My Biggest Winners and Losers of the 2026 NBA Draft

By: Na’Jay Lewis

The 2026 NBA Draft officially kicked off last night, Tuesday, June 23rd, where the future of the NBA would take center stage. In arguably one of the deepest classes in draft history, there were plenty of great draft picks made by teams looking to take the next step to ensure that their rebuilds kick off on the right foot or teams looking to add a win now player that can become a major contributor towards winning a championship. Headlined by four A tier draft prospects in AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson, the 2026 NBA Draft had no shortage of great young talent. There were plenty of winners and losers in the 2026 draft, with there being teams that I believe got great value for their draft picks and teams that could have chosen better players for their teams overall infrastructure. I will identify 5 winners and 5 losers from the 2026 NBA Draft in this comprehensive article.

My Biggest Winners

Winner #1: Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards have finally found their star that can become their face of the franchise in AJ Dybansta. AJ Dybansta offers a unique blend of scoring upside, body control, and overall athleticism that I believe will allow him to become a multiple time NBA scoring champion. Dybansta has been ranked the Number 1 player in the nation, dating back to high school, coming into the draft with one of the highest upsides any draft prospect has possessed in recent memory. At 6 foot 9, Dybansta has the prototypical size of a point forward, who is capable of scoring from all three levels. He has drawn comparisons to players like Jaylen Brown and Tracy McGrady, which is in itself, a high standard that I think Dybansta is capable of living up to. With Dybansta being only 19 years old and not fully grown into his body yet, I believe he will develop into an MVP candidate in the future. During his 2025-2026 college season playing for the BYU Cougars, Dybansta averaged 25 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 4 assists, while shooting 51% from the field and 33% percent from the field. Considering the high usage that Dybansta had while playing at BYU, it is fair to know that his usage rate as a rookie in the NBA will be moderately high, but not too high.

Another quality of Dybansta that will translate well in the NBA is his ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, which is what all the great scorers in the NBA do. Because of the defensive attention he commands as someone who is good at driving to the basket, Dybansta will have plenty of chances where he can get easy points on nights where he is not shooting the ball well. While Dybansta has elite offensive tools that will allow him to flourish and grow as a superstar in the nation’s capital, his defensive concerns are the only notable glaring point that will serve as something he needs to work on. Overall, Dybansta is the perfect prospect for the Wizards to build their team around, as they continue to progress throughout their lengthy, but promising rebuild. With a team with veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis, as well as a influx of intriguing young talent, such as Keyshawn George, Alex Sarr, and Bilal Coulibably, the Wizards undoubtedly have one of the brightest futures in the NBA. You can not count out the Wizards making a run for the playoffs as a top 6 seed in the Eastern Conference or a run at the play-in tournament next season in 2026-2027.

Winner #2: Utah Jazz

Much like the Wizards, the Jazz also are a team that has a bright future with plenty of intriguing, talented young players on their roster as well. It is safe to say the Jazz added another extremely talented player to their wealth of collection, with them drafting shooting guard Darryn Peterson with the 2nd overall pick. Darryn Peterson, in many ways, is capable of becoming the best player in this draft. Peterson, who has drawn comparisons or similarities to the legendary Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen, with his great shotmaking skills, as well as ability to knock down high difficulty shots, represents a perfect fit for the Jazz alongside rising star Keyonte George. With Peterson, you have a player in the backcourt, who can play on-ball or off-ball, which will serve well for not only the development of Peterson, but the development of George as an overall playmaker. With his 6’5 frame and long arms, Peterson could be a great, above-average defender, making his projection as a great two way player with elite scoring ability, very plausible as well.

During his lone season in college playing for the Kansas Jayhawks, Peterson averaged 20 points, averaged 4 rebounds, shot 44% from the field, and 38% from three in 24 games played. While Peterson was dealing with injury issues, most notably suffering from cramping in his body causing him to miss 11 games, Peterson was still a very productive player when he was on the court. With Peterson consistently emphasizing that he is healthy and not suffering from the cramping issues that plagued him throughout his lone college season, there is a strong likelihood that Peterson will have a great rookie season that will see him be a top contender to win the Rookie of the Year in the 2026-27 season. With a promising front court headlined by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markannean, as well as an intriguing talented backcourt with Darryn Peterson and Keyonte George, it is safe to say that the Jazz are building something smooth in Utah.

Winner #3: Chicago Bulls

Finally, the Bulls have fully embraced a youth movement and are committed towards a full-fledged rebuild after years of mediocrity.The Bulls took 2 massive steps towards establishing who will be their key foundational pieces in the next era of Bulls basketball in the 2026 NBA Draft. With the 4th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson out of the University of North Carolina. Wilson is a high-upside prospect who has tremendous athletic abilities and defensive tools that will make him an annual contender for the All NBA Defensive teams. With his length, ability to guard effectively regardless of position, mobility, and great defensive instincts, Wilson has a chance to be one of the better defenders in the NBA early in his career. The offensive upside for Wilson can grow as well if he continues to work on his jump shot, as well as work on bulking up his overall body frame. With Chicago presenting an opportunity for Wilson to have a blank slate, allow him to patiently work on his overall game, and grow alongside rising star Matas Buzelis, Wilson will most likely serve as a integral piece to the next contending Bulls team.

With the Bulls 2nd first round pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, at number 15, the Bulls took another talented player in small forward Dailyn Swain out of Tennessee. Swain projects as a prototypical 3 and D wing, who can shoot the ball well and defend at a high level. With his 6’7 frame, I believe that Swain can serve as an effective role player for the Bulls, that will be able to complement Wilson, Buzelis, and other players that Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter decides to put in the starting lineup. Overall, the Bulls got two talented players that fit new Bulls General Manager Bryston Graham’s new vision of SLAP when it comes to players the Bulls will target in the future, with S standing for Size, L standing for Length, A standing for Athleticism, and P standing for Physicality

Winner #4: Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA at the moment. With the Grizzlies trading star point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers after two years of off court issues, as well as injuries for Morant, the 2026 NBA Draft represented a chance for the Grizzlies to find the new face of their franchise. As it turns out, the Grizzlies drafted the perfect player that can represent a new era of Grizzlies basketball, which was Cameron Boozer, at the number 3 pick. Boozer is a winning player that will bring the right intangibles, in terms of smart basketball, great playmaking, tremendous passing, and the potential to develop into an above average to good three point shooter.

Boozer, who is the son of Carlos Boozer, a two time NBA All Star in his own right, had a great college season for the Duke Blue Devils, averaging 22 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, had 4 assists, and shot 56% percent from the field. Despite the Blue Devils failing to win the NCAA Championship, where they ultimately fell to the Uconn Huskies in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, Boozer would win the 2026 National College Player of the Year Award and the ACC Player of the Year Award. With how successful Boozer was in college, in terms of his accolades, as well as the winning intangibles that he can bring to the Grizzlies, an organization in need of players that will make a positive impact, I believe that Boozer will make a significant impact on the culture of the Grizzlies as a whole.

With the Grizzlies second first round pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies selected Karim Lopez with the 21st pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. With this pick, Karim Lopez would become the first Mexican-born player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Lopez can be someone that can develop into a meaningful contributor for the Grizzlies off the bench, as he has good combination of size, athleticism, and length that will allow him to be a good-level defender. While his three point shooting can still be improved upon and developed through practice, as well as reps, Lopez can a physical downhill driver that can allow him to initiate contact to get shots at the rim. The good news is that Lopez is only 19 years old and he gradually get adjusted to the NBA, while also growing his overall skillset as a player. Overall, the Grizzlies got two very intriguing and talented young players that can serve as integral cogs to the Grizzlies as they look to reestablish the winning culture that they briefly had in the early 2020s with Ja Morant at the helm.

Winner #5: Sacramento Kings

The final winner of the 2026 NBA Draft for me was the Sacramento Kings. The Kings drafted the player that they have had their eyes on throughout the entire draft cycle, which was Darius Acuff Jr. at the Number 7 overall pick. Acuff Jr. can be described as an explosive point guard who is capable of becoming a high volume scorer that can score at a proficient level. During his lone college season at Arkansas, playing for head coach John Calipari, Acuff Jr. scored 23 points per game, had 6 assists per game, and finished ninth in three point field goal percentage throughout all of college basketball with a 44% three point field goal percentage. Acuff Jr. also broke records and made history while playing for the Razorbacks, becoming the second player in history to lead the SEC in scoring and assists in the same season, as well as setting Arkansas single season records for points (845) and assists (232). Acuff Jr. has shown glimpses of being a prototypical lead guard that an NBA team can build around, as long as he has the right team infrastructure around him.

While there have been many examples of the Kings not making smart draft picks or failing of putting the players they drafted into successful positions at all, with Acuff Jr. , the Kings have a prime opportunity to make good on what has been a tumultuous 2-3 seasons since the 2022-2023 season when they made the playoffs.While Acuff Jr. has his shortcomings on the defensive side of the basketball, his offensive potential is astounding and he could develop into one of the NBA’s best offensive dynamos when he fully acclimates to the NBA level.

With the King’s 2nd 1st round pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Kings selected Alex Karaban out of Uconn. Karaban is one of the older prospects coming into the NBA, at 24 years old, but he comes with plenty of championship pedigree, winning back to back championships with the Huskies in 2023 and 2024. Karaban is a great three point shooter and is a player that knows his role, as well as is willing to make winning plays that will allow his team to win. For a Kings team in need of players that will play smart basketball and is willing to do the dirty work that will allow the Kings to win more games, Karaban could be a solid fit for the Kings. Overall, Acuff Jr. and Karaban, represent two players that the Kings could use desperately, as they look to deliver great results to a long suffering Kings fanbase in search of positivity.

