Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[mo7888]

Ejiofor and Reed out of this draft. Reed gives the Spurs a 6 11 banger on the inside who also has an offensive low post game.
Reed is a solid shot blocker and rebounder and passes well out of the post as this plays well for the spurs strength in their guards abilities to cut to the basket.

Ejiofor is a 6 9 athletic high energy scoring PF/SF who will run the court with the spurs athletic guards and he and Reed will complement the Spurs depth at PF allowing the Spurs to either go big with Reed when needed or small with Ejiofor depending on best matchups.

Which one should get drafted with the first pick with hopes of landing the other with the 2nd round pick?

I've personally got them both as a 2nd round grade and on my list of targets there. If we want one in the first we should at least trade back a few spots for extra assets. As for which player to take, Reed is the better player next season, but Ejiofor has a little more upside, I imagine how we perform this post season will give us an indicator of which way we go. If forced to choose right now I'd give Reed the edge. He'd be good value in the mid 20's.

 

[ginobilized]

I'm no draft expert, but, I sure hope we can get 2 potential contributors with these 4 picks. I'd bet that BW and crew have their guys pretty dialed in and it's just a matter of who lands in our range. They might use the combine for interviews and someone might be unearthed there, but, it seems like the culture of our core is clearly established and it will be easier to fit the right players into our system. It's also doubtful to me that we use all 4 picks this year. However it shakes out I'd love to add a strong center candidate who could get some spot mins next season and a true PF who might be developed over a year or two while losing KO/Plumlee and Biyombo. Add a free agent big and we should be even more formidable.

 

[OK Computer]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

We could add another pineapple bro

 

[scott]

IMO, Mullins had a strong risk of falling in this draft. He was nowhere near as polished as he appeared to be. I’m not talking about the low percentages in the tournament (although his lack of polish might have contributed to that), but he’d make some stupid plays throughout the game that would make you question his basketball IQ.

Very different players from what I could tell - but how do you think prospect Mullins grades out against prospect McNeely, another UConn shooter projected a mid-first rounder who ended up just sneaking into Rd 1 and didn't show much as a rookie? Wonder if his example weighed in Mullins mind at all.

 

[QuarryHeights]

It will be interesting to see which way we go with the 19th pick - I don't have a dog in this game but guys I am looking at would be:
1. Chris Cenac
2. Cameron Carr
3. Isaiah Evans
4. Motiejus Krivas

For Second Round:
1. Joshua Jefferson
2. Henry Veesaar
3. Tarris Reed Jr.
4. Sergio de Larrea
5. Zuby Ejiofor
6. Milan Momcilovic
7. Pryce Sandfort

One mock draft I came across was having us take 7'3 Italian player - Luigi Suigo, who plays in Mega Basketball

 

[Exstatic]

Very different players from what I could tell - but how do you think prospect Mullins grades out against prospect McNeely, another UConn shooter projected a mid-first rounder who ended up just sneaking into Rd 1 and didn't show much as a rookie? Wonder if his example weighed in Mullins mind at all.

How sucky must it be to be the shooter selected after Kon…by the same team?

Mullins may very well have looked at Liam’s trajectory.

 

[CGD]

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.

 

[mo7888]

Very different players from what I could tell - but how do you think prospect Mullins grades out against prospect McNeely, another UConn shooter projected a mid-first rounder who ended up just sneaking into Rd 1 and didn't show much as a rookie? Wonder if his example weighed in Mullins mind at all.

I think they are pretty different players. I like Mullins better, I think he's more fluid with better court vision and a better shooter. Personally my guess is that he went back to college because he got similar money and next years draft is poorer, so he should go higher. I expect around 10.

 

[bozhemoi]

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.

There was some chatter about him some pages back. His advance stats are tremendous but not only does he play for a mid-major now that those are getting their talent sucked away, he comes off the bench, which is super weird.

 

[onechance87]

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.

Not sure whos better,Him or karim lopez.Both seem slow and small to be a pf at 6,7 or 6,8.Graves seems like a better shooter
and karim seems to be a better finisher at the rim.Both are young.Just trying to figure who would fit better next to wemby.
Still like morez johnson over both tho.

 

[John B]

Not sure whos better,Him or karim lopez.Both seem slow and small to be a pf at 6,7 or 6,8.Graves seems like a better shooter
and karim seems to be a better finisher at the rim.Both are young.Just trying to figure who would fit better next to wemby.
Still like morez johnson over both tho.

I’d use all 4 picks and see who’d stick

 

[spurs3223]

I'm surprised Morez Johnson Jr isn't getting more love here... am I missing something?

 

[bozhemoi]

Ngongba back to Duke. Makes sense. I don't think he was a first round guy.

 

[rascal]

I'm surprised Morez Johnson Jr isn't getting more love here... am I missing something?

Johnson or Reed? Reed is bigger, more of a low post player, rebounder shot blocker and defender, but doesn't shoot the ball as well as Johnson. Reed is a good passer out of the low post which I also like and would play well with the Spurs guards cutting to the basket. Which player is the better fit for what the Spurs need and who would be better playing with Wemby?
Johnson is projected to be drafted higher, younger

 

[BatManu20]

I'm surprised Morez Johnson Jr isn't getting more love here... am I missing something?

