2026 NBA Draft grades: Fantasy basketball fit, analysis for each lottery pick in the first round
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Dan TitusFantasy analystWed, June 24, 2026 at 1:48 AM UTC·10 min readThe first round of the 2026 NBA Draft took place on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. In a deep draft class, there's sure to be plenty of relevant rookies for fantasy basketball managers going into 2026-27. Yahoo analyst Dan Titus shares his grades for each pick in the top 14 of the first round.
No. 1 Pick: Washington Wizards — AJ Dybantsa, F, BYU
Dybantsa joins a Washington team where he can contribute immediately. At 6'9" with a 7'0.5" wingspan, Dybantsa's size and athleticism will translate well at the next level. He averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game in his only collegiate season. His 3-ball needs work (33.1%), but otherwise, he's one of the best offensive talents in his class. Teaming up with a playmaker like Trae Young will be good for him, and he'll complete what's becoming a formidable frontcourt with Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr and (potentially) Anthony Davis. I like Dybantsa's ability to get to the rim and he should be a draftable fantasy asset from jump. Nice pick, Wiz.
AdvertisementAdvertisementGrade: A
No. 2 Pick: Utah Jazz — Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas
Peterson enters the league with some concerns over his availability after his lone season at Kansas was derailed by cramping, ankle and hamstring issues. It's funny that he ended up with the Jazz after not working out for them —similar to Ace Bailey last season. I like the fit, though, as he slots in as their shooting guard of the future, with Keyonte George running point with a large, rangy frontcourt. Peterson played off-ball primarily in Kansas' system, but has some playmaking chops. Still, he's a pure scorer at heart. Standing at nearly 6-foot-6, the two-way guard averaged 20.2 points and shot 38.2% from 3. There are a lot of mouths to feed, so it's not a slam dunk from a fantasy perspective, but getting a starting role is a good start.
AdvertisementAdvertisementGrade: B
No. 3 Pick: Memphis Grizzlies — Cameron Boozer, F, Duke
Boozer could have easily been a No. 1 pick if you're evaluating strictly on the numbers — regular or advanced, he's top of the class. Efficiency. Production. Eye test. He checks every box. Posting 23-10-4 with 55/39/79 shooting splits is a strong profile for any player, let alone a forward who can also play center. The son of former Jazz All-Star Carlos Boozer, he lands in a spot where he can thrive next to or spell Zach Edey and GG Jackson II. With a team in the midst of a rebuild, bringing in a player of Boozer's profile and stature is massive. He'll make an impact right away and this is a far better landing spot than Washington or Utah.
Grade: A
No. 4 Pick: Chicago Bulls — Caleb Wilson, F/C, UNC
My favorite prospect in this class goes to the Bulls, who just so happened to trade for former Nets center Nic Claxton a day ago. That doesn't move me, though, as Wilson has the highest upside in this class. I've been seeing Kevin Garnett vibes all year — before he suffered a hand injury that kept him out of March Madness. The processing, athleticism, footwork and pure energy and effort look like a game-changer who can shift a franchise's trajectory. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it. Next to no competition in that frontcourt, Wilson can walk into at least 15-9-3 with a couple of stocks as a rookie.
AdvertisementAdvertisementGrade: A+
No. 5 Pick: Los Angeles Clippers – Keaton Wagler, G, Illinois
The Clippers land a crafty, high-IQ guard to pair alongside Darius Garland, and the fit makes more sense than the athleticism concerns suggest. Wagler's 39.7% 3-point shooting and ability to change speeds off the dribble give Garland a legitimate spacing partner who can also handle creation duties when needed — something the Clippers' backcourt has been missing. If Kawhi Leonard walks in free agency and Bennedict Mathurin doesn't re-sign, Wagler could realistically be looking at 30-plus minutes from opening night on a roster suddenly thin on wings and shot creation. The ceiling here is contingent on those two roster dominoes falling, but if they do, this is a top-10 rookie fantasy situation.
Grade: B+
No. 6 Pick: Brooklyn Nets – Mikel Brown Jr., G, Louisville
Brown falling to Brooklyn is a fantasy gift. The Nets needed a table-setter for Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle and he'll take over as the lead guard on a roster being built around him and Egor Dёmin. Brown averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists as a freshman at Louisville while flashing one of the most unique guard skill sets in this class — combining drawing fouls, off-ball gravity and live-dribble passing that puts him in historically rare company alongside Steph Curry and Trae Young in terms of volume and efficiency combination. Brooklyn's wide-open situation is the ideal environment for his game to breathe and his 3-point shooting (34.4%) to develop without pressure. The back injury is the one legitimate concern — if he's fully healthy, this is as good a landing spot as exists in this draft.
AdvertisementAdvertisementGrade: A-
No. 7 Pick: Sacramento Kings — Darius Acuff Jr., G, Arkansas
Acuff is the pick for Sacramento, and the landing spot couldn't be better (even though it's Sacramento, lol). That said, they've had some recent success drafting point guards well — see Tyrese Haliburton, De'Aaron Fox. They needed a point guard with Russell Westbrook gone, and they got the SEC's leader in both scoring (23.5 PPG) and assists (6.4 APG) this past season. He was the first player to do that in conference history since Pete Maravich. Defensive warts aside, he shot an efficient 48/44/81 split and fantasy managers should be looking at him for his points and assists. The Kings have a ton of vets, but that's OK because he's been the Kings' guy from jump. Just ask Kings GM Scott Perry. Great landing spot for Acuff, who can play right away.
Grade: A
No. 8 Pick: Atlanta Hawks — Kingston Flemings, G, Houston
Atlanta's backcourt needed some playmaking, and getting Flemings here makes sense. They just re-signed CJ McCollum on a one-year deal, which means Flemings is likely being set up to be their cornerstone lead guard. I don't love the fit right now because the Hawks play through Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels also gets over 5 assists per game. Flemings averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game at Houston while setting a program record with 246 assists in a single season. He has a great feel for the game with a two-way motor that translates immediately at the next level.
Grade: B
No. 9 Pick: Dallas Mavericks — Morez Johnson Jr., F, Michigan
Johnson felt like a reach, but considering he's reuniting with college coach Dustin May, now the Mavericks' head coach, he could find some real minutes. With Cooper Flagg, Johnson brings a relentless motor and switchable defense, adding versatility on the wing. He'll thrive as a dunker-spot finisher off Flagg and Kyrie Irving's creation and attack the rim with a physicality that'll earn him immediate playing time. At Michigan, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks while shooting 62.3% from the field, and he should get at least 1.5 stocks per game at the NBA level. There are valid questions about his shooting ability, but if he can initially land an Aaron Gordon-like role, it could mask that concern.
Grade: C
No. 10 Pick: Milwaukee Bucks — Brayden Burries, G, Arizona
Burries has the talent to be a Jamal Murray-type guard at the next level. A physical, three-level scorer who shot 49/39/81 at Arizona while defending multiple positions with toughness and footwork that belie his age. The problem isn't the player; it's the roster — Milwaukee is currently carrying Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr. and Tyler Herro in the backcourt, and until the Bucks offload that guard logjam, Burries is going to have a hard time carving out meaningful minutes as a rookie. Redraft fantasy managers should look elsewhere for now, but dynasty managers should still have him as a top-10 rookie asset. Once Milwaukee clears the deck, Burries steps into exactly the kind of featured role where his Murray-esque skill set flourishes. The talent is lottery-caliber; the situation just isn't there yet.
AdvertisementAdvertisementGrade: D
No. 11 Pick: Golden State Warriors — Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Michigan
Turning 24 in September, Lendeborg gives the Warriors a proven winner who's ready to contribute right away. As one of the most NBA-ready players in this draft, he fills Golden State's need for a do-it-all forward who can impact the game from Day 1. At Michigan, he averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.4 stocks per game, steadily improving his 3-point shot for a well-rounded fantasy profile. After transferring from UAB and winning a national title, he's shown he can thrive as a defensive disruptor, off-ball scorer or secondary creator — exactly the kind of versatility the Warriors demand. Lendeborg fits the team's culture perfectly. Now, the only question I have is how long it'll take to crack the rotation enough to be fantasy-relevant? Dynasty-wise, a second-round pick is fair given his age.
Grade: B
No. 12 Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder — Aday Mara, C, Michigan
Well, if OKC needed to add some rim protection to account for some guy named Victor Wembanyama, that's a way to do it. Adding Mara alongside Chet Holmgren is legitimately scary defensively — a 7'4.25" shot-eraser with a 7'6" wingspan who led the Big Ten in blocks (2.6 per 40) and shot 66.8% from the floor during Michigan's national championship run. The Thunder now have the length and versatility to throw multiple looks at any frontcourt in the league, and Mara's advanced passing and off-ball movement make him far more than just a stationary rim protector in OKC's system. The blocks and field-goal percentage translate in fantasy, and being on a contending OKC roster where they've been known to blow out teams, Mara will play. Makes you wonder what's next for Isaiah Hartenstein … either way, it's an A.
Grade: A+
No. 13 Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (via MIA) — Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
Milwaukee doubles down on youth by adding Ament to replenish the wing depth lost when Giannis walked out the door and the direction makes sense even if the immediate fantasy returns are modest. At almost 6'11" with the ability to handle, shoot and dish it out, Ament has the tools to eventually fill that void on the wing. However, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kyle Kuzma are on the team, plus his efficiency at Tennessee (39.9/33.3/79.0) was a significant step back from his early preseason hype train. Ament's more of a project than a plug-and-play contributor right now. The good news is Milwaukee already addressed the backcourt with Burries at 10, so there's no pressure to rush Ament into a featured role before he's ready. Dynasty managers can be patient here — the size and skill combination is real — but redraft managers should look elsewhere until the efficiency rounds into form.
Grade: C
No. 14 Pick: Charlotte Hornets — Hannes Steinbach, F, Washington
Charlotte adds a much-needed interior presence to complement what Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabaté are already doing up front. Steinbach led the entire NCAA in rebounding as a freshman at 11.8 boards per 40 minutes. He has a nice touch around the rim, a reliable interior finishing game and the size to be a double-double threat as he gets more reps alongside LaMelo Ball's elite playmaking. I'm docking him points because he'll have to leap both Kalkbrenner and Diabaté on the depth chart before the fantasy upside fully unlocks, which keeps this from being a flat-out A grade. But the fit is real; Charlotte got better tonight, and fantasy managers should grab Steinbach in the mid-second round of dynasty drafts.
Grade: C+
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
