2026 NBA draft thread

[Chicagojk]

It seems to me that if you put together Riccardi, Schmitz, and Masai, you have a team of scouts that are incredibly well-versed in both national and international talent. While we focus pretty exclusively on the early pick, I think there will be some real interesting players after the first round that many fans have never heard of before. Some won't be drafted.

But if there's a skill that this FO offers, it may be finding a gem among overlooked talent after the first round. There's a lot of history in this FO. Guys like Schmitz have been tracking players for years.

I don't know who should get credit between Nico, Riccardi, others, or all but for the first time this team was excellent in two ways the past two years.   Williams is an NBA player.    Nembhard is an NBA player.  I believe Cisse will eventually be an NBA player.  Poulikidas is promising for at least a two way.   Grabbing guys in a pinch in Kessler Edwards, Kai Jones and Tyler Smith are all NBA players...just may not have a spot in the league.   Some really nice finds for a team who had very little draft equity.

It always bugged me this team would always give away picks and never get any back in a trade.  A lot may wind up useless, but they are small equity in a trade.   Heck, the Bulls second next year and the Warriors fake first in the future can both be small assets to use in a trade.   

Schmitz may not work out, but at least I feel confident he is going to grind.  Hopefully we get more, not less picks moving forward.  Give him an opportunity to miss some and not let that cripple the franchise.  With that being said, I hope they don't move back from 9.