2026 NBA draft thread

[JamesConway816]

He is like the Burries of the top 4 guys.

I agree on an even higher level. I think Boozer can easily be your robin while Burries is more of a good nr 3/4 guy who can impact almost any lineup in a positive way. I still love the Derrick White comparison.

If youd know that there is a certain slovenian MvP caliber player coming here via FA in 2028 then Id feel great about Burries but as of right now they need a robin. Kyrie will not be the answer.

[windjc]

There are going to be a couple of surprises drafted in first 8, so someone everyone likes will still be available. AND with the 9th pick Dallas will probably not select that guy. lol.

Let our GM find the talent. In a couple years there will be 1-2 guys in the top 5 redraft drafted after the top 8.

[mvossman]

I agree on an even higher level. I think Boozer can easily be your robin while Burries is more of a good nr 3/4 guy who can impact almost any lineup in a positive way. I still love the Derrick White comparison.

If youd know that there is a certain slovenian MvP caliber player coming here via FA in 2028 then Id feel great about Burries but as of right now they need a robin. Kyrie will not be the answer.

Given that we actually have a competent FO now, I am not as worried about this pick having to be a Robin.  I can see the argument for any of the PGs (not Philon) over Burries for the higher upside because they have a reasonably high floor, but I would have no interest in chasing for that Robin with a prospect who has a low chance of reaching a high ceiling.

[JamesConway816]

(..) but I would have no interest in chasing for that Robin with a prospect who has a low chance of reaching a high ceiling.

Thats a very good point, I have to give you that. I am probably still caught up in how I wanted the season/tank to go but it’s a difference selecting at #9 or in the top 3 afterall.

[dirkfansince1998]

Looking at some of the top shooters from this years class. Karaban and Momcilovic aren't straight line athletes but their lateral movement is better than expected. Maybe not as "unplayable" as some reports suggested.

[myconsumerclub]

12 could get Yaxel, Aday, Hannes, Cenac, Morez.

Would 17 find you a guy like Anderson or Stirtz still available?

Now if we got to keep our pick at 30 you still can snag a guy like Karaban maybe even Veesar or Tarris Reed. 48 who knows who is available we find what we need early on the take BPL approach.

We already have Cooper, Kyrie, Naji, PJ, Lively, and other assets like Gafford Max Klay Bagley? Cisse? Ryan BWill?

Depending on who is wanted elsewhere that we can trade off we may be able to get some pics or talent that provides a better fit for a young core. I expect 3 guys who can contribute out of this draft.

We could do a lot of creative lineups with more size. Signing Bagley to play at PF/C with Lively plus Cooper looks like an interesting front court option as well.

If we are not able to add a top tier PG w size then we are riding on what Kyrie does and hoping Ryan improves a good amount and hopefully he gets his 3 point game to the next level, plus the options in free agency with 6'4 Coby and 6'4 Ayo offers a good possibility for improvement.

That may be enough right there to do what we need to do at PG. Naji and Cooper as the PG can still be a good thing to kill minutes and create some mismatches.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/nb...e-wears-on

Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
Height: 6-2
Weight: 186
Wingspan: 6-7
Standing Reach: 8-2.5

Amari Allen, Alabama
Height: 6-5.25
Weight: 204
Wingspan: 6-8
Standing Reach: 8-3.5

Nate Ament, Tennessee
Height: 6-9.5
Weight: 211
Wingspan: 6-11.5
Standing Reach: 9-1.5

Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
Height: 6-0.75
Weight: 180
Wingspan: 6-6.25
Standing Reach: 8-0.5

Cameron Boozer, Duke
Height: 6-8.25
Weight: 253
Wingspan: 7-1.5
Standing Reach: 9-0

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Height: 6-3.5
Weight: 190
Wingspan: 6-7.5
Standing Reach: 8-4.5

Brayden Burries, Arizona
Height: 6-3.75
Weight: 215
Wingspan: 6-6
Standing Reach: 8-2.5

Cameron Carr, Baylor
Height: 6-4.5
Weight: 184
Wingspan: 7-0.75
Standing Reach: 8-8

Chris Cenac Jr., Houston
Height: 6-10.25
Weight: 240
Wingspan: 7-5
Standing Reach: 9-0.5

AJ Dybantsa, BYU
Height: 6-8.5
Weight: 217
Wingspan: 7-0.25
Standing Reach: 8-10

Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Height: 6-7.5
Weight: 245
Wingspan: 7-2
Standing Reach: 8-11

