Predicting first Warriors, Kings picks – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The 2026 NBA Draft finally is here. The New York Knicks snapped a 53-year drought as champions, but the NBA never sleeps and it already is time to start looking towards the future. 

Can the Kings find a franchise savior with the No. 7 pick? Will the Warriors add a rookie who can help Steph Curry right away with the 11th pick? How creative can both teams get?

After more than a month of debates and deliberation, our final 2026 NBA mock draft at NBC Sports Bay Area is done. Dalton Johnson and Tristi Rodriguez predict all 30 first-round picks in our mock draft 4.0.

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU 

Every part of me leaned towards making a change and going with Darryn Peterson here. But we stayed consistent instead. Dybantsa is full of star qualities that the nation’s capital is begging to have in a Wizards jersey. –Dalton Johnson

2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Utahns certainly would welcome Dybansta back home to begin his pro career after finishing high school there and then competing at BYU. But we’re sticking with Peterson here — the best possible “second option.” Of course, if the Wizards don’t snag him first. – Tristi Rodriguez

3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Boozer, PF, Duke

In the end, Boozer might be the most ready-now prospect, and the best in the long run. The Grizzlies still are big winners with the third pick. He doesn’t go No. 1, he slips past his own dad at No. 2, but the Grizzlies come out great getting Boozer at No. 3. –DJ

4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, PF/C, North Carolina

Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green recently stated that Wilson might be the “most special” of the “Big Four,” adding that he “could potentially be the best player in this draft.” He might not be wrong, and Bulls fans certainly hope that’s the case. –TR

5. LA Clippers (via IND): Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville 

After the Big Four go off the board, the draft gets spicy. The Clippers can go a handful of ways and other teams might be trying to get to this spot too. Brown is so talented, the Clippers choose him over the other remaining top point guards. –DJ

6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas

As much as the Kings have been connected to Acuff Jr., I don’t see him still being on the board by the seventh pick. The Nets, perhaps more than any team in the NBA, desperately need a star. Acuff Jr. already has proclaimed he can be just that for them. –TR

7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

The Kings have several boxes to check this offseason, but this decision came down to which player checks the most. To me, that player is Flemings. It was reported earlier this month that Flemings had a private pre-draft workout with Sacramento, in addition to Acuff Jr.

I also spoke to Flemings’ college coach at Houston, Kelvin Sampson, who praised Flemings’ basketball IQ. It was interesting that Sampson said what Flemings does off the court is even better than what he does on it, which, to me, speaks about Flemings’ character as a leader — and that’s all you want from your starting point guard and especially what you want from a player you’re trying to rebuild your franchise around.

Now what Flemings did on the court at Houston was impressive, too. He averaged 16.1 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds last season, but to Sampson’s point, those numbers are just surface-level contributions to his overall game.

He’s a true point guard who studies film, not just of himself but also of his teammates to better set them up for success. And he’s just 19 years old. The last question I asked coach Sampson during our phone call was a fill-in-the-blank question.

Coach, the team that drafts Kingston Flemings is getting (blank).

“A kid that has a high ceiling,” he said. “They’re getting him on the ground floor of a career that’s probably going to be a high-rise building in a high-rent district.”

Let that sink in. Because once it did for me, I couldn’t agree more. –TR

8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO): Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois

The Hawks need some fresh bones to back up CJ McCollum, and they’ll get that with Keaton Wagler. The Clippers’ interest in Wagler appears to have changed in recent days, which is a welcome sight for Atlanta. – TR

9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona 

Burries was an older 20-year-old freshman who did it all for Arizona as a strong 6-foot-4 combo guard at 215 pounds who can get downhill and can help on both sides of the ball. The Mavs need to nail this pick to build around Cooper Flagg. Adding Burries brings even more two-way impact. –DJ

10. Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee

It was always safe to assume the Bucks were operating under the expectation of having multiple first-round picks. Now that’s true after also acquiring the No. 13 pick from the Miami Heat in their Giannis Antentokounmpo blockbuster trade. First, they take a home run swing, and Ament is the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the draft. He needs time to develop, and the next phase of the Bucks should allow him to do so. –DJ

11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan 

There are so many different directions the Warriors can decide to take. All three first-rounders from Michigan still are on the board. So is Cameron Carr, my top choice, a strong-bodied forward in Karim Lopez and also a shifty scorer like Labaron Philon Jr. So, why Lendeborg? 

There isn’t one elite trait from Lendeborg’s game that stands out above the rest. Instead, he’s grown his game throughout his unique college career and does multiple things well on the floor. After three years in junior college, Lendeborg was a defensive ace and rebounding machine at UAB who scored off size and strength. He then really improved as a shooter in his one year at Michigan for the national champions. 

Lendeborg had six total games of multiple threes in two years at UAB. He just had 20 such games at Michigan. He went from 37 total threes in two seasons to making 67 on 37.2 percent shooting from deep. Between attacking the rim and stepping beyond the arc, and combined with his defense and rebounding, Lendeborg is the two-way player winning teams will want and the Warriors aren’t scared off him being 24 years old before his first game.

