2026 NBA draft thread

[Winter]

Until a week ago or so tankathon had Aday Mara at #30. C out of spain who plays for Michigan. Dude looks like he belongs in the NBA. Just long, flashy passer, good shot blocker, no slouch athletically (not laterally but he can run down the court better than I expected).

Super fun watch on tape. He is probably not there at #30 but for now Id add him to Chris Anderson Jr as someone who looks highly intrigueing in that range.

https://youtu.be/6xxUJ1EuPy8?si=PUywR6DcdUSo5lFP

Was very succesfull
 at FIBA youth tournaments just like Anderson Jr.

I watched his video awhile back. I loved his passing. Really elite. And that Michigan team really moves the ball.

But Mara looks like one of those big guys that might break at 7'3". I'm not sure he can stay on an NBA court for more than 15 mpg.

BTW, the other Michigan center is a small-ball center at 6 9" Morez Johnson, also a late 1st round pick.

[DL2RimRocker]

Mara should be a safe pick at 30.
Should have a long nba career at some capacity.
Lively/Cisse/Mara would be a nice young center situation to develop.

Moreno is another one Mavs should consider at 30.

[Chicagojk]

Mara should be a safe pick at 30.
Should have a long nba career at some capacity.
Lively/Cisse/Mara would be a nice young  center situation to develop.

Moreno is another one Mavs should consider at 30.

I liked Mara's highlights too. I haven't seen him play.   I looked at a mock and liked around 15 names from pick 20-40...or at least 15 guys who interest me.   I think you may have several guys go back to school this year though.   I would recommend that if you are not guaranteed a first round pick.    I don't think the G league is a great place to develop as a young player.   With NIL, I think if you can get a good offer, you should return.    Also, the reports are next years draft is very weak up front.  Vecenie say none of next years picks has a high of a grade as his top 6 this year.  It is early, but he says you typically have an idea well in advance.

[Mavs2021]

I watched his video awhile back. I loved his passing. Really elite. And that Michigan team really moves the ball.

But Mara looks like one of those big guys that might break at 7'3". I'm not sure he can stay on an NBA court for more than 15 mpg.

I´m surprised Edey looked as good as he has. Team was 7-4 with him. Also means he has played just 11 out of a possible 51 games in his rookie season. No idea how much is tanking, but it has not change my mind that over 7´0 it becomes problematic. Over 7´1 you playing with fire.

[JamesConway912]

I watched his video awhile back. I loved his passing. Really elite. And that Michigan team really moves the ball.

But Mara looks like one of those big guys that might break at 7'3". I'm not sure he can stay on an NBA court for more than 15 mpg.

BTW, the other Michigan center is a small-ball center at 6 9" Morez Johnson, also a late 1st round pick.

I wouldnt rule it out that a C like Mara can turn into more than that. I have barely followed him but looking at Edey in MEM gives me hope in that regard.

Ive come across Johnson as well. Reminds me of Isaiah Stewart but he appears to be quicker on his feet. The three needs to be there for those 6‘9 C/PF types though or it gets tough. Not sure how realistic that is but he might be a realistic candidate on draft night.

A lot of intrigueing guys in the mid 1st range.

I also think Cameron Carr could be a guy that will have a long career in the NBA. Stud athlete who shoots it well and has started to get involved as a playmaker a lot recently. Very long as well and gets a ton of blocks for a wing.

For #30 so far I really like

Chris Anderson Jr 
Cameron Carr
Aday Mara

All three mocked earlier though…

[JamesConway912]

HUGE game from Mikel Brown Jr tonight. Might go for 40+.

[Smitty]

Darryn Peterson vs. undefeated #1 Arizona tonight at 8 on ESPN.

Peterson out again. This guy… Ugh!

[Mavs2021]

HUGE game from Mikel Brown Jr tonight. Might go for 40+.

Let´s just remind ourselves that as currently constructed the 7th odds give us an 86.8% chance to get at least one of Ament and Brown Jr. 

With the 8th odds this drops to 61.8%. That downside guarantee is worth fighting for, just as much as the upside top 4 probability.

[Smitty]

Peterson out again. This guy… Ugh!

https://x.com/uofabarstool/status/202104...84524?s=46&t=4w35gotNXtBJnqxbaL7e9w


“So hes sick and he didn’t tell anyone in practice and Bill said don’t half a** it if your gonna play, if not sit. DP said F*ck It, I’m out.”

[DL2RimRocker]

As a Jayhawks fan I'm disappointed in Peterson. The guy acts like he is too good to be on an NCAA floor.

Some compare him to Kobe but I dont see the competitive fight in him like Kobe had.

[Winter]

NBA teams will figure this out pre-draft.

If he's poison in the lockeroom, he'll slip. This draft is good enough to scoop up Boozer as the #1. He could even be replaced by Dyba at #2.

