Walt
2026 NBA Mock Draft: Round 1, Picks 1-15
This 2026 NBA Mock Draft is updated Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
16.
Memphis Grizzlies: Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama 
Here’s a guard for the Grizzlies to pair with the big I had them selecting with the No. 3 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: Karim Lopez, SF, Mexico 
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: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa 
I had the Hornets drafting a center with their first pick, so here’s a guard to pair with their new big.
19.
Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech 
It feels like this Raptors team is comprised of nothing but wings. Center and point guard should be addressed. They could draft Hans Christian Anderson with this selection.
20.
San Antonio Spurs: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara 
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: Koa Peat, PF, Arizona 
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: Tarris Reed, C, Connecticut 
The Hawks selected a guard earlier, so perhaps they’ll find a big with their next opening-round choice.
24.
New York Knicks: Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State 
The Knicks could stand to add some depth at forward, so they could address that area with this pick.
25.
Los Angeles Lakers: Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky 
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: Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke 
The Celtics could go with the best player available with this pick, given their lack of needs.
28.
Brooklyn Nets: Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s 
The Nets could stand to add an upgrade in the front court as they continue to rebuild their sorry roster.
29.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Sergio De Larrea, G, Spain 
James Harden won’t be on the team much longer, so the Cavaliers will need to find another guard.
30.
Dallas Mavericks: Chris Cenac, C, Houston 
The Mavericks have an underwhelming front court, so they could stand to address that with this pick.
Go to 2026 NBA Draft: Round 2
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
Fantasy Football Rankings - June 22
2027 NFL Mock Draft - June 16
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
This 2026 NBA Mock Draft is updated Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
16.
Memphis Grizzlies: Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama
Here’s a guard for the Grizzlies to pair with the big I had them selecting with the No. 3 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: Karim Lopez, SF, Mexico
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: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
I had the Hornets drafting a center with their first pick, so here’s a guard to pair with their new big.
19.
Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
It feels like this Raptors team is comprised of nothing but wings. Center and point guard should be addressed. They could draft Hans Christian Anderson with this selection.
20.
San Antonio Spurs: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
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: Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
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: Tarris Reed, C, Connecticut
The Hawks selected a guard earlier, so perhaps they’ll find a big with their next opening-round choice.
24.
New York Knicks: Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State
The Knicks could stand to add some depth at forward, so they could address that area with this pick.
25.
Los Angeles Lakers: Jayden Quaintance, PF, Kentucky
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: Isaiah Evans, SG/SF, Duke
The Celtics could go with the best player available with this pick, given their lack of needs.
28.
Brooklyn Nets: Zuby Ejiofor, C, St. John’s
The Nets could stand to add an upgrade in the front court as they continue to rebuild their sorry roster.
29.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Sergio De Larrea, G, Spain
James Harden won’t be on the team much longer, so the Cavaliers will need to find another guard.
30.
Dallas Mavericks: Chris Cenac, C, Houston
The Mavericks have an underwhelming front court, so they could stand to address that with this pick.
Go to 2026 NBA Draft: Round 2
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
Fantasy Football Rankings - June 22
2027 NFL Mock Draft - June 16
NFL Picks - Feb. 9
NFL Power Rankings - Jan. 26
Charlie Campbell
