Mock Draft Puts Dybantsa First, Boozer Second

Before the ping-pong balls settle, a new 2026 NBA mock draft draws a sharp early line at the top: AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 and Cameron Boozer right behind him at No. 2.

The projection places Dybantsa with the Wizards and Boozer with the Pacers, offering a snapshot of how evaluators currently see the top of the class. That order still rests on unstable ground, because the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday will decide the top 14 picks. Until then, every mock draft reads as both forecast and argument — a measure of talent, fit and team need before the league sets the board.

The lottery will determine the order, but the early conversation already revolves around two names: AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer.

The timing matters. Mock drafts often sharpen attention before the lottery because they frame the stakes for teams and fans watching the order unfold. If reports and projections continue to cluster around Dybantsa and Boozer, Sunday’s results will not just determine who picks first — they will shape which front offices control the earliest decisions in a class already drawing heavy interest.

For the Wizards and Pacers, even a projected pairing carries weight. It hints at how the league’s talent pipeline could intersect with franchise timelines, roster plans and rebuilding priorities. Sources suggest that, at this stage, the top of the class has begun to separate from the pack, though the rest of the board remains fluid and likely to shift as the draft process develops.

What happens next comes fast. The lottery will set the draft order, and every projection will update around that reality. That matters because once the top 14 slots lock in, the conversation moves from broad talent rankings to real team decisions — and the race to define the 2026 draft will become much more concrete.