New NBA Mock Draft Trends and Trade Candidates to Know from Top Experts' Latest Predictions

The 2026 NBA Draft takes place on June 23 and 24, live from Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, with the top college prospects finding out for which teams they will play as they make their dreams of playing in the league a reality.

Ahead of the annual event, find out the latest trends and potential trade targets in this preview, also including the draft's hottest rising young star.

Clippers Most Likely Trade Candidate

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Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports reported in his 2026 NBA Mock Draft that "The Clippers are widely considered by league sources as the most likely team to trade down in this range."

He added, "Different teams could be targeting different players. But the most common name mentioned is (Mikel) 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."

The 20-year-old guard out of Louisville averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and shot 41 percent from the floor this past season. Those numbers may not be mind-blowing but he can execute the deep shot and his size is elite.

A back injury cost him a portion of his season and created questions about his long-term health but, according to O'Connor, "all indications are that he is dominating workouts."

The Clippers (42-40, ninth in the Western Conference) may be looking to add depth and the best way to do that would be to trade back in the draft and acquire either players or additional picks for their fifth overall selection.

Top Three Set?

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Ahead of the June 23 NBA Draft, there appears to be a consensus top three across most experts' mock drafts.

ESPN's Jeremy Woo, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, and Yahoo's O'Connor all have Washington selecting BYU guard AJ Dybantsa with the top pick. From there, Utah takes point guard Darryn Peterson and the Memphis Grizzlies select Cam Boozer, the forward from Duke.

Woo only slightly breaks in that he warns that the order in which those three players is not yet set in stone. "NBA teams largely seeing little separation between the top prospects, making how the Wizards, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls approach the process in the coming weeks a fascinating plotline," he wrote.

Dybantsa's ability to get to the rim and draw timely fouls helps him stand out from the rest of the pack, but he will have to prove himself as a long-range scorer and a more consistent defender.

Peterson is an elite shooter but injuries have created some concern that he can stay healthy enough to realize his potential at the next level.

Boozer may be the most complete player in the draft and has an NBA pedigree, but his lack of vertical game is readily apparent. Woo wrote, "He is arguably the safest pick in this draft."

There is a chance that Caleb Wilson from North Carolina or Keaton Wagler from Illinois jump into the top three but as of now, and fairly consistently throughout the pre-Draft process, Dybantsa, Peterson, and Boozer have been the picks.

Biggest Riser: Cameron Carr

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NBA.com's Krysten Peek named Baylor guard Cameron Carr one of the biggest risers entering the draft, thanks to his performance at the NBA Draft Combine.

She wrote, "He was by far the best prospect on the court out of both games and showed enough to sit out Day 2 of scrimmage play. "

In the first two 5-on-5 scrimmages, he proved himself as a three-point shooter, connecting on six and finishing his day with 30 points and seven rebounds. Peek added, "During the shooting drills he went 14-for-25 in the spot up shooting and 22-for-30 off the dribble."

She also noted that the sophomore talked to the Lakers, Trailblazers, Suns, Bucks, Cavaliers, Hawks, and Pistons while he was in Chicago for the event.

A movement shooter with a large wingspan and a 42.5-inch vertical leap, Carr is going to get attention and recognition from teams that need to improve their big man depth. That he is a disruptive defender only helps his case and makes him that much more appealing.