The 2026 NBA Draft is less than a week away, and the intel from sources trying to figure out what teams will do on Tuesday is starting to flow.This draft is considered a strong one at the top and throughout the lottery, although withdrawals of college players lured by NIL riches have substantially hindered the depth of the class. Most executives I’ve spoken with have first-round grades on about 20 to 25 players and think the final 20 picks of the draft could result in some interesting selections. They say teams could be making deals with players ahead of time to lock them in on two-way contracts, as they don’t see much difference in talent level between players ranked from, say, No. 45 to No. 100.A few notes before the mock:• Each first-round pick features a link to the in-depth scouting report in my NBA Draft Guide on that player.• Ages are as of the night of Tuesday’s first round.• Heights are from the NBA Draft Combine in May.• NBA executives, scouts, agents, players and other sources across the basketball ecosystem were granted anonymity in exchange for speaking freely about prospects.1. Washington WizardsAJ Dybantsa | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | BYUI’m sticking with Dybantsa here, but sources say that Washington continues due diligence and that the Wizards haven’t made a decision yet. One thing that has been made clear in recent days is that the team is doing a lot of research into Darryn Peterson to understand everything it needs to know about him.However, sources have also said not to read too much into the fact that Peterson is not currently scheduled to go to the Utah Jazz to work out; they don’t think that means the Wizards have made an undisclosed promise to pick Peterson.Why AJ Dybansta is the no. 1 prospect in this year's NBA DraftSam VecenieWizards president of basketball operations Michael Winger said in an interview with the local NBC station in Washington that leadership is an attribute he looks for in a No. 1 pick. Peterson is considered an exceptionally hard worker by all sources connected to him, but his leadership ability has been questioned, as he’s regarded as a quiet introvert. Peterson is a stone-cold killer on the court in terms of competitiveness. But Dybantsa is viewed by NBA sources as a more dynamic personality with leadership tendencies, both in the locker room and in the community.2. Utah JazzDarryn Peterson | 6-5 guard | 19 years old | KansasThe fact that Peterson has not yet come in for a workout will not dissuade the Jazz from taking the player at the top of their board. This was proved last season, when they took Ace Bailey at No. 5 despite him not going to Utah and with his camp seemingly working to direct him to Washington at No. 6.Why Darryn Peterson's best basketball is still ahead of himSam VecenieBeyond that, there’s an easy connection to make as to why The Team, Peterson’s representation group, would be apprehensive about sending him to Utah. The Team also represents Jazz point guard Keyonte George, who is up for a contract extension this offseason. Whether it’s wanting to avoid competition for George or using a potential Peterson visit as leverage for a George extension, The Team could simply be utilizing every lever in its arsenal to try to make both its clients happy.Regardless, sources indicate that the Jazz are also undecided on what to do at No. 2. Do not expect, however, that connections to Cameron Boozer through his father Carlos (who works in the Jazz front office) or Dybantsa through team owner Ryan Smith at BYU will be the deciding factor here.3. Memphis GrizzliesCameron Boozer | 6-8 forward | 18 years old | DukeIf Boozer is on the board, I would be stunned to see Memphis pass on him. He ticks all the boxes that the organization has looked for in its draft picks over the years under president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman.Why Cameron Boozer produces and wins at every levelSam VecenieThe Grizzlies have been consistently better at drafting than any other team in the league, having hit on Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, Jaylen Wells, Cam Spencer and even guys such as GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. beyond pick No. 20, let alone past lottery picks Zach Edey, Cedric Coward, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. Typically, the Grizzlies like skilled players who produce well for their age and possess high-level basketball IQ, while also being extremely competitive. Boozer is elite in all of those categories. He is almost the prototypical player Memphis wants to build around as it enters a new era following the trades of Jackson and Bane.4. Chicago BullsCaleb Wilson | 6-9 wing | 19 years old | North CarolinaLeague sources believe Wilson would be an easy pick for Chicago if he gets to No. 4. The Bulls worked out other players, including Darius Acuff Jr., Kingston Flemings, and Nate Ament, but it would be a significant upset if any of them were selected here.Caleb Wilson blends power, explosiveness and coordination in a way other players can’tSam VecenieWilson would fit well at the four next to Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis as the team’s long-term building blocks and give the Bulls a solid framework with which to start using their cap space this summer to acquire veterans, while also trying to accumulate more assets.5. LA Clippers (via IND)Keaton Wagler | 6-5 wing | 19 years old | IllinoisThis is seen as where the draft really starts. Over the last few days, the two names I’ve heard most associated with the Clippers are Mikel Brown Jr. and Wagler. Why? The team seems to be prioritizing at least some size next to Darius Garland in the backcourt, and Brown and Wagler are bigger options than the other highly-rated guards. Even though