2026 NBA draft thread

[mvossman]

Sure, but the importance of big men will increase regardless

Will they?  Hartenstein is a very good player but he is getting played off the court in the playoffs.  If anything we may be seeing a shift in what teams will look for in big men, specifically mobility.

[michaeltex]

Will they?  Hartenstein is a very good player but he is getting played off the court in the playoffs.  If anything we may be seeing a shift in what teams will look for in big men, specifically mobility.

Personally, I question whether a mobile big man isn't an oxymoron. 

NBA history is replete with examples of really tall guys that were considered "mobile", but ended up with limited careers due to injury. Sampson, Chandler, Walton, Ming, Oden, Sabonis, etc. Despite his titles, even Durant has missed significant time due to injuries, and I will argue he's not considered very "mobile" now. I guess you could include Lively as a recent example. Even high-flying guards end up flying lower after a few seasons (e.g., D. Rose, J. Morant) TBH, I worry a little about Coops game and wouldn't mind seeing him improve his mid-range to avoid some of the aerial contact his drives involve.

I'm not wishing for bad luck for Wemby, I think he's playing in a unique space right now and we'll see how he holds up over the next few years, but I think you have to be careful using him as a prototype to build around.

[Smitty]

@itsjwills
Bucks assistant GM with lots of interesting nuggets in this 10 minute interview:

- Unprompted he mentions trading the 10th pick for a veteran player

- Specifically mentions there are some great guards and small forwards in that 10th pick range

- Says if they use the 10th pick they want to win now and want a player that can step in and play right away

- Bogi will be on the summer league team again but it’s undecided if he will stay with the team or go back to Serbia for another year

[mvossman]

@itsjwills
Bucks assistant GM with lots of interesting nuggets in this 10 minute interview:

- Unprompted he mentions trading the 10th pick for a veteran player

- Specifically mentions there are some great guards and small forwards in that 10th pick range

- Says if they use the 10th pick they want to win now and want a player that can step in and play right away

- Bogi will be on the summer league team again but it’s undecided if he will stay with the team or go back to Serbia for another year

Kyrie for 10th?  I might be on an island, but I would do it.  Not sure what salary would be coming back.

[michaeltex]

Kyrie for 10th?  I might be on an island, but I would do it.  Not sure what salary would be coming back.

Would almost certainly include at least one of Turner, Kuzma or Portis. If it's not Turner, then it might be Kuzma AND Portis.

Kuzma is one more year guaranteed ($22M) and Portis has one more year (~$15M) + a PO.

BTW, that Stretch Wave of Lillard at $22.5M per is going to hurt them for the next 4 years, ouch.

[loki]

Kyrie for 10th?  I might be on an island, but I would do it.  Not sure what salary would be coming back.

Easy yes from me. Getting a lottery pick for Kyrie in this draft is pretty much the best case scenario.

[Chicagojk]

Can’t shoot but this guy has gotten no pub

https://x.com/KJScouting/status/20455736...deo/1?s=46

[Winter]

Can’t shoot but this guy has gotten no pub

https://x.com/KJScouting/status/20455736...deo/1?s=46

Looks like he had a breakout year last season. Someone will get him either at the end of the second round or right after the draft. He looks great in that video. He had a game with 16 assists!

[khaled1987]

Will they?  Hartenstein is a very good player but he is getting played off the court in the playoffs.  If anything we may be seeing a shift in what teams will look for in big men, specifically mobility.

They will. Teams will look for someone to throw against Wemby. Whether that one is good or bad is a different question. 

Plenty of bigs got paid in hope to help against Shaq or other great C from the 90's, it lead to plenty of historical busts too.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Sure, but the importance of big men will increase regardless

I'd be willing to bet Aday Mara will be the 1st big drafted at 7'3, 255 lbs. His stock increased after Michigan's romp to the natty.  Another Zach Edey?

[KillerLeft]

The depression of not getting Dybantsa or (especially) Peterson on this team is finally starting to set in for me. I find myself dreaming of multi-step ways of trading up for Peterson. I know it's probably not even possible and therefor a complete wast of time, but I can't shake it. A Peterson/Flagg combo is a way I could potentially see this team fighting its way into that SA/OKC conversation sooner in a year or two.

[Winter]

This is a new mock draft from CBS - and one of the most interesting I think.

