2026 NBA draft thread

[khaled1987]

To be fair, it's preseason rankings and Sam Vecenie did say 4-17 were in the same tier

But the reason for posting it, was to agree with Mavs2021's point that "Large part of the draft is confirmation bias and the scouts will look for players to confirm their initial assessments and those had Brown and Ament as the next tier." Not that every scout has the same ranking, just that those two in particular were up there!

I don't think this is correct though, and if anything draft usually shows recency bias.
Plenty of highly rated prospects ended up being picked very late after bad college season

[Smitty]

Plenty of highly rated prospects ended up being picked very late after bad college season

Sure, but we’re not talking about prospects having a bad college season.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/sam_vecenie/status/2025048...55538?s=61

[DL2RimRocker]

Peterson might be avoiding being consensus first overall pick in order to land where he wants to be.

But most likely he has an actual health/injury issue that he isn't honest about

My theory is this could be 2-fold.

Peterson might have an injury that isn't necessarily bad enough to keep him out of games, but is concerning enough to him to take a cautious approach in season games.

So...
1. He might be preserving/managing himself to make sure he is a number 1 pick.
2. He's preserving/managing himself for the big tournament to make sure he's at his best for his team, and to make sure he is the number 1 pick.

He seems to be a showman like Luka and Kobe, so he is coasting along in regular games playing just enough to help his team win and waiting to put his A-game on a big stage in the big tournament.

If I had his talent, I might be load-balancing myself too (especially if I had a somewhat nagging injury no matter how minor it might be) because of the enormous amount I would value myself. The risk of getting hurt during college would be enormous compared to the average college player.

Peterson came into Kansas considered as a great character and smart kid. Great personality and competitive as hell.
I think he just realizes he is a valuable commodity and is taking a smart approach to managing his long-term future.

[Winter]

https://x.com/sam_vecenie/status/2025048...55538?s=61

That is exactly how I feel.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/League_Him/status/2024964783598878806

[Chicagojk]

My theory is this could be 2-fold.

Peterson might have an injury that isn't necessarily bad enough to keep him out of games, but is concerning enough to him to take a cautious approach in season games.

So...
1. He might be preserving/managing himself to make sure he is a number 1 pick.
2. He's preserving/managing himself for the big tournament to make sure he's at his best for his team, and to make sure he is the number 1 pick.

He seems to be a showman like Luka and Kobe, so he is coasting along in regular games playing just enough to help his team win and waiting to put his A-game on a big stage in the big tournament.

If I had his talent, I might be load-balancing myself too (especially if I had a somewhat nagging injury no matter how minor it might be) because of the enormous amount I would value myself. The risk of getting hurt during college would be enormous compared to the average college player.

Peterson came into Kansas considered as a great character and smart kid. Great personality and competitive as hell.
I think he just realizes he is a valuable commodity and is taking a smart approach to managing his long-term future.

I think everyone would understand that he is injured and trying to play through the injury.  You can make that be a team guy thing.  I think a lot of frustration and confusion is the lack of communication from his team.  I think you heard it from the Kansas coach too.  They are also confused.    I just think the messaging has been really strange.

[Smitty]

The final 4 in February…?

#4 Arizona @ #2 Houston on ESPN at 2:00
Burries & Peat vs Flemings & Cenac Jr.

#1 Michigan @ #3 Duke on ESPN at 5:30
Yaxel, Mara, & Morez Johnson vs Boozer, Ngongba, & Isaiah Evans

[Winter]

Of all the players that might fall to the Mavs, Keaton Wagler is the most interesting. But I think less is known about him than any player above him.

He wasn't recruited by large colleges - Illinois being the biggest. None of the accolades or tournaments were part of his high school exposure. No McDonalds All-American, No Gatorade Tournaments, or FIBA Championships. He was mostly absent from 1st round drafts in September and October. So the bulk of what we know about Wagler is from the few games he's played at Illinois.

He will be heavily scrutinized during NBA workouts. If he's there when the Mavs pick, and Brown is still available... who do you pick?

