Daydream 2026 NBA Draft Outcomes for Grizzlies

The Top-5 in this draft is as loaded as ever; any of these players could be #1 picks in an average class.

How would Memphis rank these Top-5 prospects? Obviously, we are not in the room; your guess is good as mine; but one aspect of draft simulations is projecting who other teams might take based not just on immediate needs, but long term roster building around potential stars and good basketball players who would have varying opportunity to succeed in each situation.

Cameron Boozer deserves the #1 slot for any team by my measure, between his overall impact, his two-way tenacity, his downhill force movement, his open court playmaking, his versatile foul-drawing midrange-counter scoring, and his instinctual rebounding; this is a potential offensive engine who holds his own on defense, can already score in a variety of ways, and is a natural team-first playmaker creating shots for his team.

Darryn Peterson slides in at #2 for me for just about any team, being arguably the best 2-guard prospect since Kobe Bryant; an unstoppable scorer, incredibly instinctual turnover-forcing defender, a high-flying explosive athlete, an incredible finisher at the rim and knockdown sniper from deep with a midrange assassin pull-up game to boot, Peterson is the total package as a potential franchise guard.

Either of these two is the clear best-case 2026 NBA Draft Daydream for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Adding AJ Dybantsa or Caleb Wilson to this frontcourt would be the next best available daydream, two dynamic big wing athletes with on-ball potential who could bring immediate two-way impact to a team trying to revamp its roster while staying competitive along with tangible upside as scorers.

Read more about what these four bring to the table in the first installment of this series.

What are the other daydream scenarios for Memphis on draft night?

4. 10th-12th pick - Brayden Burries or Mikel Brown Jr.

Brayden Burries could be the offensive engine droid Memphis is looking for.

Burries brings an all-around solid game that offers a real two-way team-first base to build upon a high floor with upside as a natural scorer, creator, shooter who already brings instincts and effort rebounding and defending.

Could Burries slide in as this team's combo guard creator going forward, setting up the bevy of play-finishers in their best position to succeed while holding his own on defense, making the right play on offense, and being able to score the rock?

Another electric offensive prospects, Mikel Brown Jr. finally found his stroke for Louisville lighting up NC State with 45 PTS on 10 3PM, flashing the incredible lights out 3pt shooter he can be at any level.

Brown's shooting will likely translate well longterm to the league; while a capable creator, he can continue to round out his game as a defender.

3. 9th pick - Keaton Wagler

Keaton Wagler has skyrocketed up draft boards, and for good reason.

Wagler has been an absolute grenade launcher from deep, bombing pull-up three after pull-up three, looking dynamic in the way he moves around so quickly and so confidently in that pull-up shot.

His sound ball-handling, insane shooting, and solid playmaking at the size of 6'6" are legit enough ball skills and feel for the game to bet on at his height as an offensive shot creator at the next level.

Despite lagging behind in athleticism and explosiveness compared to peers, Wagler makes up for it with skill in a sport that rewards team-first decision making using skill.

2. 8th pick - Ebuka Okorie

Ebuka Okorie is a potential star guard hiding in plain sight.

His finishing at the rim is out of this world.

His quickness, burst, first step gets him to any spot on the floor anytime he wants.

His decision-making, playmaking, passing and shot creation for himself and teammates is as cerebral as it gets.

He can run an offense, a pick-and-roll, and get buckets in all sorts of playtypes.

What he lacks in size he makes up for in smarts and skill.

Two-way team-first defender and playmaker who can score, shoot, dribble, pass, and instinctually force turnovers.

A walking bucket next-level rim-finisher and pick-and-roll point maestro who is a good bet to score points and create advantages for himself and teammates at the next level for a long time; who knows what the right opportunity to run an offense could bring.

1. 4th pick - Kingston Flemings

Kingston Flemings might just turn out to be the best 2026 NBA Draft Daydream outcome for the Memphis Grizzlies if they were to take the high-upside guard 4th overall.

Flemings does it all as natural point guard and confident walking bucket who controls his burst with start-stop body control, gas pedal turbo speed, and decelerating footwork to get to the rim, and really any spot he wants.

He would step right in as a tough guard who plays hard on both ends, fitting into Memphis' culture cleanly as someone who creates good looks for his team consistently as a scorer and passer.

He will be running the show for some lucky team's offense next year, why not in Memphis setting up key starters Jaylen Wells, Cedric Coward, Zach Edey and every role player as off-ball play-finishers, making life easier for the whole team?

• Grading the Memphis Grizzlies' season entering the All-Star break
• How NBA expansion could affect the Memphis Grizzlies
• Built on Impact: Jaylen Wells and the Two-Way Standard
• Memphis Grizzlies will have one less representative in NBA Rising Stars