Wizards Land AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 in SI's 2026 Mock Draft as NIL Drains Depth

10 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 28

AJ Dybantsa is now Sports Illustrated’s projected No. 1 pick to Washington, with the Wizards still expected to vet all options after winning the lottery for the first time since 2010.
The top of the class remains strong, but the NCAA withdrawal deadline thinned the board from the teens through the second round as more prospects chose another college season amid a booming NIL and revenue-share market.
Darryn Peterson goes No. 2 to Utah and Cameron Boozer No. 3 to Memphis in SI’s latest top tier, with Caleb Wilson to Chicago and Keaton Wagler to the Clippers rounding out the top five.
The mock also highlights team-specific pivots deeper in the first round, including Golden State taking 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara at No. 11 and the Lakers adding UConn big Tarris Reed Jr. at No. 25.
With the draft less than a month away, the latest projection suggests elite franchise-level talent still anchors the top 10 even as college money reshapes the rest of the 2026 board.

With NIL deals now rivaling rookie pay, is the traditional path to the NBA draft becoming obsolete for top prospects?

How will teams value picks in a draft where the talent drop-off after the lottery is historically steep?

As college stars earn millions before turning pro, will the NBA's G-League become an irrelevant pathway for domestic talent?