[loki]

Of all the players that might fall to the Mavs, Keaton Wagler is the most interesting. But I think less is known about him than any player above him.

He wasn't recruited by large colleges - Illinois being the biggest. None of the accolades or tournaments were part of his high school exposure. No McDonalds All-American, No Gatorade Tournaments, or FIBA Championships. He was mostly absent from 1st round drafts in September and October. So the bulk of what we know about Wagler is from the few games he's played at Illinois.

He will be heavily scrutinized during NBA workouts. If he's there when the Mavs pick, and Brown is still available... who do you pick?

I slightly lean towards Brown if he's able to sustain his recent improvement. He's a more explosive athlete and a better playmaker. I think his offensive ceiling is higher, although he's probably got more bust potential. It's a tough call.

[F Gump]

The final 4 in February…?

#4 Arizona @ #2 Houston on ESPN at 2:00
Burries & Peat vs Flemings & Cenac Jr.

#1 Michigan @ #3 Duke on ESPN at 5:30
Yaxel, Mara, & Morez Johnson vs Boozer, Ngongba, & Isaiah Evans

Peat is injured and out indefinitely

[Dirknows]

Tuned into the Houston Arizona game. Burries had one nice play on his only made field goal on a putback. Flemings looked meh. I honestly was most impress with Cenac and how tough he was on the boards. I had an illusion he was kind of coasting, but he was getting after rebounds. He missed all 5 of his threes but his shot form looks good for a big guy. Looked like he was put more on the perimeter defensively which he got cooked a few times. I see the potential in him and why he was such a heralded recruit.

[Smitty]

Boozer 18/10/7 with 2 blks in the win against #1 Michigan.

[ThisIStheYear]

Boozer held up really well against Michigan’s vaunted front line. The Michigan front court is indeed nasty, but their guards are awful. They’re not winning the title. Duke is a better rounded team, but their backcourt isn’t that great either. Looks like Arizona is the favorite to me. They have the best front court/ back court balance.

[vfromlmf]

Watched a few games today.

Dybantsa is electric. High energy. I see Siakam. He’s a superstar. Easy no 1.

Peterson is a jump shooter and doesn’t make his teammates better. Not a leader. I’m out.

Boozer does nothing but make winning plays. Great teammate. Winning player.

Wilson is hurt

Flemings is a level below

Acuff is a small guard

Wagler impressed me the most out of the guards

Ament looks a step slow and lacks intensity

[ThisIStheYear]

I now would take AJ number 1. He and Flagg back to back would be like Tatum and Brown, maybe better. That would be potentially dynastic.

[Chicagojk]

Kings get the number 2/3 pick and Peterson refuses to workout for you....what happens?


https://x.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/2025355477299978411

[Smitty]

BYU freshman forward AJ Dybantsa tonight in win over Iowa State #NBADraft

— 29 PTS
— 10 REB
— 9 AST
— 2 TOV
— 1 STL
— 1 BLK
— 10/17 FG
— 2/4 3P
— 7/9 FT


Dybantsa on his motor (played all 40 minutes tonight): “If they need me to play 40 minutes, I’ll play 40 minutes.”

[Smitty]

Kings get the number 2/3 pick and Peterson refuses to workout for you....what happens?

Select one of Dybantsa or Boozer?

[Chicagojk]

Tuned into the Houston Arizona game. Burries had one nice play on his only made field goal on a putback. Flemings looked meh. I honestly was most impress with Cenac and how tough he was on the boards. I had an illusion he was kind of coasting, but he was getting after rebounds. He missed all 5 of his threes but his shot form looks good for a big guy. Looked like he was put more on the perimeter defensively which he got cooked a few times. I see the potential in him and why he was such a heralded recruit.

Cenac looks the part.   Not the Jabari smith of college but sort of similar to the player smith is now in nba.  Big, physical, good rebounder, takes open threes (Cenac needs air here but you can see the future vision), good defender.  He is going to make a real nice piece for a team.

I didn’t see much of that game but there are 4 guys (upper classman) who interest me in the second round.  Probably with the later pick.