...
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
After months of speculation, the 2026 NBA Draft officially got underway on Tuesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Washington kicked things off right away, taking BYU star AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall. Then, the Jazz swooped in to grab Darryn Peterson, widely considered the most talented player available, second overall.
The only thing the night was missing was a blockbuster trade that fans had been calling for. Leading up to the night, rumors had been floated that players like Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Kawhi Leonard could be on the move.
Still, several franchises got their stars of the future. But there were also a few who could walk away with some regrets.
Read More on NBA
Here are the three biggest losers from the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.
More news: Jaylen Brown Told on Himself, Says Stephen A. Smith — and That’s Why He’s Gone
...
More news: Jaylen Brown Trade Inevitable, Even If It’s Not for Giannis Antetokounmpo
1. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets had the sixth pick in the draft and many assumed that would be used on Darius Acuff Jr. He just led the SEC in scoring (23.5 points per game) and assists (6.4), joining Pete Maravich as the only players in college basketball history to do it, and Acuff was merely a freshman. He came into the draft being compared to Jalen Brunson, who just delivered an NBA title for New York. But apparently, Brooklyn thought Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. was better.
Brown is a great player. He averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds last season with the Cardinals, but missed the NCAA Tournament with a back injury. And at 6-foot-5, he has clear upside. But he's not Acuff. The Arkansas star was widely viewed as the better guard coming into the draft, and Stephen A. Smith even called him "box office," ripping on Brooklyn for not giving fans "something to cheer about." That matters for a franchise that hasn't had any real identity since Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left in 2023.
2. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks grabbed Houston's Kingston Flemings No. 8 overall. By that point, both Brown and Acuff were gone, so Flemings was the next guard expected to be taken off the board. It's not necessarily a surprise, but looking back at it, several other players probably would've been better fits here. Brayden Burries shot 39.1% from deep last year, Yaxel Lendeborg is a 6-foot-9 floor stretcher who just won a title at Michigan, and Aday Mara is a 7-foot-3 monster who's a matchup nightmare on both ends of the floor.
Atlanta's young core is made up of Jalen Johnson, Jonathan Kuminga, Onyeka Okongwu, and Zaccharie Risacher, while All-Defensive guard Dyson Daniels and reigning Most Improved Player of the Year Nickeil Alexander-Walker lead the backcourt. They just resigned CJ McCollum as well. Where does Flemings fit in? The Hawks also used their No. 23 pick on St. John's star Zuby Ejiofor, who is an intriguing big man that stands 6-foot-9, 250 pounds with a shooting touch. But both will probably start their NBA careers coming off the bench, and the Hawks still don't have a 7-footer.
More news: Stephen A. Smith Fires Warning at Jon Scheyer After Mavericks Hire Dusty May
...
3. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and just hired a brand-new, championship-winning head coach in Dusty May. There's a lot to be excited about in Dallas. But drafting Morez Johnson Jr. feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. He's a high-motor forward with upside. He played under May at Michigan. And he should slot in nicely next to Flagg in the frontcourt. But he was far from the most talented player available, and probably not even the best Wolverine.
Both Lendeborg and Mara were still on the board, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if both made more of an impact with their respective teams, Golden State and Oklahoma City, as rookies. One prominent draft analyst even listed Johnson as one of the biggest reaches of the first round. Burries also went immediately after at No. 10 overall, and many viewed Dallas as a team desperate for more guard depth.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines