Updated

Updated · SB Nation · Jun 14

Wizards Projected to Take Darryn Peterson at No. 1 as 2026 NBA Draft Nears June 23

Updated

Updated · SB Nation · Jun 14

Wizards Projected to Take Darryn Peterson at No. 1 as 2026 NBA Draft Nears June 23

Q: With Giannis Antetokounmpo on the block, which team is best positioned to acquire the superstar and become an instant contender?

The Boston Celtics look best positioned to land Giannis Antetokounmpo and remain an immediate title threat. The strongest case for Boston is the combination of player interest, trade value and competitive fit. The searched reporting says Giannis has “known intrigue” with the Celtics and would be willing to sign a four-year, $275 million extension there. That matters more than raw draft capital because Milwaukee would want certainty if it moves a franchise player. Boston also has the cleanest headline asset in Jaylen Brown, who gives Milwaukee an All-NBA-level return instead of a package built mostly around distant picks. Reports indicate the Celtics are open to discussing anyone except Jayson Tatum, which gives them a realistic path to construct a serious offer. Pairing Giannis with Tatum would keep Boston in the contender tier immediately, rather than forcing a reset. Miami is a serious rival because it has been aggressive and is widely described as a frontrunner, but there are questions about how much roster depth would remain after a deal. Minnesota has interest and enough win-now players to build an offer, yet its draft capital is thinner and any package could strip away too much of the supporting cast. Brooklyn has the best pick inventory, but not the same ready-made contender profile. If the question is which team can both win the bidding and still look like a championship favorite the next day, Boston has the strongest overall case.

3 articles · Updated · SB Nation · Jun 14

Darryn Peterson moved to No. 1 in the latest 2026 mock draft, with Washington now projected to take the Kansas guard over long-favored BYU wing A.J. Dybantsa.
The shift comes after the NBA Finals ended and amid growing uncertainty at the top of the class, where Peterson, Dybantsa and Duke forward Cameron Boozer are all viewed as No. 1-level talents.
The projection slots Dybantsa at No. 2 to Utah and Boozer at No. 3 to Memphis, while calling the Clippers at No. 5 a major swing point in a draft with little consensus after the top four.
The 2026 draft is set for June 23-24, opening an offseason expected to accelerate roster moves across the league, including trade pressure around Giannis Antetokounmpo.