2026 NBA Draft: Round 1 insights and analysis

theScore's Joseph Casciaro, Dane Belbeck, and Chicco Nacion offer their insights from the most notable moves, emerging trends, and interesting picks in Round 1.

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Wizards love elite college scorers

A.J. Dybantsa made history in his electric season at BYU, becoming the first freshman to lead the nation in scoring since Trae Young. Now, those two are teammates on the Washington Wizards, and we'll get to see them attempt to share the basketball. Both love to be primary playmakers, with Dybantsa sporting a ridiculously high usage rate in college. While a large part of that was due to a BYU injury crisis, how Dybantsa operates when he's not the clear No. 1 option will be fascinating to watch.

Dybantsa is a walking bucket who bullies his way to the basket with his 6-foot-9, 217-pound frame and finishes with elite athleticism. That ability off the wing should significantly help one of the league's most anemic offensive units as it looks to retool with Young, Dybantsa, and Anthony Davis. Add some intriguing young pieces in Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson, and Wizards games will at least be palatable this season. - Belbeck

Jazz got a steal if Peterson stays healthy

Note to Jazz owner, Ryan Smith: Invest heavily to boost the strength and conditioning budget. On talent alone, Darryn Peterson probably should have been the No. 1 pick. He's widely been called the best American perimeter scoring prospect since Kobe Bryant. Yes, society might suffer from being prisoners of the moment, but there's still some ounce of truth to that comparison. Peterson really is that polished as a scorer.

OK, now the question mark: Can he stay healthy? Peterson played just 19 games in college, with his availability the subject of great debate across the media landscape. However, when Peterson was on the court, he was a terror for the opposing defense with a perfect skill set for the NBA game. He'll now team with 22-year-old Keyonte George and 19-year-old Ace Bailey to form perhaps the most electric young perimeter in the league. - Belbeck

Grizzlies enter the Boozer era

Quick trivia question: Who led the Memphis Grizzlies in scoring last season?

If you somehow came up with Ty Jerome and his 19.7 points per contest in his 15 games with the team, go collect your winnings.

After the team selected him third overall, Cameron Boozer might as well have walked into the draft room and loudly announced, "I'm the captain now." Make no mistake, the Grizzlies are officially entering the Boozer era. With Jaren Jackson Jr. now out of town and Ja Morant likely joining him, Memphis desperately needed a new face of the franchise, and the national college player of the year is the man for the job.

Boozer won't light up the mixtape world with endless highlights, but he's almost certainly the best player today from this draft. The Duke star has a wide-ranging offensive skill set that's built on both elite power and deft shooting touch. It's almost immediately clear he's the son of an NBA forward who scored 13,976 points in his career. - Belbeck

Wilson fronts new-look Bulls

Caleb Wilson gives the Chicago Bulls a potential franchise cornerstone as new top basketball executive Bryson Graham looks to bring the organization back to respectability. The North Carolina product is arguably the most athletic player in the class with the ability to finish above the rim, provide weak-side rim protection, and defend multiple positions. He was a high-impact defender during his lone season with the Tar Heels, averaging 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks.

The Bulls ranked 22nd in defensive efficiency last season and could really benefit from Wilson's addition. His jumper is the swing factor at the next level, and he made just 7-of-27 attempts from deep. But there's reason for optimism, as he shot 71.3% from the charity stripe. Wilson also made 49.6% of his mid-range attempts, showcasing a nice face-up game. If he can develop a perimeter game, he's got a chance to be an elite two-way talent for years to come. - Nacion

Acuff will be a polarizing star

Every top prospect is a fascinating case study on draft night, but Darius Acuff's NBA future is especially compelling given the state of the modern game.

While Acuff is undeniably a one-way player, his skill set and potential on that end of the court could be generational. The Arkansas product averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists on 60% true shooting as a freshman, converting at a 51% clip inside the arc, 44% on a high volume of 3-point attempts, and 81% from the free-throw line. His movement shooting, explosiveness off the dribble, and three-level scoring abilities should translate to the pro level immediately. Acuff is also adept at leveraging his gravity and rim pressure to create good looks for teammates.

