Only a few days remain before the tip-off of the 2025-26 NCAA men’s basketball season. In preparation for one of the most highly anticipated seasons in NCAA history, Last Word on Sports has prepared a mock 2026 NBA Draft (lottery only). Important to note, though the 2025-26 NBA season has already begun, the order of this mock draft isn’t based on current standings. Instead, it predicts where teams will land in the lottery based on their profile, win-loss record and the strength of their schedule.
Without any further ado:
Albertie’s 2026 NBA Lottery Mock Draft (Halloween Edition)
1. Brooklyn Nets
AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Whether BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa is still the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft is up in the air. What isn’t a question is whether he’s the archetypal star forward. At 6-foot-9, Dybantsa’s a prodigious scorer who can impact the game in every conceivable way. With Cam Thomas on an expiring contract and Michael Porter Jr.‘s contract ending after the 2026-27 season, he’s the perfect prospect for the Brooklyn Nets to build around.
2. Indiana Pacers
Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Kansas freshman Darryn Peterson looks the part of a future franchise guard, which is exactly what the Indiana Pacers will need if Tyrese Haliburton isn’t able to reclaim his pre-injury form. With that being said, Peterson’s height (6-foot-6) and scoring instincts allow him to play both backcourt positions. So, if Haliburton is able to dominate post-injury, Peterson will still have an important role to play.
3. Washington Wizards (via Phoenix Suns)
Cameron Boozer, Duke
The Washington Wizards will receive this pick as part of the Bradley Beal trade. After being unable to take Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey in the 2025 NBA Draft, they still have a frontcourt void that can be filled, especially with Khris Middleton in the final year of his deal. Fortunately for the Wizards, Duke freshman Cam Boozer is an even better prospect than Bailey, and will stuff the stat sheet more than the team’s accountants.
4. Charlotte Hornets
Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
As teams begin to ramp up for the 2025-26 NCAA basketball season, Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas has looked like one of the underrated prospects in the upcoming draft class with his length, shooting touch, aggressive mentality and defensive know-how. Within NBA spacing, he’s a player that could truly thrive. For the Charlotte Hornets, he’s a player who might inspire images of Collin Sexton, who’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (via Washington Wizards)
Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
The Memphis Grizzlies have a couple of highly notable bigs in Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. In the 2025 offseason, they signed Santi Aldama to a contract extension. However, Edey and Brandon Clarke‘s injuries expose just how thin their big man depth really is. To rectify that, Memphis should draft Houston freshman Chris Cenac Jr. with the pick they receive from the Marcus Smart trade. Cenac, a hybrid big, has the potential to be as good as any of them.
6. Utah Jazz
Isiah Harwell, Houston
The Utah Jazz utilize a best player available strategy but at some point, they have to start caring about fit. Not doing so is why they end up with so many position battles; competitions that can be beneficial or toxic. With that in mind, Houston freshman Isiah Harwell is arguably the best player remaining on the board. He just happens to fit their need for a high-quality 3-and-D wing.
7. Portland Trail Blazers
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Tennessee forward Nate Ament is a high-upside prospect that the Portland Trail Blazers front office will love based on their recent draft history. With Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara locked into their young core, he may seem like a superfluous addition to their forward rotation. Even so, he’d theoretically replace Jerami Grant, an 11-year veteran whose commitment to the franchise (and vice-versa) is in question.
8. Dallas Mavericks
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
After lucking out in the last lottery, the Dallas Mavericks probably won’t be landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, they can still bring a game-changing prospect aboard. They won’t even have to look far, as Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou looks like a cross between Philadelphia 76ers stud rookie VJ Edgecombe (who also attended Baylor) and Minnesota Timberwolves franchise star Anthony Edwards. The decline of Klay Thompson makes this easier to see.
9. Atlanta Hawks
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
To quote Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, the Atlanta Hawks’ situation with Trae Young just gets “curiouser and curiouser.” After their honeymoon phase, they were willing to trade him, but there wasn’t much interest. Now, they’re making him prove he deserves a contract extension. With that, the writing may be on the wall. It reads: “draft Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. as his replacement.” At worst, he’d become Young’s long-awaited backup.
10. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans)
Dash Daniels, Melbourne
Fresh off of his Most Improved Player campaign, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels has yet to play up to the rich contract he signed this offseason. Even so, he’s part of the team’s core. That gives them extra motivation to draft his brother, Melbourne United (NBL) guard Dash Daniels, a 17-year-old prospect sharing many of his traits. Adding salt to the wound, Atlanta receives this pick from the New Orleans Pelicans, who drafted his older brother eighth overall in 2022.
11. Sacramento Kings
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
The house of cards could come crashing down at any moment but for now, Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors are having a ball.. together. As a result, the Kings may not complete a trade for him anytime soon. If not, they could draft UNC freshman Caleb Wilson, an athletic combo forward with two-way upside. Offensively, he’s more raw than Kuminga. Nevertheless, he could very well become just as good as him down the line.
12. Boston Celtics
Karim Lopez, New Zealand
The Boston Celtics haven’t had a lottery pick since 2020, when they drafted Aaron Nesmith with the 14th overall pick. As it turns out, they gave up on Nesmith too early, as he went on to become a key starter for the NBA Finals-bound Pacers. With New Zealand Breakers (NBL) forward Karim Lopez, a physical but skilled prospect, they’ll also need to be patient. The uncertainty surrounding Jayson Tatum‘s future only underscores the 18-year-old’s importance.
13. Toronto Raptors
Kam Williams, Kentucky
After winning the NBA championship in 2019, the Toronto Raptors really have been working tirelessly to make it back to the big stage. At this point, their issue isn’t that they lack talent, they just have two many ill-fitting pieces. Toronto’s biggest current need is another 3-and-D wing. That’s even more true if Ochai Agbaji leaves in free agency next summer. Thus, Kentucky sophomore Kam Williams is an ideal late-lottery selection.
14. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando Magic)
Koa Peat, Arizona
The Hornets don’t lack depth at the 4 but the future of the position is in question. The controversial Miles Bridges and injury-prone Brandon Miller are only under contract through 2026-27. Grant Williams, often utilized as a small-ball center, will also be a free agent in 2027. Tidjane Salaun hasn’t looked like a sixth overall pick. Thus, with the Orlando Magic’s first-round pick (which they received from the Jusuf Nurkic trade), they should select Arizona’s Koa Peat.
© Pamela Smith-Imagn Images
The post Albertie’s 2026 NBA Lottery Mock Draft (Halloween Edition) appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.