He now has to prove he's worth it, and if anyone is giving him good advice, they'd better be telling him that.

[Mavs2021]

Picking #4 is probably the easiest in the whole draft. You simply take the "leftover" Wilson and if he ever learns to shoot, you have a decent chance you picked the best player and look like a genius.

[Winter]

Picking #4 is probably the easiest in the whole draft. You simply take the "leftover" Wilson and if he ever learns to shoot, you have a decent chance you picked the best player and look like a genius.

I watched him for the first time recently.

I can see why he's #4. He's actually closer to #3 than I thought before seeing him play. If he ever gets a perimeter shot - which most think he'll get - he's a step ahead of those below him.

[Chicagojk]

Weak center draft up top. There are several attractive centers mid to late first. Mara from Michigan, Vessar from UNc, the Duke center. A few tweeners too.

Here is another one. Doesn’t really look or play like 7’3. Both good and bad. Givoni says in the post that he is a projected first rounder.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUltX9DET...dzJrcmlyaw==

[myconsumerclub]

I have posted Krivas as well he is mocked going to us on tankathon today at 50 which is where our last pick is now and that made me happy but I am not sure I like the guy they have mocked to us at 30 Amari Allen a SF from Alabama
https://www.tankathon.com/players/amari-allen

I like Veesar for his 3 point ability but he is also a tad slim for a banger.

Krivas is on AZ the best team in college. A few years ago Purdue had Zach Edey in the college championship game and that resulted in him going 9th in the draft after he was predicted in mocks as a 2nd rounder.

Of course Zach was a bit more of a scorer. He was the college player of the year and leading scorer if I recall.

He could end up being a more effective player for Memphis next year. He is producing 13.6/11.1 so he averages a solid double double.

If we can snag Krivas there at pick 50 I will be shocked that he lasted that long he is 7'2 and 260. There is something to say about being on a good team that wins. https://www.tankathon.com/players/motiejus-krivas

As for injuries He looks like a stout 7'2 not some skinny runt that you have to feed like a cow to get him fattened up to be more solid to play against other big NBA centers.

If you have Krivas as a good pick I would take him at 30 then your solid with him as a center behind Lively and Gafford. My prediction is he earns the starting center position midway his rookie season. Bagley is a PF at 6'10 and he can play center but I would add him as a backup for Cooper and that would move PJ to SF with Naji so we have some more toughness at the 3.

You then have the wings to worry about and I would focus on adding a 3 point shooter at the 50th pick.

Milan Momcilovic
https://www.tankathon.com/players/milan-momcilovic may not last to 50 so we may need to do some wheeling and dealing to move up some.

You also got the 2 Ivisic brothers who could go undrafted. Both hit the 3 better than most centers. One is 7'2 and 250 https://www.tankathon.com/players/tomislav-ivisic
the other is 7'1 and 255 https://www.tankathon.com/players/tomislav-ivisic
Maybe you get them if you have Wagler at 7 still there for us to add him.

Hey if these guys do well on the 2 way and Krivas takes over as the starter you can trade Lively and his injury risk. I am averse to the risk of injured players getting hurt again for some reason and very tired of seeing our players in street clothes.

[myconsumerclub]

I am assuming we are trading Gafford and adding more picks doing so and that would empower us to already do some bundling of picks to move up and take guys higher up.

If we add 3 rookies then I doubt we are keeping Middleton and that is something I would be okay with. If we can get a guy like Milan who can burry the 3 that well I am happy. I am sure he could end up moving up the board so trading off guys like Gafford to move up with our picks is important. PJ Klay as well

[Chicagojk]

No ceilings mock:

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2026-nba-mock-draft-v4

7- Mikel Brown
30- Flory Bidunga-  Having a very good season but I like several names better after him in this mock.
51- Alex Karaban

[Chicagojk]

He is small and not sure if he can play with Kyrie but good highlights

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUoUI5PEX...A2ZnZya3Fy

[Smitty]

No ceilings mock:

https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/2026-nba-mock-draft-v4

7- Mikel Brown
30- Flory Bidunga-  Having a very good season but I like several names better after him in this mock.
51- Alex Karaban

I like Mikel Brown Jr. a lot. I think he was ranked 4-5 before the season started and has hung around the top 7-8 in every ranking, despite struggling some. He might be getting healthy at the right time. He put up 45/9 against NC State 2 nights ago.

[Chicagojk]

I like Mikel Brown Jr. a lot. I think he was ranked 4-5 before the season started and has hung around the top 7-8 in every ranking, despite struggling some. He might be getting healthy at the right time. He put up 45/9 against NC State 2 nights ago.

Yes , he is a tricky one for me.   I think him and a few other guys in this range have a wide range of outcomes.

I have seen very little college basketball this year but with the Mavs getting a late first and a later second (in addition to a lottery pick) I am really interested in diving into the conference tournaments and NCAA tournament.