2026 NBA draft thread

[DanSchwartzgan]

 
5 What this team really needs the most, ideally, would be a top level ball-handling creator, who can play both ends, has some size, can make 3s -- but if that guy is in this draft, imo he hasn't really shown himself yet. All of these PG/G types have multiple flaws and tons of inconsistency, and bust potential.  

I'm struggling to fall in love with any of these guards.  If we get lucky and get a top four pick, then I'm taking one of the top four guys (none of which are pure PG's).  But, if we stay in the upper end of the top 10, these guys are going to be picked over a bit by the time we get one.

Flemings looks like a good starter, but nothing special (a lesser version of Fox) to my untrained eye.  Brown probably has the most upside, but I worry that he's got a bit of a "get mine" mentality.  I want the right mentality next to Flagg as much as I want the right talent.  I worry about Acuff's D, size and lack of steals.  He feels like a sixth man of the year/Dennis Smith Jr. type to me.  I have no ability to judge the athleticism of Wagler and Mullins, but they feel more complimentary than star.  I think that's why I'm trying to like Ament.  I can see his archetype working next to Flagg.  The question is whether he can live up to the best versions of that archetype or not.  

The 6-10 range of drafts is always problematic because teams are still trying to find that five-tool star from among players  with no obvious NBA ready tool.  At some point teams shift to guys with less upside, but have at least one NBA-ready skill.  Those are the guys who tend to find a career and the athletes you hope can put it all together are more bust-prone.