2026 NBA Draft grades: How each team fared in the first round

The Post’s Zach Braziller grades the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.

1. Washington Wizards — AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU

The best player in his class since the eighth grade, the 6-foot-9 wing is wired to score. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him lead the league in scoring one day. Perhaps most importantly for the chronically rebuilding Wizards, Dybantsa is an intense competitor. He won’t just sit back and accept more losing.

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Grade: A

2. Utah Jazz — Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

There is some risk involved, despite Peterson’s prodigious talent. He was unreliable in his lone year at Kansas, missing 11 games and good chunks of several second halves due to an assortment of mysterious injuries. Nobody is questioning his talent — he has the highest upside of anyone in this draft.

Grade: A-

3. Memphis Grizzlies — Cameron Boozer, F, Duke

Boozer will enter the league with a chip on his shoulder. Ahead of the draft, the do-it-all forward said, “down the line, people are gonna look back and say that I should’ve been” in conversations to go No. 1. He has a point, as the fifth freshman ever to be the consensus National Player of the Year. Three of the other four — Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Cooper Flagg — all went No. 1. Only Kevin Durant went No. 2. Pretty good company for Boozer to keep.

Grade: A

4. Chicago Bulls — Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina

In a regular year, Wilson is a No. 1 pick contender. That’s how loaded this class is. There isn’t a better athlete in this draft than this 6-foot-9 jumping jack of a prospect who averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a freshman for the Tar Heels.

Grade: A

5. Los Angeles Clippers — Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois

Give me Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr. or Kingston Flemings over Wagler. This pick will age poorly. The Clippers passed on three better players — now and in the future.

Grade: D

6. Brooklyn Nets — Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville

At least the Nets didn’t reach for Wagler, thanks to the Clippers. I would’ve gone with Acuff from Arkansas, but as long as Brown’s back isn’t an issue — and the Nets met with him several times, so one would think they aren’t concerned about it — the shot-making guard out of Louisville has the potential to be a difference-maker in the backcourt.

Grade: B

7. Sacramenton Kings — Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas

The Kings get a steal at No. 7, the second-best guard in this draft after Peterson. Acuff makes difficult shots and can run a team. The Clippers and Nets are going to regret passing on the 6-foot-2 playmaker.

Grade: A

8. Atlanta Hawks — Kingston Flemings, G, Houston

The young Hawks core adds a potential two-way dynamo in the Houston guard. If his 3-point shot comes along — while he made 38.7 percent as a freshman, he attempted only 2.9 per game — Flemings has All-Star capabilities. A tandem of Flemings and Dyson Daniels is a flat-out scary defensive duo on the perimeter.

Grade: A-

9. Dallas Mavericks — Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan

The Michigan Mavericks. New coach Dusty May is bringing one of his Wolverines with him to Dallas. Somewhat of a surprise considering where he was projected, but the 6-foot-9 Johnson profiles as an impact defender, a dogged rebounder, and there is offensive potential beyond what he has shown in two years of college.

Grade: B+

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10. Milwaukee Bucks — Brayden Burries, G, Arizona

He is ready to contribute immediately and will get plenty of minutes for the rebuilding Bucks. Surprised Milwaukee didn’t take a bigger swing here, but it’s hard to argue against a well-coached, two-way player who shot better than expected — 39.1 percent from deep on 4.9 attempts — in his lone year of college.

Grade: B

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

The Warriors believe they can contend, and the 24-year-old Lendeborg will provide immediate help as a versatile defender, shotmaker and slasher. What a journey for the Pennsauken, N.J., native, who was working at a warehouse, thinking he was done with the sport. Now, he’s teammates with Stephen Curry.

Grade: B+

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

Welcome to the NBA, Aday. Now, go defend Victor Wembanyama, the Thunder’s nemesis. The 7-foot-3 center was one of the biggest risers over the past two months and winds up in the back end of the lottery after helping Michigan win its first national championship in 37 years.

Grade: B

13. Milwaukee Bucks – Nate Ament, F, Tennessee 

This is the swing I was talking about. The 6-foot-10 Ament needs to get stronger and be more efficient, but he has the length and shotmaking prowess teams covet on the wing. He is also used to tough coaching, after spending his freshman year with Rick Barnes at Tennessee.

Grade: A

14. Charlotte Hornets – Hannes Steinbach, F, Washington 

Charlotte fills a major need with the nation’s leading rebounder (11.8). The Hornets could lose Miles Bridges, Grant Williams and Josh Green in free agency, but land this German native who notched 22 double-doubles a year ago, tied for the most in the country with Boozer.

