2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

So, you are asking how the start of the season is going?  Well starting a draft thread before game 7 probably tells you everything.   

College basketball hasn't started yet.    Last year there was hope that Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper would join Flagg and make it a legendary top 3.  They didn't but will probably prove to be good to very good players.    This year, there is hope that the top 3 are really potential lead guy type of players.   The top 3 are Dybansta from BYU, Boozer (yes son of Carlose Boozer) from Duke and Peterson from Kansas.   At the moment Peterson is usually thought of the top prospect.   A lot can change.  Will anyone else join them?  Will someone slip?  There is als some excitement in some prospects after the top 3.    Last year will prove to be a very good draft, i believe.  Some think this one will be better.   

I don't subscribe to the Athletic anymore, but here is a brief snippet as College basketball is about to begin.  

It’s hard to overemphasize how excited scouts and general managers were about these performances, with one high-ranking executive telling me that he felt that “all three look like guys who could be All-Stars quickly in the NBA.” What these opening salvos told us is that this race isn’t going to take time to heat up. This is going to be a battle from day one, with all three well-prepared to dominate college hoops from the opening tip.

---

With Peterson, scouts want to see just how efficient he can be while leading the Kansas offense. He improved drastically as a decision-maker in high school during his senior year, but will that remain as he steps up in competition?

For Dybantsa, it’s all about the attention to detail. Scouts were not wildly impressed by his defensive play in the opener against Nebraska, and his jumper has some questions entering the season due to its flatter trajectory.

For Boozer, the questions are more upside-related, as scouts worry about how flexible he is through his hips to separate from guys who are bigger and just as strong as he is. They want to see how well he survives defensively when he plays at the center position.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

At least we're not the Pelicans. They traded their own pick to Atlanta to move up for Derrick Queen. They also traded Indiana's pick back to them during the Finals.

Those are both projected to be top 5 picks right now.

[Chicagojk]

At least we're not the Pelicans.  They traded their own pick to Atlanta to move up for Derrick Queen.  They also traded Indiana's pick back to them during the Finals.

Those are both projected to be top 5 picks right now.

Good point of that Indy trade.   They may have been set up for a nice little reset if they kept both of those picks.

[omahen]

At least we're not the Pelicans.  They traded their own pick to Atlanta to move up for Derrick Queen.  They also traded Indiana's pick back to them during the Finals.

Those are both projected to be top 5 picks right now.

And then combined that pick they got from Indy and put him in the trade together with their 2026 pick for Queen. They basically paid two (projected) top five picks for him. That is just genius GM-ing.

[Chicagojk]

Sam Vecenie preseason mock from the Athletic

His tiers: 1-3, 4-17, and then 18 and beyond he views as question marks.
Vecenie's top 60:

1. Darryn Peterson, Kansas
   
2. AJ Dybantsa, BYU
   
3. Cam Boozer, Duke
   
4. Nate Ament, Tennessee
   
5. Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
   
6. Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
   
7. Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
   
8. Koa Peat, Arizona
   
9. Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor
   
10. LaBaron Philon, Alabama
    
11. Braylon Mullins, UConn
    
12. Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
    
13. Brayden Burries, Arizona
    
14. Dash Daniels, Melbourne
    
15. Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
    
16. Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
    
17. Thomas Haugh, Florida
    
18. Isiah Harwell, Houston
    
19. Karter Knox, Arkansas
    
20. Dwayne Aristode, Arizona
    
21. JoJo Tugler, Houston
    
22. Patrick Ngongba, Duke
    
23. Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
    
24. Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers
    
25. Dame Sarr, Duke
    
26. Miles Byrd, San Diego State
    
27. Milos Uzan, Houston
    
28. Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech
    
29. Sergio De Larrea, Valencia
    
30. Isaiah Evans, Duke
    
31. Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn
    
32. Braden Smith, Purdue
    
33. Hannes Steinbach, Washington
    
34. Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech
    
35. Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois
    
36. JT Toppin, Texas Tech
    
37. Cameron Carr, Baylor
    
38. Nate Bittle, Oregon
    
39. Adam Atamna, ASVEL
    
40. Flory Bidunga, Kansas
    
41. Boogie Fland, Florida
    
42. Paul McNeil, NC State
    
43. Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
    
44. Alex Karaban, UConn
    
45. Anthony Robinson II, Missouri
    
46. Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
    
47. Donovan Dent, UCLA
    
48. Richie Saunders, BYU
    
49. Darrion Williams, NC State
    
50. Alex Condon, Florida
    
51. Otega Oweh, Kentucky
    
52. Johann Grunloh, Virginia
    
53. Momo Faye, Senegal
    
54. Tucket DeVries, Indiana
    
55. Trey Kaufman-Renn, Purdue
    
56. Ryan Conwell, Louisville
    
57. Mackenzie Mgbako, Texas A&M
    
58. Josh Dix, Creighton
    
59. Dailyn Swain, Texas
    
60. Silas Demary Jr., UConn
    

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[khaled1987]

Is it me or most of the top picks are combo forwards, a bit like Flagg himself.

