Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 23

Gary Parrish Projects AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 as Giannis Trade Reshapes 2026 NBA Mock Draft

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 23

Gary Parrish Projects AJ Dybantsa at No. 1 as Giannis Trade Reshapes 2026 NBA Mock Draft

Q: With his health concerns now public, is Darryn Peterson still a lock for the top two in the draft?

Yes. Based on the available reporting, Darryn Peterson still looks like a top-two favorite, though not an absolute lock until teams finish medical reviews. The health concern is real: Peterson’s freshman season at Kansas was disrupted by severe cramping, including a hospitalization, and he missed 11 games. That understandably raised durability questions. But the key development is that doctors traced the issue to high-dose creatine use on top of already elevated baseline levels. Peterson says he stopped taking it and has had no further episodes in pre-draft training. That explanation appears to have stabilized his stock rather than sunk it. Multiple reports still place him at No. 2 behind AJ Dybantsa, and some evaluators still believe he has a case for No. 1. ESPN ranks him as the No. 2 prospect, and reporting around the Wizards and Jazz indicates he remains firmly in the mix at the top. The only real caveat is that NBA teams will rely on their own medical examinations, not just Peterson’s account. If those reviews uncover anything unresolved, Utah could pivot to Cameron Boozer, who is viewed as safer and more consistent. Peterson also still carries some on-court consistency concerns beyond the health issue. So the best read is this: Peterson is not untouchable, but with the cramping issue apparently explained and no new episodes reported, he remains the strong favorite to go in the top two and is still very much alive for No. 1.

Q: Can Cameron Boozer, hailed as an 'ultimate winner,' resurrect a Grizzlies franchise moving on from Ja Morant?

Yes — Boozer looks like a credible franchise-reset player for Memphis, even if expecting one rookie to fully “resurrect” the Grizzlies would be too much. The case for him is unusually strong. Boozer has been one of the most productive and reliable players in the class, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists at Duke, while building a résumé that includes titles at nearly every level. Scouts and executives consistently point to the same traits: elite feel, advanced passing, rebounding, maturity and a style that translates to winning. For a Grizzlies team trying to move past the instability of the Ja Morant era, that matters as much as raw talent. His fit in Memphis is also logical. With Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. already gone and Morant expected to follow, the Grizzlies need a new offensive hub and culture-setter. Boozer projects as both. He can score inside, facilitate from the elbows or top of the floor, and play next to a true center such as Zach Edey. That pairing could give Memphis a strong rebounding identity and a half-court foundation built on size, decision-making and toughness. The main caution is ceiling. Boozer is widely viewed as having one of the highest floors in the draft, but not everyone sees him as a classic explosive No. 1 superstar. Defensive quickness and top-end shot creation remain fair questions. Still, for a franchise seeking stability, identity and a foundational star, Boozer may be exactly the right bet.

Q: After trading Giannis, should the Bucks keep Tyler Herro or trade him for more draft assets?

The Bucks should trade Tyler Herro if the return includes meaningful draft value or a younger cornerstone-level prospect. That is the cleaner fit with the direction Milwaukee has already chosen. By moving Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, the Bucks signaled a full reset, not a short retool. The package they took from Miami — Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, the No. 13 pick, future firsts in 2031 and 2033, and a 2030 swap — points to a long-horizon rebuild built on youth and flexibility. Herro is productive and marketable. He is 26, a Milwaukee-area native, and gives the team immediate scoring and shot creation. He could help stabilize the offense and keep the Bucks respectable. But that is also the risk: he may raise the floor without raising the ceiling, leaving Milwaukee too competitive to draft at the top and not strong enough to contend. For a rebuilding team, that middle ground is usually the least useful place to be. There are also practical concerns. Herro has had recent availability issues, is on a sizable contract, and could soon require another major financial commitment. That does not align neatly with a roster whose best assets are now younger players and future picks. If the market is soft, Milwaukee can keep Herro into the season and revisit it later. But if a team such as Detroit offers a first-rounder or a strong young asset package, the Bucks should move him and fully commit to the rebuild.

2 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 23

Parrish’s final 2026 mock keeps Washington on AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, with Utah taking Darryn Peterson at No. 2, Memphis Cameron Boozer at No. 3 and Chicago Caleb Wilson at No. 4.
Dybantsa has moved to -550 to go first overall, reinforcing Parrish’s view that the 6-foot-9 BYU scorer offers the best mix of ceiling and floor among the draft’s top four prospects.
The biggest late shake-up comes from Milwaukee’s trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami, a package that sent the Heat’s No. 13 pick to the Bucks and pushed Parrish to slot Steinbach there.
That deal also clouds Milwaukee’s own No. 10 selection, where Parrish projects Nate Ament as a rebuild swing, while trade intrigue lingers around the Clippers at No. 5, Dallas at No. 9 and Memphis at No. 16.
With the first round set for Tuesday, Parrish argues as many as 4 teams could land a future franchise face, even if the top of the board now looks largely settled.

Sources

CBS Sports4h ago

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Gary Parrish Releases Projections After Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade to Miami

NBA.com4h ago

Consensus Mock Draft: Where things stand the day before 2026 NBA Draft | NBA .com

With his health concerns now public, is Darryn Peterson still a lock for the top two in the draft?

Can Cameron Boozer, hailed as an 'ultimate winner,' resurrect a Grizzlies franchise moving on from Ja Morant?

After trading Giannis, should the Bucks keep Tyler Herro or trade him for more draft assets?

Giannis to Miami: The 2026 NBA Trade That Changed the Eastern Conference and Draft Night

Overview

Just before the 2026 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat made a blockbuster move by trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, dramatically reshaping the NBA landscape and shifting the power balance in the Eastern Conference. In this major deal, Miami acquired Giannis and Bobby Portis, while Milwaukee received a package of young players, the No. 13 draft pick, and multiple future picks. This trade was driven by Giannis’s injury-plagued season and the Bucks’ disappointing record, leading to his trade request. The move immediately elevated Miami’s championship hopes and set Milwaukee on a path toward rebuilding with new talent and draft assets.

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