2026 NBA draft thread

[Winter]

I don't really think the #9 spot has a better player than the cumulative power of #12 and #17, so I probably do it. I would want Johnson preferably.

[Chicagojk]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket...s-kentucky

Former Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic transfers to Kentucky.

Matt Norlander‬: Sources told CBS Sports that Momcilovic's contract for next season will be north of $6 million. Kentucky spent $20 million-ish last season and will do it again in 2026-27. For at least the next five months, Mark Pope can live in some peace.

Good for him.  I think he is a fringe NBA player.  His shooting will give him a chance, but his chance for success is not great.  To make 6 million in college is awesome.   I think Baylor's Tounde reportedly got 7 million to go to St. Johns.  I think he has more chance for success in the NBA but it is not guaranteed.  If these numbers are correct, I am surprised more players did not go back.   College life is not bad.   Sure, there is an old thought process that you want to get to your second contract earlier.  Although, you need to prove you can play or you will never see that second contract.   Nothing wrong taking more time in college (even if it hurts your draft position) and make really good money as a college player.

[mvossman]

He's not all that polarizing to me. Dan and I have been talking about him as a Mavs target at 7/8 for months. ALL of these prospects have warts. You and I have gone back and forth plenty with every Guard in the draft at one point. Noting their weaknesses and trying to rank them somehow. Heck, even the best player in college basketball, better than Flagg's freshman year, is being talked about as going #3, because of "weaknesses".

I'd personally prefer the Mavs pick my favorite Guard available at #9, instead of an Ament, Mara, Yaxel, Johnson, etc., but again, all of these guys have weaknesses and if the front office thinks it's too much to overcome, then I can see them going a different direction. That goes for the front offices with pick 5, 6, 7, 8, etc.

By polarizing I mean that some folks think he could be picked at 6 and some folks are not sure he belongs in the lottery.  The only other guy I can think of that has close to as big a spread is Mara.

[mvossman]

So better chance Dallas moves up or back?   I think they stay at 9 and prefer they do this, but lets say they reach 9 and Flemings, Acuff and Wagler are all off.  

OKC calls to trade up for Mara.   What if your intel says Bucks wants Ament and GS wants Johnson.  Or lets leave names out.  Lets say you like two players and your intel says neither will be taken by GS or MIL.  Do you move to 12?   Maybe you can get more than 17.   

Zach lowe on the Thunder: "I do think the noise about them attempting to move up in the draft, and potentially way up is true. I'm not sure they can get into the Top 4. But I do think some attempt to move up and maybe grab Aday Mara from Michigan or some other big time player and refresh in that way

If the Mavs move from 9 at all, I think its much more likely they move back than up.  My guess is the Mavs simply pick Brown (or Burries) in the scenario you provide.  If I had to guess it would be that the Mavs are higher on Wagler/Brown/Burries than Acuff/Flemings due to positional size and versatility.  

I'm not sure how certain you can be with what other teams are going to do.  Supposedly Mavs traded back because they thought they could still get Giannis and got burned.  One of the reasons I'm not excited about moving back is that you don't really know what will be left.  But if Ament, Mara and one other guy are picked in top 8 (or 9 if you are picking that guy for trade) then I would be happy to trade back to 12 and 17.  I seriously doubt you can get more than 17.  I'm not sure you wouldn't have to kick in 30 to make that trade happen.

I would be really surprised if OKC trades up for Mara.  That feels like a panic move, and Presti is not known for panic moves.  I think it is more likely he stays at 12 and gets one of the other Michigan guys.

[Torielp10]

So non Mavs, but what do we think the Nets do?  Their fans seem to want a guard.  

The Nets are irrelevant in NY now.   They have stunk since they traded Kyrie but have had the worst lottery luck.    They don't own their first round pick next year.  The Knicks are the King of the city now.

Their draft was ridiculed last summer (i was one of them).  While Egor may not be the best player at 8, I think they drafted some interesting players after watching a few games.  At different points when I watched them, I thought 4 of them showed me something.  So do they draft another guard to add to all their other guards?  They just seem a little stuck.    If they stay at 6 and take a non guard, that seems like a weird move as well.   

Are they a secret big trade team just trying to make them relevant?  Giannis?

I can see them getting lucky. I think Chicago shocks everyone and takes acuff, clips go wagler, and Brooklyn has Wilson fall in their laps

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/BaruthaAlex/status/2061908...deo/1?s=46

[DanSchwartzgan]

some interesting discussions on the guards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4nll0FAlRs

This was a good listen.  The main guy almost sold me on Acuff. If we somehow end up with him, I'll need to put this on repeat for about a week.  I wish they had included Burries in the discussion.

[Knutsen]

https://x.com/BaruthaAlex/status/2061908...deo/1?s=46

Definitely fits the Schmitz objective, that in a redraft in a couple of years he could be the guy that gets taken much higher, right?

[F Gump]

Definitely fits the Schmitz objective, that in a redraft in a couple of years he could be the guy that gets taken much higher, right?

It maybe fits -- but only if they think Ament will inevitably be headed for greatness in a few years. That's a very big if. It's also possible Schmitz and friends see it like some of us see it - which is, he was perhaps very over-rated coming out of HS, his tools are weaker than they previously thought, and hopefully some other team picking in the top 8 will chase him based on ill-placed hopes and dreams.

[Knutsen]

It maybe fits -- but only if they think Ament will inevitably be headed for greatness in a few years. That's a very big if. It's also possible Schmitz and friends see it like some of us see it - which is, he was perhaps very over-rated coming out of HS, his tools are weaker than they previously thought, and hopefully some other team picking in the top 8 will chase him based on ill-placed hopes and dreams.

