Albertie’s 2026 NBA Lottery Mock Draft (Halloween Edition)

8. Dallas Mavericks

Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

After lucking out in the last lottery, the Dallas Mavericks probably won’t be landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. However, they can still bring a game-changing prospect aboard. They won’t even have to look far, as Baylor wing Tounde Yessoufou looks like a cross between Philadelphia 76ers stud rookie VJ Edgecombe (who also attended Baylor) and Minnesota Timberwolves franchise star Anthony Edwards. The decline of Klay Thompson makes this easier to see.

9. Atlanta Hawks

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

To quote Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, the Atlanta Hawks’ situation with Trae Young just gets “curiouser and curiouser.” After their honeymoon phase, they were willing to trade him, but there wasn’t much interest. Now, they’re making him prove he deserves a contract extension. With that, the writing may be on the wall. It reads: “draft Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. as his replacement.” At worst, he’d become Young’s long-awaited backup.

10. Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans)

Dash Daniels, Melbourne

Fresh off of his Most Improved Player campaign, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels has yet to play up to the rich contract he signed this offseason. Even so, he’s part of the team’s core. That gives them extra motivation to draft his brother, Melbourne United (NBL) guard Dash Daniels, a 17-year-old prospect sharing many of his traits. Adding salt to the wound, Atlanta receives this pick from the New Orleans Pelicans, who drafted his older brother eighth overall in 2022.

11. Sacramento Kings

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina

The house of cards could come crashing down at any moment but for now, Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors are having a ball.. together. As a result, the Kings may not complete a trade for him anytime soon. If not, they could draft UNC freshman Caleb Wilson, an athletic combo forward with two-way upside. Offensively, he’s more raw than Kuminga. Nevertheless, he could very well become just as good as him down the line.

12. Boston Celtics

Karim Lopez, New Zealand

The Boston Celtics haven’t had a lottery pick since 2020, when they drafted Aaron Nesmith with the 14th overall pick. As it turns out, they gave up on Nesmith too early, as he went on to become a key starter for the NBA Finals-bound Pacers. With New Zealand Breakers (NBL) forward Karim Lopez, a physical but skilled prospect, they’ll also need to be patient. The uncertainty surrounding Jayson Tatum‘s future only underscores the 18-year-old’s importance.

13. Toronto Raptors

Kam Williams, Kentucky

After winning the NBA championship in 2019, the Toronto Raptors really have been working tirelessly to make it back to the big stage. At this point, their issue isn’t that they lack talent, they just have two many ill-fitting pieces. Toronto’s biggest current need is another 3-and-D wing. That’s even more true if Ochai Agbaji leaves in free agency next summer. Thus, Kentucky sophomore Kam Williams is an ideal late-lottery selection.

14. Charlotte Hornets (via Orlando Magic)

Koa Peat, Arizona

The Hornets don’t lack depth at the 4 but the future of the position is in question. The controversial Miles Bridges and injury-prone Brandon Miller are only under contract through 2026-27. Grant Williams, often utilized as a small-ball center, will also be a free agent in 2027. Tidjane Salaun hasn’t looked like a sixth overall pick. Thus, with the Orlando Magic’s first-round pick (which they received from the Jusuf Nurkic trade), they should select Arizona’s Koa Peat.