Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[BatManu20]

KOC had an interesting guest on a recent podcast talking about Allen Graves being a stats darling. He’s a PF out of Santa Clara. What do we think of him? On paper seems to check a lot of boxes.

Offensively talented player with a nice physical profile for the 4 position but his porous defense and overall lack of athleticism are a no-go for me and if I were a betting man, I'd bet MATFO stay away from him for that reason.

Posted this about him the other day:

Allen Graves is an interesting offensive prospect with a nice physical profile for the 4 position at 6'9 225 lbs. with a 7'0 wingspan, but his porous defense and overall lack of athleticism are a real turnoff for me. With that said, he declared for the draft earlier this week and might be a realistic possibility at 20 if we keep the pick, though he definitely wouldn't be my first choice, and I'm not sure MATFO would draft a defensive liability either.

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[BatManu20]

I said a while back that Isaiah Evans fits the mold of what we'd be looking for in a potential Vassell replacement, but I also said that he gives me Dejounte vibes in his interviews and on his social media and that I thought we would stay away from him for that reason.

 

[spurraider21]

i wasnt a big fan of Haugh, but i wanted him in the draft to help push other guys down

theres also virtually no shot his draft stock will be higher a year from now

 

[onechance87]

Wow! The pool of decent players become smaller.

Yup...And several potential first round prospects have yet to declare which is worrisome.

 

[BatManu20]

Mullins and Haugh both returning to school definitely weakens the depth of this draft a bit. Makes me think Cenac will be gone but the time we pick tbh.

 

[100%Duncan]

Our pick keeps getting worse tbh.

 

[spurs3223]

Agreed.

Devin Vassell replacements
Minimum requirements: 6’5”+, three-level shot creation, movement shooting, off-dribble scoring versatility

1. Cam Carr
2. Isaiah Evans

Keldon Johnson replacements
Minimum requirements: 6’5”+, physical frame, strength, downhill pressure, competitive motor, defensive switchability

1. Thomas Haugh
2. Tounde Tessoufou
3. Zuby Ejiofor

Harrison Barnes replacements
Minimum requirements: 6’8”+, versatile skill set, positional size, defensive switchability, ball handling

1. Hannes Steinbach
2. Dame Sarr
3. Nate Ament
4. Allen Graves
5. Joshua Jefferson
6. Karim Lopez
7. Dailyn Swain
8. Amari Allen

Kornet replacement
Minimum requirements: 6’11”+, rim protection, vertical spacing, screen setting, interior defensive presence, physical frame

1. Aday Mara
2. Motiejus Krivas
3. Tarris Reed Jr

Unless playoffs prove that there’s a need for the physical, more interior-based big, typically less switchability than a big wing who would take the spot, tweener between PF and C, not a ball handler, typically a ball stopper that needs to be set up or post up, taking space inside (watch Game 1 and how detrimental this archetype would be in the current rotation). The offense is movement-based; Wemby and the guards attack freely without interior congestion. Sochan would fit in with this group, for reference. The second round against the Timberwolves or Nuggets is the real test. If they take losses where the gap is clearly inside size and physicality, then it becomes a real consideration:

1. Jayden Quaintance
2. Chris Cenac Jr.
3. Morez Johnson Jr.
4. Koa Peat
5. Flora Bidunga

Are you just not very high on Morez being switchable and with an outside shot that could become respectable? Dude is listed 6'9" but plays huge. And he can defend on the perimeter it seems. RE: replacement players: Are you already looking ahead to the expansion draft?

 

[rjv]

knicks better not blow this series.

 

[Exstatic]

knicks better not blow this series.

I would lol. The whole “get the Villanova band back together” thing was ludicrous from the jump.

 

[spurraider21]

I would lol. The whole “get the Villanova band back together” thing was ludicrous from the jump.

never happened since they immediately moved Donte

 

[John B]

They had a big wing in sochan.And we got rid of him,Cause he couldnt shoot.Theres really no other wings that defend and shoot well in this draft
other then cam carr.

Sochan’s problem is more than he couldn’t shoot. He’s a knucklehead. He attracts the wrong vibes

I've paid about zero attention to the draft this year. But going into armchair psychiatrist mode, I'm curious to see who Brian Wright will pick.

I heard someone mention Jayden Quaintance being in our range.

Is he young/very young: Yes
Go to a big college program: Yes
Does he have a strong family upbringing: Yes
Does he smile in photos: Yes
Nerd potential: Yes

Honestly, I don't even need to know much about his basketball skills. Because if he doesn't check those above boxes it doesn't matter.

