2026 NBA – From Brooklyn’s shooting haul to Washington landing the No. 1 pick, every NBA team’s 2026 draft is graded here—highlighting which franchises took smart swings, which chased value, and which leaves fans wondering what the plan was.
When the 2026 NBA Draft ended at Barclays Center in New York and the last trades were finalized, teams didn’t just walk away with new names on a roster. They walked away with bets—some quiet, some loud—on whether the right players would show up at exactly the right time.
This is how those moves grade out across the first round, with report cards based on the full set of draft decisions at Barclays Center in New York, with both rounds complete.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks landed No. 8 — Kingston Flemings, No. 23 — Zuby Ejiofor, and No. 52 — Henri Veesaar. The club believes it found a potentially franchise-changing point guard in the lottery. expecting a strong defensive role alongside Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Ejiofor came in the first round, but the late-second pick Veesaar is described as the real steal. The Hawks are also credited with improving their frontcourt. GRADE: B+.
Boston Celtics
Boston’s haul included No. 27 — Chris Cenac Jr. and No. 40 — Dillon Mitchell. The Celtics targeted two former high school standouts who both tested well at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine for verticality and agility in their respective positions. Mitchell is viewed as likely closer to contributing sooner, while Cenac still carries developmental promise. GRADE: B+.
Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn selected No. 6 — Mikel Brown Jr., No. 28 — Joshua Jefferson, and No. 43 — Tyler Bilodeau. Even without one of the coveted top-four picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nets are credited with a strong class. Brown and Bilodeau are highlighted as among the most impressive 3-point shooters in the class. while Jefferson is described as bringing ready-to-contribute versatility and above-average playmaking. GRADE: A-.
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte drafted No. 14 — Hannes Steinbach and No. 18 — Christian Anderson. Both picks fall within the top 20 and are framed as specialists with elite carryover skills. Steinbach is called the best rebounder in the class. and Anderson is described as having a strong case as one of the best shooters. Even if the Hornets are viewed as adding two specialists. it’s considered enough to improve both aspects of their team. GRADE: A.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls chose No. 4 — Caleb Wilson and No. 15 — Dailyn Swain. During this first draft. Bulls executive Bryson Graham is credited with walking away with two players who could contribute at a high level as soon as next season. The moves are described as a significant improvement to the young core, matching goals around size, length, athleticism, and physicality. GRADE: A.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers are described as having good value overall. snagging an Arkansas sharpshooter as a one-and-done freshman on the second day of the draft. The expectation is that Cleveland considered selecting him before trading out of the first round. Even if the pick doesn’t land as a hit, the maneuver is framed as savvy extra-asset work. GRADE: B+.
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas drafted No. 9 — Morez Johnson Jr., No. 25 — Sergio De Larrea, No. 48 — Tobi Lawal, and No. 56 — Vsevolod Ishchenko. The new Dallas Mavericks front office is characterized by trust in head coach Dusty May and a focus on verticality. Johnson and Lawal are described as two of the bounciest prospects at the combine. and the other two picks may function as draft-and-stash candidates. GRADE: B.
Denver Nuggets
Denver selected No. 35 — Trevon Brazile and No. 49 — Bryce Hopkins. Brazile is framed as one of the most athletic prospects at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, and Denver is credited with adding that kind of athletic boost. Otherwise, the draft is called fairly forgettable.
GRADE: B-
Detroit Pistons
Detroit’s picks were No. 17 — Ebuka Okorie and No. 53 — Ugonna Onyenso. The Pistons are credited with returning solid value outside of the lottery with Okorie. who could exceed expectations based on his one season at Stanford. Onyenso is described as a big man who fell a bit further than expected. which is why the pick is also graded as good value. GRADE: B+.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State chose No. 11 — Yaxel Lendeborg and No. 54 — Lajae Jones. The Warriors are credited with valuing ready-to-play prospects to support Stephen Curry as their contention window nears its end. Lendeborg is expected to earn significant minutes next season. but the grading includes concerns about how well he scales. including that he will turn 24 at the start of the 2026-27 campaign. GRADE: B-.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets drafted No. 31 — Bruce Thornton. Despite not getting much pre-draft buzz. Thornton is described as having the best analytical profile of any prospect drafted outside the first round. He’s credited as being worth trading for early, especially given how badly Houston needed a point guard last season. GRADE: A.
Indiana Pacers
Indiana selected No. 22 — Smith as part of its 2026 draft, though the grade is tied to an expectation about height and opportunity. The write-up notes there isn’t a great track record for NBA players under 5-foot-11. but frames Smith as a candidate to buck that trend. He’s described as impressive at Purdue and as a former Indiana high school star returning to play for his hometown team. GRADE: C+.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers drafted No. 5 — Keaton Wagler, No. 36 — Baba Miller, No. 55 — Nick Martinelli, and No. 57 — Narcisse Ngoy. The class is described as lacking a clear strategy, bringing in different types of players. One player could be used as a collegiate draft-and-stash at Auburn next season. Wagler is expected to translate well to the NBA. while Miller and Martinelli are described as capable of carving out roles. GRADE: B.