100% - it fits if Schmitz and Ujiri see it like the optimist perspective in the video, that with great player development and coaching these „hot streaks“ can become the standard for him in a couple of years. 

It’ll be fascinating to see if they go for „highest potential, low floor“ because they think they have better intel and projection - or for „high potential, high floor“, right? 

And how much wheeling and dealing they will do, maybe not with number 9 but our other picks - if they jump up because a favorite of them is available. Or if it’s more the wait and see approach instead of „Presti-action“.

[Chicagojk]

Burries write up with video

https://www.reddit.com/r/NBA_Draft/s/EMSTOG3jF2

[michaeltex]

https://x.com/BaruthaAlex/status/2061908...deo/1?s=46

I get where the poster is coming from and you could make the case that even Flagg started off a little shaky with his scoring at Duke. Depends on which half of Ament's season you believe. 

His dependence on self-creation bothers me some. I know it's college, but I worry that he'll turn into a black hole in the pros, ala THJ.

With all these kids (I'm old enough to call them that) it's a crap shoot whether they can mature mentally/emotionally/physically fast enough to be successful in the pros. Luka did fine, but he wasn't really a rookie, just changed leagues. I think Coop had some challenges, but seemed to step up once he played enough to give him confidence on the court. We'll see what we find with the next ones brought in.

[Smitty]

My updated Mock Draft after the early entry withdraw...

[Chicagojk]

I get where the poster is coming from and you could make the case that even Flagg started off a little shaky with his scoring at Duke. Depends on which half of Ament's season you believe. 

His dependence on self-creation bothers me some. I know it's college, but I worry that he'll turn into a black hole in the pros, ala THJ.

With all these kids (I'm old enough to call them that) it's a crap shoot whether they can mature mentally/emotionally/physically fast enough to be successful in the pros. Luka did fine, but he wasn't really a rookie, just changed leagues. I think Coop had some challenges, but seemed to step up once he played enough to give him confidence on the court. We'll see what we find with the next ones brought in.

It is a tricky one.   I personally want a guard, but just have been sort of ringing the bell that a lot of people have overlooked him after an up and down freshman season.  I think with a lot of these prospects we evaluate on what we see and not what they will be.   We don't have all the answers but these kids are 19 and 20.   They shouldn't be anywhere close to finished products.  Some will develop greatly and others may not.    Not an easy thing to predict.

[Chicagojk]

Every year I like finding out about prospects who I have never heard about who will likely be late second round types or undrafted guys.   It just shows you how good you need to make the NBA.   A lot of awesome players who will get a cup of tea in the NBA, if that.

Jaron Pierre- SMU

https://x.com/Jack_Aylmer/status/2061835235310829939

Rafael Castro- GWU

https://x.com/Jack_Aylmer/status/2056766717833974168

[michaeltex]

It is a tricky one.   I personally want a guard, but just have been sort of ringing the bell that a lot of people have overlooked him after an up and down freshman season.  I think with a lot of these prospects we evaluate on what we see and not what they will be.   We don't have all the answers but these kids are 19 and 20.   They shouldn't be anywhere close to finished products.  Some will develop greatly and others may not.    Not an easy thing to predict.

IDK what the new MBT will do, but UM has made some unexpected picks in the past. I'm kind of wondering if they don't work against expectations and pull in a bigger player. Looking at Smitty's post-withdrawal draft update Ament and Mara are both gone but Lendeborg and Johnson are still available at 9. 

I say this because I'm feeling that Wemby's success may cause a run on bigs in a copy cat league. Despite years of success by GSW with small ball, height still matters (you can't teach it, as they say) and bigs will be getting more attention. If it wasn't for his age, Lendeborg would be in the conversation for top 5 and may be the most sure thing in the draft. Johnson also feels like a guy who can make an impact on both ends from the start.

But maybe I'm full of it, I haven't even stayed at a Holiday Inn Express recently.

[dirkfansince1998]

Every year I like finding out about prospects who I have never heard about who will likely be late second round types or undrafted guys.   It just shows you how good you need to make the NBA.   A lot of awesome players who will get a cup of tea in the NBA, if that.

Jaron Pierre- SMU

https://x.com/Jack_Aylmer/status/2061835235310829939

Rafael Castro- GWU

https://x.com/Jack_Aylmer/status/2056766717833974168

Castro has been on my radar for a while. Best stock/foul ratio in college basketball. Incredible help defender and rebounder. Problem is that he has no real position. Entire defense was build around him as a roaming help defender. Jumping passing lanes and protecting the rim. Probably too skinny to play center in the NBA. Lacks the perimeter skills to play PF/SF.

[Chicagojk]

a case for Yaxel

https://x.com/MavsHighlights/status/2062228486496874941

[Chicagojk]

Wagler makes it to 9 mock draft

https://x.com/mattbabcock11/status/20622...89157?s=61

[dirkfansince1998]

Wagler makes it to 9 mock draft

https://x.com/mattbabcock11/status/20622...89157?s=61

Wagler at #9 would be a steal. My favorite option among the guards.

If it plays out like this I would go full St. John's with #30 and #48. Ejiofor instead of Jefferson. Hopkins is a bulky 3&D type. Would probably take Mitchell over him. Mitchell gives me Murray-Boyles vibes. Not sure about his position (Pitino played full time small ball) but he has great awareness/IQ/feel (however you want to call it). Cannot shoot at all but is doing everything else at a level that should translate to the NBA.