Early-entry deadline reshapes the 2026 NBA board, CBS mock has Wizards taking Kansas’ Darryn Peterson No. 1

The process has moved from speculation to something closer to a usable list. By the time the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline for early-entry players passed in late May, CBS Sports began modeling what the 2026 NBA Draft could look like next month, including a top pick scenario that sends Kansas guard Darryn Peterson to the Washington Wizards at No. 1. CBS also builds in trade movement involving the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder, framing the draft as more open at the top than it was last year. (This is a projection, not an indication of actual draft-night trades.)

The timeline matters because “early entry” and “eligibility” are not the same thing. The NBA’s official early-entry framework for the 2026 Draft (held June 23 and June 24 at Barclays Center) set June 13 as the NBA-side deadline for early entrants to withdraw from the draft pool. Under NCAA rules, however, college players who want to preserve eligibility for the 2026-27 season needed to withdraw by Wednesday, May 27. NBA Communications reported that 71 players filed as early-entry candidates, and later announced that 38 of them notified the league they wished to be removed from the early-entry list.

In CBS Sports’ view, the “stay in college” wave changes what teams can realistically do with their first-round picks. The mock identifies three notable players as having kept their names in the draft: Arizona forward Koa Peat, Arkansas guard Meleek Thomas, and Santa Clara big man Allen Graves. CBS places those three in the mid-to-late portion of the first round, with Peat labeled the most polarizing after what CBS describes as a disappointing Combine showing that led him to alter his shooting mechanics.

CBS’ Peterson projection is the centerpiece. In the mock, the Wizards are rewarded for taking the player CBS says is the best in the class, even while acknowledging concerns tied to Peterson’s 2025-26 season. CBS points to an up-and-down year at Kansas after a season described as being “headlined by cramping issues,” and then pairs that context with production and shooting as the reason to still bet on his upside. In the mock’s statistical snapshot, Peterson is listed at 20.2 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, and 38.2% from three.

The Kings and Thunder scenarios are built around draft-value reshuffling, not player-for-player swaps. In CBS’ projected Round 1, Sacramento is shown as a trading partner in a move that places Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. in position to be selected at No. 7, with Brooklyn listed as the “projected team” for that pick. The Thunder’ portion runs in a similar direction, with CBS suggesting Oklahoma City could consolidate multiple picks to jump inside the top 10, landing Michigan center Aday Mara. CBS describes Mara as a high-impact rim defender, emphasizing his shot-blocking profile and efficiency around the basket as the fit for that type of move.

For college basketball, the most immediate impact is roster timing. The May 27 eligibility cutoff means more players who were weighing the NBA option are now positioned to return, keeping minutes and on-court roles in place rather than absorbing quick exits. CBS also argues that fewer players staying in the draft compresses the second round, which could indirectly strengthen the 2027 recruiting and development pipeline by giving remaining prospects extra runway.

As June approaches, teams will still be navigating the remaining decision window. NBA Communications set June 13 as the NBA-side early-entry withdrawal deadline, so the list of players effectively available for selection can still change. For now, the story is that the Wizards’ No. 1 situation becomes more about what kind of build Washington wants, while contenders like Sacramento and Oklahoma City (in the mock) are treated as aggressive operators willing to manufacture pick value if the board lines up.