Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

Do we trade away our pick or draft a player?

  • Draft

    Votes: 32 86.5%
  • Trade

    Votes: 3 8.1%
  • Cash Considerations

    Votes: 2 5.4%

  • Total voters
    37
It's an interesting question for sure - I think compared to Boozer, you're right that AJ moves a lot more fluidly and profiles as more of an on-ball creator. They're both not good defenders, as Boozer seems to be more stiff on the perimeter while AJ gets lost a ton.

I may be biased by the last two drafts but to me, Reed Sheppard and Kon Knueppel have already exceeded what their physical profiles suggested they could do after producing way less than Boozer at an older age. Sheppard's got basically the worst physical profile / worst archetype in basketball (drafted that high because analytics) and a bench player at Kentucky and he's 80th percentile EPM in his second season. Knueppel was not athletic at all, has short stubby arms, and can barely dunk and yet looks like he might be some Klay Thompson / poor man's Devin Booker hybrid. Both were minus athletes who didn't produce nearly as well and were about a year older than Boozer is now. In terms of how he scores, I don't think Boozer's necessarily an S tier engine or anything, but between bully-ball, passing, earning extra possessions through rebounding, shooting potential, and just knowing when to cut/where to be, he's got his own ways to score. I see Kevin Love thrown around as a comp a decent amount, but Boozer's better at a younger age than Love and has a stronger shooting signal and is a better decision-maker, so maybe Boozer is to Love what Cooper Flagg will be to Franz Wagner.

Dybantsa's obvious path to success is as an offensive engine. But do you see him as some amazing playmaker? If not, does he provide ancillary value? Like is he a great rebounder, will he set good screens for you, will he space the floor? Does he look like he'll have a good off-the-dribble 3 if teams play for the drive? Or are you relying on him to maintain elite efficiency through high volume scoring via FTs, drives to the paint, and mid-range jumpers, in which case he'd basically be Tracy McGrady? Is it a concern at all that his EFG% drops from 59 to 50 against top 100 competition, and down to 48 against top 50 competition? Like I have no doubt AJ's a stud, he'd be my odds-on favorite for ROY because I think he's going to put up more points than anybody else in this draft class especially from the outside.

I don't know, this is why I'm not as confident that one's going to be better than the other.

But then again, 10:1 odds seems like a bargain price to me - I'll happily put down any amount up to $500 on that if you're willing, especially going by DARKO, EPM, or 3 year RAPM by year 4 that Boozer's the better pro.
Brutal spanking. Even I was like “daddy”.

Don’t expect that guy to post money. He makes a lot of matter of fact statements and then melts into the shrubbery.
 
Brutal spanking. Even I was like “daddy”.

Don’t expect that guy to post money. He makes a lot of matter of fact statements and then melts into the shrubbery.
What does melting entail, exactly? By my estimations, I’m still making the same points as when this board launched.

It’s true that I’m not actually interested in exchanging money with theoretical people on the internet. You got me there. On this Sunday morning I’m not going to arrange some kind of escrow to put my $500 in, as it sits there for a few years while we settle this. Is that something you think a reasonable person would do?

Boozer’s a stiff. Pretty straightforward. I didn’t hear anything from Op about how he’ll be able to function as a #1. I was mainly hearing about how AJ might end up like Paolo, basically. Which is a reasonable concern. But it doesn’t mean boozer will conquer gravity.
 
If the Spurs land the #2 pick and Dybansta gets taken #1 I hope they can trade down to #4 for a nice package and take Wilson. Kid is the exact PF this team is lacking tbh.
Totally agree. His potential is huge and his post-up and cutting game is elite and our defense would be elite once he acclimates. Adding Wilson to Wemby, Castle, Harper means anyone off the street could pretty much play the 5th spot and the D would be otherworldly. I see him as a Siakam/Worthy type of upside and exactly what we need. Chances are very slim that we get lottery luck 4 yrs in a row, but, he's the perfect fit.
 
His shooting has got alot worse these last several games.Last thing we need is more inconsistent shooting on this team.
Yea his offensive numbers have come down slightly the past month or so. He's currently averaging 14.3 pts, 7.2 rbs, 3.2 asts, 1.4 blk, 1.5 stl on 51.4% FG%, 32.5% from 3. Only playing 27 MPG though he's been sitting a bit more lately as they've been blowing out most of their opponents. So those numbers would be considerably higher if he were playing more.

