With the NBA Finals concluded, the 2026 offseason is underway and teams are looking to reshape their rosters. This year's draft is the deepest in years and will allow multiple franchises to improve heading into next season. Crucially, this cycle marks the final draft before the new anti-tanking reform comes into effect, raising the stakes for every team on the board. Here is a team-by-team breakdown of what every franchise needs and who they might target on draft night.
Washington Wizards (Franchise-altering superstar)
Drafting a franchise-altering superstar to anchor the ongoing rebuild is the priority for Washington. The ideal target is AJ Dybansta, a 6-foot-9 wing who can slot in alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis and give the Wizards a genuine building block at the top of the lottery.
Utah Jazz (Dybansta or Darryn Peterson)
Utah has assembled one of the better young cores in the league and enters the draft holding the second overall pick. The Jazz should try to land Dybansta, potentially trading up to first overall given they are already set at guard with Keyonte George. If that move does not materialize, Darryn Peterson is an excellent alternative at the position.
Memphis Grizzlies (Cameron Boozer or Caleb Wilson)
Memphis is in a rebuild phase led by Cedric Coward as its centerpiece for the future. The expectation is that the Grizzlies will select Cameron Boozer, who can stretch the floor with his playmaking and finishing inside. However, watch for Memphis to take a long look at Caleb Wilson if they want to add a different kind of athletic profile to the roster.
Chicago Bulls (Best available, Center)
Chicago has committed to a full rebuild and, with the fourth pick, should target the best player available, which projects to be Caleb Wilson. Their biggest positional need is center, but finding a game-changing big with a top-10 selection is difficult in this class. The Bulls will likely take the best available player at fourth and use their 15th pick to address the center position, with Michigan's Aday Mara a name to watch there.
Los Angeles Clippers (Center)
The Clippers sent starting center Ivica Zubac to Indiana, which netted them the fifth overall slot but left a significant hole in the middle. Aday Mara is the top center prospect in the class but projects in the mid-teens in most mock drafts. Los Angeles may explore trading the pick to a guard-needy team and use the return to address the center need directly. The Clippers are worth watching closely as draft night approaches.
Brooklyn Nets (Power forward or trade)
Last year's lottery pick Egor Demin showed promise in his rookie season, though his 6-foot-8 frame likely requires pairing with a more traditional point guard. With Boozer, Peterson, and Dybansta expected to be off the board, the Nets will likely pivot to Darius Acuff Jr. or Kingston Flemings as the best positional fits for what they are building.
Sacramento Kings (Floor general or franchise star)
The seventh pick will not have many superstar-caliber players remaining, but strong options like Kingston Flemings and Darius Acuff Jr. should still be available. Sacramento could also attempt to pair another big alongside Domantas Sabonis if the veteran center remains on the roster heading into next season.
Atlanta Hawks (Sized guard with ISO scoring ability)
With uncertainty surrounding whether free agent CJ McCollum returns, Atlanta needs a guard with size who can create and score in isolation situations. The Hawks will likely look at Kingston Flemings or Mikel Brown Jr., both of whom can generate their own shot in the way McCollum did during the playoffs. Center depth behind Onyeka Okongwu is a secondary need worth monitoring as well.
Dallas Mavericks (Shooting guard, three-point shooting)
With Kyrie Irving returning from his ACL injury and Cooper Flagg emerging as the team's top option, Dallas needs a two-guard who complements that pairing. Brayden Burries fits that profile well, with the ability to hit pull-ups, floaters, and threes from the perimeter.
Milwaukee Bucks (Resolve the Giannis situation first)
Milwaukee faces one of the biggest decisions of the offseason in determining whether to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo. A blockbuster deal would bring back a significant haul of assets, and that call will need to be made before draft night. If Giannis stays and Kevin Porter Jr. departs in free agency, the Bucks should target the best available wing.
Golden State Warriors (Starting center or wing)
The Warriors have made clear they want to compete for a title for as long as Stephen Curry is in his prime. The 11th pick could be moved if Golden State pursues Giannis in a trade. Without that deal, youth at the five is a pressing need with Al Horford at 40 and Kristaps Porzingis continuing to battle availability issues. Mara would be a natural target if this selection stays in place.
Oklahoma City Thunder (Wing shooter, Center depth)
OKC faces significant roster decisions this summer, headlined by the futures of Lu Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein. Depending on how those situations resolve, the Thunder may use the pick as a replacement piece or move it entirely. Yaxel Lendeborg is an interesting name here, offering size on the wing that addresses one of OKC's positional gaps.
Miami Heat (Trade for star or draft a lead guard)
Miami needs a true lead guard with Norman Powell heading to free agency and Tyler Herro continuing to deal with health issues. The Heat have also been connected to Giannis trade conversations. Depending on how that develops, guards like Labaron Philon Jr., Christian Anderson, or Bennett Stritz could step in to handle point guard duties from day one.
