and Quaintance has the potential to cause havoc. But Quaintance was limited to just four games at Kentucky because of a knee injury. If he’s healthy, this might be the steal of the draft. Reed is a traditional back-to-the-basket big man who will provide insurance for Wembanyama and be ready to contribute if Quaintance’s health holds him back. Gillespie could give the Spurs some extra shooting, while Brown’s defense and willingness to do the dirty work fit the team culture.
Pick
Player
Grade
19
Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
B-
50
Jaden Bradley, PG, Arizona
B
The Raptors’ needs this offseason are at point guard and center. Despite that, they chose Graves, who is considered the analytic darling of the class after his freshman season at Santa Clara. The Raptors are very deep at forward, especially after drafting last season in the lottery. On paper, this pick doesn’t make a ton of sense. The team’s point guard need was addressed on Day 2 with Bradley, the Big 12 Player of the Year. He should be a valuable backup from Day 1.
While there was speculation Utah could select Cameron Boozer at No. 2, the fit with Peterson is much cleaner. Peterson should slot immediately into Utah’s lineup as the starting shooting guard next to and offer versatility because of his ability to play on or off the ball.
Although the have star power in their starting lineup — which includes George, and , — Peterson is the kind of player who can elevate a franchise to new heights. Peterson primarily played off the ball at Kansas after an up-and-down freshman season that was dominated by headlines about missing 11 games due to cramping. Still, Peterson has the ceiling to be the best player and scorer in the class and should give Utah a potential 1A option down the line.
Pick
Player
Grade
1
AJ Dybantsa
A
46
Felix Okpara, C, Tennessee
C+
After winning the NBA Draft Lottery for the first time since 2010, Washington took the next step toward getting out of the rebuilding stage by drafting Dybantsa over Peterson at No. 1. Dybantsa is set to join a core in Washington that includes Trae Young, , , , , , Bub Carrington and . After Young signed a four-year, $212 million extension with Washington earlier this week, it made the pick more likely in Dybantsa’s favor. While Peterson might be a better fit on paper for Washington, Dybantsa offers a completely different skill set. Dybantsa has the upside to be a 1A in the NBA. He is an alpha scorer who will elevate the floor and ceiling of this Washington roster. Okpara is a rim protector, offensive rebounder and lob threat, but needs to get stronger. The Wizards don’t have many true centers, so he has a chance to stick.
