New 2026 NBA Mock Draft with Blockbuster Tyler Herro Trade Idea
The combine is complete, the selection order is set and nearly the entire hoops world is praying for the arrival of a savior.
NBA draft season is fully upon us in all of its optimism-fueled glory.
This can be, if handled correctly, a truly transformational time. And not only because it so often unites stuck-in-the-mud squads with potential pedal-to-the-floor prospects. It can also grease the gears of the trade market, and based on the rumor mill rumblings, blockbusters might be baking as speak.
Down in South Beach, for instance, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel recently relayed that All-Star guard Tyler Herro "thinks" he has played his last game for the Miami Heat and might need a scenery change to "be his best self."
So, why not add a wrinkle to our latest mock draft, then, with Herro getting moved in a deal that impacts the draft lottery—and, no, not by delivering Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. We'll explain where Herro could go and how, but first, let's put the Washington Wizards on the clock and have this hypothetical talent grab get rolling.
1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
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There's been pushback on the notion of Dybantsa being completely locked into the No. 1 spot, and that makes some sense given where we're at with the draft process. The Wizards have nothing but time to make this selection, so they can and should be turning over every stone to be as sure as they can about finding the right fit.
Just don't be suprised when this meticulous deep dive delivers the same result expected for months now: Dybantsa going first overall. His archetype as a big-wing alpha scorer is absurdly valuable, and he offers a brilliant blend of potential (two-way superstar) and safety (remarkable athlete, tireless defender and transition terror).
He also just so happens to fit Washington's roster like a tailored suit. He can help right away in between Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and he can also grow right alongside Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Will Riley and Kyshawn George as a downhill driver and three-level scorer with great room for growth as a defender and distributor.
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas
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The idea of the Jazz making a bold move up to get Dybantsa is a fun one, but this might be more fun. Had Peterson not raised any medical concerns at Kansas, he might be the consensus top prospect in this class right now. Plus, he looks like the cleaner fit for the Jazz.
They have an ascending guard in Keyonte George and all kinds of frontcourt talent with Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Ace Bailey and a presumably re-signed Walker Kessler. A two-way guard like Peterson, who works both on and off the ball, could tie this roster together like a Lebowskian rug.
His shot-making is elite, his defense is all kinds of disruptive and his high school film shows so much more explosion and playmaking than he displayed with the Jayhawks. If he is healthy and has his bounce back, his bag will be bursting with goodies.
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
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The Grizzlies' good fortune at the lottery is a boon for the top-to-bottom rebuild on Beale Street. They've had a few nice finds recently (Zach Edey and Cedric Coward chief among them), but they could use a true blue-chipper to serve as their long-term leader.
Boozer might be the best possible prospect for the job. He is a decorated winner and perhaps the draft's most polished player, despite the fact he won't even turn 19 until this summer. He can effortlessly shift between coveted roles as a primary scorer, a stretch big and a supersized playmaker.
If the Grizzlies want to get back to their old grit-and-grind ways, a bruising nucleus built around Boozer, Edey and Coward should be ready and able to support a rebirth.
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina
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This might be the easiest decision in the entire draft, provided the Bulls agree with the widely held sentiment that there are four prospects who stand above the rest. Chicago could just treat this like a lazy pop fly and catch whoever falls into its glove.
Still, this isn't a by-default mock move. He looks like he was lab-created to fit their new SLAP philosophy, which prioritizes size, length, athleticism and physicality—or many of the strongest aspects of Wilson's profile.
He might be the best athlete in this class and the hardest worker. That explosion-plus-energy combo makes full use of his physical tools, and that physicality can be captured by his perpetually growing highlight-hammer reel. Creation and shooting are questions, but his upside is enormous if he finds some answers.
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND): Keaton Wagler, PG/SG, Illinois
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The Clippers, who won't control their own first-round pick until 2030, could not have done better at the lottery. Literally. Had the Indiana Pacers, who endured the second-most losses in the league, landed any higher, they would've held onto this selection.
Instead, though, L.A. snagged it and has the chance to really refresh this roster, which already turned more future-focused at the trade deadline. If the Clippers are big-time believers in deadline addition Darius Garland, they could see Wagler as the best backcourt fit alongside him among the guard prospects who dominate this draft's second tier.
Or they could just like Wagler more than the others, which is a totally reasonable stance given what he showed as a gifted shooter, crafty scorer and one-step-ahead table-setter. He either has good size to play point or great processing for an off-guard, and the fact he can toggle between those roles means he'll fit no matter what this franchise intends to build.
