By 
2026 NBA Draft: Winners, Losers, Surprises & Steals
Winners!
COMPETENCE! One of the funniest days of the year for me may be getting a little boring now, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Teams are making logical, sensible decisions on draft night. Sure, it takes some of the chaos out of the event, but the league gets a little better every year when organizations stop outsmarting themselves.
The Wizards taking AJ Dybantsa was a massive win. Washington finally got the type of franchise centerpiece every rebuild dreams about. Talent alone won’t fix years of dysfunction, but Dybantsa gives the organization a face, an identity, and most importantly, hope.
Cameron Boozer + Memphis = Great Fit!
There’s a new core forming at the Grind House that Ja Morant can either be a part of or be on his way out of. Regardless, Memphis’ future looks brighter with Boozer on the roster. His toughness, feel for the game, and winning pedigree fit everything the Grizzlies have traditionally valued.
Chicago got their guy with Caleb Wilson at No. 4, exactly what the Bulls and their fans needed. Wilson’s combination of defense, athleticism, versatility, and upside should inject some much-needed energy into the franchise. The best way I can describe him is: What if Shawn Kemp was fused with Gumby? Chicago should be a lot more fun next season.
Mikel Brown Jr.’s father and Demetric Flemings’ speeches were just incredible and displayed what fatherhood is supposed to be. In an era where fatherhood is often discussed more than demonstrated, both speeches were powerful reminders of the sacrifices and support systems behind these draft moments.
GO BLUE!
Michigan won big on draft night. With former Michigan head coach Dusty May now in Dallas, the Mavericks landed one of his guys in Morez Johnson Jr. Is this the beginning of a Michigan-Mavs movement similar to the Villanova-Knicks connection? Then seeing Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara go back-to-back gave the Wolverines three players selected in the first 12 picks. Not a bad night at all for the maize and blue.
Losers!
Darius Acuff Jr. is talented enough to succeed anywhere, but Sacramento’s recent track record makes this a less-than-ideal landing spot. Hopefully stability will follow because the talent is undeniable.
Brayden Burries is a loser from the draft through no fault of his own (and somebody has to be in this section). The Mavericks and Warriors felt like ideal fits for his skill set. The post-Giannis Bucks may not be a bad landing spot at all, but it would have been fun to see Burries in Dallas or Golden State instead.
Speaking of the Bucks, it may be too early to draw firm conclusions, but the early return from the Giannis trade isn’t particularly inspiring. Waiting an extra year to move a superstar often hurts the potential haul, and right now Milwaukee’s return doesn’t look especially promising. Drafting Tennessee’s Nate Ament also feels like a high-risk, high-reward swing. The upside is obvious, but only time will tell if that gamble becomes a major piece of Milwaukee’s future.
The living room interview set was a dud. All due respect to Lisa Salters, but the presentation just didn’t work for me. I understand wanting those emotional interview moments after each selection but maybe scale it back and move it to an alternate broadcast on ABC, ESPN2, or ESPN+. Let the main broadcast focus more on the players, teams, and basketball fit of each pick.
My final loser from the draft is the Golden State Warriors. The ABC broadcast appeared to catch a tense exchange between GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and owner Joe Lacob while the Warriors were on the clock. Maybe it was simply passion in a high-pressure moment, but it’s not exactly the image contenders want to project on draft night. They ultimately landed Yaxel Lendeborg, who I actually like as a pick, but the moment raises questions about whether everyone in the organization is pulling in the same direction. If I’m Stephen Curry, I’m at least paying attention.
Surprises!
Utah taking Darryn Peterson instead of Cameron Boozer was a surprise for me, but it does make sense. Hopefully the concerns from his time at Kansas prove to be an outlier because Peterson has all the tools to become a star. Pairing him with Utah’s young core could eventually give Jazz fans something they’ve been waiting on for years.
Aday Mara landing in Oklahoma City was one of the more interesting developments of the night. Few organizations develop talent better than OKC, and Mara gives them additional frontcourt size, skill, and long-term upside. The Thunder continue to find intriguing talent and stash away potential answers for the future.
The Hornets quietly had another strong draft. After landing Kon Knueppel last year, Charlotte followed it up by selecting Hannes Steinbach, who gives off modern Detlef Schrempf vibes, and sharpshooter Christian Anderson. Those additions address real needs and should help usher in a new era following the surprising LaMelo Ball trade to Minnesota.
Steals!
Labaron Philon Jr. dropping into the 20s was unbelievable. Toronto, Memphis, and Detroit all could have used him, but Philon landing in Philadelphia is going to be fun alongside “VJMaxey” (VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey). One year from now, the player everyone wonders how they passed on may very well be Labaron Philon Jr.
The Hawks absolutely nailed this draft. Kingston Flemings dropping to Atlanta may end up being a blessing in disguise, and getting Zuby Ejiofor later in the round may ultimately be the steal of the entire draft.
