Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[Ariel]

Karim Lopez might be your guy. 6'8", 220, New Zealand NBL. 1.3-3.0 44.4% from 3 per game in 22 minutes. Built almost exactly like CB, but has better polish in the paint. From Hermosillo, (northern) Mexico, so could be a fan favorite.

Just checked him, but the numbers I found don't match: https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/karim-lopez-1.html

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Just checked him, but the numbers I found don't match: https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/karim-lopez-1.html

My bad. I was using Tankthon numbers, and they stop after 9 games.

Karim López 2026 Draft Profile | Tankathon

Karim López - SF - New Zealand (NBL) - 2026 NBA Draft Profile and Stats

www.tankathon.com

 

[Limguoguolo]

Is Oscar a legit prospect? And has it been said if he'll enter the draft?

It's too early to say. He's barely playing professionally. I saw him this weekend, he's very interesting, a very intelligent player. An athletic forward. There's no point in entering the draft. There are other players his age in France, mostly in proB, and in the NCAA who would be available much earlier (or next year) in what promises to be a dense and rich draft.

Speaking of draft quality, for those wondering about Risacher, everyone knew that the 2024 draft wasn't going to be great. But apart from Castle, whose outside shooting is still questionable, Risacher was and still is the most reliable player in many aspects of the modern game. And I can say that all the more because I didn't believe in him at the time. He's a top role player, a third or fourth option on a contender team. He has a very reliable shot, he's very tall and athletic (which is evident in his defense and speed, but less so in his stats). He, Salaun, and Penda the following year were roughly equally important in historic ProA teams. They are typical French players based on the Batum mold: capable of doing everything to varying degrees (Risacher shoots, Penda is a glue guy). They are not franchise players, but the kind of players who are valuable for winning titles. What Risacher lacks is, above all, authority, leadership, and ball handling.

If his stats are poor, it's mainly because of the coach. He never gets the ball. His Australian teammate shoots more than him, even though he has one of the worst shooting percentages in the league. They get what they deserve. Risacher doesn't deserve the millions destined for future number 1 draft picks, but no one ever claimed he was a franchise player. The role he has always had as a young player, in ProA, young French Team and in the NBA, but not enough (even compared to last year), is that of a reliable 3-and-D shooter and good defender.

(Oscar Wemby is not yet that type of player. At best, Swann Penda, who has an identical profile, seems to me to be at the same level. Not at all ready for the draft: they're not even ready for the ProA.)

 

[BacktoBasics]

Karim Lopez might be your guy. 6'8", 220, New Zealand NBL. 1.3-3.0 44.4% from 3 per game in 22 minutes. Built almost exactly like CB, but has better polish in the paint. From Hermosillo, (northern) Mexico, so could be a fan favorite.

This is the guy I think we should look at.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

Risacher will be a solid role player, it's just that Hawks were dumb enough to pick him at #1.

what does that have to do with anything I said? I specifically mentioned Risacher because he'd be a 10-15th pick in any other draft and he played in the french league and European competitions with his club. Putting up similar numbers in an under 21 league means Oscar is not even close to that level.

 

[LeBowen]

what does that have to do with anything I said? I specifically mentioned Risacher because he'd be a 10-15th pick in any other draft and he played in the french league and European competitions with his club. Putting up similar numbers in an under 21 league means Oscar is not even close to that level.

But isn't Oscar a year away from getting drafted? He just turned 18, he'd be the youngest in the entire draft.
He has one more year to go to play in the big league before the draft.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

But isn't Oscar a year away from getting drafted? He just turned 18, he'd be the youngest in the entire draft.
He has one more year to go to play in the big league before the draft.

fair, but then that's the leap he should make next year. Playing in the regular rotation of the big club.

 

[Ariel]

But isn't Oscar a year away from getting drafted? He just turned 18, he'd be the youngest in the entire draft.
He has one more year to go to play in the big league before the draft.

