2026 NBA Draft

[PCmor7]

I thought we had a thread for this but I couldn't find one, so the mods can just move this in there if one already exists.

It's early, but this looks like it's going to be a fantastic draft. If Caleb Wilson is the fourth pick at best, this is a special group.

Watching Dybantsa against UConn just now he looks like a rich man's Ace Bailey. Not only a great shot and great handle but a great feel for the game and he plays defense, too.

And he might not even be the top pick. Peterson's looked fantastic and Cameron Boozer's killing it, too.

Of course, you never know 100% how a guy's going to turn out in the pros, but I think the odds are better than 50-50 that multiple players from this draft will be impact players as rookies. Lot of potential difference-makers and guys with decent chances to be all-stars. It's been fun watching the first few weeks of college because there are so many guys on the court right now who are both great athletes but you can tell love the game and have developed exceptional skills for their age.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Boozer looks like next-gen Zach Randolph

Karim Lopez is a guy to keep an eye on too - my early favorite outside Peterson and Boozer.

 

[ant]

If we make the playoffs our 2026 1st conveys to Chicago, right? Otherwise, we’re probably looking at a late lottery pick.

 

[ehizzy3]

Give me Caleb Wilson

 

[julius]

If we make the playoffs our 2026 1st conveys to Chicago, right? Otherwise, we’re probably looking at a late lottery pick.

Kinda like Dallas was...

 

[PCmor7]

Boozer looks like next-gen Zach Randolph

Karim Lopez is a guy to keep an eye on too - my early favorite outside Peterson and Boozer.

I see Boozer and get reminded of Banchero. I think he does a little bit more all-around but isn't quite as gifted as a pure scorer.

 

[Sheldon Shape]

Too late to draft Queen and trade him to the Pelicans for next year's pick?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I see Boozer and get reminded of Banchero. I think he does a little bit more all-around but isn't quite as gifted as a pure scorer.

The only thing with Boozer though is how well will he adjust his game — bully ball obviously won’t be nearly as effective in the nba.

 

[kjironman1]

So we are thinking about losing on purpose again already?

 

[PCmor7]

The only thing with Boozer though is how well will he adjust his game — bully ball obviously won’t be nearly as effective in the nba.

It sounds almost like you are thinking he's his dad. I actually was surprised when I first saw him play how unlike his dad he played. He was handling the ball and was a pretty advanced passer for a big his age.

 

[PCmor7]

So we are thinking about losing on purpose again already?

It depends. I think we're thinking more of "Hey, college basketball's going on and there are some pretty good players and it's an exciting class so let's start a thread to discuss them that we can add to as the season goes on." But I didn't clear the topic with the mods.

 

[PCmor7]

Back to Boozer for a moment. Here are his highlights against Indiana State when he had 35 and 12. I see a lot of finesse to his game.

 

[kjironman1]

It depends. I think we're thinking more of "Hey, college basketball's going on and there are some pretty good players and it's an exciting class so let's start a thread to discuss them that we can add to as the season goes on." But I didn't clear the topic with the mods.

Messing with you.

 

[PCmor7]

Messing with you.

It's not a hard thing to do.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Boozer looks like next-gen Zach Randolph

Which is not a good sign. I'm not even sure that Zach could make it in today's league. He's the guy I'd be most worried about drafting with a high pick just because of nasty Jahlil Okafor flashbacks.

 

[PCmor7]

Literally a package of recent game footage that shows he's not Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph or Jahlil Okafor ... and yet people keep posting that he's too much like Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph and Jahlil Okafor.

He's making dribble moves leading the break like Cooper Flagg, tossing alley-oops and shooting 3s like a 2-guard, and somehow the narrative is that he's got a bad physique and only is successful because he grinds people down in the low post with his size and unconventional scoring tools. I think some people actually are going to watch him play and be shocked.

 

[BankTeller]

What we have:

(PG) Scoot / Dame / Blake
(SG) Shae
(F) Deni / Grant
(F) Tou
(C) Don / Hansen

I’m including Grant on this list due to his fit and the likelihood of his trade value not worth moving him. I’m also going to include Blake because as a really cheap third string PG, I like him being in that spark-plug role. We are still missing shooters and possibly that go-to scorer (if you don’t think Shae becomes that guy).

 

[BankTeller]

6’7.5 barefoot
6’9 wingspan
8’9 standing reach

Looks like a great passer, and while the stats don’t suggest it, his tape to me are telling me he will be a good shooter. This is the first name I’ve looked at around the 12-14 range. This class really could turn out to be crazy.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Literally a package of recent game footage that shows he's not Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph or Jahlil Okafor ... and yet people keep posting that he's too much like Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph and Jahlil Okafor.

He's making dribble moves leading the break like Cooper Flagg, tossing alley-oops and shooting 3s like a 2-guard, and somehow the narrative is that he's got a bad physique and only is successful because he grinds people down in the low post with his size and unconventional scoring tools. I think some people actually are going to watch him play and be shocked.

A taller Dillon Jones?

 

[PCmor7]

A taller Dillon Jones?

We can only hope.

 

[PCmor7]

I got a chance to watch Nate Ament yesterday when Tennessee played Houston, as well as his game the day before that.

I see a lot of the qualities Jeramie Grant has in his game, but Ament's tapped them a few years earlier than Jeramie did. Moves and handles very, very well for a 6-8/6-9 guy. Don't know if his handle will quite get to that level, but he could have a ceiling as a taller, longer Tyrese Haliburton. Needs to get stronger, but I think he will ... he'll have that wiry strength Jeramie and Haliburton have. Seems to be trending around the lower half of the top 10 in the mocks right now.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

The prize of this draft is Peterson.

As far as guards go, aside from Peterson, Mikel Brown is the next best prospect.

An early riser: Hannes Steinbach

This draft is DEEP.

 

[JDC]

The prize of this draft is Peterson.

As far as guards go, aside from Peterson, Mikel Brown is the next best prospect.

An early riser: Hannes Steinbach

This draft is DEEP.

Steinbach didn't look like an NBA guy to me in his only game vs good competition.

He's not big enough to have that slow of feet defensively.

 

[BigGameDamian]

So we are thinking about losing on purpose again already?

If you’re not one of the 4-6 teams that can seriously contend for the chip then find away to tank some games? That’s the way the NBA is headed?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Cohen Carr is one of my favorite wings in this draft.

Just a role player but plays with that psychotic Quincy Acy energy

 

[wizenheimer]

The only thing with Boozer though is how well will he adjust his game — bully ball obviously won’t be nearly as effective in the nba.

it's pretty effective for Avdija

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[kjironman1]

If you’re not one of the 4-6 teams that can seriously contend for the chip then find away to tank some games? That’s the way the NBA is headed?

It is. Unfortunately this is a sad fact.

 

[PCmor7]

Carr's an exciting player to watch. Not sure he has anything beyond his insane jumping ability that will transfer to the NBA, though. From the little I've seen of him, he looks like an undersized 4. If he has the motor of a Montriezl Harrell, it might play. I could see him being a Thomas Robinson. 51-inch vertical leap is nuts, though.

 

[PCmor7]

BTW, Boozer crushing Arkansas right now. He looks really smooth either back to the basket or facing up. He did a really nice fake and spin for the bucket in the post, and came off a screen for a corner 3.

I saw someone make a Chris Webber comp. I don't think he's that athletic or quite that good, but style-wise it's a fair comparison. I still think Banchero. They're Webber light in the NBA.

Caleb Wilson looked good again today in the loss to Michigan State.

Flagg's really good, but, man, I don't think I'd take him over any of the top four in this draft. Sacrilege, I know. It's just that these guys look really special.