2026 NBA Draft Round 1: Wizards Take Dybantsa No. 1, Jazz Land Peterson, and Seven Trades Reshape the Night

The 2026 NBA Draft's first round closed with Washington selecting AJ Dybantsa with the top pick and Utah taking Darryn Peterson at No. 2 — a pairing that generated immediate debate over who got the better end of the deal. ESPN analysts gave the edge to Utah, noting that Peterson — ranked the No. 1 prospect by at least one evaluator — averaged 40.7 points per 100 possessions during an injury-shortened freshman season at Kansas and drew pre-draft comparisons to Kobe Bryant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Jazz also addressed a specific need, adding a taller, defensively capable shooting guard to pair alongside Keyonte George.

Memphis had arguably the most complete night of any franchise. The Grizzlies landed Cameron Boozer — son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer — at No. 3 after he posted 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game as a Duke freshman. Boozer wasn't seriously discussed as a No. 1 contender in the final stretch, but analysts see him as a strong candidate to emerge as the class's best player long-term. Memphis also worked two separate trades to slide from pick 16 to 17 to 21, extracting five future second-round picks while still landing Karim Lopez, a player they valued at a later slot than expected.

Dallas made waves by selecting Michigan big man Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9 — a nod to new head coach Dusty May, the former Michigan coach who coached Johnson in college. Johnson beat out fellow Wolverines Aday Mara and Yaxel Lendeborg as the first of three Michigan players taken in the lottery. Oklahoma City grabbed Mara at No. 12 and Golden State took Lendeborg at No. 11, setting up fascinating future matchups: Mara, a 7-foot-3 center, is expected to battle Victor Wembanyama for years, while Lendeborg gets an immediate opportunity with a Warriors team in need of size and athleticism.

The Knicks took a different approach, walking away from Round 1 without a single prospect but pocketing five second-round picks and cash through three trades — a financially driven move as New York navigates life pressed against the second apron. Milwaukee, meanwhile, started its post-Giannis Antetokounmpo rebuild with two picks: Arizona guard Brayden Burries at No. 10, who averaged 17.5 points on 50% shooting in Big 12 play, and Tennessee forward Nate Ament at No. 13. Philadelphia landed Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 — ranked 13th by one evaluator — after Philon improved his three-point shooting from 32% to 40% in his sophomore season following direct feedback from the 2025 combine.