He was born March 18 2007 so he turns 19 in a couple of months, he can declare if he wants. Not saying he should or would, only that he can.

 

[Shmurs]

You've got the plan wrong, the idea isn't for any team to draft and hold on to Wemby's brother until he reaches free agency, more like drafting him, building a relationship, being "extra nice and accommodating", trying to generate good will. His size and athletic profile would make him blend in much more seamlessly than Bronny (6'1" combo guards who can't shoot are dime a dozen), I don't see why he'd be a distraction.

If he proves a real NBA player then great, it's a great pick on its own. If not, you do right by him, send him wherever he wants. Then when Wemby's free agency comes close, you have even a little bit of an edge, an inside track. Big market teams have gone much farther than that in the past (Clippers with Kawhi, NY with Brunson, etc). It costs them very little, may end up a worthwhile investment on its own (if he pans out) and if not, you've built bridges that may help you in 4 or 5 years. We've seen schemes 100x more absurd than this come to fruition.

It is all highly dependent on whether he’s a real pro player or if he’s thenasis or bronny or whatever. If he looks decent then yeah, swoop him up and get in the mix if you’re Miami, for example. Worth a shot. But if he’s not a justifiable 2nd round pick then you really can’t enter these waters.

 

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2013775914165821710

 

[Exstatic]

But isn't Oscar a year away from getting drafted? He just turned 18, he'd be the youngest in the entire draft.
He has one more year to go to play in the big league before the draft.

He was 18 before the deadline in December, and will be 19 in March.

 

[SpursBills]

If Castle reverts back to early season form where he's an 18-6-5 guy on decent efficiency but still struggles from the 3, and the Hawks pick lands around 8-12, does anyone do Castle+Hawks pick for Boozer (top 3)? Is that lopsided in either direction or do you have to think about it?

Would never happen in real life obviously, but just wanted to gauge sentiment

 

[mo7888]

If Castle reverts back to early season form where he's an 18-6-5 guy on decent efficiency but still struggles from the 3, and the Hawks pick lands around 8-12, does anyone do Castle+Hawks pick for Boozer (top 3)? Is that lopsided in either direction or do you have to think about it?

Would never happen in real life obviously, but just wanted to gauge sentiment

Without hesitation...I don't think whoever we'd target would do that though.... probably our most realistic Castle trade would be as a centerpiece of a major deal for an existing player. The trouble is finding one that makes sense.

 

[SpursBills]

Without hesitation...I don't think whoever we'd target would do that though.... probably our most realistic Castle trade would be as a centerpiece of a major deal for an existing player. The trouble is finding one that makes sense.

So I agree it's unlikely to happen. However, one argument for why a team would, would be if they think that Castle can be a 6'7" two way lead guard (rarest and most desired archtype of all), and see Boozer as a "role player" at the next level. I've seen people on this board comp early season Castle to SGA and Jimmy Butler while talking about Boozer like he's going to top out as a Sabonis level player. Personally, I think the dude's going to be an easy all-NBA guy at his peak, but there are a lot of people who think he's going to be too athletically limited and can't be a #1 (or even #2) guy. So the argument is that you get a 2 way lead guard + another quality player in a strong draft to start your team with if you're, say, the Kings (starved for star-level talent), or the Hornets (just a horrible defensive team with amazing shooters) if they get #3 pick and Dybantsa/Peterson are off the board.

It's basically a question of which core you think will do better in the future:

Harper-Castle-Wemby + shooters (Carter Bryant?!)
Harper-Boozer-Wemby + defenders (Carter Bryant?!)

 

[mo7888]

So I agree it's unlikely to happen. However, one argument for why a team would, would be if they think that Castle can be a 6'7" two way lead guard (rarest and most desired archtype of all), and see Boozer as a "role player" at the next level. I've seen people on this board comp early season Castle to SGA and Jimmy Butler while talking about Boozer like he's going to top out as a Sabonis level player. Personally, I think the dude's going to be an easy all-NBA guy at his peak, but there are a lot of people who think he's going to be too athletically limited and can't be a #1 (or even #2) guy. So the argument is that you get a 2 way lead guard + another quality player in a strong draft to start your team with if you're, say, the Kings (starved for star-level talent), or the Hornets (just a horrible defensive team with amazing shooters) if they get #3 pick and Dybantsa/Peterson are off the board.