Isaiah Evans, Duke
Height: 6-5.5
Weight: 186
Wingspan: 6-8.75
Standing Reach: 8-8.5

Kingston Flemings, Houston
Height: 6-2.5
Weight: 183
Wingspan: 6-3.5
Standing Reach: 8-2.5

Allen Graves, Santa Clara
Height: 6-7.75
Weight: 226
Wingspan: 7-0
Standing Reach: 8-10.25

Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan
Height: 6-9
Weight: 251
Wingspan: 7-3.5
Standing Reach: 8-11

Alex Karaban, UConn
Height: 6-6.75
Weight: 225
Wingspan: 6-11
Standing Reach: 8-8.5

Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
Height: 6-8.75
Weight: 241
Wingspan: 7-3.25
Standing Reach: 9-0.5

Karim Lopez, NZ Breakers
Height: 6-8.25
Weight: 222
Wingspan: 6-11.5
Standing Reach: 8-9.5

Aday Mara
Height: 7-3
Weight: 260
Wingspan: 7-6
Standing Reach: 9-9

Malachi Moreno, Kentucky
Height: 6-11.25
Weight: 242
Wingspan: 7-1.5
Standing Reach: 9-3.5

Ebuka Okorie, Stanford
Height: 6-1.25
Weight: 186
Wingspan: 6-7.75
Standing Reach: 8-2

Koa Peat, Arizona
Height: 6-7
Weight: 245
Wingspan: 6-11.25
Standing Reach: 8-8

Darryn Peterson, Kansas
Height: 6-4.5
Weight: 199
Wingspan: 6-9.75
Standing Reach: 8-7

Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
Height: 6-2.5
Weight: 176
Wingspan: 6-6.25
Standing Reach: 8-3.5

Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky
Height: 6-9
Weight: 253
Wingspan: 7-5.25
Standing Reach: 9-1

Hannes Steinbach, Washington
Height: 6-10.25
Weight: 248
Wingspan: 7-2.25
Standing Reach: 9-0

Bennett Stirtz, Iowa
Height: 6-2.5
Weight: 186
Wingspan: 6-6
Standing Reach: 8-2.5

Dailyn Swain, Texas
Height: 6-6.5
Weight: 211
Wingspan: 6-10
Standing Reach: 8-8.5

Tyler Tanner, Purdue
Height: 5-10.75
Weight: 167
Wingspan: 6-4.25
Standing Reach: 7-9

Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
Height: 6-3
Weight: 189
Wingspan: 6-6.75
Standing Reach: 8-4

Keaton Wagler, Illinois
Height: 6-5
Weight: 188
Wingspan: 6-6.25
Standing Reach: 8-4

Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
Height: 6-9.25
Weight: 211
Wingspan: 7-0.25
Standing Reach: 9-0

Flory Bidunga, Kansas
Height: 6-7.75
Weight: 228
Wingspan: 7-3.25
Standing Reach: 8-10.5

[khaled1987]

I've read at least 20 players who are "now going in the top 10". LOL

The top 4 prospects,  the 5 guards (Brown/Acuff/Flemings/Wagler/BBurries), the Michigan duo or maybe trio? Ament. 
So, 12 or 13 guys who are seen as potential top 10 players.  That is 41 days before the draft.
It sounds reasonable to me, considering the amount of different opinions and new info we get.

[Chicagojk]

Watched the 25 minute highlight film of Mara last night.  Boy is he fun.  Dunks, spin moves, passes, blocks.

[Chicagojk]

Doesn't mean anything but saw on reddit.  Curse of the 8th pick.


Dyson Daniels and Franz Wagner both have a pretty decent shot to become the best eighth overall pick since the merger. the current competition is Detlef and Jamal Crawford? the level of hall of fame talent takes a massive dip at pick eight compared to the rest of the lottery.
7 you have Steph Curry, Chris Mullin, Kevin Johnson
number 9 you have Dirk, Tmac, Amare Stoudamire

[Winter]

Watched the 25 minute highlight film of Mara last night.  Boy is he fun.  Dunks, spin moves, passes, blocks.

He is fun, but I always worry about some knee injury or something on guys built like that. A guy that can't be available for half a season. It seems like it happens more time than not.

