The NBA Draft is tonight, and there are two things that I am sure of.

AJ Dybantsa is going first overall to the Washington Wizards, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to the Miami Heat. The rest is a bit of a guessing game.

Credit via Wikipedia

For Giannis, his decision had to be tough.

Go to the Celtics and play alongside Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and compete for another Championship. Or go to the Miami Heat and live on the beach next to Lionel Messi.

As for the rest of the NBA, I do have some predictions about tonight’s NBA Draft, and a few trades that I could see happening soon.

Credit via The Boston Globe

1) Washington Wizards – AJ Dybantsa (SF/BYU).

Dybantsa was always going to be the first pick of the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6’9 freshman averaged 25.5 points per game, handles the ball like a guard, and has an elite motor. Anthony Davis will probably be moved, but Dybantsa, Alex Sarr, Trae Young (4-yrs/$212 million), and Tre Johnson finally have the Wiz doing things right.

2) Utah Jazz – Cameron Boozer (PF/Duke).

Many draft boards have Darryn Peterson going to Utah, but there are too many red flags on the 6’4 freshman from Kansas. Boozer’s rebounding and all-around game should help Jaren Jackson Jr., Lauri Markkanen, Ace Bailey, and Keyonte George potentially make the playoffs this season. Besides, Cameron’s father, Carlos, played for the Jazz and is currently in their front office.

3) Memphis Grizzlies – Caleb Wilson (PF/North Carolina).

The Grizzlies are in a tough spot. For a team that is trying to move on from the headache that’s Ja Morant, can you really start over by drafting Peterson? Memphis is in full rebuild mode, and the 6’11 Wilson is a solid place to start.

Credit via Heavy Sports

4) Chicago Bulls – Darryn Peterson (SG/Kansas).

The Bulls need help at almost every position, especially guard. If Peterson can’t thrive playing 30 minutes a game, mostly in NBA garbage time, we’ll find out sooner rather than later.

5) Los Angeles Clippers – Brayden Burries (SG/Arizona).

Watch for a trade in this spot as Darius Acuff Jr. is probably the pick at number five. But after acquiring Darius Garland from the Cavs, the Clippers don’t need another point guard. Nobody seems to have Burries this early, but he’s a great fit.

6) Brooklyn Nets – Darius Acuff Jr. (PG/Arkansas).

Wait, New York has two teams? Acuff will be handed the keys (since no one else can seem to drive), and the Nets will finally use that cap space to bring in a big name. Unless you think Julius Randle counts.

7) Sacramento Kings – Keaton Wagler (PG/Illinois).

The Kings are both old and bad. Wagler’s youth, unique shooting style, and 6’6 frame remind people of Tyrese Halliburton. The Kings are good at drafting talented point guards like Halliburton and De’Aaron Fox, they just suck at keeping them.

8) Atlanta Hawks – Mikel Brown Jr. (PG/Louisville).

The freshman, Brown, weighs just 190 pounds and has had some injury issues at Louisville, but the Hawks can afford to take their time as CJ McCollum just signed on for one more season.

9) Oklahoma City Thunder – (trade with Dallas) Morez Johnson Jr. (PF/Michigan)

The Thunder have so many draft picks that they need to spend capital to move up just to get rid of them. The Dallas Mavericks are happy to move down considering the depth of this draft class.

10) Milwaukee Bucks – Cameron Carr (SG/Baylor).

Carr is no Greek Freak, but he was freakish at the NBA Combine, scoring 30 points in one scrimmage and posting a 43-inch vertical leap.

That’s my top ten in this year’s draft, but here are five more players that are most likely on the move as well.

Credit via Wikipedia

1) Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans) is going to the Brooklyn Nets.

Williamson had a terrific season in 2025-26, averaging 21 ppg on 60% shooting, while playing in 62 games. Which he’ll probably never do again, and the team still went just 26-56. With just a few years left on a rookie max contract, the Nets are the team with the need, the cap room, and the draft picks to get him.

2) Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) is off to the Sacramento Kings.

The Grizzlies need to move Morant, his troubles, and his large contract to any team willing. The Kings need to get rid of older, expensive players like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Domantas Sabonis. If it works, great! If he can replace an old Russell Westbrook, great! If it doesn’t work and they need to plug in their first-round draft pick to start right away, great! Just move on.

3) Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) is going somewhere.

I’m not sure Kawhi has “Aspirations” of playing anywhere else, and Steve Ballmer has said that he doesn’t want to move Leonard, but even after trading James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Norman Powell (the previous season), the Clippers need to get younger.

4) Anthony Davis (Washington Wizards) to the Houston Rockets.

Davis isn’t going to play for the Wizards, and Houston could offer Jabari Smith Jr. and some draft picks, while creating tons of cap space for the Wizards. At Kevin Durant’s age, and Fred VanVleet coming back, it’s all in!

Credit via Bleacher Report

5) Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics) to the Utah Jazz.

The way I see it, once you’ve offered your star player to another team, it’s hard for that star player to return, even if the trade falls through. The Celtics want to get better on the inside, and Danny Ainge has Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, a ton of young players, and plenty of picks.

As for the Denver Nuggets, I don’t see that many major changes this season. If the team can resign Peyton Watson and get a healthy Aaron Gordon back for the playoffs, it’s one last try before we blow it all up.

Enjoy the NBA Draft and Go Nuggets!

Images via NBA.com, Wikipedia, The Boston Globe, Heavy Sports, Bleacher Report

Alan Tapley Colorado Sports & Culture Writer

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years. His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship