With college conference schedules in full swing and the NBA regular season at its midpoint, ESPN released an updated 2026 mock draft on Jan. 13. The projection, built on conversations with league scouts and executives and using ESPN’s BPI standings from Jan. 9 to set the order, highlights a firm top tier of five prospects and considerable uncertainty elsewhere in the first round.
The early consensus top five
1. Indiana Pacers — Darryn Peterson, PG/SG, Kansas (freshman)
Peterson remains the projected No. 1 choice despite limited minutes caused by leg cramps. He is averaging 22.6 points on 63.2 percent true shooting in just seven contests.
2. Sacramento Kings — AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU (freshman)
Dybantsa has scored at least 20 points on 50 percent shooting in nine straight games, the first Division-I freshman to hit that mark in three decades.
3. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans) — Cam Boozer, PF/C, Duke (freshman)
Boozer posts 22.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists while converting 66 percent of his two-point attempts but has only 11 blocks in 16 games.
4. Washington Wizards — Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina (freshman)
Wilson is producing 19.5 points and 11.0 rebounds with notable vertical pop and defensive playmaking, although his outside shot remains a question.
5. Utah Jazz — Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston (freshman)
Flemings’ speed and improved jumper have lifted him to 15.7 points and 5.1 assists per game, positioning him as the first “pure” point guard off the board.
Lottery picks 6–14
6. Brooklyn Nets — Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville (back injury has sidelined him since Dec. 13).
7. Charlotte Hornets — Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee, still searching for consistent efficiency.
8. Chicago Bulls — Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky, returning from March ACL surgery.
9. Dallas Mavericks — Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas, scoring 19.9 points while hitting 42.5 percent from three.
10. Milwaukee Bucks — Thomas Haugh, SF/PF, Florida, a 22-year-old versatile forward.
11. Portland Trail Blazers — Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/C, Michigan, 23-year-old two-way contributor.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via L.A. Clippers) — Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn, elite movement shooter.
13. Memphis Grizzlies — Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa, senior floor leader.
14. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta) — Koa Peat, PF/C, Arizona, valued for rebounding and intangibles.
First-round selections 15–30
15. Golden State Warriors — Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via Phoenix) — Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
17. Toronto Raptors — Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke
18. Miami Heat — Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
19. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Philadelphia) — Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington
20. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando) — Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
21. Atlanta Hawks (via Boston) — Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
22. Los Angeles Lakers — Tounde Yessoufou, SF, Baylor
23. Minnesota Timberwolves — Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
24. Boston Celtics — Isaiah Evans, SG, Duke
25. Denver Nuggets — Neoklis Avdalas, SF, Virginia Tech
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (via San Antonio) — Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
27. New York Knicks — Alex Karaban, F, UConn
28. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston) — Tyler Tanner, G, Vanderbilt
29. Detroit Pistons — Aday Mara, C, Michigan
30. Washington Wizards (via Oklahoma City) — Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona
Why opinions vary beyond No. 5
Executives told ESPN that name-image-likeness earnings and a 2027 draft class perceived as wide open could prompt many fringe candidates to stay in school. Those dynamics, coupled with injuries to prospects like Brown and Quaintance, have produced a wide range of views on picks 6–30.
The mock draft represents how teams might act “if the draft were held today”; ESPN’s prospect rankings are maintained separately in its Top 100 list.
Source: ESPN
