New NBA Rumors Reveal Team 'Most Likely' to Trade Down in Top 5 of 2026 Draft

The 2026 NBA draft is filled with talented prospects, but one team is reportedly willing to trade out of the top five.

According to Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Clippers, who own the No. 5 pick in this year's draft, are "widely considered by league sources as the most likely team to trade down in this range."

The Clippers received a stroke of good fortune when the first-round pick they acquired from their trade with the Indiana Pacers landed outside of the top four. Had the pick been slotted in the first four selections, the Pacers would've retained it, and the Clippers would've been left without a first-round pick entirely, as their No. 12 selection belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Both O'Connor and B/R's Jonathan Wasserman predicted that the Clippers would use the No. 5 pick to select Louisville combo guard Mikel Brown Jr. if they hold on to the pick.

"Different teams could be targeting different players. But the most common name mentioned is Brown, who has an unstoppable pull-up jumper, an ambidextrous finishing ability, and the quick reads to rifle passes before the defense has time to react," O'Connor wrote.

The 2026 NBA Draft is set to get underway on Tuesday, June 23.