6. Brooklyn Nets: Darius Acuff Jr., PG/SG, Arkansas
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Brooklyn's tough luck in the lottery continued, but any disappointment shouldn't last too long. Because if Acuff the NBA player looks anything like the college version, the Nets might have a new franchise focal point.
Or, as he humbly assessed himself to reporters at the Combine, "a superstar point guard." That's a bold claim, obviously, but it is the role he aced at Arkansas, where he averaged 23.5 points on 48.4/44/80.9 shooting and 6.4 assists against 2.2 turnovers.
He shined brightest in big moments, too, so if the Big Apple spotlight impacts him at all, it might only be to bring out his best. His physical gifts are underwhelming, and his defense might be dreadful, but Brookly's offense would have someone worth orbiting around.
7. Sacramento Kings: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
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The Kings could've landed higher after unintentionally tanking their way to 60 losses, but they're still in range to address their glaring hole at point guard. Filling it with Flemings would give them a lot of the same lead-guard traits that De'Aaron Fox once provided.
Flemings is a blur with the basketball and a master of the mid-range. He is comfortable creating offense for others and makes smart reads even at top speeds. He plays with contagious energy on the defensive end and has that tone-setting quality seen in a lot of high-end floor generals.
He's also shaky with his shot, maybe a bit too mid-range reliant and could have trouble scoring around the basket against NBA length. He's not perfect. He should be at least a stabilizer at point guard, though, and Sacramento at least needs that.
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP): Aday Mara, C, Michigan
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The Hawks will be tempted to take Trae Young's replacement here, but they might not be infatuated with the options. Mikel Brown Jr. was consistently inconsistent in college, and Brayden Burries might be more of a support piece than a featured one.
So, Atlanta could instead take this opportunity to add a true center to the roster. Mara is massive (7'3", 255 lbs), and he does all of the things you'd want a mountain in the middle to do: finish around and above the basket, inhale rebounds, block shots.
What could give him top-10 appeal, though, is the fact that in addition to those traits, he also happens to read the floor like a guard and pass like a quarterback. Dribble hand-offs, pinpoint passes from the high post and eyes-over-the-top-of-the-defense finds are all routine for him and gear rotators for an offense.
9. Dallas Mavericks: Brayden Burries, SG, Arizona
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The Mavericks, who won't control their own first-round pick again until 2031, really need to get this right. That doesn't mean they should sell out for safety and ignore potential, but they probably shouldn't place any blind-faith bets.
Burries might be the best option to meet in the middle. He's overloaded with win-now qualities and just used the full array of them to help Arizona make a Final Four run. But he's also quietly in possession of a good amount of untapped potential, which he'll hint at with really encouraging flashes of on-ball creation.
In Dallas, he could be a day-one off-ball option next to Kyrie Irving and a clear candidate for a long-term cornerstone role alongside Cooper Flagg.
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown Jr., PG/SG, Louisville
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There are no absolutes in the Association, but it sure feels like the Bucks will use this pick to start laying the franchise's post-Giannis Antetokounmpo foundation. And if they have the long-term in mind, they'd have to love seeing a player with Brown's sky-high ceiling still being on the board.
His lows can be worrisome, but his highs are elite. When he's dialed-in, he's a game-breaker. Just look at the profile: 6'5" lead guard with in-the-gym range, boundless creativity, supreme confidence and the abilities to pass and finish on the move.
His career could be special. Or maybe it'll be maddening knowing what he's capable of and seldom actually seeing it. Even drafts this deep don't have 10 prospects who are guaranteed to hit. He's still worth taking the swing, though, because this could be a moon shot.
11. Golden State Warriors: Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
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It's been a stock-spiking combine for Carr, and the Warriors would be wise to take notice. They could use a lot of what he provides, especially since it looks like he could provide plenty next season and maybe a whole lot more whenever this team shifts into its post-Stephen Curry mode.
For now, though, Carr has great bounce and length, plus an ignitable outside shot, a fearlessness going downhil and all of the tools to be a defensive playmaker. If he can hold his own defensively, he might be a great backcourt fit next to Curry already next season.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC): Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
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The Thunder won't have the easiest time finding roster spots (let alone rotation roles) for incoming rookies, but they might make an exception for Lendeborg. As deep as their roster is, they don't have a big forward like him with this blend of physical tools and across-the-board versatility.
