2026 NBA Draft Winners and Losers: Best Picks, Biggest Steals, and Worst Reaches

The 2026 NBA Draft was not built for thrill-seekers, and that is exactly why the biggest winners were the teams at the very top. The Washington Wizards landed BYU superstar AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, the Utah Jazz scooped up Kansas guard Darryn Peterson at No. 2, and the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder each walked away with two quality first-rounders. On the other side, the clearest losers were the Sacramento Kings, the Toronto Raptors, and a Miami Heat team that no longer had a first-round pick to use after the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster.

If you wanted unpredictability, a litany of jaw-dropping trades, or shocking picks, this was not the draft for you. If you had followed our 2026 NBA Draft betting preview and simply backed the top players to come off the board early, you could have cashed all night. The first round went largely as expected, which was probably for the best for the teams inside the top 10, but arguably was not ideal for the teams that followed.

Round one is in the books (you can scan the official first-round results for the full board), so it is time to recap everything that went down with a complete look at the 2026 NBA Draft winners and losers. Who got the most value, who made the best picks, and which prospects represented the biggest steals or reaches? We cover every base below, starting with every grade at a glance.

2026 NBA Draft Winners

Winner No. 1: Washington Wizards (Grade: A+)

The Wizards only had one pick to work with, but it was the first overall draft choice and they hit a home run. They landed BYU superstar AJ Dybantsa, who displayed a near-flawless body of work with the Cougars.

Dybantsa gives the Wizards a foundational piece that can score at every level and offers serious star potential. Dybantsa said in a recent interview that he felt wherever he went, that team would instantly be a playoff contender. Now that he joins forces with Trae Young and Anthony Davis in D.C., he may be right.

Winner No. 2: Utah Jazz (Grade: A+)

It is always nice when you can land a No. 1 overall pick type of talent, but do it from the two-spot. The Utah Jazz somehow landing Kansas product Darryn Peterson is the best representation of the 2026 NBA Draft class being extremely deep, as he had been in No. 1 overall pick discussions for the better part of a year.

Peterson has faced questions about his work ethic and toughness, but when he graced the floor for the Jayhawks he was an offensive force. Peterson brings elite perimeter shooting and a well-rounded scoring repertoire to a Utah team that is loaded with talent and could be ready for a playoff push.

Winner No. 3: Milwaukee Bucks (Grade: A)

The other teams within the top seven also did quite well for themselves, but the Milwaukee Bucks deserve their flowers. Not only did they say good-bye to perhaps the best player in franchise history in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, but they successfully followed that up with a stellar draft.

Milwaukee landed a high-floor pick at 10th overall with former Arizona star Brayden Burries, giving them a quality combo guard who can also make his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor. Three picks later, they landed Tennessee phenom Nate Ament at pick 13 via their trade with Miami. Ament is raw and will need time to develop, but the overall skill set and ceiling are mouth-watering.

Honorable Mentions: Grizzlies, Bulls, Thunder

• Memphis Grizzlies (A)
• Chicago Bulls (A)
• Oklahoma City Thunder (A)

Memphis and Chicago both stood pat inside the top five and drafted the best player available, with Duke forward Cameron Boozer going to the Grizzlies and North Carolina star Caleb Wilson headed to the Bulls. Both players have massive ceilings and well-rounded offenses, and have drawn comparisons to NBA standouts such as Kevin Love and Kevin Garnett, respectively.

OKC may have won the draft, but they did not get their first pick until 12th overall, and it is difficult to assess whether both of their picks will actually hit at a high level. For a team that does not really need them to pan out instantly, however, they addressed two needs and basically just grabbed intriguing talent as a luxury.

Michigan center Aday Mara was an excellent value at the 12th spot, as he gives the Thunder depth down low and a long-term Isaiah Hartenstein insurance plan. OKC later completed a pick swap to net them Iowa sharpshooter Bennett Stirtz, which gives them yet another scoring spark for their deep roster.