My gut tells me that the Spurs are going to end up trading this pick for a veteran player this offseason tbh. But if they do end up keeping it, I think the Spurs would pass on Lendeborg for a younger player with more upside anyways. Just a hunch. Time will tell.
 
What does melting entail, exactly? By my estimations, I’m still making the same points as when this board launched.

It’s true that I’m not actually interested in exchanging money with theoretical people on the internet. You got me there. On this Sunday morning I’m not going to arrange some kind of escrow to put my $500 in, as it sits there for a few years while we settle this. Is that something you think a reasonable person would do?

Boozer’s a stiff. Pretty straightforward. I didn’t hear anything from Op about how he’ll be able to function as a #1. I was mainly hearing about how AJ might end up like Paolo, basically. Which is a reasonable concern. But it doesn’t mean boozer will conquer gravity.
I do think it was reasonable. He wasn’t rude or snide. Put your money where your mouth is seems fair.
 
I do think it was reasonable. He wasn’t rude or snide. Put your money where your mouth is seems fair.
It really easy to be super confident when there is no accountability or consequence. It's also really easy to just say "this is just my opinion, I might be wrong" but for whatever reason people on the internet seem to gravitate towards the former.
 
It really easy to be super confident when there is no accountability or consequence. It's also really easy to just say "this is just my opinion, I might be wrong" but for whatever reason people on the internet seem to gravitate towards the former.
I felt that strongly about Austin Reaves production following resigning with LA and ended up making a hundred dollar bet with MannyisGod.

Yeah, I lost that bet.
 
I felt that strongly about Austin Reaves production following resigning with LA and ended up making a hundred dollar bet with MannyisGod.

Yeah, I lost that bet.
I remember! I felt Manny had the better side of that bet at the time... but I also wasn't confident enough to put money on it (and would have said as much)
 
Yea his offensive numbers have come down slightly the past month or so. He's currently averaging 14.3 pts, 7.2 rbs, 3.2 asts, 1.4 blk, 1.5 stl on 51.4% FG%, 32.5% from 3. Only playing 27 MPG though he's been sitting a bit more lately as they've been blowing out most of their opponents. So those numbers would be considerably higher if he were playing more.

My gut tells me that the Spurs are going to end up trading this pick for a veteran player this offseason tbh. But if they do end up keeping it, I think the Spurs would pass on Lendeborg for a younger player with more upside anyways. Just a hunch. Time will tell.
I don’t believe they’ll trade a top 4 pick,but then again, we’ve never been this flush with young talent before.

Boozer is my pick. People complain about his athleticism, but the real trap is the athlete who put up number just because he’s an athlete. A lot of times,he can’t jump over NBA players like he could collegiate athletes.

Boozer is just flat out a basketball player. He can jump shoot,handle the ball enough for a 4, and finish at the rim with either hand, he’s also a bit of an offensive hub,with good court vision and passing for a big.
 
I don’t believe they’ll trade a top 4 pick,but then again, we’ve never been this flush with young talent before.

Boozer is my pick. People complain about his athleticism, but the real trap is the athlete who put up number just because he’s an athlete. A lot of times,he can’t jump over NBA players like he could collegiate athletes.

Boozer is just flat out a basketball player. He can jump shoot,handle the ball enough for a 4, and finish at the rim with either hand, he’s also a bit of an offensive hub,with good court vision and passing for a big.
Well yea if we somehow luck into a top-4 pick again then they're definitely not trading it. And as I posted on the previous page, I think Boozer would be a seamless fit at the 4 beside Wemby. He or Wilson would be my pick in that scenario.
 
It really easy to be super confident when there is no accountability or consequence. It's also really easy to just say "this is just my opinion, I might be wrong" but for whatever reason people on the internet seem to gravitate towards the former.
People on the internet also only read half of what they reply to. Happy to walk you through that theory.
 
I can't wait to draft another guy who shoots high 20s/low 30s from 3.
 
Watching the BYU-Arizona game and Dybantsa for the first time (not just highlight videos but an actual game).

He strikes me as a very high volume wing scorer who handles the ball a lot and touches it on almost every possession. Also a bit of a ballhog, if I'm being honest (but doesn't hesitate to make the right pass when doubled).