Charlotte Hornets (Interior scorer)
With Lamelo Ball and Kon Knueppel providing a strong foundation at guard, Charlotte's focus should shift toward adding interior scoring. A forward like Yaxel Lendeborg or Nate Ament would give the Hornets a credible interior presence on both ends and address a clear gap in the current roster construction.
Portland Trail Blazers (Two-way forward)
Portland enters the draft without a first-round pick after sending it to Chicago in a 2021 three-team trade, and holds no second-round selection either. If the organization decides to buy into the draft, a two-way forward to cover for Jerami Grant's recent struggles would fill a genuine need. With Damian Lillard returning, Portland will more likely use free agency to build depth as the rebuild continues.
Phoenix Suns (Interior defender)
With Brooklyn controlling three future first-round picks and a swap through 2029 as part of the Kevin Durant trade, Phoenix is operating with limited draft capital for years to come. Armed with only a second-round choice this year, the Suns need to find a rim protector who can add physicality in the paint alongside their guard-heavy roster.
Philadelphia 76ers (Frontcourt options)
Philadelphia is expected to be active this summer with eight players on guaranteed contracts. Big-man depth was a visible problem last season during Joel Embiid's extended absence, and the 22nd pick should be used to address it. Chris Cenac Jr. and Morez Johnson Jr. are both names who could add strength and versatility in the paint.
Orlando Magic (Three-point shooting)
Orlando holds only a second-rounder this year following the Desmond Bane trade. The Magic ranked 24th in made threes per game last season, and the second round should be used to target a shooter if one is available at that stage.
Toronto Raptors (Shooters, overall depth)
Toronto's starting five appears set with Scottie Barnes as the franchise cornerstone and Brandon Ingram alongside him, so the priority is adding shooters and depth around that core. The Raptors ranked in the late 20s in three-point shooting last season. A guard like Meleek Thomas, who shot nearly 42 percent from three, would give them a credible secondary scoring option off the bench.
San Antonio Spurs (Forward)
San Antonio's offseason focus will be interesting, with Harrison Barnes heading to free agency leaving a gap at the forward position. A physical player who can help Victor Wembanyama in the paint would be ideal. Koa Peat fits that description well, with a reputation for toughness and the ability to guard multiple positions.
Detroit Pistons (Shooter to pair with Cade)
Detroit made significant strides this season, finishing first in the East with an MVP-caliber campaign from Cade Cunningham. With the 21st, the Pistons should look to add a shooter who can take some offensive pressure off Cunningham. Isaiah Evans, if available, would be a valuable addition in that role.
Houston Rockets (Guard shooting)
Houston does not hold a first-round pick this draft and has two second-rounders available. The Rockets ranked among the bottom tier in three-point shooting from the backcourt last season and should target a senior guard in the second round who can add immediate minutes and sharp-shooting to the position.
Cleveland Cavaliers (Frontcourt)
Cleveland holds the 29th pick after falling short in the conference finals. The Cavaliers should target frontcourt depth to preserve Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley's minutes over a long season. Athletic bigs like Koa Peat or Henri Veesaar would extend the bench and give Cleveland reliable options behind their starting frontcourt.
New York Knicks (Backup center)
The Knicks roster is built to compete, as their recent championship made clear. Mitchell Robinson, the backup center, is heading to free agency, making it a priority to find a credible backup for Karl-Anthony Towns before next season begins.
Los Angeles Lakers (Defense, Center)
The Lakers roster faces significant uncertainty this summer with several contracts up in the air. With Luka Doncic as the franchise centerpiece, Los Angeles should target a big center capable of contributing in pick-and-roll situations while shoring up paint defense, an area that was a clear weakness last season.
Denver Nuggets (Backcourt playmaker or frontcourt depth)
Denver, holding the 26th pick, could use either a secondary playmaker to pair with Jamal Murray or a big man capable of backing up Nikola Jokic. The direction of those draft decisions will depend heavily on which free agents the organization is able to retain this summer.
Boston Celtics (Frontcourt depth)
Boston's frontcourt needs a reset with Nikola Vucevic heading to free agency and the future of Neemias Queta still unclear. Holding the 27th pick, the Celtics should take a long look at Henri Veesaar as a late first-rounder who could develop into a reliable frontcourt piece.
Minnesota Timberwolves (Point guard of the future)
Minnesota should use the 28th pick to find a long-term point guard to play alongside Anthony Edwards, with both Donte DiVincenzo and Mike Conley likely departing in free agency. Christian Anderson projects as a strong developmental fit next to Edwards and is worth targeting if he is still on the board.
Indiana Pacers (Wing scorer)
Indiana will not have a selection in this draft after sending their lottery pick to the Los Angeles Clippers. If the Pacers trade into the draft, the priority should be a wing scorer capable of filling the void left by Bennedict Mathurin's departure.
New Orleans Pelicans (Interior big)
New Orleans holds one pick this year, in the late second round. The Pelicans lack traditional big-man depth and would benefit from finding a late-round center or power forward to pair alongside Derick Queen and potentially Zion Williamson as they hope to shore up interior defense and rim protection.
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