2026 NBA Draft Thread

[addict4sneakers]

Bane didn’t get there til he was like 24 years old though.

Think Kon will have room to grow into that just like Bane did. He tested pretty well athletically at the combine too. Regardless, don’t think he has to be some great athlete to be really effective given his shot, craftiness, and strength.

Really only brought Bane up because he’s been in the news of late and didn’t want to just compare him to a white guy

Bane had an off the dribble package his junior year at TCU. There was individual shot creativity there. Not saying there’s a huge gap in athleticism but there is a gap in fluidity.

I hate white on white comparisons but he might have bojan level creativity which is still fine because he was a career 15 ppg guy.

 

[HOU$TON]

 

[B Sox]

Whoever that is is going to be awesome. High IQ.

EDIT- Unless it's Ace, and that would make me think he's even more dumb.

 

[pmatic]

 

[JMB10215]

That sounds like Ace Bailey

 

[HOU$TON]

 

[pmatic]

 

[jpzx]

They need to know him to promise him anything

 

[jpzx]

 

[dacomeup]

Steering him away from Philly seems silly IMO

 

[pmatic]

Steering him away from Philly seems silly IMO

He's probably seeing more minutes/shots in DC or Utah than Philly. I understand the move if he goes somewhere where he plays 30 mpg immediately.

 

[dacomeup]

He's probably seeing more minutes/shots in DC or Utah than Philly. I understand the move if he goes somewhere where he plays 30 mpg immediately.

I get that but succeeding long term is more than where he gets 30 mpg year 1.

 

[Platinum State]

I get that but succeeding long term is more than where he gets 30 mpg year 1.

Who says hes gonna succeed long term in Philly as opposed to Utah/DC? If I was him Id avoid Philly too for multiple reasons

 

[dacomeup]

Who says hes gonna succeed long term in Philly as opposed to Utah/DC? If I was him Id avoid Philly too for multiple reasons

His success isn’t guaranteed long term anywhere. Daryl has his flaws but I’m trusting him over Utah and DC

 

[B Sox]

He’d fit in pretty nicely with what DC has going. Honestly think the new regime has their head on straight.

 

[osh kosh bosh]

Im ready to unveil my cross racial Kon Knueppel comp;

Michael Redd

a bulky SG who uses his size, strength and the threat of shooting to get into the paint and get fouled.

 

[B Sox]

Im ready to unveil my cross racial Kon Knueppel comp;

Michael Redd

a bulky SG who uses his size, strength and the threat of shooting to get into the paint and get fouled.

Works for me.

 

[rolaholic]

 

[earldagoat]

Not sure anybody cares but...

One week out, put a tiered big board together. Didn't feel like writing much. Happy to talk about anything you think stands out.

Will probably do a mock day or two before the draft.

Spoiler: Big Board

Tier 1

• Cooper Flagg- All league 2way wing.

Tier 2

• Dylan Harper- Great positional size with strong feel for the game. Craft.

Tier 3

• VJ Edgecombe- Had big games against good competition. Strong athlete that can do everything. Good defender.
• Kon Knueppel- Elite shooter in a strong frame. Can probably become a secondary creator. Desmond Bane-ish. Potential to be 3rd best guy on a good team. Think he’ll be able to hold his own defensively.

Tier 4

• Ace Bailey- Simplify the game for him and he’ll perform the role perfectly. Will be worried if he has to do more than simple reads. Could be good defensively if he tries.
• Tre Johnson- Very one dimensional but really good at filling it up.

Tier 5

• Carter Bryant- Played small role on a Caleb Love ball-dominant team, but very easy to see how his athleticism will translate. Pretty positive he’ll be a good defender that can hit corner 3s. Not sure he does much else offensively.
• Kasparas Jakucionis- Makings of a high level connector, not lead guard though. Seemed to be a good shooter pre-injury and can also score creatively off dribble.
• Derik Queen- Just think it’s Sengun all over again. Has warts and isn’t the rim protector you ideally want as your C, but he’s just really nimble and has incredible feel for the game for a guy his size. Think the upper improves too. He’s gonna make it work.
• Cedric Coward- Think he’s kinda like the inverse of Carter Bryant where he’s a more comfortable scorer but won’t be quite the defender. But still good.

Tier 6

• Khaman Maluach- Could be a middle of the pack starting C, could be a career backup.
• Danny Wolf- Interesting skillset. Not sure we see much of his “point guard” ability in the NBA. Everyone is looking for bigs that can space though.
• Thomas Sorber- Good feel for game, good passer, creates turnovers. Can be a solid defender.
• Ryan Kalkbrenner- Slow, but huge and skilled. Not as good as Edey, but can still be effective in spurts.
• Jeremiah Fears- Love watching him but size really worries me.
• Nolan Traore- French Fears.
• Collin Murray-Boyles- Awesome multi-positional defender that can pass and cut. Jumper is worrisome.
• Nique Clifford- Good all-around basketball player. Can put him out there and he’ll fit right in. Just won’t do anything spectacular.
• Jase Richardson- Think he’s a smart player that will just figure out how to carve out a rotational role. Pretty solid at everything.

Tier 7

• Egor Demin- Tall, creative passer, but the shooting and scoring just ins’t really there. Average at best defender.
• Walter Clayton Jr- Will either be Payton Pritchard or Carsen Edwards.
• Noa Essengue- He might be way better than this, but for some reason I just keep thinking Ousmane Dieng.
• Noah Penda
• Joan Beringer
• Asa Newell
• Liam McNeeley
• Will Riley
• Rasheer Flemming
• Ben Saraf
• Hugo Gonzalez
• Drake Powell
• Maxime Raynaud

Hoping Coward is still on the board for Houston if they keep the 10th pick

 

[pmatic]

Coward was pretty underwhelming vs power conference teams in his college career. Idk. He's definitley getting the JDub boost like his brother.

 

[earldagoat]

Coward was pretty underwhelming vs power conference teams in his college career. Idk. He's definitley getting the JDub boost like his brother.

Open to taking Carter Bryant @ 10 as well

 

[pmatic]

 

[Arthur Shelby]

 

[pmatic]

 

[Mister Meaner]

Can Ace fall to 50?