ESPN’s Jeremy Woo updated his NBA Mock Draft 2026, moving AJ Dybantsa to No. 1 and reshuffling the top 10. Here’s what changed and why it matters as the lottery nears.
Two weeks out from the 2026 NBA draft lottery, the conversation around who goes No. 1 is getting louder—and Misryoum has the key takeaways from ESPN’s Jeremy Woo’s latest mock.
The updated projection keeps the headline-makers near the top but changes the order from his earlier look.. AJ Dybantsa is now projected as the No.. 1 pick by the Washington Wizards, with Darryn Peterson going second to the Indiana Pacers and Cameron Boozer landing at No.. 3 for the Brooklyn Nets.. For fans. that’s the draft’s early storyline in three sentences: Washington stays central in the top pick race. Indiana keeps its eye on a foundational piece. and Brooklyn’s rebuilding track continues with a lottery target.
Why the top order is shifting (and what it signals)
Mock drafts are never guarantees, but their movement often reflects how teams evaluate traits versus college resumes.. In Woo’s earlier mock. the top three appeared in a different order. while the same players remained at the center of his board.. That kind of reshuffle usually matters because franchises don’t simply “prefer” one prospect over another; they weigh positional fit. style of play. and who they believe can deliver impact faster.
With Washington holding the No.. 1 odds in the lottery conversation. Dybantsa’s projected rise to the top slot reads as a signal that his profile is landing more cleanly in team-building scenarios than before.. Indiana and Brooklyn get their own confirmation, too: Peterson at No.. 2 suggests the Pacers still want a player they can build around immediately, while Boozer at No.. 3 points to Brooklyn’s continued belief that upside can translate into real NBA production.
Acuff’s rise: how March momentum reshaped evaluations
The most visible change in Woo’s updated top 10 is Darius Acuff Jr. jumping two spots to No. 5 for the Sacramento Kings. Misryoum understands why that move sticks: it’s connected to a late-season surge that came from multiple games, not just one big performance.
Woo’s update ties Acuff’s climb to his exceptional March run that began in the SEC tournament and carried through the Sweet 16.. In those six starts for Arkansas. he averaged 29.8 points. hit 45.0% of his threes. added 6.5 assists. and chipped in 1.2 steals per game.. Even more important than the raw lines is the profile they imply: scoring volume. perimeter shooting efficiency. playmaking production. and defensive activity.
There’s also a deeper evaluation angle in how perceptions tend to change during the stretch between regular-season scouting and pre-draft decision-making.. As Misryoum sees it. scouts and decision-makers often tighten their criteria late—when they look for the “complete” package rather than isolated strengths.. In Acuff’s case. the shift appears tied to how his shotmaking and handle reduce concerns that can linger when a prospect doesn’t check every box on size or defensive expectations.. When that criticism gets “answered” by versatility and advantage creation, draft boards can move quickly.
The knock-on effect: Flemings drops, Wilson stays steady
Acuff’s rise doesn’t happen in isolation.. Kingston Flemings, the Houston guard, is projected two spots lower at No.. 7 to the Atlanta Hawks after being higher in the previous board.. Tournament outcomes can be brutal for prospects because they compress evaluation into a handful of games. and Woo’s mock reflects an uneven March for Flemings—one where scoring and three-point shooting were inconsistent across six games between the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.
The draft process rewards reliability, especially for guards whose value often depends on shot-making and decision-making under pressure. If those elements don’t show up consistently in postseason windows, teams may pause—even if the overall talent is still there.
Meanwhile, Caleb Wilson remains in the same neighborhood at No. 4 compared to Woo’s earlier mock. Misryoum reads that as a sign that some prospects are “locked” in boards when their projection is based more on long-standing strengths than late spikes.
Mullins returning: the domino nobody can ignore
Beyond players moving up and down, the most meaningful shake-up may be a decision rather than a result. Braylon Mullins announced that he will return to Connecticut for his sophomore season. That matters because it changes who is available and reshapes the downstream lottery picture.
Mullins had been projected as a late-lottery candidate by Woo entering the NCAA tournament. and Woo’s mock entering the bracket likely assumed he’d be in the draft class.. With him staying in school, opportunities open up for others to slide into higher projections.. Woo’s update credits Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg as part of that opening. while it notes how Mullins’ absence paired with Lendeborg’s March helped push the Thunder’s potential target earlier—here. Yaxel Lendeborg is projected in the lottery at No.. 12.
For NBA teams. returning to school is a trade-off: it can improve development and readiness. but it also delays the chance to land the player at a specific draft slot.. When multiple prospects decide to stay or leave late. the entire board can shift. and mocks become a moving map instead of a single blueprint.
Lottery math and the bigger picture for these franchises
The next hurdle leading to the draft is the lottery on May 10, which determines the order for the top 14 picks. Misryoum focuses on the odds because they shape urgency. The Wizards, Pacers, and Nets are each listed with 14% odds for the No. 1 overall selection.
Washington’s context is stark: the franchise finished the 2025-26 season with the NBA’s worst record at 17-65.. It’s the kind of draft position that creates pressure, both externally and internally.. Fans want a franchise pivot, executives want the “right” risk, and coaches want immediate momentum rather than a multi-year rebuild.
Still, history offers caution. The last time the team with the worst record won the lottery was 2018, when the Phoenix Suns finished 21-61 and selected Deandre Ayton. That precedent is a reminder that draft outcomes aren’t strictly proportional to suffering through the season.
What to watch next as teams finalize their draft targets
As the lottery approaches, Misryoum expects the evaluation focus to tighten around two things: who can translate college production into NBA efficiency, and who can fit team needs without forcing uncomfortable roster decisions.
Woo’s updated mock suggests teams are increasingly prioritizing multi-dimensional offensive value and “second-level” skills—shot creation. playmaking. and the ability to win possessions beyond scoring.. Acuff’s jump captures that shift neatly. while the drops tied to tournament inconsistency show how quickly a board can react to late-season evidence.
With draft day still ahead, the smartest takeaway is this: mock drafts are snapshots taken in motion. And in a process driven by lottery outcomes, player availability, and late evaluation surges, the top 10 can change fast—especially once May 10 turns lottery odds into actual position.