Walt
2026 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1, Picks 1-15 (Walt’s)
This 2026 NBA Mock Draft is updated Monday, May 11, 2026. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
16.
Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor 
Here’s a guard for the Grizzlies to pair with the big I had them selecting with the initial pick in this 2026 NBA Mock Draft.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Also, if you haven’t visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we’ve finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look.
Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It’s $7.99 per month, but you’ll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don’t want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!
17.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke 
Once again, the Thunder are in a position where they can draft the best player available with their two picks in the top 17.
18.
Charlotte Hornets: Koa Peat, PF, Arizona 
Here’s another big for the Hornets, who could double down on the front court to fix a big weakness to get the team over the top.
19.
Toronto Raptors: Andy Mara, C, Michigan 
It feels like this Raptors team is comprised of nothing but wings. Center and point guard should be addressed.
20.
San Antonio Spurs: Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington 
Like the Thunder, the Spurs are in a position where they can draft the best player available.
21.
Detroit Pistons: Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas 
The one area of weakness for the Pistons is a lack of depth on the wing, which they can address with this selection.
22.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State 
I’m still trying to figure out how the 76ers beat the Celtics. If the Knicks series taught us anything, it’s that Philadelphia is weak at forward.
23.
Atlanta Hawks: Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky 
The Hawks selected a guard earlier, so perhaps they’ll find a big with their next opening-round choice.
24.
New York Knicks: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara 
The Knicks don’t have good depth at the four, so they could address that area with this pick.
25.
Los Angeles Lakers: Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas 
The Lakers expressed frustration with the consistency of their centers this season, so they could target a big in the 2026 NBA Draft.
26.
Denver Nuggets: Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas 
The Nuggets don’t have the best depth at guard, and there are plenty of options available for them at this spot.
27.
Boston Celtics: Morez Johnson, PF/C, Michigan
The Celtics could go with the best player available with this pick, given their lack of needs.
28.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina 
The Timberwolves could take a young big to groom into a starter down the road.
29.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State
The Cavaliers could stand to add quality depth in the front court with this selection.
30.
Dallas Mavericks: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech 
Kyrie Irving is an injury-prone 34-year-old, so the Mavericks could close out the opening round with Hans Christian Anderson.
Go to 2025 NBA Draft Grades
Back to Walt’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 1-15
Visit 2027 NFL Mock Draft
Mike Elworth's 2023 NBA Mock Draft
Mike Elworth's 2024 NBA Mock Draft
2027 NFL Mock Draft - May 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - May 9
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
This 2026 NBA Mock Draft is updated Monday, May 11, 2026. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
16.
Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
Here’s a guard for the Grizzlies to pair with the big I had them selecting with the initial pick in this 2026 NBA Mock Draft.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Also, if you haven’t visited the site in a while, you may have noticed the new look. Yes, after nearly two decades, we’ve finally re-designed our site to be more modern. This was not done on a whim, but rather out of necessity because of what occurred during the 2023 NFL Draft. Our site crashed during the entire first day of the draft, which was disastrous for our revenue stream because we make more money during the draft than any other time. The site crashed because a line of code conflicted with the old format of the site, so we had to transition to this new look.
Because we lost so much money during the draft, I want to point out that you can really help support the site by paying for the ad-free version of it. It’s $7.99 per month, but you’ll get a super-fast site with no ads. My developer will be adding new features to paid subscribers as well, so look for that in the near future. If you don’t want to pay, please spread the word about the site through word of mouth. That would also be a big help!
17.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke
Once again, the Thunder are in a position where they can draft the best player available with their two picks in the top 17.
18.
Charlotte Hornets: Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
Here’s another big for the Hornets, who could double down on the front court to fix a big weakness to get the team over the top.
19.
Toronto Raptors: Andy Mara, C, Michigan
It feels like this Raptors team is comprised of nothing but wings. Center and point guard should be addressed.
20.
San Antonio Spurs: Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington
Like the Thunder, the Spurs are in a position where they can draft the best player available.
21.
Detroit Pistons: Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas
The one area of weakness for the Pistons is a lack of depth on the wing, which they can address with this selection.
22.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
I’m still trying to figure out how the 76ers beat the Celtics. If the Knicks series taught us anything, it’s that Philadelphia is weak at forward.
23.
Atlanta Hawks: Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky
The Hawks selected a guard earlier, so perhaps they’ll find a big with their next opening-round choice.
24.
New York Knicks: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
The Knicks don’t have good depth at the four, so they could address that area with this pick.
25.
Los Angeles Lakers: Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas
The Lakers expressed frustration with the consistency of their centers this season, so they could target a big in the 2026 NBA Draft.
26.
Denver Nuggets: Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
The Nuggets don’t have the best depth at guard, and there are plenty of options available for them at this spot.
27.
Boston Celtics: Morez Johnson, PF/C, Michigan
The Celtics could go with the best player available with this pick, given their lack of needs.
28.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
The Timberwolves could take a young big to groom into a starter down the road.
29.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Milan Momcilovic, F, Iowa State
The Cavaliers could stand to add quality depth in the front court with this selection.
30.
Dallas Mavericks: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
Kyrie Irving is an injury-prone 34-year-old, so the Mavericks could close out the opening round with Hans Christian Anderson.
Go to 2025 NBA Draft Grades
Back to Walt’s 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Picks 1-15
Visit 2027 NFL Mock Draft
Mike Elworth's 2023 NBA Mock Draft
Mike Elworth's 2024 NBA Mock Draft
2027 NFL Mock Draft - May 12
Fantasy Football Rankings - May 9
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
Charlie Campbell
