NBA Draft Wiretap

The New York Knicks exited the first round trading out of it and owning the No. 31 pick and traded it to the Houston Rockets for No. 39 and No. 53 along with a 2029 second rounder from the Sacramento Kings.

2026 NBA Draft Second Round Results:

31. Houston Rockets: Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
32. Memphis Grizzlies: Richie Saunders, BYU
33. Minnesota Timberwolves: Isaiah Evans, Duke
34. Cleveland Cavaliers: Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
35. Denver Nuggets: Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
36. Los Angeles Clippers: Baba Miller, Cincinnati
37. Miami Heat: Ryan Conwell, Louisville
38. Indiana Pacers: Braden Smith, Purdue 
39. New York Knicks: Jack Kayil, ALBA Berlin
40. Boston Celtics: Dillon Mitchell, St. John's
41. Oklahoma City Thunder: Otega Oweh, Kentucky
42. San Antonio Spurs: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
43. Brooklyn Nets: Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
44. San Antonio Spurs: Maliq Brown, Duke
45. Sacramento Kings: Emmanuel Sharpe, Houston
46. Washington Wizards: Felix Okpara, Tennessee
47. New York Knicks: Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt
48. Dallas Mavericks: Tobi Lawal, Virginia Tech
49. Denver Nuggets: Bryce Hopkins, St. John's
50. Toronto Raptors: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
51. Orlando Magic: Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
52. Atlanta Hawks: Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
53. Detroit Pistons: Ugonna Onyenso, Virginia
54. Golden State Warriors: Lajae Jones, Florida State
55. Los Angeles Clippers: Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
56. Dallas Mavericks: Vsevolod Ishchenko, Lokomotiv
57. Los Angeles Clippers: Narcisse Ngoy, Auburn
58. New Orleans Pelicans: Jaron Pierre Jr., SMU
59. Minnesota Timberwolves: Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
60. Milwaukee Bucks: Malique Lewis, South East Melbourne Phoenix

The Sacramento Kings acquired No. 29 pick Alex Karaban from the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night.

The Cavs will receive the No. 34 pick in Wednesday's second round and a future second-rounder.

Karaban averaged 13.2 points and 5.3 rebounds at UConn last season.

The New York Knicks traded No. 25 pick Sergio De Larrea to the Dallas Mavericks for No. 30 pick Koa Peat and two second-round picks.

The Knicks then traded Peat to the Suns for three second-round picks and cash. One of the second-round picks includes No. 47 on Wednesday night.

The Knicks currently have the No. 31, No. 47, and No. 55 pick in this year's second round. 

Shams Charania of ESPN is also reporting that the team is expected to move the No. 31 pick.

The San Antonio Spurs traded No. 35 and two future second round picks to the Denver Nuggets for the draft rights to Tarris Reed Jr.

The Nuggets will receive substantial savings in trading down from the salary slot of No. 26 amid significant luxury tax concerns.

The Nuggets are hopeful of re-siging Peyton Watson in restricted free agency.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver declared Tuesday that the league's new anti-tanking rules represent a permanent shift in philosophy, regardless of what adjustments may come after the current three-year trial period expires following the 2029 draft.

"We'll never go back to where we were," Silver told ESPN ahead of the draft.

Silver said the problem reached a tipping point this past season, driven in part by the perceived strength of the 2026 draft class, which created widespread incentive for franchises to finish as low as possible in the standings.

"We ended up in a situation where fans of teams were actually rooting for their teams to be bad," said Silver. "It was particularly bad this year, I think, because of the perceived depth of (the 2026 NBA) Draft."

Under the revised lottery structure, the three worst teams in the league drop from a 14 percent chance of landing the top pick to 5.4 percent. Teams finishing fourth through 10th worst now each carry an 8.1 percent chance at the No. 1 selection.

Silver acknowledged a potential drawback of franchises genuinely attempting to win but falling into the bottom three could struggle to acquire the high picks needed to rebuild, risking a prolonged competitive cycle. The league committed to reassessing the system after three years to evaluate its effectiveness.

"But most importantly, we will not be returning to a system where there is an incentive to be bad," Silver said.

The Utah Jazz selected Kansas guard Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, adding a premier scoring threat to a young core the franchise believes is ready to contend.

Peterson, 19, averaged 20.2 points per game for the Jayhawks last season, the highest freshman scoring average in Kansas history. He missed 11 games and made early exits in several others due to severe cramping issues later attributed to high doses of creatine. Utah team sources told ESPN that their medical review of Peterson raised no concerns.

"We're so excited about Darryn," said Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge. "He is such a great combination of talent and character and work ethic. He fits everything the Jazz are about, and we're so excited to add him to our group. We think he can help us win now and in the future."

It marks the second straight year Utah selected a lottery pick who did not formally visit the franchise during the predraft process. Peterson said he grew comfortable with the organization after meeting Jazz representatives at the NBA combine in Chicago and again when front office members traveled to his hometown of Canton, Ohio, ahead of the draft.

"It meant a lot to me for them to come to my hometown and want to meet with me," said Peterson. "Now I know where my new home is. I'm super excited to get there and super excited to get to work."

Peterson expressed confidence in the roster around him, citing backcourt partner Keyonte George, who averaged 23.6 points and 6.1 assists last season in a breakout third year.

"I think me and Keyonte are going to be one of the best backcourts in the NBA, and then we've got those three bigs that are going to dominate," said Peterson, referencing All-Star forwards Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. and restricted free agent center Walker Kessler.