Again, this pick can go several ways, including being involved in some kind of trade. –DJ

12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, C, Michigan

OKC’s offseason began slightly earlier than anticipated after falling just short of defending its 2024-25 NBA title, which means Isaiah Hartenstein could enter unrestricted free agency. Mara would be the best option to back up Chet Holmgren. –TR

13. Milwaukee Bucks: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers

The Bucks just lost Giannis after 13 years, two NBA MVPs and one championship. The Greek Freak’s departure could make way for Milwaukee’s newest international star. Lopez will be Mexico’s highest drafted player ever. He first went pro at 14 in Barcelona, played two seasons in the NBL for the New Zealand Breakers and is now one of the more interesting stories of the draft. –DJ

14. Charlotte Hornets: Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan

The Hornets need to strengthen their frontcourt depth with a floor-spacing big, and they can find that in the versatile and physical Johnson Jr. — TR

15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Cameron Carr, SG/SF, Baylor 

Don’t be surprised if Carr goes higher. He already has been vouched for as an option for the Warriors by yours truly, though his range is all over the place. His range as a 3-point shooter also is unlimited, and combined with his length and athleticism, Carr has all the makings of what teams want in a 3-And-D wing. –DJ

16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX): Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama

Ja Morant’s time in Memphis appears to be nearing an end, so the focus is on the future. Philon Jr. is a shifty combo guard who can both handle the ball but also get a bucket when he needs to as a creative three-level scorer. –TR

17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston 

Landing in Oklahoma City should be the dream scenario for Cenac to develop and grow into the star he can be. He plays more like a big wing right now. The Thunder likely won’t use both of these first-round picks, but adding either Mara or Cenac is a win. –DJ

18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Hannes Steinbach, PF/C, Washington

You can’t ever bolster your frontcourt enough. Through the combine, Steinbach climbed the rankings and solidified his status as a first-round draft prospect after averaging a nation-leading 11.8 rebounds per game at Washington. — TR

19. Toronto Raptors: Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech 

Look past Anderson’s height at just under 6-foot-1 barefoot and put on the tape. Anderson can put the ball on a string and be lights out from three. He’s the best shooter in the draft and might be called earlier than expected. –DJ

20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara

Graves could be an intriguing option for one of the best young teams in the entire NBA. He shot 41.3 percent from three at 6-foot-9 while also averaging 1.9 steals per game at Santa Clara. — TR

21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Bennett Stirt, PG, Iowa 

The new-age Grit and Grind Pistons need to get Cade Cunningham some more help in the backcourt. Stirtz checks the boxes as a playmaker and deep threat who can help get Cunningham off the ball more. He’s not an overwhelming athlete, but he is a highly skilled player. –DJ

22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Koa Peat, F, Arizona 

Philly needs reliable frontcourt depth – emphasis on reliable. Peat is a well-rounded player who’s capable of doing a little bit of everything on the floor. –TR

23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Dailyn Swain, SG/SF, Texas 

As if the Hawks don’t already have enough wings. They’re not worried about position, just about bringing in as much talent as possible. A first round of Wagler and Swain would accomplish exactly that. –DJ

24. New York Knicks: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina

Veesaar averaged 17.0 points (42.7 percent from 3-point range) and 8.7 rebounds at North Carolina — all standing 7-feet tall. He could be an intriguing option for Mike Brown and the reigning NBA champs. — TR

25. Los Angeles Lakers: Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky 

With Doncic leading the Lakers, they need more talent at center. Quintance was a shot-blocking machine as a freshman at Arizona State with 18 of the 24 games he played ending with multiple blocks. Then came injuries, a bad transfer to Kentucky and more health problems. The potential might just be too hard to pass up. –DJ

26. Denver Nuggets: Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford

With a need for increased offensive firepower and facilitation when Jamal Murray sits, Okorie is a lightning-quick point guard who emerged as a standout freshman at Stanford. –TR

27. Boston Celtics: Meleek Thomas, SG, Arkansas 

Thomas shared a backcourt with Acuff and averaged 15.6 points per game while shooting 41.6 percent beyond the arc in his one season at Arkansas. He can bring instant offense and fit right into the Celtics’ affinity for the long ball. –DJ

28. Brooklyn Nets (via MIN): Isaiah Evans, Wing, Duke

At the combine, Evans compared his impact to that of Max Strus and Duncan Robinson, two impactful role players who had major impacts on their respective teams in the NBA playoffs, and that’s widely important. – TR

29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA) – Sergio De Larrea, G/Wing, Valencia (Spain) 

The second international player on our list and a new name to our mock drafts. De Larrea is known to have a great feel for the game as a 6-foot-7 playmaker who can handle the ball and play on the wings. If his EuroLeague role and success can translate to the NBA, the Cavs have a chance to steal a possible gem. –DJ

30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn

Tarris Reed Jr. turned heads during the NCAA tournament en route to an appearance in the national championship game, recording four double-doubles during March Madness. — TR