The Biggest Losers of the 2026 NBA Draft

Loser #1: Dallas Mavericks

The 2026 NBA Draft marked an important event for the Dallas Mavericks, as they are firmly in the Cooper Flagg era, along with a new front office led by Masai Ujiri and Mike Schmitz. With the first draft pick under the new Mavericks regime, the Mavericks selected versatile power forward Morez Johnson out of Michigan with the number 9 overall pick. For the defending champion Michigan Wolverines, Johnson was one of the more integral players that played a crucial role in helping the Wolverines win the national championship. Johnson Jr. averaged 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist, while shooting 62% from the field and 34% percent from the three point line.

While Morez Johnson Jr. will develop into a solid and productive NBA player, the Mavericks taking him at number 9 was a reach in my opinion. The Mavericks should have taken someone with the ability to develop into star next to Cooper Flagg and possesses a high upside rather than someone that will have a simple or defined role into NBA like Johnson Jr. Brayden Burries, the guard out of the University of Arizona, would have been a more appealing or sensible option for the Mavericks to target. Burries, 20, has the capability of being a very good two-way player, who has an above average offensive game that is still growing and is capable of playing great defense. Burries profiles as someone that will easily fit as a versatile player for the Mavericks and could play better with someone like Cooper Flagg as a combo guard capable of playing good defense.

With the Mavericks second round pick at pick 48, they drafted Tobi Lawal. Lawal, who played at Virginia Tech for 4 seasons, is a 6’8 power forward, with good athleticism and length, that could a high energy power forward capable of providing offense. off the bench for the Mavericks. Overall, Johnson Jr. is someone that could fit into every NBA team with his versatility and small ball like capabilities, but the fact that the Mavericks had the number 9 pick at the draft and chose a player who was slated to go between picks 12-16, indicates that the Mavericks should have taken a higher swing at a more high upside player like Burries.

Loser #2: Golden State Warriors

Throughout the entirety of NBA history, all the great teams and dynastic teams have made moves that have allowed their dynasties to last, from the Bulls in the 1990s to the Lakers in the 2000s. If the front office of a team is not directly aligned with each other and have a vision that they can easily agree upon in unison, the team will have a difficult time to win a championship. The 2026 NBA Draft for the Golden State Warriors can be described in one word: complacency.

For a team that has an all time great player in Steph Curry in the twilight of his career, the Warriors lack the desperation and urgency that they should have in order to deliver another championship to the Bay Area. With Jimmy Butler sidelined with an ACL injury that will see him miss half, if not most of the 2026-2027 NBA season, the Warriors had two options on how they could approach the 2026 NBA Draft. They could either package the number 11 pick, alongside with Jimmy Butler and another intriguing player, or simply draft a win now player that can directly address their team needs or provide great play that could allow the Warriors to have a higher ceiling in terms of how they can perform in the postseason.

With the number 11 pick, the Warriors ultimately selected Yaxel Lenderborg out of Michigan. By all accounts, this was a solid selection on a player that can do a little bit of everything on the basketball court. He can make winning plays and is willing to sacrifice his own stats, so that his team can win. Lenderborg was also another essential piece of the Wolverines winning the national championship, as he made a huge impact during March Madness, for the Wolverines. While Yaxel Lendeborg will without a doubt be a solid NBA player that, and given the fact that he is 24, he still has time to expand his overall game. The reality is that Lendeborg is not someone that can move the needle for the Warriors in terms of them competing for championships.

If the Warriors were serious about winning another championship in the Steph Curry era, they should have packaged the 11th pick, along with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, for Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi came off the one of the best seasons of his career and could have immediately elevated the ceiling of the Warriors. In addition, with Michigan center Aday Mara on the board, the Warriors could have selected Mara, as he is someone that has size and length, as well as good passing skills for a big man. The Warriors desperately need size, even with them having Kristaps Porzingis and Quentin Post on the roster Without having a big man that can serve as a rim presence and could defend against some of the best big men in the NBA, like Victor Wembanyama, the Warriors will most likely be a team that’s highest ceiling is a playoff appearance that results in a second round exit.

Loser #3: Brooklyn Nets

Coming off a season where the Nets had the third worst record at 20-62, the Nets entered the 2026 NBA Draft with a clear purpose, to find someone that can become the face of their franchise. While the Nets were originally projected to have a top 4 draft pick with their record, because of their slip in the draft lottery, they dropped to number 6. While they dropped to number 6, because of the tremendous depth of the class, the Nets were in the position to still draft a very talented player that they can add to their young core. Instead, the Nets may have reached for a player that was projected to go about 2 or 3 picks after the Nets pick. The Nets would draft Mikel Brown Jr. out of Louisville with the number 6 pick with Darius Acuff Jr. still on the board.

