Cam Boozer, Alijah Arenas' Top Potential 2026 Landing Spots After 2025 NBA Draft

The first round of the 2025 NBA draft is now over, with this year's biggest name, Cooper Flagg, heading to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 1 overall as expected.

Next year's draft class certainly has its share of known names, including Duke power forward Cam Boozer and USC shooting guard Alijah Arenas, both of whom will begin their college careers this upcoming season.

Boozer is the son of former NBA power forward, two-time All-Star and NCAA champion Carlos Boozer. Arenas is the son of ex-NBA guard, three-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA player Gilbert Arenas.

Their fathers were great players in their own rights, but their sons have promising pro prospects as well.

They both rank highly on high school class of 2025 lists for ESPN (Boozer third, Arenas 13th), 247Sports (Boozer third, Arenas 10th) and On3 (Boozer third, Arenas 12th).

A few 2026 Round 1 mock drafts have floated around recently. NBA Draft Room has Boozer third to the Washington Wizards and Arenas 16th to the San Antonio Spurs. NBADraft.net has Boozer third to the Charlotte Hornets and Arenas ninth to the Phoenix Suns.

It's obviously early, but Boozer is looking like a top-five draft prospect, while Arenas can certainly crack the lottery (top 14). You can find a look at their top potential landing spots in 2026 on the following slides.

Regarding Arenas, the hope certainly is that he's ready to go for the 2025-26 season. Arenas was in a car accident last April but thankfully suffered no major bodily injuries, per Tarek Fattal of High School on SI. He was placed in an induced coma after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Thankfully, he was released from the hospital less than one week after the accident, per an Arenas family statement to Charania.

Arenas did appear at a USC open practice on June 12 but did not participate, per Ryan Kartje of the Los Angeles Times.

"Arenas’ appearance at practice offers new optimism for his long-term availability," Nathan Fusco of USC Trojans on SI wrote. "Though he still has to complete his high school coursework before enrolling, his recovery and reemergence are clear signs that he remains on track to join Eric Musselman's 2025 recruiting class as planned."

Hopefully that happens as the promising Arenas continues his return to the court. It certainly appears to track in that direction.

Cam Boozer: Potential Landing Spots

Soobum Im/Getty Images

Utah Jazz

The Jazz just finished with a league-worst 17-65 record, and then they got a tough lottery draw considering their position, earning the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft. They did land a great prospect in Rutgers guard Ace Bailey, however.

Ultimately, it's very possible that Utah finds himself among the league's worst teams yet again, and another top-five pick is very possible. That would put the Jazz in position to consider Boozer, who would join his father's old team.

Utah needs as much talent as it can get as it hopes to move back up the standings. Boozer could be a huge addition as the team hopes for brighter days.

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets aren't likely to be playoff contenders next year as they continue a massive multi-year rebuild following the breakdown of their big three era with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. They finished the year losing 21 of 26 en route to a 26-56 record.

So they'll likely be hoping for the No. 1 pick again next year. Brooklyn needs help and/or depth at all positions as the team's long-term future is largely free of payroll, although adding five players via the first round of the draft helps fill out the roster. Still, the team needs some star power. Why not draft Boozer to lock down the power forward spot for the foreseeable future and build around him?

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards have won 33 combined games over the past two years, and one can guess they may not be a lot better than their 18-64 mark this past season. Washington has holes in numerous parts of the roster going forward, including at power forward, where there isn't a clear answer at the position. The Wizards notably used their first-round pick on Texas guard Tre Johnson, a potential future star who could help answer long-term questions in the backcourt.

Boozer can certainly be an answer as Washington continues stockpiling lottery pick talents in hopes of turning its fortunes around.

Alijah Arenas: Potential Landing Spots

Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Toronto Raptors

It wouldn't be much of a surprise if the Toronto Raptors, who finished 30-52 last season, improve enough to at least contend for a play-in tournament spot. The team has some great pieces in place to build around with Immanuel Quickley, Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes.

Toronto hopes Gradey Dick, the No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, is the answer at shooting guard off the bench. He did score 14.4 PPG but saw his shooting numbers regress from year one (42.5 FG%, 36.5 3PFG%) to year two (41.0 FG%, 35.0 3PFG%). Of course, the 21-year-old can certainly improve in year three and has the potential and capability to do so.

Still, the Raptors can use some more depth at guard regardless, and Arenas could be an answer as Toronto hopes to continue its climb up the standings.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have massive question marks at guard after Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear in last year's playoffs, which could presumably keep him out for the entire 2025-26 season. Lillard could only be under contract for one more year after that if he exercises his 2026-27 player option.

It's also unclear whether the Bucks will even have superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo after word emerged from Shams Charania of ESPN that he'd be open to a trade. However, ESPN's Bobby Marks, since reported that "sources confirmed to ESPN that Milwaukee will be aggressively exploring options in free agency and trades to complement Antetokounmpo."

If that's the case, the Bucks should consider adding more guards, and Arenas could certainly be an option on their list via the draft.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have a gaping hole at shooting guard down the line with Desmond Bane now part of the Orlando Magic after a blcokbuster deal. The team did get Kentavious Caldwell-Pope back, and he could be the team's shooting guard for the next two years (under contract in 2025-26, player option for 2026-27).

But there's question marks down the line at the position. There's frankly question marks throughout the roster as Memphis can't seem to make any headway in the playoffs when they make it in the Ja Morant era.

The Grizzlies got a host of picks from the Magic via the Bane trade, so one can surmise they can build through the draft and hope for brighter days as they look for improvement. Perhaps Arenas factors in somehow as Memphis looks for guards.

100 words minimum.