2026 NBA draft thread

[Smitty]

Labaron Philon Jr. in the win over #20 Arkansas

— 35 PTS
— 7 ASTS
— 2 REBS
— 11/21 FG
— 3/8 3P
— 10/13 FT

[Chicagojk]

Five guys in the first round who don't get their flowers

NoCeilings looks at 5 guys who might fall, even as far as a Mavs late first, but are very good players.

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2026-nba...tes-volume

The last one the list - Joshua Jefferson - might very well be there at #29. There's video there, and his passing ability is a fun watch. This is your Naji replacement, but perhaps as a PF coming off the bench averaging 5.2 assists per game. He defends well too. This year, he's also shooting well.

This is a good video of him.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU6Jyyjjr...42Y3F1aXEy

I think the shooting thing you mention is big.  30 percent his first 3 years.  38 percent this year.  Is it real?

Typically I am lower on these type of prospects.  I like the passing though.

[Chicagojk]

Peterson with 20 at the half. Dybansta has 16. Looks like one of those nights.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Acuff Jr is from my hometown Detroit. One of the best guards in college. He set a Arkansas freshman record with those 49 pts. He'll be a lottery pick for sure if he decides to come out.

[F Gump]

Peterson with 20 at the half.  ....  Looks like one of those nights.

It looks like Peterson bailed out of the game 3 minutes into the 2nd half. Here we go again.

[Winter]

Peterson dropping seems almost likely. I can see SAC thinking that their past draft history is so crappy that they may go with a safer pick.

[Smitty]

AJ Dybantsa vs. #4 Arizona

— 35 PTS
— 7 REBS
— 2 ASTS
— 13/28 FG
— 2/6 3P
— 7/8 FT

[Chicagojk]

Peterson dropping seems almost likely. I can see SAC thinking that their past draft history is so crappy that they may go with a safer pick.

I really don't know which would create more heated debate here.   Mavs getting #1 and deciding on one of the top 3 or getting pick #6-7 and deciding on the point guards and Ament.  Regardless there is going to be a lot of strong opinions.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Labaron Philon Jr. in the win over #20 Arkansas

— 35 PTS
— 7 ASTS
— 2 REBS
— 11/21 FG
— 3/8 3P
— 10/13 FT

He's another good PG. He and Acuff Jr were going mano-a-mano. That was a great game.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/2024349844509540757

[Winter]

https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/2024349844509540757

I can't wait to find out about this leg issue - assuming that's it.

I mean if he doesn't do any NBA workouts come draft time, then who knows where he lands. It won't be the top 3 I'm guessing.

[Chicagojk]

I can't wait to find out about this leg issue - assuming that's it.

I mean if he doesn't do any NBA workouts come draft time, then who knows where he lands. It won't be the top 3 I'm guessing.

It is really weird.  I am not sure if he should be pumped up for playing thru an injury or flagged for the injury.   Hamstring injuries can be very tricky and something that does not go away for a while.   It just seems weird how he mostly looks like a top pick but then needs to sit in second halfs.    We are close to the end of the year, but it almost feels like he should take a few weeks off and then come back for the tournament.  Although, I am not sure a few weeks off is going to fix whatever the issue is.

Boozer has been the best player in college basketball this year. AJ may have the most exciting upside. Peterson in his small dozes looks like the number one pick. I watched him against Baylor and he looked like an ideal fit for the Mavs. He just hasn't done it as often as AJ or Boozer due to injury. Vecenie said earlier in the week that the people he is talking to still think Peterson is a clear #1.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

It is really weird.  I am not sure if he should be pumped up for playing thru an injury or flagged for the injury.   Hamstring injuries can be very tricky and something that does not go away for a while.   It just seems weird how he mostly looks like a top pick but then needs to sit in second halfs.    We are close to the end of the year, but it almost feels like he should take a few weeks off and then come back for the tournament.  Although, I am not sure a few weeks off is going to fix whatever the issue is.

Boozer has been the best player in college basketball this year.  AJ may have the most exciting upside.  Peterson in his small dozes looks like the number one pick.  I watched him against Baylor and he looked like an ideal fit for the Mavs.  He just hasn't done it as often as AJ or Boozer due to injury.  Vecenie said earlier in the week that the people he is talking to still think Peterson is a clear #1.

Can't wait to see how Boozer fares against that huge Michigan team Saturday. The Wolverines have been the best team in college basketball so far as they've won most of their games by double-digits.

[Chicagojk]

I understand the injury concerns, but man what Peterson would do to the spacing on the Mavs would be amazing.  Just the threat of him open creates waves.   

Personally, I also prefer a team that can come at you at all different directions rather than one point guard leading the offense.  The league has sort of changed this way already.    Peterson is probably not a point but him, Cooper and X would be fun watching attacking defenses.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comme..._state_23/

[KillerLeft]

I understand the injury concerns, but man what Peterson would do to the spacing on the Mavs would be amazing.  Just the threat of him open creates waves.   

Personally, I also prefer a team that can come at you at all different directions rather than one point guard leading the offense.  The league has sort of changed this way already.    Peterson is probably not a point but him, Cooper and X would be fun watching attacking defenses.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/comme..._state_23/

I think he's a PG by today's standards, personally. 

It's just super weird that he's in and out so much. Is he choosing this path, like a sure fire NFL pick choosing not to play in a bowl game? That would be scary enough for me, but man...if he's really got physical problems that keep him from playing this much on a college schedule???!

And yet..wow, he's good.

[Winter]

I think he's a PG by today's standards, personally. 

It's just super weird that he's in and out so much. Is he choosing this path, like a sure fire NFL pick choosing not to play in a bowl game? That would be scary enough for me, but man...if he's really got physical problems that keep him from playing this much on a college schedule???!

And yet..wow, he's good.

I don't think any team runs him at PG now. His assist numbers are definitely not the numbers of a PG (1.5 pg), and lately it's been 1 or 0. I'm not sure an NBA team would trust that as an option considering how few minutes he's playing. He's a player waiting to score (and he's damn good at that), but I don't get from him any kind of floor general.

[windjc]

I don't think any team runs him at PG now. His assist numbers are definitely not the numbers of a PG (1.5 pg), and lately it's been 1 or 0. I'm not sure an NBA team would trust that as an option considering how few minutes he's playing. He's a player waiting to score (and he's damn good at that), but I don't get from him any kind of floor general.

Is he a just a better Hardy? That low release and shoot first mentality reminds me of him. I don’t really like th idea of him being the pick. Lots of reasons why it could go wrong.

[Smitty]

Is he a just a better Hardy? That low release and shoot first mentality reminds me of him. I don’t really like th idea of him being the pick. Lots of reasons why it could go wrong.

A great value Kobe?

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

It looks like Peterson bailed out of the game 3 minutes into the 2nd half. Here we go again.

DarryN Peterson

[Smitty]

Jason Timph on Peterson vs Dybantsa at #1

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ho...0750522559

https://youtu.be/fD5q7ROHNYE?si=sPhI_hlRQMGoNjZa