2026 NBA Draft Losers

Loser No. 1: Sacramento Kings (Grade: B-)

Take this one with a grain of salt. On one hand, the Kings did land a potential star in Darius Acuff Jr., who poured in better than 23 points per game last year. On the other, it feels like more of the same for a Sacramento franchise that does not appear to know how to build an NBA winner.

Is Acuff Jr. a talented and explosive scorer? Absolutely, but he does not have ideal size, is not known for his defensive aptitude, and may be more of a score-first point guard. He could end up being a stud in terms of scoring, but the other issues could make this a losing pick for a Kings franchise stuck in a long-term rebuild.

Loser No. 2: Toronto Raptors (Grade: C-)

I am not here to say that Santa Clara forward Allen Graves will for sure be a bust, but I am not seeing him as an immediate impact player, nor as a long-term star.

The likely plan is for Graves to carve out a rotational role to deploy his elite outside shooting (41.3% from three last year), but this is not a freak athlete or a guy with an insane ceiling. Taking this type of player in round one feels a bit odd, as there were prospects with more talent and much higher ceilings available at pick 19. It could work out and Graves could do exactly what Toronto is asking of him, but as far as talent and upside, this pick felt underwhelming.

Loser No. 3: Miami Heat (Grade: INC)

Maybe this one is obvious, but the Miami Heat truly went all-in with the Giannis trade. Yes, they landed a superstar that could elevate them to title-winning heights. The cost, however, was their 13th overall draft pick, much of their depth, and some future first-round draft picks.

Miami got older and worse overall, and they lost the ability to add any meaningful youth to their team in round one. It remains to be seen whether the trade for Giannis ends up being worth it, but as far as the 2026 NBA Draft goes, Miami did not bring in any new bodies to improve their roster.

Honorable Mentions: Knicks, Pacers, Trail Blazers

• New York Knicks (C)
• Indiana Pacers (INC)
• Portland Trail Blazers (INC)

New York just won its first title in 53 years, so it is hard to come down on the Knicks too hard. Still, I think they botched the 2026 NBA Draft. They had a potential steal sitting in their lap at No. 24 in Baylor guard Cameron Carr, and they ultimately shipped his draft rights to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a series of moves that left them without a first-round selection to keep.

That stings for a champion that could use cost-controlled young talent. Carr offered a versatile offensive skill set and the kind of 6th Man upside that would have made sense for New York’s bench. Trading out of round one entirely, rather than holding onto a player like that, is a curious way to spend draft night.

Indiana and Portland did not have true failing draft grades, but they get knocked for not having a pick in round one at all. That is a problem for the Pacers considering how rough last season was and the fact that they need to add more talent to their roster. The Blazers are stocked with talent, but it is never good to miss out on adding premium players via the draft.

Biggest Steals of the 2026 NBA Draft

1. Cameron Boozer, Memphis Grizzlies (Pick 3)

Boozer is not the most explosive player in this draft, but he is definitely up there in terms of being one of the most skilled prospects. The Duke product can run an offense, his shot extends out to the NBA three, and he can rebound at an elite level.

The point here is that Boozer was in the mix to be taken first overall, and he certainly was a threat to be the second player off the board. For Memphis to get a guy with No. 1 overall pick value at third overall makes this easily one of the biggest 2026 NBA Draft steals.

2. Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks (Pick 13)

Nate Ament is an interesting player to assess, as he probably will not make a huge impact right away. That said, his upside is undeniably tantalizing, and he really started to heat up for Tennessee in the second half of the year.

This pick is all about the framework of a future stud who was projected to go inside the top 10, and yet the rebuilding Bucks landed him at 13th overall. That is, by definition, a steal.

3. Labaron Philon Jr., Philadelphia 76ers (Pick 22)

One of the top NBA Draft steals is Philon Jr., who shot the lights out for an elite Alabama offense last year while knocking down nearly 40% of his three-point attempts. Everyone saw Philon slide due to a lack of size, but he arguably fell way too far.

