2026 NBA draft thread

[Torielp10]

Burries can give you exactly what Harper gives the spurs, while also being a better shooter

[KillerLeft]

Burries can give you exactly what Harper gives the spurs, while also being a better shooter

He's not quite the physical specimen Harper is, but I think this is pretty accurate.

[DanSchwartzgan]

I saw a report that Chicago is trying to move from 15 into the 8-10 range.  Adding someone like Burries or Mara would make some sense for them.  Assuming they get Wilson at four, they will have a logjam at forward.

Is Essengue plus 15 enough?  What would they have to add?  Take back Caleb Martin?  A future first seems like too much.

Essengue feels like a Masai prototype.  I recall he came into Toronto for a secret workout while his team was still in the playoffs in France, but Masai passed on him for CMB. Carr at 15? Too early for Okorie? I think Morez Johnson is gone by then.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

AJ Dybantsa is watching a young San Antonio Spurs team built by high draft picks in the NBA Finals and sees a similar chance to have quick success as a pro. That would be good news for the Washington Wizards, who have the No. 1 pick this year and are expected to use it on the star freshman from BYU. "It won't take that long, especially with my adaptability and my work ethic," Dybantsa said Monday. "I think that will be, I'm not going to say easy, but pretty similar to what these guys do in terms of the forecast."

ESPN

[HoosierDaddyKid]

A current NBA agent and former scout ranked Acuff ahead of Flemings as the top two point guards in the draft, telling The Sacramento Bee that Flemings will be a “10-year starter” but “not an All-Star.”

Sacramento Bee

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Justin Martinez: Sam Presti said OKC will explore all options with its three picks (No. 12, 17 and 37), from trading up to trading down to trading for future picks: "It's all about creating value. That's how we see each one of these picks. ... We'll look at all of these different options."

Twitter

[HoosierDaddyKid]

James Barlowe: Sources: The Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks have recently both visited Mikel Brown Jr in Orlando to watch workouts and meet with the family. Brown Jr is scheduled to visit the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks before the draft.

Twitter

[Chicagojk]

some potential late first scouting reports.

Isaiah Evans- Duke
Henri Veesar- UNC


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSKdk8uJ1Fw&t=624s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAKrkOsaJD8

[dirkfansince1998]

some potential late first scouting reports.

Isaiah Evans- Duke
Henri Veesar- UNC


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSKdk8uJ1Fw&t=624s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAKrkOsaJD8

Veesaar just isn't it for me. Not big/strong enough to defend the paint. Not quick enough to defend the perimeter. And I don't trust his shooting numbers. 43% from 3 but only 62% from the FT line? Something isn't adding up.

[Chicagojk]

Veesaar just isn't it for me. Not big/strong enough to defend the paint. Not quick enough to defend the perimeter. And I don't trust his shooting numbers. 43% from 3 but only 62% from the FT line? Something isn't adding up.

Yeah he is not on my list either.  I watched the highlights though and he looked pretty good.   I think he is probably an early second rounder.  We will see if some team at the end of the first gambles on him though.

[Chicagojk]

Draft Express would take Peterson #1.   Maybe take Boozer #2.  

https://x.com/wojespn/status/2064333974369931396

[windjc]

Justin Martinez: Sam Presti said OKC will explore all options with its three picks (No. 12, 17 and 37), from trading up to trading down to trading for future picks: "It's all about creating value. That's how we see each one of these picks. ... We'll look at all of these different options."

Twitter

Translation: We have no leverage and will have to do the best we can with the situation.

[Chicagojk]

Karim Lopez and Nate Ament are working out for the Nets today, Lopez said on my podcast. Two potential lottery picks are going head-to-head for Brooklyn, who have the 6th pick.

[Winter]

I saw a report that Chicago is trying to move from 15 into the 8-10 range.  Adding someone like Burries or Mara would make some sense for them.  Assuming they get Wilson at four, they will have a logjam at forward.

Is Essengue plus 15 enough?  What would they have to add?  Take back Caleb Martin?  A future first seems like too much.

Essengue feels like a Masai prototype.  I recall he came into Toronto for a secret workout while his team was still in the playoffs in France, but Masai passed on him for CMB.  Carr at 15?  Too early for Okorie?  I think Morez Johnson is gone by then.

It feels like Johnson may be gone, Carr is borderline, and Okorie will probably go between 15-20 so he's probably available.  Essengue is kind of blah to me stats-wise, but I know very little about him. I wouldn't be willing to part with #9 for that. There would have to be some other sweetner. If they want #9, they're going to need to deliver.

[Scott41theMavs]

14 days until the first round.

[mvossman]

I saw a report that Chicago is trying to move from 15 into the 8-10 range.  Adding someone like Burries or Mara would make some sense for them.  Assuming they get Wilson at four, they will have a logjam at forward.

Is Essengue plus 15 enough?  What would they have to add?  Take back Caleb Martin?  A future first seems like too much.

Essengue feels like a Masai prototype.  I recall he came into Toronto for a secret workout while his team was still in the playoffs in France, but Masai passed on him for CMB.  Carr at 15?  Too early for Okorie?  I think Morez Johnson is gone by then.

This would have very little appeal to me.  I would much rather stay at 9 and spend assets/players to move up from 30 or get another pick.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/jazznationnews/status/2064...96983?s=46

Really don’t know what to think. Peterson clearly has elite talent. He just didn’t show it often in college. Was good, not great. He fits a clear need in Utah and could wind up being the best player in the class. People who saw him in high school are true believers. Sort of a weird personality too. Will he be all in living in Utah.

On the other hand, Boozer feels like a Ainge against the grain pick but Utah is filled with power forwards. They may have too many without Boozer. Supposedly teams analytic staffs mostly have Boozer at 1. I could see Ainge mesmerized with Boozer. The fit is just not as clear as it is with Peterson.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

This would have very little appeal to me.  I would much rather stay at 9 and spend assets/players to move up from 30 or get another pick.

This is one of the most obvious do not trade down situations I've seen in my life.  There's 9-10 really good players in the draft and you pick 9th and your most obvious need is going to be available.

I must be missing something. Does Masai like to get cute in the draft?

[Winter]

This is one of the most obvious do not trade down situations I've seen in my life.  There's 9-10 really good players in the draft and you pick 9th and your most obvious need is going to be available.

I must be missing something.  Does Masai like to get cute in the draft?

I think there are likely more than 9-10 players that are going to have really good NBA careers, and several are below #9.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I think there are likely more than 9-10 players that are going to have really good NBA careers, and several are below #9.

That's not how it works.

The higher you pick, the better chance you have at an impact player. Why would you decrease your odds for some fringe asset?