The No. 2 selection ties the highest draft pick in franchise history, matching the Jazz's 1980 selection of Darrell Griffith. Utah has finished in the lottery in each of the past four seasons.

The Washington Wizards selected BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday after keeping their selection secretive since winning the lottery in May.

Dybantsa was chosen over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who had been widely regarded alongside Dybantsa as the draft's top two prospects. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field in his lone collegiate season.

"I was just super confident. I've been betting on myself for a while now," said Dybantsa. "Since about ninth grade I've been No. 1, so I didn't really plan on dropping in the draft."

Dybantsa joins John Wall (2010) and Kwame Brown (2001) as the only players selected first overall by Washington. The Wizards finished 17-65 last season, the third straight year they lost at least 64 games.

Washington president of Monumental Basketball Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins have outlined a four-phase rebuild plan. The club accelerated that timeline by acquiring Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season to complement a young core that includes Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Bub Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly.

"Obviously they have a great young core, and the potential is there," said Dybantsa. "Them adding me, I think I can help them a little bit. Them re-signing Trae Young, them having A.D. and having good vets along with our young core. I think we can do big things."

The Washington Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa out of BYU with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. While the Wizards were widely expected to pick Dybantsa, the pick wasn't confirmed until it was announced by Adam Silver.

The Utah Jazz followed at No. 2 by picking Darryn Peterson out of Kansas. Peterson entered the draft cycle as the consensus top prospect but had injury issues and wasn't quite as explosive as he was in high school.

Cameron Boozer was selected at No. 3 by the Memphis Grizzlies, followed by Caleb Wilson to the Chicago Bulls at No. 4.

The next four picks from No. 5 until No. 8 were guards in Keaton Wagler (Clippers), Mikel Brown Jr. (Nets), Darius Acuff Jr. (Kings) and Kingston Flemings (Hawks).

2026 NBA Draft First Round

1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, Kansas
3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, Duke
4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via Indiana Pacers): Keaton Wagler, Illinois
6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
8. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Kingston Flemings, Houston
9. Dallas Mavericks: Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, Arizona
11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): Aday Mara, Michigan
13. Milwaukee Bucks (via Miami Heat): Nate Ament, Tennessee
14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, Washington
15. Chicago Bulls (via Portland Trail Blazers): Dailyn Swain, Texas
16. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Phoenix Suns via Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies): Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
17. Detroit Pistons (via Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies): Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
18. Charlotte Hornets (from Orlando Magic via Phoenix Suns): Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
19. Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves, Santa Clara
20. San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks): Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
21. Memphis Grizzlies (via Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons): Karim Lopez, New Zealand
22. Philadelphia 76ers (from Houston Rockets via Oklahoma City Thunder): Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
23. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland Cavaliers): Zuby Ejiofor, St. John's
24. Los Angeles Lakers (via New York Knicks): Cameron Carr, Baylor
25. Dallas Mavericks (via Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks): Sergio De Larrea, Valencia
26. San Antonio Spurs (via Denver Nuggets): Tarris Reed Jr., UConn
27. Boston Celtics: Chris Cenac, Houston
28. Brooklyn Nets (via Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves): Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
29. Sacramento Kings (from San Antonio Spurs via Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers): Alex Karaban, UConn
30. Phoenix Suns (from Oklahoma City Thunder via Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks): Koa Peat, Arizona

The two leading candidates to be selected first overall in Tuesday's NBA Draft say they have received no indication from the Washington Wizards on how the top of the board will fall. AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson both said Monday they expect to find out alongside everyone else.

"I'm going to find out when you find out," said Dybantsa.

"That's the only thing I'm not a big fan of," said Peterson. "I've got no clue (about Tuesday). But we're going to see."

The outcome is notably uncertain compared to recent drafts. Victor Wembanyama in 2023 and Cooper Flagg in 2025 were each considered locks for the top selection well in advance.

Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 wing from BYU, led Division I in scoring last season at 25.5 points per game across 35 games. Peterson, a 6-5 combo guard from Kansas, averaged 20.2 points in 24 games while battling quadriceps, hamstring and ankle injuries.

Peterson confirmed he met with Utah Jazz representatives over the weekend despite opting out of a formal workout with the club, which holds the No. 2 pick.

"(It was) just a decision that was made, but I'm definitely not dodging any team," said Peterson. "Whoever takes me, I'm going to come in and be delighted to be there. And wherever that happens to be, they'll get the best me."

Dybantsa said he would welcome a fit in Washington alongside the club's young core.

"They've got a good young core," said Dybantsa. "So if I went there, I could fit in, be a real dynamic player, a dynamic wing there, make an offensive impact and a defensive impact."

Peterson echoed similar confidence in his own Wizards visit.

"I went out there and met with the staff and the GMs and all that, and we connected, which is something huge for me," said Peterson. "I want to have a connection with those guys."

Darryn Peterson revealed at NBA Draft media day on Monday that he met with the Utah Jazz over the weekend. Peterson is under consideration with the No. 1 overall pick and had previously met with the Washington Wizards, but had not yet met with the Jazz at No. 2.

The Wizards have given "increased consideration" to selecting Peterson at No. 1.

Peterson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kansas, averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman, the most in program history.

Peterson wants to play point guard in the NBA and he may have doubts on how he would fit alongside Keyonte George.