Philadelphia has no immediate need for Philon in their starting lineup, but he should provide a major spark off the bench. His scoring prowess and outside shooting make him a huge get, as the Sixers landed a top-10 talent well after his expected draft range.

4. Cameron Carr, Los Angeles Lakers (Pick 24)

One more NBA Draft steal that was about as shocking as Philon is Cameron Carr, as the versatile Baylor product went nuts during the pre-draft process and looked like a top-15 selection.

He slid down the first round for whatever reason, even though Carr’s size, silky smooth offensive game, and perimeter shooting fit any team. He ultimately lands with the Lakers (via a draft-night trade with the Knicks), who could use an offensive spark off the bench.

Biggest Reaches of the 2026 NBA Draft

1. Morez Johnson Jr., Dallas Mavericks (Pick 9)

This is not so much a knock on Morez Johnson Jr.’s talent as it is about the draft range and potential fit. Dallas does not have a terrible need for size at the moment, plus the recent news that former Michigan head coach Dusty May would be taking over for the Mavs seems to have greatly impacted this pick.

Johnson was a top-15 prospect and in a vacuum is a good pick. But he feels like a reach here, especially when the only quality guard Dallas has is an aging Kyrie Irving. Arizona guard Brayden Burries would have arguably been a better investment.

2. Hannes Steinbach, Charlotte Hornets (Pick 14)

This is another pick where I am arguably splitting hairs, as Steinbach is absolutely a guy who can make an impact right away. The German big man was one of the best rebounders in college basketball at Washington, after all.

Through that lens, Steinbach may be a great addition to a Hornets team that already ranked third in rebounding. The downside? He does not have proven range, is not an elite athlete, and may not be a true offensive force at the next level. The rebounding floor is a net positive, but the overall upside feels capped.

3. Allen Graves, Toronto Raptors (Pick 19)

This pick is similar to the Steinbach selection, as it clearly has Toronto targeting a specific category in which it wants to improve. The Raptors are set in their starting five, but there is a case to be made that they lack glue guys off the bench, as well as reliable outside shooting.

Graves is not an elite athlete and lacks a legit offensive ceiling, but he does offer solid size, is a sound defender, and provides top-shelf outside shooting. Toronto is getting the guy it is paying for here, but he is not a prospect that offers much upside beyond the things he does well. Does that make him a bust? Perhaps not, but it might make him an arguable reach.

Best Individual Picks of the Draft

Picks 1-4: Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, and Wilson

You cannot say a bad thing about the top four picks. You can split hairs over who should have gone first overall, or argue for the player you liked slightly more. But all four teams here took who they viewed to be the best player still available, and it is hard to argue against any of them.

Dybantsa was the most complete player from an offensive perspective, and he offers superstar potential. Peterson was the next best bet in terms of scoring upside, but his game was not quite as complete as the BYU product. Boozer is an excellent point forward who will be a great addition to what Memphis is building, but he lacks the athleticism or scoring upside of the guys picked ahead of him. And Caleb Wilson has as much talent (if not more) than the guys chosen before him, but he is a bit more raw with less polish.

All of these picks were collectively spot on, so there is little sense in separating them. This could legitimately be the rare NBA Draft class where the first four picks all end up panning out perfectly.

Pick 8: Kingston Flemings to Atlanta

Flemings is not a true steal, as he was projected to go inside the lottery, and some had him inside the top 10. My 2026 NBA mock draft had him sliding to the Milwaukee Bucks, but he got scooped up two picks prior by the Atlanta Hawks.

This is a fantastic pick by Atlanta, which runs an up-tempo system that can kill defenses from long range and attack inside with Jalen Johnson. The Hawks do lack reliable defensive bite and could use more playmaking, and Flemings fits right into their explosive offense while also running the show and setting the tone as a potential defensive stopper at the other end. Most of the 2026 NBA Draft picks inside the top 10 were hits, but in terms of value, there may not be a better one than Flemings in that draft range.