They have Flemings going to the Mavs
They have Morez Johnson going to OKC at 12 (did they read this message board yesterday?)
They have Burries at 13 (the last couple of mocks have had burries drop some. Maybe too much)
They have Carr at 15. Carr has been solidly at between 14-16 since the combine
They have Okorie at 21. That's a leap since two weeks ago.
They have Tarris Reed at 25 - which is up but seems right to me
They have Isiah Evans going to Mavs at #30 for you fans out there.

It is now more popular than ever that Aday Mara is going to Atlanta at #8. I'm starting to see that quite a bit now.
In this mock, Acuff and Brown are picks 6 and 7.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-...t-combine/

[KillerLeft]

This is a new mock draft from CBS - and one of the most interesting I think.

They have Flemings going to the Mavs
They have Morez Johnson going to OKC at 12 (did they read this message board yesterday?)
They have Burries at 13 (the last couple of mocks have had burries drop some. Maybe too much)
They have Carr at 15. Carr has been solidly at between 14-16 since the combine
They have Okorie at 21. That's a leap since two weeks ago.
They have Tarris Reed at 25 - which is up but seems right to me
They have Isiah Evans going to Mavs at #30 for you fans out there.

It is now more popular than ever that Aday Mara is going to Atlanta at #8. I'm starting to see that quite a bit now.
In this mock, Acuff and Brown are picks 6 and 7.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-...t-combine/

All signs seem to point to the Mavs taking either Brown or Flemings, whichever makes it to them. I don't know if things actually play out that way, but I'd be fine with either, if so. I'd also be fine with Burries if neither of the first two make it that far.

[Chicagojk]

This is a new mock draft from CBS - and one of the most interesting I think.

They have Flemings going to the Mavs
They have Morez Johnson going to OKC at 12 (did they read this message board yesterday?)
They have Burries at 13 (the last couple of mocks have had burries drop some. Maybe too much)
They have Carr at 15. Carr has been solidly at between 14-16 since the combine
They have Okorie at 21. That's a leap since two weeks ago.
They have Tarris Reed at 25 - which is up but seems right to me
They have Isiah Evans going to Mavs at #30 for you fans out there.

It is now more popular than ever that Aday Mara is going to Atlanta at #8. I'm starting to see that quite a bit now.
In this mock, Acuff and Brown are picks 6 and 7.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2026-...t-combine/

I am sure others will have different wants, but if you had to pick between these two choices which would you pick.   Keeping pick and moving up to the early 20's from 30.

choice A- Kingston Flemings and Koa Peat

Choice B- Nate Ament and Ebuka Okorie

All 19 years old to start next year.

[Scott41theMavs]

All signs seem to point to the Mavs taking either Brown or Flemings, whichever makes it to them. I don't know if things actually play out that way, but I'd be fine with either, if so. I'd also be fine with Burries if neither of the first two make it that far.

I would be quite content the pick if Brown dropped to them, and ecstatic if Flemings fell that far. I know his physical measurements were disappointing, but his athletic scores more than made up for it, and he's probably the most two-way of the three top-ten pure (i.e. not Wagler/Burries) points.

[Scott41theMavs]

I am sure others will have different wants, but if you had to pick between these two choices which would you pick.   Keeping pick and moving up to the early 20's from 30.

choice A- Kingston Flemings and Koa Peat

Choice B- Nate Ament and Ebuka Okorie

All 19 years old to start next year.

Absolutely no Ament at 9. That would be a horrific reach and a waste of our most important pick. If we traded down in the draft for a lot more assets and got him somewhere past 15, then I'm more okay with it.

[Winter]

I keep thinking Peat will announce he's going back to school. I'd take Okorie over Ament.

I will honestly be surprised if the first round ends, and we have settled on the #9 and #30 picks. I just imagine more moving around for a lot of teams including the Mavs.

[Chicagojk]

I think Peterson has a chance to be really good.  It would also feel like he would be a great fit into Utah's team.    I just can't shake the feeling though that Ainge will shock the world like he did with Tatum.    He takes Boozer then trades one of Jackson on Lauri.    The Boozer thing complicates the roster some, but I just have a feeling he is going to do something against the grain.

[Smitty]

@DaveBorges
Alex Karaban begins NBA workouts next week.

Lakers, Kings, Thunder, Spurs, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Celtics, so far.




Has a range of 26-44 on Grubel’s prospect board.

[mvossman]

Absolutely no Ament at 9. That would be a horrific reach and a waste of our most important pick. If we traded down in the draft for a lot more assets and got him somewhere past 15, then I'm more okay with it.

I think that scenario is assuming we traded 9 and 30 for 12 and 17 so Ament was at 12.  Even then, I'm sure there would be somebody at 12 I would prefer over Ament.