It's basically a question of which core you think will do better in the future:

Harper-Castle-Wemby + shooters (Carter Bryant?!)
Harper-Boozer-Wemby + defenders (Carter Bryant?!)

I think its easily the Wemby-Boozer-Harper core. Also, you could be right because it only takes one GM and we know Sacramento exists, so it's possible...

As for Boozer himself, he's got to be at the top of our board. He should be in everyone's top 3, but the fit is too seamless for us to pass if we could get it done.

 

[Ice009]

If Utah get the first or second pick, do you think they take Boozer (since his dad played there)?

 

[Exstatic]

If Utah get the first or second pick, do you think they take Boozer (since his dad played there)?

No. Dybantsa is playing at BYU. They’ll likely pick him.

 

[DTW]

If Castle reverts back to early season form where he's an 18-6-5 guy on decent efficiency but still struggles from the 3, and the Hawks pick lands around 8-12, does anyone do Castle+Hawks pick for Boozer (top 3)? Is that lopsided in either direction or do you have to think about it?

Would never happen in real life obviously, but just wanted to gauge sentiment

Without thinking about it. Castle is arguably the most overrated young player/prospect in the league and the biggest non health related threat to the Wembanyama era, is them believing the talent of Castle and Harper will overcome their fit issues.

Apparently the Spurs love him almost as much as they do Wembanyama though and he's a slightly different archetype than Fox and Harper, so he's not going anywhere.

More than likely Harper isn't either, but Boozer is maybe the one scenario I could see giving them pause.

He seems a good fit all around and would solve so many problems. Fill the gaping hole at PF, eliminate the lead guard log jam and allow them to avoid the awkwardness of having to trade Fox relatively soon, while struggling to do so for value.

 

[OU812]

If Castle reverts back to early season form where he's an 18-6-5 guy on decent efficiency but still struggles from the 3, and the Hawks pick lands around 8-12, does anyone do Castle+Hawks pick for Boozer (top 3)? Is that lopsided in either direction or do you have to think about it?

Would never happen in real life obviously, but just wanted to gauge sentiment

I’d do it in a heartbeat. Castle is a brick laying turnover machine.

 

[BacktoBasics]

I’d do it in a heartbeat. Castle is a brick laying turnover machine.

He’s shooting well above the league average at 0-3 feet. His free throw attempts are in the top 20.

Definitely room for improvement but he’s hardly a brick layer.

He’s probably our most aggressive player in the paint outside of Keldon and Kornet.

 

[Exstatic]

Castle is struggling with a bum left hand/thumb. He tweaked it last night, and later, I saw him bobble a left handed dribble.

 

[bozhemoi]

Put Keaton Wagler on your radar, from Illinois. Dropped 46 on #4 Purdue.

 

[BatManu20]

Put Keaton Wagler on your radar, from Illinois. Dropped 46 on #4 Purdue.

Was just doing research on him yesterday cause he's been moving up draft boards in the latest mocks. He's yet another guard, but definitely an intriguing prospect, especially since he's a skill-based player without a major physical profile. Big time shooter though, something the Spurs desperately need more of on our roster right now. Seams like a good kid too tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015199898774192601

 

[BatManu20]

He's got a little SGA in his game tbh (no, I'm not saying he's the next SGA). But he's a crafty, 6'6 scoring guard with a smooth game, excellent footwork, and a buttery jumper, but who isn't a particularly impressive athlete. Great shooter though and an underrated creator. If he keeps this up he's going to be a top-10 pick imo.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2015191818267218086

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2001371416613261386

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008197094327320639