Grade: B

15. Chicago Bulls – Dailyn Swain, F, Texas

Loved the Bulls’ first pick of Wilson. Not nearly as high on this selection. Swain is a wing who doesn’t shoot well. He’s a slasher who will have to defend at a very high level to be a major contributor on a quality team.

Grade: C+

16. Oklahoma City Thunder — Bennett Stirz, G, Iowa 

The Thunder moved up a spot, sending the Grizzlies two second-round picks and No. 17 overall, to get the Iowa combo guard. The sharpshooting Stirtz can play on and off the ball and gives Oklahoma City another court-spacer.

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Grade: B

17. Detroit Pistons – Ebuka Okorie, G, Stanford 

The Pistons are after offensive firepower to lighten the load on Cade Cunningham. Okorie, while undersized at 6-foot-1, makes sense with that in mind. But he’s going to have to improve as a 3-point shooter after shooting only 35.5 percent as a freshman to be productive at the next level.

Grade: C+

18. Charlotte Hornets – Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech

This should’ve been the Pistons’ pick. Anderson is a lights-out shooter who improved considerably as a playmaker this past season. Prediction: Years from now, we’re going to wonder how he wasn’t a lottery pick.

Grade: A

19. Toronto Raptors – Allen Graves, F, Santa Clara 

Stretch four with an advanced feel for the game. Has offensive hub and glue guy potential. His ability to space the floor makes him a frontcourt fit next to Scottie Barnes.

Grade: B+

20. San Antonio Spurs – Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky

Gutsy risk by the Spurs. If the surgically repaired knee is right, this is a steal. Quaintance is a lottery talent, but health concerns dropped him to No. 20. The rim-protecting, rebounding athlete can play alongside Victor Wembanyama or back him up. The Spurs were too thin behind Wembanyama and this starts to address that weakness.

Grade: B+

21. Memphis Grizzlies — Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers

Memphis now has an intriguing forward tandem with Boozer and López. The hard-playing, physical López has elite athleticism that can make him into an upper-echelon defender. The jump shot, though, needs major work.

Grade: B

22. Philadelphia 76ers — Labaron Philon Jr., G, Alabama

Fantastic pick. Home run. One of the premier guards in the country joins one of the best young backcourts in the NBA. Philon with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey is an explosive trio.

Grade: A

23. Atlanta Hawks — Zuby Ejiofor, F, St. John’s

The Hawks have just gained a lot of fans in Queens. The gritty Ejiofor, arguably the best Johnnie this century, becomes the school’s first first-round pick in 14 years, since Moe Harkless went 15th overall in 2012.

Grade: B+

24. Los Angeles Lakers — Cameron Carr, G, Baylor

Springy wing with in-the-arena range. Needs to get stronger and improve defensively but has the ability to be a microwave scorer. The Lakers were smart to move up for him. A lottery-level talent.

Grade: A-

25. Dallas Mavericks — Sergio De Larrea, G, Valencia Basket 

Grade: B 

Big point guard at 6-foot-6 who is a potential draft-and-stash. Highly regarded European prospect who is only 20 years old. The Knicks initially made the pick before sending it to the Mavericks. 

26. San Antonio Spurs — Tarris Reed Jr., C, Connecticut 

The Spurs aren’t messing around with their big-man depth. First was Quaintance and now Reed, centers with vastly different styles. Reed is an old-school big, a back-to-the-basket player who has made strides as a defender and rebounder. 

Grade: B 

27. Boston Celtics — Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston 

The 6-foot-10 forward didn’t have the freshman year many expected and fell in the draft, nearly out of the first round. Still has the measurables, namely in his 7-foot-5 wingspan, that teams desire. 

Grade: C 

28. Brooklyn Nets — Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State 

One of my favorite players in this draft. Does everything well as a versatile 6-foot-8 forward. Most of all, he is used to winning and will impact the Nets in a positive manner. He’s a culture builder. 

Grade: A 

29. Sacramento Kings — Alex Karaban, F, Connecticut 

Karaban can make shots and space the floor, but defending wings at the next level will be a very tall task for him. He’s a limited athlete. 

Grade: D 

30. Phoenix Suns — Koa Peat, F, Arizona 

So, the Suns traded into the first round for a shooting-challenged forward who doesn’t profile as much of a defender and should’ve stayed in school? Yikes. 

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Grade: F