Tuesday night in Brooklyn is shaping up to be one of the most compelling NBA Drafts in recent memory. The 2026 draft class is widely considered historically deep, with multiple prospects carrying legitimate long-term star potential. Ahead of the event, CBS Sports spoke with nearly a dozen league sources over the past five days to gather the latest intelligence on what teams are planning, which prospects are rising and where the real surprises might come from.
Is AJ Dybantsa a lock at No. 1?
Almost every league source surveyed pointed to AJ Dybantsa going first overall to the Washington Wizards, and betting markets strongly reflect that consensus. But Washington has a history of keeping its cards close, and the possibility of a last-minute switch to Darryn Peterson cannot be entirely ruled out. Peterson was actually the projected No. 1 pick by more analysts than not as recently as four months ago, and Washington has done extensive work evaluating him.
The 2022 draft serves as a cautionary tale for anyone assuming the top pick is settled. Orlando was widely expected to take Jabari Smith Jr. at No. 1 before pivoting to Paolo Banchero at the last moment, a decision that ultimately proved correct. A similar surprise on Tuesday night would instantly become one of the biggest stories of the offseason.
There is one more wrinkle worth noting. Utah has been linked to Dybantsa as well, and the question of whether the Jazz might try to move up to No. 1 to guarantee they land him adds another layer of uncertainty to the opening moments of the draft.
Caleb Wilson to Chicago is the closest thing to a sure thing
If Dybantsa at No. 1 is a strong favorite, Wilson going fourth to the Chicago Bulls is even more of a certainty according to sources. The one-and-done product out of North Carolina brings elite athleticism, a winning mindset and a reputation as an excellent teammate. Several league observers believe Wilson could ultimately produce the best NBA career of anyone in this draft class. The fact that Chicago lands a player of his caliber at No. 4 speaks to just how loaded this class really is.
Five point guards creating major debate in the top 12
One of the most fascinating subplots of this draft involves a cluster of 5 one-and-done point guards expected to come off the board somewhere between picks 5 and 12. Those players are Darius Acuff Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Brayden Burries, Kingston Flemings and Keaton Wagler. When scouts and executives were asked to rank them, the results were all over the place, with multiple players receiving both first-place and last-place votes depending on who was doing the evaluating.
The slight consensus among NBA insiders is that the Los Angeles Clippers will select Wagler with the fifth pick. His rise from relative obscurity to one-and-done prospect after a single season at Illinois, capped by a Final Four run, has made him one of the more compelling stories in the class.
Key prospects to watch beyond the lottery
Several players further down the board are generating significant buzz in the closing hours before the draft. Here is a quick look at 5 names worth tracking.
- Nate Ament from Tennessee is seen as landing somewhere between picks 9 and 14, with Milwaukee holding two picks in that range as a potential destination.
- Morez Johnson Jr. from Michigan appears to have a floor of No. 14 to Charlotte, with his physical profile and championship pedigree giving him solid lottery security.
- Labaron Philon from Alabama has a stock that sources describe as all over the place, with some teams projecting him well into the 20s while others see him as a future standout.
- Koa Peat from Arizona slid in draft conversations after a rough shooting performance at the combine, but most insiders still expect him to go before pick 20.
- Jayden Quaintance from Kentucky has seen his stock drop following ACL injury concerns, pushing him toward the mid-20s with a real chance of sliding to the second round.<
Source: CBS Sports