NBA Basketball Wiretap

The 2026 NBA Draft's late first round could see considerable activity on draft night, with scouts viewing picks outside the top 10 as far less attractive and several teams expected to consolidate or move out of those selections, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

"I do think you will see some significant trading within the draft and draft night itself," said Windhorst. "I believe picks in the teens and twenties will see maneuvering. I don't think you'll see much maneuvering in the top-10. You may hear about maneuvering in the top-10, but I don't think you'll see much maneuvering."

The New York Knicks, who hold both the No. 24 and No. 31 picks, are among the teams Windhorst identified as likely candidates to trade out of their late first-round slot.

The Washington Wizards own the first overall selection and have not yet indicated whether they intend to draft AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The top-four of Dybantsa, Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson has been well established even if the exact order remains undecided.

Darryn Peterson's pre-draft medical evaluations have not raised significant concerns among NBA teams, clearing the way for the Kansas guard to be selected among the top two picks, according to ESPN's Jeremy Woo.

The Washington Wizards have narrowed their focus at No. 1 to Peterson and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, sources told ESPN. Peterson has informed the Utah Jazz that he plans to take no further team visits, signaling his preference to be selected first by Washington.

Peterson has met with the Wizards previously in Los Angeles and has completed multiple on-court workouts in front of Washington's decision-makers. He has expressed a desire to play point guard at the next level, though the presence of Trae Young in Washington is not viewed as an obstacle to that fit.

Peterson began the season as ESPN's No. 1 overall prospect and is regarded as the most talented offensive player in the draft class. His season at Kansas was impacted by cramping issues, which he has said were linked to high doses of creatine.

Despite the injury setbacks, Peterson has remained a strong candidate for the top pick throughout the process. Rival teams do not view his decision to skip a workout with Utah as a significant factor in the Jazz's evaluation, citing precedent from last year when general manager Austin Ainge selected Ace Bailey fifth overall without a pre-draft visit.

If Peterson remains available to Utah, he would represent a strong fit alongside guard Keyonte George as the Jazz look to bolster their offense and push for playoff contention.

Top NBA draft prospect Darryn Peterson has visited the Washington Wizards, who hold the No. 1 pick in next week's draft, and does not plan to meet with any other team, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania and Jeremy Woo.

Lottery teams have taken note of Peterson's decision to grant access only to Washington. The Utah Jazz own the No. 2 pick and will not be dissuaded by Peterson's decision if they identify him as their preferred selection. The move comes as Peterson and BYU forward AJ Dybantsa, the presumed top prospect, both believe they will be selected first overall, according to sources.

Peterson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Kansas, averaged 20.2 points per game as a freshman, the most in program history. He missed 11 games due to injury, the most for a projected No. 1 pick since Kyrie Irving played just 11 games at Duke before being selected in 2011.

Peterson told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne in May that severe cramping caused his injury issues. He said doctors determined after the season that high doses of creatine contributed to the condition.

Washington finished last season 17-65 and won the draft lottery in May after holding the best odds for the top pick. The Wizards have not won a playoff series since the 2017-18 season.

Peterson wants to play point guard in the NBA, but does not view potentially joining Trae Young with the Wizards as an issue.

The first round of the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on June 23.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa has visited both the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz, who hold the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in next week's NBA draft, according to sources cited by ESPN's Shams Charania and Jeremy Woo.

Dybantsa has been the presumed favorite to go No. 1 overall since February. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 25.5 points per game as a freshman, leading the nation in scoring and becoming just the third freshman ever to do so. He is the first to accomplish the feat since Trae Young at Oklahoma in 2018.

Dybantsa has strong ties to Utah, having played his senior year of high school at Utah Prep before spending last season at BYU. Both he and fellow top prospect Darryn Peterson believe they will be selected first overall, according to sources. Peterson has only met with the Wizards and has so far chosen not to meet with the Jazz.

The first round of the draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on June 23.

German guard Jack Kayil is keeping his name in the 2026 NBA Draft as an Early Entry Candidate. Kayil is currently playing for Alba Berlin and is in the midst of the German BBL against Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old guard has averaged 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a steal in 61 games across all competitions this season. Kayil has also played for teams in Montenegro and Serbia in his professional career.

Spanish guard Segio De Larrea is keeping his name in the 2026 NBA Draft as an Early Entry Candidate. De Larrea is entering the draft as a 20-year-old and will turn 21 years old in early December.

The 6-foot-5 has spent the last two full seasons with Valencia Basket in Spain. This season, De Larrea averaged 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 67 games across all competitions.

De Larrea's draft position ranges from late in the first round to early in the second round. Most expect that the Spanish guard will land a standard NBA contract vs a two-way deal.

Italian center Luigi Suigo has withdrawn as an Early Entry Candidate from the 2026 NBA Draft. Suigo will now enroll and spend next season at Villanova.

The 7-foot-3 center played for KK Mega Bemax in Serbia last season. In 26 games, Suigo averaged 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and a block in 18.4 minutes per game.

Most mock drafts had Suigo rated as a late first-round pick. The hope is after a strong season at Villanova that the 19-year-old center will improve his stock for the 2027 NBA Draft.

The Sacramento Kings are interested in drafting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in the upcoming draft, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

The Kings are reportedly looking to trade up to select Acuff, though Fischer adds that they are comfortable staying where they are.

Kings general manager Scott Perry coached Acuff's father at Eastern Kentucky in the 1990s.

Acuff has also worked out with the Bucks, who own the No. 10 pick. 

The Atlanta Hawks are open to trading the No. 23 pick in the upcoming draft, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

The team have the No. 8 pick and are only looking to make one first-round selection.

The Hawks, who recently signed Quin Snyder to a multi-year selection, are also rumored to have interest in Jaylen Brown.

The Dallas Mavericks are open to trading the No. 9 pick in the upcoming draft, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

Fischer adds that the Mavs are willing to move in either direction in the draft.

The team is currently searching for a new head coach, with Terry Stotts, Micah Nori, and Royal Ivey, among others, in consideration. 

New team president Masai Ujiri previously stated that he wants to see how Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg fit together on the court.