Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[BatManu20]

Darius Acuff gets most of the attention for Arkansas (and righftully so), but Freshman Meleek Thomas has been playing really for them too as of late. 6'5 190 lb 3PT sniper who is currently averaging:

16 pts, 4 rbs, 3 asts, & 1.5 stls per game on 43% FG%, but an elite 42% from 3 on 5.5 attempts per.

One of the best 3PT shooters in all of CBB this year. Excels as an off-ball guard in catch-and-shoot situations (similar to Devin), but also has a quick first step that he uses to attack closeouts to get to the cup, and he has a quickly-improving mid-range game. He also competes hard defensively and doesn't take plays off on that end.

Needs to get stronger obv, but he projects as a solid 3&D SG at the next level with some real upside. Recent mocks that have him going anywhere from 18-35 in this year's draft so he's sort all over the place right now, but I can't imagine he doesn't wind up as a late-FRP at worst given his age, shooting ability, and upside.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2032943446114316515

https://twitter.com/x/status/2034761467220959531

 

[Kick-Stand]

I hate college basketball. How is Peterson not touching the ball every Kansas possession?

 

[Uriel]

View attachment 1327

I'll take that, tbh

Great troll job there by Gemini, but would we really take Peterson if this happened? I’d have to imagine we’d either trade the pick, or trade one of Fox, Castle, or Harper.

 

[bozhemoi]

I hate college basketball. How is Peterson not touching the ball every Kansas possession?

He's been untrustworthy as a player all season, playing, not playing, so they have to do their own thing.

 

[spurraider21]

Every year there are examples of teams passing on players because they're asked to do so or they don't agree with the terms of the contract (like Reaves, FVV, etc), yet I don't remember a single recent example of a team playing hard ball with a player in the second round in the way you describe (offering them a one year deal and forcing them to take it or freeze them out of the league). You think teams are oblivious to the mechanism you describe? Or maybe they're too aware of the consequences of forcing a player's hand by threatening to freeze their NBA career?

I think probably there were teams with some interest in Raynaud (before 42) but not enough to agree to his terms or risk entering a conflict. They took their next target and Raynaud fell until he felt good with the team and contract. As for the Spurs, they probably weren't willing to offer 2/3 guaranteed years and targeted 2 way prospects instead.

thats fine. atlanta passed on sarr because he didnt want to go there supposedly, and they are suffering for it. meanwhile utah picked bailey despite him supposedly not wanting to be there and he's been giving them a solid rookie season. it turns out if he wants to get a big contract, pouting as a rookie and holding out or whatever isnt the path to get there.

 

[spurraider21]

Cenac is a very interesting archetype of player, but i agree with the assessment that he should not be expected to be a meaningful NBA contributor as a rookie. he is a project pick but not just some ambiguous lump of clay like Noe Essengue, as there is a fairly clear path for how Cenac can find success.

the only rotation player for the spurs who is about to hit free agency is Barnes, and CB is certainly showing he'll be ready for more minutes. so perhaps the spurs have some luxury in taking a project with payoff 1-2 years down the line.

 

[Ariel]

thats fine. atlanta passed on sarr because he didnt want to go there supposedly, and they are suffering for it. meanwhile utah picked bailey despite him supposedly not wanting to be there and he's been giving them a solid rookie season. it turns out if he wants to get a big contract, pouting as a rookie and holding out or whatever isnt the path to get there.

You're citing examples in the first round, when the situation discussed was in the second round. Not the same: you might argue it's pouting when the difference is who signs the 20M+ paychecks from your rookie scale deal, not when you're talking about going from a 3/4 year partially guaranteed contract vs 2-way deals. That is the difference between a legitimate shot at a roster spot vs being on the outside looking in.

 

[spurraider21]

You're citing examples in the first round, when the situation discussed was in the second round. Not the same.

and as explained, second rounders are also scaled to the second round tender followed by restricted free agency, so the same general principle applies

 

[Ariel]

and as explained, second rounders are also scaled to the second round tender followed by restricted free agency, so the same general principle applies

No, there's a very significant difference. In the first round players get paid 80-120% of a fixed scale based on rookie value; teams cannot offer less and players cannot expect more. In the second round there's much more leeway, from 2 way deals to 3/4 year deals with much larger guarantees, which is why teams and players typically do their due diligence before making the formal pick.

What you are alluding to is the minimum 1 year non guaranteed contract a team must tender in order to keep a player's rights, and indeed a team can play hard-ball if they so choose, but what you cannot do is expect the player and agent to not feel a certain way about you potentially costing them their career, and deal with the consequences later, that is the difference between players avoiding you like the plague (ask Sacramento) and forcing their way into your team (like Fox did).

If you feel that strongly about a player, you either 1) draft them in the first round 2) offer them a good contract in the second round (like a 2nd round exception). If you don't do that, it's better to just move onto your next target. Data supports this, as evidenced by the fact that there aren't examples of what you propose.

 

[Uriel]

I think these two things can be true at the same time:

1. Yaxel is a stud.
2. Yaxel doesn't have much upside left/is close to being a finished product.

This isn't to say that I think both those things are true. But I am saying that they both can be true simultaneously.

 

[scott]

You're citing examples in the first round, when the situation discussed was in the second round. Not the same: you might argue it's pouting when the difference is who signs the 20M+ paychecks from your rookie scale deal, not when you're talking about going from a 3/4 year partially guaranteed contract vs 2-way deals. That is the difference between a legitimate shot at a roster spot vs being on the outside looking in.

Maybe the Spurs shouldn’t be so stubborn in only wanting SRPs who will take a two way, and instead be willing to draft good talents worthy of guaranteed deals at the top of the second round.

In other words… we’re focusing on the wrong thing here

 

[BatManu20]

Doesn't shoot the 3 well (yet) which, along with his age (turns 22 in April), is why he's going to fall towards the end of the 1st Round/early 2nd Round. But he'd definitely be worth a swing at 35 if he somehow made it there tbh, thoughI doubt he will.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2035843281091756106

 

[Ariel]

Maybe the Spurs shouldn’t be so stubborn in only wanting SRPs who will take a two way, and instead be willing to draft good talents worthy of guaranteed deals at the top of the second round.

In other words… we’re focusing on the wrong thing here

Oh, no arguments from me there. If the Spurs want to sign high profile 2nd rounders they have to be willing to up their contract offer rather than selecting players unilaterally to later strong-arm them into below-market deals by threatening to hold them hostage if they don't sign (not that this ever happened, but was the proposed mechanism above).

 

[OK Computer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2035871336845750478

Speaks like a Spur already using words like “collective” (Wemby uses this word a lot) and in multiple interviews emphasizes watching film (like Castle).

I’m almost at 85% certainty he will be a Spur come draft night.

 

[bozhemoi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2035871336845750478

Speaks like a Spur already using words like “collective” (Wemby uses this word a lot) and in multiple interviews emphasizes watching film (like Castle).

I’m almost at 85% certainty he will be a Spur come draft night.

Okay let me set up my Kalshi account.

 

[OK Computer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2035886810958598454

 

[Correct Crusader]

FWIW, Spurs should take the BPA at the Hawks pick and if he isn't a C trade back into the first for one.

I'm not trading back into this draft for a center imo

 

[Correct Crusader]

View attachment 1327

I'll take that, tbh

You trade this pick if this happens right? Someones gotta give a haul for Darryn Peterson

 

[Correct Crusader]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2035886810958598454

I'm sold

 

[onechance87]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2035886810958598454

Havent watched much of this guy...is he a center or poward foward,And would he fit next to wemby and castle.

 

[OK Computer]

Havent watched much of this guy...is he a center or poward foward,And would he fit next to wemby and castle.

I think we’re past the point of asking if anyone will fit with Castle (if you’re referencing his 3 pt ability here). I think Castle will continue his good shooting and he’s not a player who we’d say is a liability shooting-wise anymore.

We’re not going to take anyone who’s perfect with our pick, that’s why my philosophy is: take the one who fits the team defensively and worry about the rest later. Why? It’s because any non-top 5 drafted Spur rookie isn’t going to get their touches in their first few year anyways.

The Spurs have historically developed their prospects slowly, especially if that player is a wing, forward, or big. So if a rookie is going to make an impact right away and make an impression on Mitch to give him more minutes, it’s going to be through hustle and defense. Those two things are Zuby’s calling card - he can defend 1-5.

I’m pretty sure MATFO looked at Steph guarding KAT as a thing they don’t have to resort to unless they have to. They need someone with Zuby’s strength and versatility. The only other prospect that plays with similar defense, versatility, and hustle is Haugh. I have a hard time seeing the Spurs draft someone off of purely someone’s offensive ability with this pick, unless their offense is just that special. And at our pick… I don’t see anyone’s offense being THAT special.