[Smitty]

I just used the ESPN mock draft simulator for the first time. You can trade picks. I did the trade back option with OKC and ended up with:

12) Burries (G)
17) Carr (W)
30) Ejiofor (F)
48) Suigo ©


Yeahh... I can get on board with something like that for sure.

[loki]

I just used the ESPN mock draft simulator for the first time. You can trade picks. I did the trade back option with OKC and ended up with:

12) Burries (G)
17) Carr (W)
30) Ejiofor (F)
48) Suigo ©


Yeahh... I can get on board with something like that for sure.

Carr is pretty impressive. 6'4.5" barefoot, 7'0.75" wingspan (highest among the guards), and a 42.5" max vertical. Really good shooter with unlimited range. He's not an elite on-ball defender yet, but he's got some potential there. Would love to land him at 17 if they trade down.

[Dirknows]

I’m not as filled in on the prospects as some of you. But what am I missing with Hannes Steinbach? His body seems to say he can play the 5, he was a walking double double in college. Has some shooting ability. Seems like he would be a great pick.

[KillerLeft]

I just used the ESPN mock draft simulator for the first time. You can trade picks. I did the trade back option with OKC and ended up with:

12) Burries (G)
17) Carr (W)
30) Ejiofor (F)
48) Suigo ©


Yeahh... I can get on board with something like that for sure.

Getting Burries and Carr both would be a major score. I haven’t caught up on who the other guys are yet, but just snagging those top two names would be a big deal.

I kind of don’t think the thunder are going to be interested in trading up. Something tells me they’re more likely to trade completely out.

[Smitty]

I’m not as filled in on the prospects as some of you. But what am I missing with Hannes Steinbach? His body seems to say he can play the 5, he was a walking double double in college. Has some shooting ability. Seems like he would be a great pick.

   


Easier just to post this for my thoughts on Steinbach.

[Smitty]

Getting Burries and Carr both would be a major score. I haven’t caught up on who the other guys are yet, but just snagging those top two names would be a big deal.

I kind of don’t think the thunder are going to be interested in trading up. Something tells me they’re more likely to trade completely out.

The No Ceilings guys talk about Zuby at the 14 minute mark. Worth a listen because I think he's a real possibility at pick 30. I think he's a big Wing that can also play small-ball 5 in the NBA. Some disagree. I think he can guard 1-5 against most teams. Can be an average CnS guy on the perimeter. I hadn't considered the real playoff impact that they go into, but I just finished listening and think it's an excellent point. He's not a perfect PJW clone, they have some differences for sure, but the closest role I can think of with the current Mavs roster. Definitely worth a late FRP dart throw.

https://youtu.be/F3vg9IU8u5I?si=in7yQkFXISuqddqg

[Dirknows]

Easier just to post this for my thoughts on Steinbach.

I mean I guess it speaks to this drafts depth that most mocks have him not going top-10. But man especially after seeing his measurables, if he can play the 5 (I’m not familiar with his defense) he’s likely a double double guy in the NBA. It’s not like we can count on Lively to stay healthy, and even if he is he could never play 30+ minutes a night.

[Winter]

The last podcast I had on Steinbach was that he might have some trouble at shooting (his mechanics are in question), and he's not that good at rim protection. Worst case scenario, think Bagley on defense.

But there's a lot of his game that the Mavs could use - particularly his rebounding - that might offset a lot of comparisons. And he has just a bit of a perimeter game even though his shooting there is low-volume. So there's that.

Plus, Dirk can always help a fellow German with his shooting. I mean that's a given

[Dirknows]

The last podcast I had on Steinbach was that he might have some trouble at shooting (his mechanics are in question), and he's not that good at rim protection. Worst case scenario, think Bagley on defense.

But there's a lot of his game that the Mavs could use - particularly his rebounding - that might offset a lot of comparisons. And he has just a bit of a perimeter game even though his shooting there is low-volume. So there's that.

Plus, Dirk can always help a fellow German with his shooting. I mean that's a given

Feels wrong to not have anyone from Wurzburg on the roster.

[DallasMaverick]

Getting Burries and Carr both would be a major score. I haven’t caught up on who the other guys are yet, but just snagging those top two names would be a big deal.

I kind of don’t think the thunder are going to be interested in trading up. Something tells me they’re more likely to trade completely out.

Wouldn’t they be motivated to consolidate several lower picks into a single high pick?

Roster space is scarce. But maybe cap space is scarcer.