2026 NBA Draft

[ShelC]

I want a frontcourt big who can playmake. Jefferson looks good, even as an undersized 4 but may take away from Oso a bit. I also like Zuby. I just don't want more 3-D kind of guys, even if they're 6-9+. And I'd stay away from true 2/3s unless we know Green/Royce/Allen are getting moved.

I just think we need more juice at the 4/5, especially if we lose Williams.

[O_Gardino]

If we move up, we can be picky. But if we are picking at #47 or whatever, then I don't care what position he plays. At that range, I'll take any NBA player who actually pans out.

[ShelC]

Yea at 47 you take BPA. I think we'll move up tho.

[Mori Chu]

I just hope we don't do something short-sighted like trading a future 1st just to move up a bit in this draft. Ishbia seems to be mostly learning his lesson about mortgaging the future, but I still wouldn't put something like that past him.

To me all depends on the target. Giving up the 2027 pick (worst of UTA, MIN, MEM) is more than ok in my eyes to get into the 20-25 range, for instance. Even 25-30 depending on specifics.

I don't hate 1st-for-1st trades that are in the near term involving already swapped picks like that. But I don't want us to trade any of OUR future 1sts (which are likely to be valuable) for any magic beans.

[Split T]

Ya, 2033 needs to be off the table unless it’s for a lotto pick with a clear target in mind. I don’t even know if that exists as I haven’t scouted the 5-13 range much, but maybe if a PG we love drops or a playmaking big…Wagler, maybe Yaxel? Even Yaxel seems like a stretch since he’s already like 25. I think I’d need to get one of those top 10 PGs.

[INFORMER]

Jalen Green to Chicago for #15, Jalen Smith, Isaac Okoro, & Leonard Miller?

[ShelC]

[Mori Chu]

I took the liberty of renaming this thread to just "2026 NBA Draft" since I figure this is where we would want to post our draft thoughts tonight.

[JJ Slim]

Was that a bunch of boos when the commish came out?

[Mori Chu]

Burries goes to MIL at #10.

https://www.espn.com/nba/draft/rounds

[Wally_West]

Time to peat my meat

[Wally_West]

[JJ Slim]

Koa Peat? For Dunn?

[Wally_West]

47 and two 2nds for 30 and Suns will draft Koa Peat.

[Ring_Wanted]

47 and two 2nds for 30 and Suns will draft Koa Peat.

I love it.

[Ring_Wanted]

Jalen Green to Chicago for #15, Jalen Smith, Isaac Okoro, & Leonard Miller?

I wish haha. In terms of value, I don't think Green is considered as cancerous among actual NBA execs as online board fans make him out to be. But it would be outrageous if CHI entertained something like this without dumping Williams on PHX and extracting draft capital.

[Ring_Wanted]

Some random thoughts:

The top4 went as expected and Utah took Peterson #2, but I would have gone with Boozer and let Walker go if he wants that monster of a contract. Markkanen-Boozer-JJJ would have been a crazy frontcourt. But can't knock a team for going with a guy who some said to be the best perimeter talent since Kobe (hahah come on).

OKC got the top center in Mara at #12. I am not 100% a Mara believer but I love the pick considering their context. I don't see it with their #16 going for Stirtz as they are more than loaded at guard, IHart and Dort could be on their way out and there were several prospects you could see working for them, in all flavors (more long term potential, more of a sure thing, wings, bigs).

LAL left Cenac and Reed on the table to take Carr. Fit wise it is very questionable but Carr was a candidate for the lotto so we shall see I guess.

I love CHI's haul with Wilson and Swain.

Morez was the first Michigan guy taken at #9, to play for his coach in DAL. I would have loved to see Yaxel and Flagg together tho.

LAC did not tinker with their god-given #5. I don't truly LOVE any of the tier-2 guards in this draft for a #5 pick, especially alongside Garland, so if I was LAC I would have tried to trade down (or even out). Maybe there were no takers?

For MIL, in the wake of a Giannis trade I think Burries and Ament must feel kind of underwhelming when you think about having two lottery picks in an allegedly strong draft, but they say Burries is a winner and that roster sure has room to develop Ament's potential at forward.

Lendeborg to GSW is so interesting. Supposedly ready to go from day 1 but the playing style does not exactly match what the Warriors do.

I love how SAS took all the size in Quaintance and Reed.

CHA made probably the most CHA pick and took Steinbach #14. They do have a need for a rebounder tho. I really like Christian Anderson at #18.

Cenac to BOS has the potential to be a big hit if they can coach the bad habits out of him.

SAC did SAC things and traded UP for Karaban. I mean, in practice they probably lose nothing as they used only an additional second, but conceptually I would have been more than ok with betting that the guy was going to be there at #34 (and it not, there are other pospects they surely can use in that range).

Phillon is a player but I think PHI is a poor spot for him with their current guard rotation. Could have seen him fit nicely on TOR three spots above.

MEM got five second round picks by trading down from #16 to #21. Pretty good value considering they still took a nice prospect in Karim López. Now they have two new forwards in Boozer and Lopez so I wonder if Aldama can be acquired at a relative discount.

ATL did pretty well with Flemings at #8, and I like Ejiofor a lot in abstract (especially #23) but this still leaves them with the need of a center with real size.

[Mori Chu]

I don't know most of the prospects well enough yet to comment or give draft grades. But I wonder about Peterson to Utah. Wasn't a huge fan of his after watching some of his college games. He seemed like a ballhog / chucker and I don't know if he'll actually be good for the team. I doubt Utah was the team he wanted to play for, and he seems like a guy who might be a culture / locker room problem in the wrong situation. We shall see.

In general I am impressed with these teams that trade down 5-6 spots and get three 2nds or a future 1st for their troubles (e.g. MEM, NYK). Great value for such a move. Wish we had more picks to use to facilitate deals, but it'll be a few years before we get back to normal.

[TOO]

I really really like Petersons game, his attitude at Kansas however was trash, he was just there for a paycheck. I do think he's gonna be a 20ppg rookie though, he's very very good.

[Ring_Wanted]

Peterson's body language after his name was called and during the interview tells you all you need to know. He hated being drafted by the Jazz. Now, if he is the clear cut best talent available you don't care and just draft the guy, but with Boozer still there (and a conection to UTA) I don't know I would have gone that route if I am the Jazz.