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles selected one player that surprised some fans by falling this late into the first round: Carr is described as having been available late enough that his fall becomes part of the story. The Lakers’ grade reflects that the drop is treated as a blessing. bringing in a hyper-athletic young wing who can also shoot 3-pointers. GRADE: A.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis drafted No. 3 — Cameron Boozer, No. 21 — Karim López, and No. 32 — Richie Saunders. All three are described as possibly going too low in the 2026 NBA Draft. Boozer is framed as someone who could have been No. 1 overall in many other classes. López is described as someone who could make opponents look foolish for letting him fall. and Saunders is said to have remained available in the second round because of an injury that has already nearly recovered from. GRADE: A+.
Miami Heat
The Heat are credited for a “solid pick” in a scenario described as trading a lottery pick to land Giannis Antetokounmpo before the draft began. The write-up says the Heat still end up with someone who should earn minutes in a suddenly depleted rotation despite that trade.
GRADE: B+
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee drafted No. 10 — Brayden Burries, No. 13 — Nate Ament, and No. 60 — Malique Lewis. The Bucks’ approach is framed as taking two necessary gambles with Burries and Ament. with the grade driven by the idea that if even one of them hits. it puts Milwaukee in a better position than it would otherwise be. The possibility that neither looks great next season is acknowledged, but both are expected to get strong development opportunities. Grade: B+.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota selected No. 33 — Isaiah Evans and No. 59 — Trey Kaufman-Renn. The draft is described as likely having considered Evans in the first round before trading into the second. Otherwise, the class is called underwhelming after Minnesota traded away Julius Randle in a salary dump. The piece ends with uncertainty about the Timberwolves’ long-term plan. GRADE: B-.
New Orleans Pelicans
New Orleans drafted No. 58 — Jaron Pierre Jr. The Pelicans are described as having little to say in this draft because they traded away their first-round pick last season to get Derik Queen. This year. they reportedly did whatever they could to get in the first round. potentially wanting Ament. but only had a late second-round pick to add to their young core. GRADE: C+.
New York Knicks
The Knicks drafted No. 39 — Jack Kayil and No. 47 — Tyler Nickel. The write-up says the Knicks used the draft to duck tax penalties. avoiding opportunities to add young players to their core. Instead, they’re described as finding a potential draft-and-stash candidate in Kayil while also adding a handful of second-round picks. GRADE: C+.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City selected No. 12 — Aday Mara, No. 16 — Bennett Stirtz, and No. 41 — Otega Oweh. Once again. the Thunder are credited with adding talent in the draft by grabbing multiple players with ways to contribute at the next level. Mara is described as massive and able to play within his role. while Stirtz is framed as one of the more NBA-ready floor generals in the class. GRADE: A.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic had no picks in this set.
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia drafted No. 22 — Labaron Philon Jr. His fall into Philadelphia’s lap is highlighted as the story, with the expectation that he can easily outperform his draft position next season and beyond.
GRADE: A
Phoenix Suns
The Suns selected Peat. The move is framed as a smart swing for a team that could use young talent, with Peat going to college nearby.
GRADE: B
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento drafted No. 7 — Darius Acuff Jr., No. 29 — Alex Karaban, and No. 45 — Emanuel Sharp. The Kings are credited with finding shooters. adding Acuff. Karaban. and Sharp. with the belief that all three should knock down big shots at the next level. The write-up also warns that Acuff and Karaban don’t project as good defenders. while Sharp should help in that regard. GRADE: B+.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio drafted No. 20 — Jayden Quaintance, No. 26 — Tarris Reed Jr., No. 42 — Ja’Kobi Gillespie, and No. 44 — Maliq Brown. The Spurs are graded highly for improving their already impressive defense by adding Quaintance. Reed. and Brown. with the expectation that they will fit as a fearsome mix next to Victor Wembanyama. GRADE: A.
Toronto Raptors
Toronto drafted No. 19 — Allen Graves and No. 50 — Jaden Bradley. Graves is described as possibly having felt a little high after he came off the bench as a freshman in a non-major conference. but he’s also described as skilled and impactful. Bradley is framed as a capable backup guard. GRADE: A-.
Utah Jazz
Utah selected No. 2 — Darryn Peterson. The grade is linked to landing the player some consider the most talented in the class, framed as the missing piece to turn the Jazz back into an exciting team.
GRADE: A
Washington Wizards
Washington drafted No. 1 — AJ Dybantsa, No. 46 — Felix Okpara, and No. 51 — Izaiyah Nelson. The piece calls it a great draft for the Wizards because they landed the No. 1 overall pick in Dybantsa and also found two NBA Draft Combine standouts with Okpara and Nelson.
GRADE: A
Taken together. the grades read like a single thread running through very different roster-building styles: some teams leaned into immediate readiness. others chased upside. and several stretched for value late—betting that timing and fit would do the rest. The drafts may be the same event in every city. but the stakes feel personal when your front office has to decide who gets their minutes next.
2026 NBA Draft front offices Barclays Center NBA draft grades team selections Cameron Carr Giannis Antetokounmpo Stephen Curry Victor Wembanyama AJ Dybantsa