He's a 6'9" wing with a 7'4" wingspan who can do everything on the basketball court. That sounds almost hyperbolic, but it also helps explain how his Wolverines won the national title—he's a true difference-maker. He'll also turn 24 before he plays his first NBA minutes, but if any club could care less about that, it's probably the powerhouse who could be closing in on a second consecutive title.
TRADE at 13. Los Angeles Clippers (via MIA): Nate Ament, SF/PF, Tennessee
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Los Angeles Clippers receive: No. 13 pick, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, 2030 first-round pick (top-four protected) and 2031 first-round pick swap
Miami Heat receive: Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr. and No. 36 pick
And there it is. The Herro hammer has dropped. It's a doozy of a deal, too, with the Heat tasking Leonard to be their missing (and highly sought-after) superstar, reuniting with Jones to fill Wiggins' two-way wing role, clearing a starting spot to re-sign Norman Powell and grabbing an additional second-round pick (they also have No. 41) to either sniff out two sleepers or perhaps package to trade their way back into the first round.
The Clippers, meanwhile, grab Herro to form one of the league's most dynamic offensive backcourts with Darius Garland, have Wiggins to handle Leonard's vacated lineup spot and then really lean into the future-focused movement that dates back to their deadline subtractions of James Harden and Ivica Zubac.
The value of the future draft assets speaks for itself, but this selection spot could be extra appealing if Ament makes it this far. He is arguably the last big dart throw in this draft, a prospect whose size-skill combo gave him top-five status before an up-and-down season with the Volunteers pushed him down the board.
His game and frame both need work, and he'll never be super explosive, but he has great size and length for someone who can handle, shoot and create.
14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, C, Washington
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The Hornets probably wouldn't enjoy the stretch of picks before them, since Lendeborg or Ament would've been fascinating to throw into their 4 spot. With them gone, though, it makes sense to invest in a center position that exceeded expectations this season—by essentially being OK.
Charlotte could and arguably should aim higher, and Steinbach would be a smart way to do that. He is polished and productive around the basket, and he could also be super useful away from it if he keeps breathing life into his three-point shot.
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR): Labaron Philon Jr., PG/SG, Alabama
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The Bulls added a zillion score-first guards at the trade deadline, but Philon could be an actual long-term fit. He was, simply put, one of the best offensive players in the country this season, authoring dramatic improvements in both his volume output and his efficiency.
He has real make-something-out-of-nothing creativity but also a three-point stroke that runs hot enough for him to have value off the ball. There's a non-zero chance he is a legitimate offensive focal point at some point of his NBA career.
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHO): Christian Anderson, PG, Texas Tech
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If the Grizzlies go with jumbo options at every other spot, they can probably live with Anderson's lack of size and explosiveness. Especially when he can make life easier for this bigger, bulkier players with his offensive organization, pick-and-roll creation and breathing room-supplier as an off-ball spacer.
He is a fiery outside shooter and a savvy decision-maker. Assuming Memphis finds a taker for Ja Morant at some point, Anderson could be capable of taking control of this offense—or sharing control with Boozer—sooner than later.
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI): Jayden Quaintance, PF/C, Kentucky
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The Thunder have a team option on Isaiah Hartenstein next season and another on Jaylin Williams for the 2027-28 season. They'll likely need frontcourt reinforcements in the near-future, and Quaintance could be an absolute wrecking ball around—and above—the basket.
A knee injury impacted each of his two college seasons, leaving him behind the developmental curve on the offensive end. That said, his healthy version should easily slot into a rim-running role, and his mobility gives him elite upside on defense.
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL): Karim Lopez, PF, New Zealand Breakers
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With Charlotte spending its first pick on a 5, it could use its second on a 4 to fill out this frontcourt and help complement this team's collection of perimeter talents.
Lopez is a 19-year-old with an NBA build and ahead-of-his-years feel as an off-ball mover. He's also someone with real growth potential on the offensive end if he can fine-tune his outside shot and handle.
19. Toronto Raptors: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
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The Raptors should be on search for size, shooting and half-court creation this summer. While Stirtz can't really help with the first item on that list, he could be a big boost for the last two.
He's a reliable shotmaker both off the dribble or spotting up, and he's just as steady with his decision-making. Defense could be a career-long concern, but Toronto has the right kind of size, length and athleticism to help hide it.
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL): Dailyn Swain, SF, Texas
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San Antonio has an overstuffed backcourt and the centerpiece of all centerpieces at center (Victor Wembanyama), so chasing wing depth feels like the best use of this pick.
