Basketball Wiretap

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

Kawhi Leonard is entering the final season of his current contract with the Los Angeles Clippers and his potential trade status is being monitored by rival teams. Leonard could sign a contract extension with the Clippers and continue to be their franchise player, or they could consider a pivot around Darius Garland and their pick at No. 5 in Tuesday's draft.

"There are multiple teams monitoring Kawhi Leonard here over the next few weeks," said Shams Charania on Tuesday.

"I don't think the draft is necessarily dependent on Kawhi Leonard's future, but I think in the coming days and weeks we'll start to learn a little bit more about the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and a potential outside team as well."

The Golden State Warriors discussed a Leonard trade with the Clippers ahead of the trade deadline in February and could revisit those talks. Steve Ballmer has so far been resistant on the possibility of trading Leonard.

Leonard's $50.3 million expiring contract would require a significant extension as part of any deal, making a trade a considerable long-term commitment for any acquiring team. Any package would also include a mix of players and future draft capital.

Leonard was a Second Team All-NBA selection in 2025-26, playing perhaps his best basketball since the 2019-20 season.

Sources close to Anthony Edwards have pushed back firmly against mounting speculation that he could eventually seek a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, calling the franchise the "ideal" situation. The dismissals come as prominent NBA voices began publicly questioning Edwards' future with the franchise following Monday's Julius Randle trade.

One source told the Star Tribune there was no truth to the rumors. Another said Edwards and his representatives view the Timberwolves' situation favorably and remain committed to the organization.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon were among the reporters raising questions about Edwards' long-term future, with MacMahon noting that league "vultures" are monitoring the situation closely in the wake of the Randle deal.

Edwards still has three years remaining on his contract. Under NBA rules, the Timberwolves would be able to offer significantly more money on his next extension than any outside team, provided he earns another All-NBA selection. A trade would eliminate that financial advantage, as Luka Doncic discovered when the Dallas Mavericks dealt him to the Los Angeles Lakers, costing him supermax eligibility.

The Randle trade, a three-team deal completed Monday, signals Minnesota's intent to reshape its roster around Edwards. His departure from the starting lineup elevates Naz Reid to a full-time starting role and should improve floor spacing. The Timberwolves still require additional ballhandling and shot creation, areas they will look to address through free agency or further trades.

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Micah Nori as head coach on a one-year deal with team options for Year 2 and Year 3. Nori has been the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves over the past five seasons.

Nori has been a candidate for multiple head coaching jobs in recent seasons.

The Blazers were searching for a new head coach following Chauncey Billups federal arrest last October. Tiago Splitter was interim head coach for the remainder of the season and exited the Blazers this offseason to become head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

The Blazers reached the playoffs in 2026 for the first time since their trade of Damian Lillard.

New York Knicks assistant coach Chris Jent and Boston Celtics assistant coach Tyler Lashbrook were the other finalists for the job.

The Detroit Pistons have added Norman Powell to their list of free agent targets this offseason. The Pistons also have Coby White as a possible free agent along with Austin Reaves, who is widely expected to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Additionally, the Pistons have trade interest in Tyler Herro, Isaiah Joe, Trey Murphy III and Kyrie Irving.

After trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat have an even greater need to re-sign Powell but their financial mechanisms in doing so are more limited because they are hard capped at the first apron. 

Powell averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 29.6 across 58 games in his first season with the Heat as he was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career. Powell recently turned 33 and is represented by Jason Glushon.

Trajan Langdon is prioritizing increased shooting and playmaking around Cade Cunningham as that need was magnified in their seven-game series against the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Pistons must also re-sign Jalen Duren in restricted free agency, Tobias Harris in unrestricted free agnecy, as well as a possible rookie scale extension with Ausar Thompson.

The Boston Celtics are now listening to trade offers for Jaylen Brown after offering him in a trade package to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brown's future with the Celtics is uncertain even if there's no guarantee he'll be traded this offseason.

"I know there are going to be hard conversations ahead for Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics," said Shams Charania on Tuesday's episode of the Pat McAfee Show. "There's going to be fallout from this. There already is. 

"Since last night, my understanding is the Celtics are listening to interested teams and offers for Jaylen Brown. I wouldn't say they're actively shopping him right now, but the Celtics are listening to offers. There are multiple interested teams that have started to reach out and engage and have a level of dialogue with the Celtics.

"That doesn't mean it's going to result in a trade definitively. Jaylen Brown has three years left on his contract at the supermax. He's extension eligible in July. We'll see where this goes. But the fact that they are listening that lets you know there's a decision to make one way or the other for the Celtics."

Charania didn't specify which teams have reached out to the Celtics, but the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers are three teams that have been linked with Brown previously. 

According to The Athletic, the Bucks were intrigued about the possibility of making Brown their new franchise player but had concerns on whether he wanted to be join their franchise and would eventually try to force a trade under circumstances similar to Antetokounmpo. 

Tim Bontemps is in advanced talks to leave ESPN to join the front office of the Atlanta Hawks. Bontemps would be on the basketball side of the Hawks' front office, which is led by Onsi Saleh.

Bontemps joined ESPN in 2018 after previously working for the Washington Post and New York Post.

Kevin Pelton left ESPN earlier this season to work for the WNBA's Houston Comets. Lee Jenkins exited Sports Illustrated for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018, while John Hollinger spent several seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies between media jobs with ESPN and The Athletic. 

Bontemps is notably part of The Hoop Collective podcast alongside Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon.

Bontemps most recently signed an extension with ESPN in November 2024.

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 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.

Adam Silver confirmed that the NBA will determine by the end of 2026 whether they will expand from 30 teams to 32 with new franchises going to Seattle and Las Vegas. Silver also confirmed that the new teams would join the NBA ahead of the 2028-29 season in interviews with Dan Patrick and Malika Andrews.

The NBA most recently expanded from 29 teams to 30 teams in 2004 when the Charlotte Bobcats joined the league for a $300 million expansion fee. 

The NBA's expansion fee is now expected to exceed $7 billion, but requires approval from 23 out of the league's 30 board of governors.

The NBA is also simultaneously pursing a new league in Europe, which is on an independent track from domestic expansion.

With two proposed teams situated in the Western Conference, the NBA is expected to move either the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans or Memphis Grizzlies to the Eastern Conference.