I think he's our pick.

Joking?

Yes

 

[Mugen]

Brandon Weeden mfer

 

[Uriel]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046618710719308039

Damn, I wanted this guy.

 

[CGD]

Damn, I wanted this guy.

Damn, another one! The value of our pick keeps plummeting.

 

[OK Computer]

Are you just not very high on Morez being switchable and with an outside shot that could become respectable? Dude is listed 6'9" but plays huge. And he can defend on the perimeter it seems. RE: replacement players: Are you already looking ahead to the expansion draft?

I lean more on volume and reps than flashes.

A few perimeter reps or made shots show potential, but doing it consistently is different. Same defensively, guarding on the perimeter in spots isn’t the same as being asked to do it regularly against wings and guards.

I tend to trust players who’ve already been in those situations a lot, even if they struggled, over ones still figuring it out.

I couldn’t find a better word than “replacement”. Archetype might have been better. Or pipeline.

 

[OK Computer]

We win this game by 20 if we had a playable third big. Everyone plays unlike themselves when we play a small ball big. It’s like they have to re-wire their brains and dust off the part of the playbook that has plays they barely run. No continuity when there’s no anchor big in the middle.

I cringed yesterday when Wemby was accepting his DPOY award and said the hardest part was getting to 65 games. It looks like we will never have a stable situation with him and Kornet, for as long as he’s here. A third big is a requirement in the summer. I wish Aday Mara would be available, but I doubt it.

 

[Ariel]

We win this game by 20 if we had a playable third big. Everyone plays unlike themselves when we play a small ball big. It’s like they have to re-wire their brains and dust off the part of the playbook that has plays they barely run. No continuity when there’s no anchor big in the middle.

I cringed yesterday when Wemby was accepting his DPOY award and said the hardest part was getting to 65 games. It looks like we will never have a stable situation with him and Kornet, for as long as he’s here. A third big is a requirement in the summer. I wish Aday Mara would be available, but I doubt it.

This has been pretty obvious for a long time and should have been dealt with by the trade deadline, I even made a meme of Brian Wright as gollum saving his precious second round picks for that occasion. I don't understand what was the logic behind not getting minimal insurance for Wemby and Kornet, when they've missed lots of games and minutes already even if nothing extraordinary happened. Well, outside of "Biyombo is key to team chemistry narrative" (or, as we'd say here in Argentina, "un gran cebador de mate", as in preparing the mate bevarage, typical role for those who have nothing else to contribute). Truly baffling.

 

[John B]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046618710719308039

He’s not necessarily on my list, but it sure diminishes the pool and the chances of getting our target players pushed to where we pick.

I wonder if

This has been pretty obvious for a long time and should have been dealt with by the trade deadline, I even made a meme of Brian Wright as gollum saving his precious second round picks for that occasion. I don't understand what was the logic behind not getting minimal insurance for Wemby and Kornet, when they've missed lots of games and minutes already even if nothing extraordinary happened. Well, outside of "Biyombo is key to team chemistry narrative" (or, as we'd say here in Argentina, "un gran cebador de mate", as in preparing the mate bevarage, typical role for those who have nothing else to contribute). Truly baffling.

They did though with Plumlee, but the question is wasn’t there anybody else because Plumlee is not it

 

[Ariel]

He’s not necessarily on my list, but it sure diminishes the pool and the chances of getting our target players pushed to where we pick.

I wonder if

They did though with Plumlee, but the question is wasn’t there anybody else because Plumlee is not it

I meant someone who can actually provide value, not anyone who's 7 ft and has a pulse. Charlotte might draft someone to take over as long term starting center with one of their 2 picks (#14 and #18), if they get one (Mara, Krivas) coupled with the rise of Diabate, Kalkbrenner might be gettable for cheap. Would make a pretty good 3rd string center tbh.

 

[Vienna]

IMO Haugh was overrated by the mocks anyhow, like uperclassmen often are. so I don't think he would have pushed a Spurs target down the board, he would have been end of 1st or 2nd round.

 

[Vienna]

I read somewhere, that the defensive three second violation rule will hurt Mara in the NBA the most and it will reduce his defensive value.
no idea, if this is a valid point, but maybe it's interesting to look at it.

I would still follow the strategy to draft a center in the 2nd round. if all the interesting centers happen to be taken between 21 and 34, so be it.
Spurs still have options how to react, from trying a trade for one of those (like by offering all 3 SRPs), or get a NBA player via trade or FA, this is the more save way to get a NBA ready player anyhow.