2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

Cam Boozer does so many things well but he’s had his shot blocked FIVE TIMES in the first 21 minutes of this game. It’s the only thing that bothers me about his game.

Yeah, it is the clear thing with people who think he is overrated. I get it.  He will need to grow his game because he won't be able to score as much inside like he did in college.  He is only 18 years old though.   He will develop other areas and improve in some of his strengths.   The constant pump fake thing too is a little too much also.

[Winter]

Sarr's defense is really good.   Like Arizona's Kharch their best games are ahead of them.   Defense will get them on the court early in their careers and thus give them time to get their offensive games up to par.   It will be real interesting to see if either test the waters.   Probably both late first types.   Both will be very high on my wish list.

Sarr has played well. I like him better until I looked at his 55% FT percentage.

He's going to need help with that.

[Winter]

MULLINS!

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

MULLINS!

OMG!!!  Seriously, someone needs to go check on Coop.

[Winter]

Incredible. Duke had denied him a decent 3-pt shot all game.

What a shot!

[Chicagojk]

What a great late run by UCONN.   An obvious mistake by the smaller Boozer.  He holds the ball and he is shooting free throws with 5 second left.    

UCONN's offense is such a joy to watch.  Year after year.   They didn't even shoot well but get good shots all the time with their movement.   

It won't happen but a dream would be new GM, lottery luck and then money whip Hurley.   I don't blame Kidd for the last year and a half but Hurley would be awesome.  He also develops players all the time.  I was not familar with Reed until a few weeks ago, but he has been huge during this run.  

I would have no problem with Karaban at the end of round one.   He didn't play well today but impacted the game in some ways.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

What a great late run by UCONN.   An obvious mistake by the smaller Boozer.  He holds the ball and he is shooting free throws with 5 second left.    

UCONN's offense is such a joy to watch.  Year after year.   They didn't even shoot well but get good shots all the time with their movement.   

It won't happen but a dream would be new GM, lottery luck and then money whip Hurley.   I don't blame Kidd for the last year and a half but Hurley would be awesome.  He also develops players all the time.  I was not familar with Reed until a few weeks ago, but he has been huge during this run.  

I would have no problem with Karaban at the end of round one.   He didn't play well today but impacted the game in some ways.

Reed was at Michigan but transferred a few years ago to get away from Juwan Howard, who was eventually fired. He had a 30pt 27 reb game earlier in the tournament. He's a bruiser, 6'11 270 lbs.

[Scott41theMavs]

Anyone think Boozer drops since he wasn't able to lead his (perennially stacked) Duke team to the Final Four?

[mvossman]

Anyone think Boozer drops since he wasn't able to lead his (perennially stacked) Duke team to the Final Four?

I think he is what he is in most peoples minds.  It might have been different if his primary competition didn't flame out early or not even play.

[khaled1987]

Anyone think Boozer drops since he wasn't able to lead his (perennially stacked) Duke team to the Final Four?

No one is passing on mini Jokic because his team lost while he had a great game.  Especially when they kose to the 2023 & 2024 champions. It didn't affect Flagg last year and Boozer is having an even better season.

[Chicagojk]

Anyone think Boozer drops since he wasn't able to lead his (perennially stacked) Duke team to the Final Four?

not at all.  last year's Duke team was more talented and also loss in crushing fashion.  It had no impact on Cooper.   Boozer does not have quite the upside of Cooper.    Boozer's amazing strengths and clear weaknesses are well known.  He will go top three in the draft.

[Winter]

There's a lot of second-round draft picks likely still playing in the tournament. My guess is most of the GMs and analysts are still watching those guys pretty seriously.

And then there's guys that haven't made headlines in awhile. Nice to see Mullins do something like that on the big stage.

[Chicagojk]

Lacks explosion and some of his finishes at the rim won’t work in the nBA. He does have a real nice ability to clear space to get a three. In the lane he has a real nice spin move (like cooper). Great footwork. Maybe has some craftiness like Brunson allowing him to score inside without great speed or explosion. Also really good changing paces. Also doesn’t seem bothered by physical play.

https://x.com/tyler_rucker/status/203861...03560?s=61

[Chicagojk]

Would u agree without ranking these players:

Acuff- highest upside
Wagler- best fitting for current Mavs team
Flemings- safest pick

[Winter]

Would u agree without ranking these players:

Acuff- highest upside
Wagler- best fitting for current Mavs team
Flemings- safest pick

I'm not sure I give Acuff "highest upside". Maybe the player with the most immediate impact.

Wagler, I go back and forth a bit, but right now I agree.

Flemings. Yes

[F Gump]

Would u agree without ranking these players:

Acuff- highest upside
Wagler- best fitting for current Mavs team
Flemings- safest pick

Highest upside - Wagler
Best immediate impact - Acuff
Safest? (maybe) - Flemings (probably the best two-way package)

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The draft is a crap shoot to be honest. Guys that rated high, can turn out not as good as advertised. Others don't develop as fast, and take time. The ones that are overlooked or slide , sometimes turn out to better than expected.

[vfromlmf]

Why aren’t there any Boozer - Julius Randle comps?

[DallasMaverick]

The draft is a crap shoot to be honest.  Guys that rated high, can turn out not as good as advertised. Others don't develop as fast, and take time. The ones that are overlooked or slide , sometimes turn out to better than expected.

Aw, c’mon.

A real, expert GM would know with absolute certainty which guys will be great and which will be duds.

No guessing or luck involved whatsoever.

[mvossman]

Why aren’t there any Boozer - Julius Randle comps?

Randle plays bully ball while Boozer plays a more methodical higher BBIQ game.