Acuff's offensive arsenal is Damian Lillard-esque, and scoring will never go out of style. Still, concerns about the 6-foot-2 guard's defense are valid. It's one thing to light up the scoreboard on losing teams early in your career, but Acuff's defensive liabilities will make it difficult to construct an eventual contender around him. And getting drafted by the perennially mismanaged Kings doesn't inspire confidence.

In a post-aprons world where teams are more wary than ever of over-committing to flawed stars, there are surely clubs and scouts out there who'd prefer a player with less natural offensive talent than Acuff, but one who isn't a black hole on either end.

Although Acuff could be a special, franchise-changing talent, his overall value and on-court impact will likely be a polarizing topic for years to come. - Casciaro

May goes Morez over Yaxel 👀

It's probably safe to say that Dusty May and Morez Johnson Jr. were a package deal. Just a day after shocking the basketball world by hiring Michigan's national champion coach, the Dallas Mavericks added his former forward with the ninth overall pick. May leaning toward a Wolverine certainly isn't a surprise, but the fact he opted for Johnson over star Yaxel Lendeborg is certainly an eye-catching move, especially after Lendeborg lobbied for the pick while congratulating his former coach.

The main reason for the decision lies on the defensive end. Johnson was unrivaled as a stopper in the college game, holding opponents to just 35% when he was the primary defender. He not only physically dominates the low post on defense, but his elite athleticism essentially allows him to step out and guard anybody on the floor. That's enough to make any team salivate in the modern NBA.

Still, Johnson's a work in progress on offense, sticking mostly to what he knows, with only 49 shots all season from outside the paint. However, he hit 41% of his 24 triples on the year, offering some potential in that area.

If nothing else, at least he knows what to expect from his coach. - Belbeck

How Mara helps the Thunder

It's not often a rookie big man can fill an immediate rotation role on a contender, but it's easy to see how Aday Mara can help the Thunder. The 7-foot-3 center's massive 7-foot-6 wingspan and unfathomable 9-foot-9 standing reach give Oklahoma City another body to throw at Victor Wembanyama in a matchup of the Western Conference's two best teams. Additionally, Mara's rebounding, rim protection, screen setting, and playmaking could help the Thunder soften the blow if OKC loses Isaiah Hartenstein due to cost-cutting.

Bucks' rebuild begins

The post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era is underway in Milwaukee, as the Bucks selected guard Brayden Burries and forward Nate Ament with their pair of lottery picks. Burries was a key cog in one of the highest-scoring offenses in college basketball, leading Arizona in scoring (16.1 points per game) and threes made (70). He was equally effective on the opposite end of the floor, creating turnovers with his suffocating on-ball pressure and length. Milwaukee won't put much pressure on him to start right away, and he's got the flexibility to play on and off the ball.

Meanwhile, Ament represents a bigger swing that could pay off for the Bucks down the line. The 19-year-old is a skillful scorer who can create his own shot, initiate the offense, and get to the charity stripe at will. Ament had a number of high-scoring games during his lone year at Tennessee, but he also struggled with his efficiency and had some rough showings in the SEC Tournament and Big Dance. - Nacion

OKC finds Wiggins replacement in Stirtz

The Thunder reportedly traded two second-round picks to move up one spot (from No. 17 to No. 16) to select Bennett Stirtz just a couple of days after salary-dumping reserve guard Aaron Wiggins for a pair of second-rounders. In that sense, it's like Oklahoma City replaced Wiggins with a cost-controlled rookie who will make roughly $5.1 million less next season. Size and defensive concerns make Stirtz unlikely to reach stardom, but the Thunder don't need him to. If the Iowa product can continue to shoot, run screening actions, and process the floor as well as he did in college, the 2025 champs should be thrilled. - Casciaro

Raptors take analytics darling Graves

Allen Graves has his share of detractors when it comes to whether the Santa Clara freshman's game is NBA material. To those nonbelievers, Graves' athletic limitations and lack of explosiveness are impossible to ignore. But the 6-foot-9 forward is a smart player, a good rebounder, a capable playmaker, and a 41% 3-point shooter. Those are just some of the reasons analytics models love the 19-year-old.

Another reason, as Raptors general manager Bobby Webster noted following this pick, is that Graves helps his team win the possession battle on both ends. Chalk that up to his offensive rebounding and his elite metrics when it comes to forcing turnovers.