both are skinny, NBA executives feel like they have more room to grow into their frames than Flemings and Acuff, as Flemings is more slight and Acuff has been basically the same size for the last few years.How Keaton Wagler came from out of nowhere to become a top NBA prospectSam VecenieI believe Wagler is the best fit of the four guards here, too, thanks to his ability to play both on and off the ball. Sources have indicated that Wagler has added muscle to his frame during the pre-draft process. He came to Illinois at 168 pounds and weighed 188 pounds at the combine; his frame should continue adding strength over the next few years.The Clippers have also had discussions about trading down, although sources indicate that they do seem set on making an early draft selection this year.6. Brooklyn NetsMikel Brown Jr. | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | LouisvilleThe Nets continue to befuddle the league relatively, and I’ve heard a lot of what will likely turn out to be misinformation regarding their plans. That’s partly because the Nets have engendered a belief league-wide that they evaluate draft prospects differently than many other teams. I’ve heard all the guard prospects in this range for them. The Ament buzz has quieted down in the last week. A couple of sources continue to mention Aday Mara as an option.The one consistent piece of information is that Brooklyn will take the highest-graded player on its board, regardless of position. Even though the team selected three point guards last season, it hasn’t ruled that position out. The Nets believe they simply need to get more talent in the door.Why Mikel Brown Jr. is one of the highest upside guards in the 2026 NBA DraftSam VecenieI’m going with Brown over Acuff, as sources have indicated that the team has done a significant amount of legwork on him. Brown has impressed teams throughout the pre-draft process, convincing teams that his struggles with efficiency last season at Louisville largely stemmed from his back injury. Teams I’ve spoken with have cleared Brown medically and seem to have no concerns about that injury.7. Sacramento KingsDarius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 guard | 19 years old | ArkansasThe Kings are likely to stay at No. 7 and select the best guard who falls to them. In this case, they seemingly get their wish of Acuff being on the board; most teams below this slot are working under the impression that the Kings are Acuff’s floor.Darius Acuff is the most polished point guard in the 2026 NBA DraftSam VecenieSacramento general manager Scott Perry has a relationship with the Acuff family, as he coached Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s when Darius Acuff Sr. played for the Colonels. The team is in desperate need of an offensive engine at the lead guard slot. If Acuff is available here, it would be a massive win for the Kings.8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP)Kingston Flemings | 6-3 guard | 19 years old | HoustonThe Hawks are open for business with this pick. Sources have said Atlanta is discussing both trade-up and trade-down scenarios. But it also could stay here and take the player it wants.Why Kingston Flemings is the point guard NBA teams dream ofSam VecenieSources also say the Hawks are likely to re-sign C.J. McCollum, allowing them to bring a young guard along slowly while also giving him opportunities to run the second unit. Flemings’ ability to pressure the rim with his speed would fit wonderfully with Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga and other high-level athletes on the Hawks’ roster. Atlanta could use a downhill, athletic guard next to McCollum, Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Much like many of the guards, Flemings is seen as unlikely to fall outside the top 10.9. Dallas MavericksBrayden Burries | 6-4 guard | 20 years old | ArizonaThere’s not much new information out of Dallas since my previous mock draft. The Mavericks continue to conjure a lot of speculation among sources. They’ve explored trading this selection and are considering several different players and positions, from lead guards like Flemings, Wagler, Brown, Acuff and Christian Anderson to Ament to Yaxel Lendeborg.Why Brayden Burries is built for the modern NBASam VecenieBurries is the name I hear the most with Dallas, though, with sources around the lottery trying to determine why he’s not working out in as many places as you’d expect. There’s a lot of enthusiasm for Burries among teams who want to try to win next season, as he’s seen as a tough guard who can dribble, pass and shoot who will also defend at a high level with physicality.10. Milwaukee BucksNate Ament | 6-10 wing/forward | 19 years old | TennesseeThe Bucks have been doing due diligence into the lead guards, including Flemings, Anderson, Labaron Philon Jr. and Brown. I’ve also heard Hannes Steinbach’s name as an option here. But with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential departure via trade, it makes sense for Milwaukee to take the highest possible upside.Ament is that kind of swing as a big wing, and the team has a lot of history valuing these types of players. Several sources have pointed to owner Jimmy Haslam’s connection to Tennessee, as he’s a large donor to the school. On June 4, the Haslam family gave $130 million to the university, the largest gift in school history.11. Golden State WarriorsAday Mara | 7-3 big | 21 years old | MichiganMara drops from No. 8 in my last mock, but that’s within his range of potential outcomes. The high-IQ center who can finish above the rim, block shots and pass would fit exceedingly well within Steve Kerr’s offensive structure. Imagining him as the post big as the team runs split actions involving Stephen Curry is exciting.