2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

Where is Caleb Wilson? I'd take Isaiah Evans at 29/30.

sorry, yes for some reason Wilson to the Pacers was left out.

[Dirknows]

I could see someone justifying taking Acuff over Wagler. He’s a better pure PG, better scorer, he’s just small. His true height measured at the combine will be crucial for where he gets picked.

[Chicagojk]

weird looking at the point guards in the 5-10 range and seeing all are older than Cooper...with the exception of Flemings.  He is a few weeks younger than Cooper.

Next youngest is Wagler.  Then Acuff.   Oldest is Burries.  He is actually older than Soph Philon.   

I don't know if ages tell us anything.  Especially with just a few months difference, but at least something to be aware of.

[Chicagojk]

Just such an easy player to play with

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVbdKpGjg...s4djcyZWw1

[vfromlmf]

Just such an easy player to play with

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVbdKpGjg...s4djcyZWw1

Boozer has a strong case for number 1 overall. 

I can easily imagine Peterson as an uncoachable and streaky jumpshooter who load manages himself.

I can picture Dybantsa as a turnover prone, inconsistent 3pt shooter who gambles too much on defense. 

I have a difficult time seeing Boozer as anything but a net positive in the win column.

[mvossman]

Boozer has a strong case for number 1 overall. 

I can easily imagine Peterson as an uncoachable and streaky jumpshooter who load manages himself.

I can picture Dybantsa as a turnover prone, inconsistent 3pt shooter who gambles too much on defense. 

I have a difficult time seeing Boozer as anything but a net positive in the win column.

You can make an argument for him being a tweener on defense, but there is no doubt he will be a net positive.  His offense is too good.

[Smitty]

Boozer has a strong case for number 1 overall. 

I can easily imagine Peterson as an uncoachable and streaky jumpshooter who load manages himself.

I can picture Dybantsa as a turnover prone, inconsistent 3pt shooter who gambles too much on defense. 

I have a difficult time seeing Boozer as anything but a net positive in the win column.

Boozer is the safest. Dybantsa has the highest upside. Peterson is the most talented with the biggest questions.

No prospect is without flaws. I’d love to pair any of them with Coop.

[Chicagojk]

I would have difficulty not picking Peterson at #1 if I was sold if he was healthy.   On the other hand, he sort of has the mysterious tag on him because of his injury.

Boozer and AJ are neck and neck for me.   It would be tough for me to pass on AJ.

I have a big part of me though that says give me Boozer and good luck to the league trying to stop two teenagers who just win and do all the little things right.

[mvossman]

I would have difficulty not picking Peterson at #1 if I was sold if he was healthy.   On the other hand, he sort of has the mysterious tag on him because of his injury.

Boozer and AJ are neck and neck for me.   It would be tough for me to pass on AJ.

I have a big part of me though that says give me Boozer and good luck to the league trying to stop two teenagers who just win and do all the little things right.

I feel like Peterson has too many red flags to pick over guys as elite as Boozer and AJ.  Mavs can't afford to mess this up, and he is the most likely chance of messing it up.  Given that they already have a superstar and this is their last shot, I'm going the safe route with a top 2 pick.

[vfromlmf]

Agree and if you said Caleb Wilson will be the best of them in four year I would believe you. He's electric.

What excites me most about this draft is you have your top 4 then you have a run of 4 lead guards who could fill a real need in Dallas and a case could be made for any one of them to be a top2 pick in any normal draft.

I heard the No Ceilings guys having a legit debate on Mikel Brown Jr versus Dylan Harper. Not an easy call and Brown Jr might go 8th!

Then you have Ament who has flashed star potential.

Then you have a bunch of guys between 10-30 who look like good rotation players.

This is just an amazing year to be bad

[Scott41theMavs]

Just saw something in my BR feed that Dybantsa might stay in school.

Talk about nuking this draft if that happens.

[Winter]

Just saw something in my BR feed that Dybantsa might stay in school.

That would make zero sense for him. His draft value can't go up any higher that it is now.

[Winter]

Agree and if you said Caleb Wilson will be the best of them in four year I would believe you. He's electric.

Completely agree. He'd be number 1 if this was almost any other year.

[Dirknows]

That would make zero sense for him. His draft value can't go up any higher that it is now.

Some people said the same thing about Cooper last year. No one is passing up generational top-3 NBA contract money to stay in the college, even with NIL money.

[Scott41theMavs]

Boozer has a strong case for number 1 overall. 

I can easily imagine Peterson as an uncoachable and streaky jumpshooter who load manages himself.

I can picture Dybantsa as a turnover prone, inconsistent 3pt shooter who gambles too much on defense. 

I have a difficult time seeing Boozer as anything but a net positive in the win column.

He's like Tatum - the safe bet in this draft - his floor is making a couple of All-Star games in his career.

Of course I would take him above Peterson. But I'd have to think long and hard before taking him above Wilson.

[F Gump]

Some people said the same thing about Cooper last year. No one is passing up generational top-3 NBA contract money to stay in the college, even with NIL money.

Obviously it seems VERRRRRY unlikely, but this time there's a difference. The origination of this story in not a writer's "what if" but rather Dybsanta saying "I might not go pro, I haven't decided."

It makes all the sense in the world that he will go pro, of course. But the college experience can be a lot of fun, rather than a job, and now that there's huge money to stay, who knows but what some really good player one day will decide they want to spend their age 19 with others their age?

[Mavs2021]

He was allegedly paid 7M to play at BYU. Who knows how much they offer him for another year. Does that mean Utah tanks again next year?

[Dirknows]

He was allegedly paid 7M to play at BYU. Who knows how much they offer him for another year. Does that mean Utah tanks again next year?

What year is Utah not tanking honestly.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

What year is Utah not tanking honestly.

Especially with Ainge and his son taking over basketball ops.

[Chicagojk]

AJ will be in this draft.    Even if can remove yourself from the draft once the lottery is settled, I don't think that is realistic.  With 3 top picks in this draft, you also lose leverage.  

I do wonder if one or more of the top prospects refuse to workout for a team like Sacramento if they get a top 3 pick.    Peterson probably has the most leverage there..