Pick 12: Aday Mara to Oklahoma City

The rich get richer, as they say. I mocked Mara to the Thunder, and that is precisely what happened. OKC has been a juggernaut, but injuries and trouble contesting Wemby saw them bounced by the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.

The Thunder will be healthier going into next year, but getting more size had to be on their checklist of things to do this offseason. Almost as importantly, big man Isaiah Hartenstein could be gone in free agency, while Chet Holmgren has struggled at times against bigger teams.

Mara may take some time to fill out, but he has the size, offensive touch, and shot-blocking ceiling to be a real force, and potentially a Wemby Slayer. It is kind of absurd that a team basically drafting for luxury was able to land the exact type of weapon it needed the most.

Pick 20: Jayden Quaintance to San Antonio

San Antonio was clearly paying attention during the draft, as it answered OKC’s selection of Mara with a pick of its own. That ended up being Kentucky big man Jayden Quaintance, who saw his draft stock dip due to health concerns.

Once at full strength, Quaintance promises to give the Spurs extra meat down low, which is something they visibly lacked in their loss to the New York Knicks in this year’s NBA Finals. Getting bigger, meaner, and tougher inside was one of their goals, and they accomplished that at pick 20. Quaintance’s offensive game is rough around the edges, but he should quickly leave his mark on defense, where his size, length, and athleticism could make him a major problem in the paint.

Pick 30: Koa Peat to Phoenix

I would not label Koa Peat as a shocking steal, as he was a borderline first-round prospect. What makes this a feel-good pick is the fit and the timing: the Arizona product stays in-state, landing with the Phoenix Suns at the very end of round one.

Peat did well to get selected before round one ended, but everyone knew going in that he was more of a high-floor prospect than one dripping with upside. Still, Peat played for an outstanding Arizona team last year, where he flexed his offensive muscle as a player with fantastic size, a well-rounded offensive game, and plus athleticism.

More than anything, Peat is highly regarded for his work ethic, character, and ability to fit in as needed for his squad. Those traits should help him carve out a role early as Phoenix tries to reload, and there is a nice symmetry in a Tucson-honed talent getting to keep playing his basketball in Arizona.

Draft Night’s Biggest Surprise

As noted, this was not a crazy NBA Draft night compared to years past. There were only a handful of trades, and they were mostly swaps that did not blow the doors off the hinges.

The biggest move involving the 2026 NBA Draft actually came the night before, when the Milwaukee Bucks sent superstar big man Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in exchange for numerous players and picks. Nothing during the actual draft approached that level of shocking, but we did see a few mild surprises:

• Morez Johnson Jr. going as high as No. 9
• Allen Graves taken inside the top 20
• Labaron Philon Jr. sliding out of the top 20
• Cameron Carr sliding out of the top 20

See? Nothing too crazy. The arrival of Dusty May in Dallas signaled the possibility that one of the Wolverines could go slightly overdrafted. That is what happened, as Johnson was viewed as a lottery possibility, but not necessarily a top-10 lock. Two more Michigan players were drafted after him, marking the rare occurrence of a defending NCAA champion seeing three prospects go in the first round the following year.

Graves was a mild reach and seemed like a surprise pick inside the top 20, while Philon Jr. and Carr both carried top-20 (or even top-15) grades from many evaluators, and yet they slid further than expected. No wild veteran trades hit the wires during the draft itself, however, making this one of the more orderly NBA Drafts in recent memory, shaped by the picks themselves rather than outside noise or non-prospect movement.

If you want to get ahead of next year’s class, our sports betting guide breaks down how futures and prop markets work, and you can compare draft and championship odds at books like DraftKings before the lines start to move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Still sorting through the fallout? Here are quick, direct answers to what fans are asking most about the 2026 NBA Draft winners and losers.