The Best Landing Spots for the Top-10 2026 NBA Draft Prospects

When we look back on draft classes and analyze how players pan out, one major factor in their outcomes is the teams they are drafted to. Players must be selected by teams with the ecosystem to maximize their strengths, minimize their weaknesses and foster an environment for growth.

Last week, the Draft Digest staff released its first big board of the 2026 NBA Draft cycle, which included rankings for the top 30 prospects in the class.

Here are the best landing spots for the top ten prospects from the board, using Tankathon’s draft lottery simulator to identify teams in this range on draft night.

1. Cameron Boozer - Washington Wizards

Boozer is the kind of prospect who will fit on every team, but if he does not, you make room for him. The forward would be the Wizards' first blue-chip prospect in their rebuild and would fit next to potential cornerstones Tre Johnson and Alex Sarr. Boozer will provide an interior-slanted scoring threat, allow Sarr to stay on the perimeter and solidify a versatile defensive frontcourt for the foreseeable future.

2. Darryn Peterson - Brooklyn Nets

The Nets drafted three ball-handlers in the 2025 NBA Draft who provide playmaking but struggle to score. Peterson is widely regarded as one of the best scoring prospects of the last decade and will slot in next to whichever guard survives Brooklyn’s rebuild. Head coach Jordi Fernandez is known to elevate guard play and could help Peterson sharpen his ball-handling and decision-making.

3. AJ Dybantsa - Utah Jazz

The writing for Dybantsa in Utah is on the wall. He transferred to Utah Prep in his senior season and will suit up for BYU in the fall. The Jazz have a lot of question marks on the roster and have had a bumpy start to their rebuild, but Dybantsa could help steer the ship in the right direction. Pairing Dybansta and Ace Bailey would be interesting, but they are different enough to work.

4. Nate Ament - Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets desperately need shooting and defense, and that is what Ament provides. The combination of Lamelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Ament would likely be one of the better shooting nuclei in the league and would fit head coach Charles Lee’s vision for the team. Ament’s off-ball ability is a point guard’s dream, and the Hornets have major questions in the front court that the rising freshman would be able to answer.

5. Mikel Brown Jr - Sacramento Kings

The Kings desperately need a true point guard after trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, and they could get one in this year’s draft. Brown’s ability to shoot from well beyond the three-point line and create for others has the chance to warp defenses if he can improve as a finisher. Sacramento has struggled to pick a direction since losing Fox, but this move would signal a rebuild.

6. Jayden Quaintance - Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have a hole at center after losing Myles Turner in free Agency, and Quaintance would immediately fix the problem. He doesn’t have Turner's shooting ability, but he can wreak havoc on defense, finish plays, get out in transition and pass the ball. The sophomore would thrive in Indiana’s pace and space system and give them the defensive anchor they’ve lacked for years.

7. Karim Lopez - Atlanta Hawks

Lopez’s skill set is an excellent match for a playmaker like Trae Young. The wing is an instinctive cutter, excellent in transition, and adept at attacking shifting defenses. The Hawks were at the top of the league in transition frequency and plays utilizing cuts last season and could use another athletic wing defender. Atlanta was one of the worst play-finishing teams in the NBA last season, so adding an excellent play finisher could be an ideal outcome, even if the team has other needs.

8. Koa Peat - Washington Wizards

Peat is an interior-slanted scorer who struggles as a shooter and does not have the size to play the five full-time, so it is difficult to find a team on which he is a clean fit. The Forward is a great driver, rebounder and play-finisher that will be most impactful as an auxiliary piece. If the Wizards were to fall outside the top five, Peat could be a good option as a big man to pair next to Sarr because they contrast each other enough and could theoretically make up for each other’s weaknesses.

9. Caleb Wilson - San Antonio Spurs

With an extension looming for Jeremy Sochan, it’s unclear if he’ll be an integral part of San Antonio’s future. He’s played less than 60 games in two of his three seasons and still has a long way to go offensively. Wilson is a forward who is an excellent defender with long arms and intriguing flashes of shooting and passing. Adding him to a frontcourt with Victor Wembanyama, Luke Kornet, and Carter Bryant would make it incredibly hard for teams to score on the interior.

10. Tounde Yessoufou - Chicago Bulls

Yessoufou is an athletic, bruising wing with a growing offensive skillset, but he will be immediately impactful for Chicago. He is excellent in transition, a great wing defender, and an outstanding offensive rebounder. While his handle, playmaking and outside shooting continue to grow, he can play off of Josh Giddey and Coby White. The Bulls were one of the best teams in transition last season, but struggled to create steals, blocks, deflections, or offensive rebounding—all areas where Yessoufou thrives.