He's more-so an undersized Center than a PF imo, but he's definitely a realistic option at 20 and should be available. I posted this about him 6 weeks ago:

NC also has Morez Johnson Jr. from Michigan jumping into the lottery at pick 11. That's a really big jump from where he's been slotted as of late and I personally think that's too high, but he's def an intriguing prospect and if he has a big tournament then I might change my mind. Defensive-minded big with an undersized but still decent physical profile for a C (6'9 250 lbs w/ a 7'2 wingspan) and is currently shooting an impressive 41% from 3, albeit on really low volume (0.8 attempts per). Great FT shooter though at 78% so the 3PT shooting upside is clearly there. Just turned 20 in January. Think MATFO will def be interested and have him in for a couple workouts/interviews. My problem with him is that he's a Center, not a PF. Doesn't have the lateral quickness to defend on the perimeter.

Currently averaging 14 pts, 7 rbs, 1 ast, 1 stl, and 1 blk on 64% FG%.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023808758728827295

https://twitter.com/x/status/2031442352368161116

 

[DTW]

If history is any indication, Johnson Jr. is not a realistic option at 20. The Spurs have eschewed traditional PF body types with small ball C skillsets for years, yet fans keep ignoring it.

They clearly prefer big wings primarily playing PF, with some hybrid C cameoing at it and I don't see that changing with their success this season with that alignment.

If they go big, expect it to be a traditional C.

 

[onechance87]

If history is any indication, Johnson Jr. is not a realistic option at 20. The Spurs have eschewed traditional PF body types with small ball C skillsets for years, yet fans keep ignoring it.

They clearly prefer big wings primarily playing PF, with some hybrid C cameoing at it and I don't see that changing with their success this season with that alignment.

If they go big, expect it to be a traditional C.

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.

 

[spurs3223]

If history is any indication, Johnson Jr. is not a realistic option at 20. The Spurs have eschewed traditional PF body types with small ball C skillsets for years, yet fans keep ignoring it.

They clearly prefer big wings primarily playing PF, with some hybrid C cameoing at it and I don't see that changing with their success this season with that alignment.

If they go big, expect it to be a traditional C.

I get the sense we've mostly been all about swinging for fences and best player available, and maybe this is being misread as avoiding certain types despite their apparent fit. (I could be very wrong about that.)

I feel like this draft could be the first in a long while that they'd maybe actually consider drafting for fit, unless there is a player they are particularly sweet on. (There probably is, in which case who the hell knows at #20?!)

Anyway, Morez Johnson Jr from what I've read and seen (and by seen, I mean youtube highlights, I'm no scout) is a relatively switchable PF with small ball C skills that include rim protection, and we seem keen to experiment with small ball lineups. He's also got some upside as a shooter, which would be a nice differentiator from some of the other bigs likely to be available. As much as I wanna believe the shooting improvements we've seen from Castle and Harper are gonna stick, I'm still not enthused about drafting non-shooters who could become essentially unplayable as a result, so for me this swing skill puts him over the top.

 

[Vienna]

I agree on all points why Spurs will rather draft a big wing to play the 4, than draft a traditional PF. and I also don't think they draft a small ball big, as their system works best with one real rim protecting big.

there are some open questions about the big wing personell (Barnes age, Champ contract extension, Carter development), so one more reason for a future investment in that department.

that said, we maybe should rank Dailyn Swain much higher, than he usually is. his physical profile is what you look for and he is strong and a pretty good athlete.
good rebounder and good defender. shooting is the question mark, but he showed quite significant improvement, considering where he started at Xavier. in the conference games he shot 39% from 3 (small sample though, 3 shots per game) and he is a good FT shooter. good ball handler and passer.

he is young for a junior, in fact he is the same age or even younger than some of the sophomores, so there should still be enough room for improvement. measurements will tell, if the 6'8" are accurate, but I think this isn't inflated like we see with other players. this is a young man with good size and lenght and a NBA body. definitely worth some consideration at #20.

 

[OK Computer]

I agree on all points why Spurs will rather draft a big wing to play the 4, than draft a traditional PF. and I also don't think they draft a small ball big, as their system works best with one real rim protecting big.

there are some open questions about the big wing personell (Barnes age, Champ contract extension, Carter development), so one more reason for a future investment in that department.

that said, we maybe should rank Dailyn Swain much higher, than he usually is. his physical profile is what you look for and he is strong and a pretty good athlete.
good rebounder and good defender. shooting is the question mark, but he showed quite significant improvement, considering where he started at Xavier. in the conference games he shot 39% from 3 (small sample though, 3 shots per game) and he is a good FT shooter. good ball handler and passer.

he is young for a junior, in fact he is the same age or even younger than some of the sophomores, so there should still be enough room for improvement. measurements will tell, if the 6'8" are accurate, but I think this isn't inflated like we see with other players. this is a young man with good size and lenght and a NBA body. definitely worth some consideration at #20.

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