Still, it seems like a strong class and we might be able to snatch a good pick that would help us forward

[Chicagojk]

And this guy is not a top 3 guy? It is just highlights and against a weak team but impressive . 6’10

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQpnKbSjj...c4bmsycWl1

[Chicagojk]

Is it me or most of the top picks are combo forwards, a bit like Flagg himself.

Still, it seems like a strong class and we might be able to snatch a good pick that would help us forward

Yeah, I think that is the trend.   Anything below 6'2 o 6'3 you better be damn good.    The 6'5 to 6'10 guys are what most high picks are these days.    Then you have the 7 footers but those guys need to be able to move and do things besides dunk.   

The best guard supposedely is a kid from Lousville.  He is 6'3ish but is supposedly a real good shooter.

https://x.com/ProspectReportt/status/198...5023941863

[Chicagojk]

Someone I am interested in watching this year. Probably in a group of 5-6 guards who could be lottery picks.

https://youtu.be/l4TTin_Y4Gs?si=kucWC3h8O6oFPlPc

[Kidnova]

Based on the article I read about Dybansta, he comes with some baggage in the form of his father. Peterson looks like the type of dynamic guard you could partner with CF for years to come, especially if his shot develops. Boozer does seem to be a little redundant with CF.

[Dirknows]

Based on the article I read about Dybansta, he comes with some baggage in the form of his father.  Peterson looks like the type of dynamic guard you could partner with CF for years to come, especially if his shot develops.  Boozer does seem to be a little redundant with CF.

If Boozer can play a small-ball 5 he is going to be a problem.

[F Gump]

Early season too-early draft test tease (revealer) today 6 pm (CT?). ESPN

Kansas with favorite #1 pick Peterson ... plays NC who is thought to have some NBA-potentials to guard him. G2 for both, both teams had blowouts against bad teams to open season. 

Sam Vecenie:
Think North Carolina-Kansas is maybe the NBA Draft matchup I'm most looking forward to in the first two weeks of the season (even moreso than KU-Duke).

-Darryn Peterson against a good defensive guard in Trimble, a great veteran, mobile big with legit NBA size in Veesaar, plus Wilson flying around in help. Legitimate challenge for him, IMO.

-Caleb Wilson against a Bill Self defense with Tre White to throw on him, plus some real interior size and length that should be able to push him out to the perimeter. What does his offense look like when he can't overpower everyone athletically as easily as he has so far? KU is more athletic and a bit bigger across the board than BYU. Wilson is probably the biggest swing guy for me in the class right now. Could be a legit top-5 potential guy with the tools he has, could go outside the lottery.

Genuinely no idea what happens in this game, and really excited to watch two good teams. Probably will do videos on both DP and Wilson from it. Great eval game for both.

Coming later: KU vs Duke Nov 18 (Duke has 5 1st rounders incl #2 Boozer, per tankathon) and KU vs BYU Jan 31 (#3 Dybsanta).

[Chicagojk]

Mikel Brown Lousiville highlights from last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8FwQqnmJY

[Chicagojk]

Neoklis Avdalas 6'9 Freshman PG from Greece playing at Va tech.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXSyX6V-0i8

[Dirknows]

Mikel Brown Lousiville highlights from last night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8FwQqnmJY

I don’t buy that Brown is 6-5 as he is listed.

[khaled1987]

Yeah, I think that is the trend.   Anything below 6'2 o 6'3 you better be damn good.    The 6'5 to 6'10 guys are what most high picks are these days.    Then you have the 7 footers but those guys need to be able to move and do things besides dunk.   

The best guard supposedely is a kid from Lousville.  He is 6'3ish but is supposedly a real good shooter.

https://x.com/ProspectReportt/status/198...5023941863

He looks 6'2 but if he is indeed 6'5 as listed, he is the one to follow.

[Dirknows]

He looks 6'2 but if he is indeed 6'5 as listed, he is the one to follow.

Be interesting to see if the consensus top 3 are all taken there. I believe they will be, and if any of them were to drop it would be Dybantsa.

[Chicagojk]

So there is a Freshman at Washington who is 6'10 from Wurzburg Germany.  HMM...


https://x.com/franfraschilla/status/1985798439687634974

[Razzmatazz_Hopskidillydoo]

So there is a Freshman at Washington who is 6'10 from Wurzburg Germany.  HMM...


https://x.com/franfraschilla/status/1985798439687634974

That fadeaway was like post 2011 Dirk fadeaway LOL.
I mean, it's good but, for a younger player it looks both polished and slow.

But I'm board with any tall guy from Wurburg.
At least, we'd get Dirk watching Mav games more.

[Chicagojk]

Well Peterson and Caleb had good games. Caleb may be making this a big 4 or 5. He looks like a more athletic Chris Webber in these highlights.

https://x.com/pdtscouting/status/1986979...46326?s=61