While Brown Jr. has a good amount of high upside a great shot creator that could develop into a quality lead guard one day, the immense potential that Acuff Jr. has could have been the exact shot in the arm that the Nets desperately need. During the 2025-2026 NCAA season, Brown Jr. averaged 18 points, 5 assists, grabbed 3 rebounds, and 1 assists for Louisville. Brown Jr. would also suffer from a back injury that would cause him to miss some time during the college season. When he was healthy and on the court, he showed flashes of the huge scoring upside he possesses. The 45 point masterpiece that Brown Jr. showcased against NC State was an example of the offensive potential Brown Jr. possesses when he has everything going right. This still does not take away from the fact that the Nets need someone that can be a massive star on and off the court, which I think Acuff Jr. could have provided. Despite the Nets drafting plenty of guards in the 2025 NBA Draft, such as Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, when you are a team that does not have a fully defined young core of talent or does not have access to your draft picks, you have to take a chance on a player that has a higher upside in contrast to other players at their position.

Loser #4: Boston Celtics

The Celtics are another big loser for me, as in the midst of the Jaylen Brown trade rumors, they failed on an opportunity to potentially trade Brown to a promising team like the Hawks, where they could have acquired players to improve the overall depth of their team. While Brown and Tatum are one of the NBA’s most prolific duos, winning a championship in 2024, there comes a point where a team has to look at themselves and be realistic with their championship aspirations. While the Celtics, when healthy, are championship contenders, with how stacked the Western Conference is and with the East getting better next season, the road could be difficult for the Celtics to get back to the NBA Finals in the 2026-2027 season.

As currently constructed, the Celtics are probably the 3rd or 4th best team in the Eastern Conference, but that may not be enough win an NBA championship, let alone get out of the Eastern Conference. While the Celtics were able to address their front court depth, by drafting Chris Cenac Jr. out of the University of Houston, will drafting Cenac Jr. improve the Celtics chances of getting back to the NBA Finals or elevate their playoff ceiling? While Cenac Jr. could become a productive two way big that can offer some stretch big skills and can serve as someone that can space the floor in spurts for the Celtics, he will most likely require time and plenty of development, to reach his full potential as a player. Overall, the 2026 NBA Draft marked a missed opportunity for the Celtics to capitalize on the career best season from their second best player in Jaylen Brown and bring in useful players that could have addressed some critical needs for them.

Loser #5: Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors entered the 2026 NBA Draft coming off a great season, where they finished 46-36 on the season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2022. They would push a very talented, but flawed Cleveland Cavaliers team to the brink, ultimately losing to them in 7 games in the first round of the Eastern Conference first round. The vibes are clearly high in the Six and with the Raptors having the 21st overall pick of the NBA Draft, it represented the perfect opportunity for the Raptors to add another versatile player to their talented young core. With Cameron Carr, a great 3 & D wing who came off a great college season playing for the Baylor Bears still on the board, they opted to take Allen Graves out of Santa Clara. While Graves is a talented and versatile player, with the defensive upside of his game being substantial enough that can see him possibly be an effective role player in the NBA for years to come, Cameron Carr’s great three point shooting, as well as versatility as it pertains to how well he could guard different positions on the basketball court, makes him a more seamless fit for the Raptors.

The Raptors finished 21st in the NBA in three point percentage among all teams at 35.6%, which was a strong indicator on why they needed to target three point shooting in the draft. Considering that Carr is 22 years old and still has upside in terms of his ability to be a quality shot creator capable of secondary scoring skills at the NBA level, he could have really helped serve as a helpful contributor towards improving the Raptors offense. With the Raptors 2nd round pick of the draft, at pick 50, they could have targeted a player like Henri Veesar out of UNC, who projects a quality stretch big, capable of becoming a reliable three point shooter and solid defender. Overall, despite the Raptors reaching on players who I think may not have directly addressed their team needs, they are in clear position to improve upon what they were able to accomplish in 2025-26. With the acquisition of former Raptor and 2 time NBA champion Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors are in position to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference in 2026-2027.

Overall, the 2026 NBA Draft marked an important night for all the teams around the NBA. There were teams, like the top four teams in the draft order and the Kings, that made massive hits on the draft selections, drafting players that will serve as important crucial foundational pieces for their teams. There were also teams like the Warriors, Mavericks, and Celtics who made questionable decisions as it pertains to their draft strategies, making it unclear on how they plan to build their rosters for the 2026-27 season. Time will tell how the players from the 2026-2027 draft will perform throughout their careers, but it is safe to say that the 2026 NBA Draft will produce one of the most talented crop of players the NBA has seen in recent memory.