He has great size, incredibly athletic, but tends to take touger shots than necessary (think: jab step, jab step, 3) and may be over reliant on his shot making ability.
 
Watching the BYU-Arizona game and Dybantsa for the first time (not just highlight videos but an actual game).

He strikes me as a very high volume wing scorer who handles the ball a lot and touches it on almost every possession. Also a bit of a ballhog, if I'm being honest (but doesn't hesitate to make the right pass when doubled).

He has great size, incredibly athletic, but tends to take touger shots than necessary and may be over reliant on his shot making ability.
Let's say we did land a Top 3 pick and AJ is the obvious choice...

We've kind of got to move off someone at some point, right? Everyone wants to build an All-Star team, but it eventually just starts looking like a worse version to our last 15 games on offense: a hole lot of ISO ball and high usage guys looking like they are underperforming because they are just one of many high usage guys sharing their touches.
 
Watching the BYU-Arizona game and Dybantsa for the first time (not just highlight videos but an actual game).

He strikes me as a very high volume wing scorer who handles the ball a lot and touches it on almost every possession. Also a bit of a ballhog, if I'm being honest (but doesn't hesitate to make the right pass when doubled).

He has great size, incredibly athletic, but tends to take touger shots than necessary (think: jab step, jab step, 3) and may be over reliant on his shot making ability.
People compare him to Tracy McGrady, and I can see that, but I can also see shades of Ace Bailey.
 
Let's say we did land a Top 3 pick and AJ is the obvious choice...

We've kind of got to move off someone at some point, right? Everyone wants to build an All-Star team, but it eventually just starts looking like a worse version to our last 15 games on offense: a hole lot of ISO ball and high usage guys looking like they are underperforming because they are just one of many high usage guys sharing their touches.
I actually don't see AJ as a great fit on our roster. He'd be an upgrade over Harrison Barnes talent wise for sure, but he doesn't have the basketball IQ or veteran know-how of Barnes (yet) and may ballhog his way into making the team worse before he makes it better.

I'd rather have Boozer if we land a top 3 pick, even though he's not as mobile or as athletic, and is more of a back to the basket type. Why? Because I believe Boozer would impact winning right away in a way Dybantsa would not.
 
I actually don't see AJ as a great fit on our roster. He'd be an upgrade over Harrison Barnes talent wise for sure, but he doesn't have the basketball IQ or veteran know-how of Barnes (yet) and may ballhog his way into making the team worse before he makes it better.

I'd rather have Boozer if we land a top 3 pick, even though he's not as mobile or as athletic, and is more of a back to the basket type. Why? Because I believe Boozer would impact winning right away in a way Dybantsa would not.
Okay... same question though... Barnes takes 8.4 FGA/gm... would we be happy with that from a Top 3 pick?
 
On another note, a bunch of mocks have us taking Koa Peat. And while I think Peat is a great player, I just don't see it; his lack of positional size tells me he's not a Wright type of player.
 
Let's say we did land a Top 3 pick and AJ is the obvious choice...

We've kind of got to move off someone at some point, right? Everyone wants to build an All-Star team, but it eventually just starts looking like a worse version to our last 15 games on offense: a hole lot of ISO ball and high usage guys looking like they are underperforming because they are just one of many high usage guys sharing their touches.
Same reason why Devin can’t stay at that price and why TM3, Lauri and Giannis are not appropriate targets.

Need some Beasleys/Robinsons instead of upside projects and guys who don’t like limited roles.
 
Boozer could be another sengun or a poor mans Jokic at some point. He uses his body very well (not just over powering others), can shoot, can pass, can handle the ball, and is smart. He would fit well with the spurs.

Dybasta just has superstar upside though, like that of an Anthony Edwards type of shot creation and the ability to carry an entire teams offence. The spurs don’t need someone like that though.
 
On another note, a bunch of mocks have us taking Koa Peat. And while I think Peat is a great player, I just don't see it; his lack of positional size tells me he's not a Wright type of player.
Horrendous fit. He's can't shoot the 3 at all (27% on less than 1 attempt per). Last thing we need right now. He is talented though. If* he ever develops a consistent 3-ball, he'll be a very good NBA player imo.
 
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