bozhemoi
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I would stay if I were him, especially if this next year isn't looking that deep.
Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread
- Thread starter OK Computer
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I would stay if I were him, especially if this next year isn't looking that deep.
bozhemoi
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I watched a good scouting video on him. His highlights are pretty spectacular (although he does swat shots out of bounds, as you mention), moves around very well, is big and athletic. He sure seems like a Jalen Duren in terms of being physically developed already.
And then I look at his actual numbers, see that his highlights were from one or two games over two years, and even if he was hurt over those seasons he really wasn't good when he did play. I mean, sure, there's potential there, but he's almost purely theoretical at this point (Jalen Duren wasn't theoretical) and that's not an interesting player to me. Not only are the Spurs starting to truly contend, they need players they know can process their offensive and defensive systems at the level they need. Without that guarantee I'm moving on.
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If Mullins (and possibly others) opts into another year of NCAAM, then the Spurs pick in the 18-20 range might be at the end of a tier of 1st round quailty players, so maybe it has enhanced value for a team more desperate to add 1st round talent this season. In other words, this might be a good thing if the goal is to acquire future first round capital.
It would also improve next years draft. Maybe it goes from weak to mediocre. That's not the worst outcome for us either..
I am curious about what FOs are gonna turn over before the draft (in addition to Chicago). Could see a world where a new regime would value have a second decent FRP in exchange for a player that’s not in their plans anymore.
Ariel
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I thought about something like this, which teams could pivot towards a rebuild and sell solid contributors. The name that came to mind is Portland, recently sold and rumored to not be happy with their coach, who have solid players but lack high end talent to contend. If so, maybe they would rather take a gamble on a pick on a deep draft over someone like Toumani Camara, who at this point is what he is, a really good role player who doesn't project to have a lot more upside in him than he's already shown. Say Spurs pick is at 18 or 19, then maybe that pick + some seconds + filler + 2027 swap for Toumani Camara could make sense for the Spurs.
Thought about them too. Bill Simmons keeps mentioning them as a stealth Giannis destination for the same reason (new owners).
Not sure they’ll turnover their FO, but the other team is Orlando when they inevitably fire their coach. Tristan Silva is interesting, but he’s also on a nice deal.
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Would be a shame if Tiago gets canned. He's done a fantastic job with that team, who I think it's pretty promising. Sharpe has missed a lot of games and they'll get Dame back next year. Their best bet might be a consolidation trade since they have a glut of guards (Dame/Jrue/Scoot/Sharpe) although two of those guys are on the tail end of their careers while the other two are still at the beginning. Not sure there is much of a market for Jrue anymore, and they won't trade Dame.
Area 51.247
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Was especially thinking that about Tiago when it appears Billups' trial will begin after the start of the regular season next fall. He's done yeoman's work pulling together a team and staff that had a possibly cataclysmic leadership event happen early on.
BatManu20
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I posted about Dame Sarr earlier this week after he had a nice tourney run and looked like a legit of 3&D wing prospect.
Now The Ringer suddenly has him going 15th in their latest Mock today to OKC, comparing him to Carter Bryant.
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Maybe NOT tanking is the cardinal sin that gets Tiago fired
bozhemoi
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I posted about Dame Sarr earlier this week after he had a nice tourney run and looked like a legit of 3&D wing prospect.
Now The Ringer suddenly has him going 15th in their latest Mock today to OKC, comparing him to Carter Bryant.
It's wild to me to have a player near the lottery who barely shot .400 from the field and 53% from the free throw line. Their adv. defensive stats are similar, but Carter Bryant was like a basketball savant on offense in comparison.
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My draft board
Nate Ament’s profile
Cameron Carr’s profile
Thomas Haugh’s profile
Hannes Steinbach’s profile
Allen Graves’ profile
Joshua Jefferson’s profile
Tounde Yessoufou’s profile
————————————
Karim Lopez is justifiable at 20 because… similar to Ament, sometimes a specific combination of size and skillset makes you at least consider what the player could be.
There’s always a lot of talk about what the Spurs “need,” and a common one is a tall bruiser big. But when you actually watch the games, that hasn’t consistently been the main issue. With Karim, he has the height people look for, but more importantly, he brings a different type of skillset than a traditional big.
Compared to someone like Morez or Zuby, who mostly need to be set up, Karim is a forward who can score on the move. He can attack, finish, and operate without everything being created for him. That fits more with how the Spurs play, where forwards are expected to keep the offense flowing, not just finish plays but also handle a bit and move without the ball.
I made it a point to watch full games, and one thing that stood out was how different international play feels compared to college. It’s more free-flowing. With Karim, it often felt like when he got the ball, he was in a “this might be my chance” mindset, so he went straight into trying to score rather than making the next play.
As a player, he’s solid across the board. He’s not super athletic, but he has enough. He’s not especially fast. His strength might be one of his better traits. His shot looks fine and he shoots with confidence, but he’s not a high-level shooter right now. His passing is okay, just not at a standout level.
If there’s a comparison, it’s probably someone like Cedi Osman. A player who can do a bit of everything without necessarily standing out in one area.
I had excluded Karim for a while because I felt like he might be more reserved, and this current Spurs group seems like one where players benefit from being more outward and engaged. He reminded me a bit of Luka Samanic in that sense, and that situation didn’t work out, so it raised some concerns. I’ve eased off that a bit, though, because it’s not something a player should be penalized for on its own.
The main thing is I don’t see his personality negatively affecting the team. At worst, it’s more about how comfortable he feels within the group rather than him disrupting anything. It’s not like that other player I’ve excluded who has a lot of fans on here, someone who can say just about anything and have it ignored. At this point, that kind of thing doesn’t even surprise me anymore with how people react to certain… government figures.
At pick 20, that kind of profile can still have value, especially when it comes with size and the ability to fit into a system.
Nate Ament’s profile
Cameron Carr’s profile
Thomas Haugh’s profile
Hannes Steinbach’s profile
Allen Graves’ profile
Joshua Jefferson’s profile
Tounde Yessoufou’s profile
————————————
Karim Lopez is justifiable at 20 because… similar to Ament, sometimes a specific combination of size and skillset makes you at least consider what the player could be.
There’s always a lot of talk about what the Spurs “need,” and a common one is a tall bruiser big. But when you actually watch the games, that hasn’t consistently been the main issue. With Karim, he has the height people look for, but more importantly, he brings a different type of skillset than a traditional big.
Compared to someone like Morez or Zuby, who mostly need to be set up, Karim is a forward who can score on the move. He can attack, finish, and operate without everything being created for him. That fits more with how the Spurs play, where forwards are expected to keep the offense flowing, not just finish plays but also handle a bit and move without the ball.
I made it a point to watch full games, and one thing that stood out was how different international play feels compared to college. It’s more free-flowing. With Karim, it often felt like when he got the ball, he was in a “this might be my chance” mindset, so he went straight into trying to score rather than making the next play.
As a player, he’s solid across the board. He’s not super athletic, but he has enough. He’s not especially fast. His strength might be one of his better traits. His shot looks fine and he shoots with confidence, but he’s not a high-level shooter right now. His passing is okay, just not at a standout level.
If there’s a comparison, it’s probably someone like Cedi Osman. A player who can do a bit of everything without necessarily standing out in one area.
I had excluded Karim for a while because I felt like he might be more reserved, and this current Spurs group seems like one where players benefit from being more outward and engaged. He reminded me a bit of Luka Samanic in that sense, and that situation didn’t work out, so it raised some concerns. I’ve eased off that a bit, though, because it’s not something a player should be penalized for on its own.
The main thing is I don’t see his personality negatively affecting the team. At worst, it’s more about how comfortable he feels within the group rather than him disrupting anything. It’s not like that other player I’ve excluded who has a lot of fans on here, someone who can say just about anything and have it ignored. At this point, that kind of thing doesn’t even surprise me anymore with how people react to certain… government figures.
At pick 20, that kind of profile can still have value, especially when it comes with size and the ability to fit into a system.
Snaq O'Meal
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I hope OKC picks Sarr. But they'll probably take switchy bigs like Lendeborg instead.
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Who are they?
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My draft board
Nate Ament’s profile
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Karim Lopez’s profile
————————————
Aday Mara is justifiable at 20… because our center rotation is fragile, and he’s the first true big on the board with clear starter upside. Part of that is because there aren’t a ton of high-level centers in the league right now, but credit where it’s due: Mara has the size, skillset, and feel for the game to project as a legitimate starting center.
Anyone who followed March Madness saw what he brings. He functions as an offensive hub. Early in the season, what stood out most was his passing. The timing, angles, and vision are all there. That’s always the first thing I look for in bigs because it’s a strong indicator of basketball IQ. As the season went on, more of his offensive game became visible. He can score in traditional ways for a big, hook shots, drop steps, finishing off seals, put-backs, and he shows touch around the rim. The offensive package is real.
Defensively, people will call him slow-footed, but that misses the point with bigs his size. It’s about how much space you take up and how you use your size. With Mara’s length, simply having his arms up alters shots. We already see this with Wemby. He’s not going to be out switching on guards or chasing wings around the perimeter, but in the paint he can be a real anchor. He’s not Gobert, but he gives you the kind of presence you want from a true center, not a tweener who leaves you vulnerable inside.
That matters because the Spurs’ center rotation drops off fast. When Wemby sits, or when Kornet isn’t available, the quality drops noticeably. Adding a third true center who could start elsewhere gives you stability. You don’t lose your identity or defensive presence when you have a third quality center as good as Mara.
The flip side is opportunity. If Mara and his camp see him as a full-time starter, that path isn’t guaranteed here. So it comes down to what he wants. Does he want to contribute to winning at a high level or chase a bigger individual role elsewhere? He’s said he models parts of his game after Pau and Marc Gasol, which fits the mold of a cerebral, team-first big.
If the Spurs take him, it probably signals they feel good about the forward group with guys like Champagnie, Carter Bryant, Barnes, and Keldon, and maybe plan to add a veteran for depth. Taking Mara would be about securing the center spot long term, not patching it short term.
Nate Ament’s profile
Cameron Carr’s profile
Thomas Haugh’s profile
Hannes Steinbach’s profile
Allen Graves’ profile
Joshua Jefferson’s profile
Tounde Yessoufou’s profile
Karim Lopez’s profile
————————————
Aday Mara is justifiable at 20… because our center rotation is fragile, and he’s the first true big on the board with clear starter upside. Part of that is because there aren’t a ton of high-level centers in the league right now, but credit where it’s due: Mara has the size, skillset, and feel for the game to project as a legitimate starting center.
Anyone who followed March Madness saw what he brings. He functions as an offensive hub. Early in the season, what stood out most was his passing. The timing, angles, and vision are all there. That’s always the first thing I look for in bigs because it’s a strong indicator of basketball IQ. As the season went on, more of his offensive game became visible. He can score in traditional ways for a big, hook shots, drop steps, finishing off seals, put-backs, and he shows touch around the rim. The offensive package is real.
Defensively, people will call him slow-footed, but that misses the point with bigs his size. It’s about how much space you take up and how you use your size. With Mara’s length, simply having his arms up alters shots. We already see this with Wemby. He’s not going to be out switching on guards or chasing wings around the perimeter, but in the paint he can be a real anchor. He’s not Gobert, but he gives you the kind of presence you want from a true center, not a tweener who leaves you vulnerable inside.
That matters because the Spurs’ center rotation drops off fast. When Wemby sits, or when Kornet isn’t available, the quality drops noticeably. Adding a third true center who could start elsewhere gives you stability. You don’t lose your identity or defensive presence when you have a third quality center as good as Mara.
The flip side is opportunity. If Mara and his camp see him as a full-time starter, that path isn’t guaranteed here. So it comes down to what he wants. Does he want to contribute to winning at a high level or chase a bigger individual role elsewhere? He’s said he models parts of his game after Pau and Marc Gasol, which fits the mold of a cerebral, team-first big.
If the Spurs take him, it probably signals they feel good about the forward group with guys like Champagnie, Carter Bryant, Barnes, and Keldon, and maybe plan to add a veteran for depth. Taking Mara would be about securing the center spot long term, not patching it short term.
Area 51.247
Defense is a non-negotiable.
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Maybe. Although Gemini AI and Blazers' Edge says winning is what the new ownership group wants. Can't see Billups' and his attorneys digging through 7 TB of info and being ready for the season to start.
"Based on the 2025-26 NBA season updates as of April 2026, the Portland Trail Blazers did not tank the season. Instead, they actively pursued a "win-now" approach, shifting away from the developmental/tanking strategies of previous years. [1, 2]
2025-26 Season Status
- Performance: Despite a tough schedule and injuries, the Blazers secured a spot in the 2026 Play-In Tournament, finishing with a competitive record.
- Shift in Strategy: With a new ownership group taking over in April 2026, the team aimed to move away from the "developmental" mindset, aiming for a playoff spot rather than a high draft pick.
- Draft Pick Situation: A key factor in this decision was that their 2026 first-round pick was set to go to the Chicago Bulls if it fell outside the top-14, reducing the incentive to lose games. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
- Resilience: After a 14-20 start, the team finished strongly, capitalizing on a lighter schedule in the final stretch to reach a 37-37 record by late March 2026.
- Young Talent Growth: Key players like Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan showed significant development, contributing to the competitive record.
- Schedule Challenges: The team faced the second-hardest strength of schedule in the league through December 2025. [3, 7, 8]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.blazersedge.com/trail-b...ts-picks-owed-2026-2027-nba-draft-bulls-bucks
[2] https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portla...eding-matchup-scenarios-for-2026-nba-playoffs
[3] https://ripcityproject.com/nbas-tanking-problem-gift-blazers-playoff-lifeline
[4] https://www.blazersedge.com/trail-blazers-analysis/110997/portland-trail-blazers-roster-age-scoot-henderson-deni-avdija-camara-clingan-yang-hansen
[5] https://www.nba.com/news/new-blazers-owner-tom-dundon-says-team-is-shifting-away-from-development-mindset-of-recent-years
[6] https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/status-of-the-trail-blazers-future-draft-picks/ar-BB1m3oCA?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1
[7] https://www.nba.com/news/2025-26-season-preview-por
[8] https://www.blazersedge.com/trail-b...l-blazers-schedule-2025-26-toughest-tankathon
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I’m looking this up now on databallr.com.
I went into stat_matrix tab. Added filter for ‘23-‘23, filter for drafted players only, sorted by BPM ASC.
1. Niederhauser
2. Chaz lanier
3. Kobe Sanders
4. John Tonje
5. Micah Peavy
6. Antonio Reaves
7. Quinten Post
8. Keyonte Johnson
9. Maxwell Lewis
10. Koby Brea
Most of these guys are second round picks
Now let me filter for draft prospects this year
1. Darrion Williams
2. Rienk Mast
3. Anthony Robinson
4. Alijah Arenas
5. DeShayne Montgomery
6. Tahaad Pettiford
7. Neoklis Avdalas
8. KJ Lewis
9. Quadir Copeland
10. Tyler Nickel
….
Skipping to recognizable names
15. Karaban
17. Chinyelu
Cutoff to positive BPM starts at 30
31. Stirtz
35. Dame Sarr
Am I doing something wrong where it doesnt show Ament, Tounde, Cenac here?
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I tried to search for the tweet again but I couldn’t find it… I’ll keep looking. Maybe there was some kind of qualifier.
I do know that Jalen Hood-Schifino and Keynote George were in the 2023 group though, which you are coming up with different guys… so good question.
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Jalen Hood is 14th worst if i continued the list. Keyonte is nowhere close to the bottom. He’s more in the middle of his class: #22 best BPM
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Okay I found it… I didn’t realize there is some selection bias at play here… it is the 10 worst BPM of players taken in Rd 1 in 2023. So guys like Yessafou, Cenac, Ament (and Peat, Mullins, etc) are the worst of the projected first rounders.
Not sure how meaningful this really is, but it’s interesting.
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