Though Graves doesn't have the same ceiling as Collin Murray-Boyles - who already shows All-Defensive potential for the Raptors - Murray-Boyles was a similarly impressive analytics darling when Toronto drafted him ninth overall last year. - Casciaro

76ers get value with Philon at 22

Labaron Philon Jr. would have arguably been a top-20 pick had he stayed in the draft after his freshman season. However, that projection was largely based on the 2025 draft's depth, and he's undoubtedly a better player across the board following a second collegiate season. Philon's more than capable of driving the offense and serving as a creator or lead scorer, but he's also comfortable stepping aside as a secondary option.

Philon showed what he can do against elite defense, torching national champion Michigan for 35 points on 6-of-14 shooting from deep despite being without backcourt running mate Aden Holloway. That's the same Wolverines team that had three players drafted in the lottery Tuesday. With a 40% clip from deep on over six attempts per game last season, it's clear Philon can score at the NBA level. While the defensive concerns are legit due to his lack of size, landing his offensive talent in the 20s is a steal for the 76ers. - Belbeck

Grizzlies' master class in asset management

If Mexican forward Karim Lopez was Memphis' first-round target all along, then the Grizzlies made out like bandits Tuesday night. Memphis traded the 16th pick to Oklahoma City for two second-rounders and the 17th selection, then flipped the 17th pick to Detroit for three more second-rounders and the 21st overall selection, which the Grizzlies used to draft Lopez. Trusting your own draft board and knowing your enemy are vital this time of year. Perhaps Memphis had Lopez as the best player available and knew he'd still be on the board at 21. If that's the case, this was an excellent example of draft-night asset management. - Casciaro

Spurs roll dice on Quaintance

Jayden Quaintance is undoubtedly among the most talented players in this year's class. The 18-year-old center boasts a 7-foot-5 wingspan, 253-pound frame, and elite athleticism. He's a superb rim-protector, works relentlessly for boards, runs the floor in transition, and is a vertical lob threat. But there are major injury concerns surrounding Quaintance. A right ACL tear cut the big man's freshman campaign short with Arizona State, and he subsequently played just four games at Kentucky last season due to a lingering issue in the same knee. Quaintance told reporters Tuesday after being drafted that he's "still in a little pain" and facing "another surgery" to clean up his meniscus, according to Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News.

When healthy, though, Quaintance produced at a level that's tantalizing enough to warrant a late first-round pick. The former five-star recruit and McDonald's All-American averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 boards, 2.6 blocks, and 1.1 steals across 24 appearances in 2024-25. He also earned Big 12 All-Defensive Team honors and set a Sun Devils single-season freshman record with 63 blocks. Quaintance still has so much room to grow offensively, and the Spurs can afford to be patient with Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet shouldering most of the minutes at the five. - Nacion

Celtics stop Cenac’s slide

It was no secret that the Boston Celtics were looking for frontcourt help. The Celtics traded away Kristaps Porzingis last offseason and could lose mid-season acquisition Nikola Vucevic in free agency. While Neemias Queta was a serviceable starting center, they could certainly use some depth behind him.

Chris Cenac Jr. was a top-10 recruit in the class of 2025, but saw his draft stock drop following an underwhelming campaign with Houston. Still, his upside was too much to pass on at this stage of the draft. Cenac has the potential to be an impact defender with his mobility and 7-foot-5 wingspan. He was an elite defensive rebounder as well, posting the nation’s 20th-best percentage (16.1%). Cenac made 45.6% of his mid-range attempts and 33.3% of his threes. If his jumper continues to improve, that’ll go a long way in establishing a lengthy career.

College hoops is back

Chalk it up to NIL or give all the credit to the transfer portal: whatever reason you want to cite, it's clear that college hoops is back. For the first time since 1994, all of the top-20 picks in Round 1 played college basketball last year. In fact, only two players selected on Tuesday played basketball outside the college ranks last season. That's a far cry from 10 years ago, when five of the top 20 hailed from beyond the NCAA. Michigan led the way with its lottery trio, and 17 schools saw players taken inside the top 20.

The one-and-done era has been around for 20 years, yet college basketball as a brand feels stronger than it has in some time. - Belbeck