Swain's shooting is one of the bigger swing skills in this draft, but he can put constant pressure on the rim, make connective passes and toggle through various defensive assignments.
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN): Ebuka Okorie, PG, Stanford
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The Pistons could use a jolt to their offense, and Okorie's burst is among the best in this class.
He never shifts out of attack mode, and that combination of speed and relentlessness keeps opposing defenses on their heels. He might be a microwave scorer to start his career, but he could be so much more over time if he learns how to leverage that scoring threat in ways that open up more passing lanes.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU): Chris Cenac Jr., PF/C, Houston
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The Sixers need to be thinking about a long-term replacement for Joel Embiid, but they could also use a short-term addition who can slot alongside the former MVP. Cenac might be the single stone that handles both birds.
He has all of the length and hops needed for the interior, but he moves more like a wing and is perfectly comfortable letting it fly from long range. His approach needs some new programming—he can get too jump shot-happy—but he seems capable of contributing in a minor role now and maybe a major one down the line.
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE): Isaiah Evans, SF, Duke
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Shooting should be a must on Atlanta's offseason shopping list. Evans is one of the best bets on that front this draft has to offer.
He is a lights-out movement shooter, but he also showed better on-ball abilities this past season. He might serve as a specialist for the time being, but further growth as a creator and defender could really round things out.
24. New York Knicks: Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan
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The Knicks could use more size and physicality up front, especially if they don't plan on paying what it would take to re-sign Mitchell Robinson. Johnson would supply both while also giving the 'Bockers one of the premier stoppers in this class.
He has both the physical talent and feel to offer true 1-through-5 switchability on defense. And he's a chaos-creator as a weakside helper. Offense isn't his strong suit, but he can help on that end with soft hands, strong finishing and solid screen-setting.
25. Los Angeles Lakers: Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina
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The Lakers need a new option at center, and Veesaar could be a fascinating pick-and-roll (or pick-and-pop) partner for Luka Dončić.
Veesaar is a 7-footer who can both roll and finish at the rim or pop out for feathery soft three-point shots. He can also make smart, simple reads as a passer and offers enough mobility and paint protection to be a two-way asset.
26. Denver Nuggets: Amari Allen, SF/PF, Alabama
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Wing depth is a must for Denver. If free agency doesn't lure Peyton Watson away, that probably means the Nuggets offloaded a pricey wing to re-sign the restricted free agent.
Allen looks like a plug-and-play option with jack-of-all-trades versatility. He doesn't really have a standout skill, but his lack of glaring weaknesses is more notable.
27. Boston Celtics: Allen Graves, PF, Santa Clara
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Graves offers far more feel and skill than physical tools, but being good at basketball feels pretty helpful in this profession, right? And analytics say he was way more than good this past season, when he posted the fifth-highest box plus/minus in college basketball.
His stat sheet covered all bases from a volume perspective, and his shooting rates were strong from every level. Granted, this production came in a reserve role against so-so competition at Santa Clara, but maybe he's just an uber-valuable glue guy hiding in plain sight.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET): Meleek Thomas, PG/SG, Arkansas
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Donte DiVincenzo is out for a while, Mike Conley is 38 and Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland are entering free agency. The Timberwolves need a backcourt boost in a big way, and Thomas could put a real jolt into this guard group.
He's a scoring threat from all over, offering on- and off-ball shooting, enough off-the-dribble wiggle to free himself and unwavering confidence.
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS): Alex Karaban, SF/PF, Connecticut
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Karaban was a two-time national champion at UConn and a strong support piece on both of those squads. He's just one of those knows-how-to-play role players. He makes smart moves off the ball, shoots from all over, plays with great energy on defense and executes his role.
He's a fringe first-rounder, but he really helped himself at the combine. He predictably shot the lights-out, and he eased some concerns about his athletic limitations by adding 5.5 inches to his vertical jump from last year's combine.
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC): Tounde Yessoufou, SG/SF, Baylor
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Dallas' young core could really start taking shape if it's able to nail both of its first-round picks. That would be harder to do at No. 30 than it was at No. 9, but a dart throw at Yessoufou might yield a bull's-eye if the Mavericks can ace his developmental process.
He has a special blend of explosion, physicality and ferocity, and his flashes of shotmaking really let the imagination run wild. He's already a helpful piece in transition, on the offensive glass and as a chaos-creator on defense, so if he becomes a legitimate bucket, too, he could be a problem.
