Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[onechance87]

Today’s the deadline. Hope to see Dame Sarr declare.

Trying to hear about what morez johnson doing

 

[BatManu20]

Just realized Nate Ament looks a lot like a young Shia LaBeouf tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047456672843497903

 

[onechance87]

Just realized Nate Ament looks a lot like a young Shia LaBeouf tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047456672843497903

lol

 

[John B]

Just realized Nate Ament looks a lot like a young Shia LaBeouf tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047456672843497903

I came here today for this post

 

[Vienna]

Yessoufou has entered the transfer portal.
I'm not familiar with this rules. does this mean, he goes back to school, or does he just keep his options open, if he goes back he might transfer to an other college?

 

[south side spur]

Yeahhh he’s just keeping his options open. He’s just done with Baylor but he previously declared for the draft. He has until May 27 to decide whether or not to return to college.

 

[CGD]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047457426102767804

I’ve seen this guy all over draft boards, including dropping to our range. Why is he so polarizing? Is it just his passivity? Is he a sub-beta type?

 

[south side spur]

I’ve seen this guy all over draft boards, including dropping to our range. Why is he so polarizing? Is it just his passivity? Is he a sub-beta type?

Just curious, where have you seen him dropping to our range?

 

[CGD]

Just curious, where have you seen him dropping to our range?

KOC’s latest podcast had him like 17-19 range.

 

[OK Computer]

Welp, Dame Sarr isn’t declaring.

 

[scott]

I'm not an expert, but I feel like in the long run, a shifting of draft talent to include more talented upperclassmen and fewer one-and-dones will be a good thing.

 

[Corso]

I'm not an expert, but I feel like in the long run, a shifting of draft talent to include more talented upperclassmen and fewer one-and-dones will be a good thing.

I think it has potential.

If there's a talented kid that stays under (Or transfers to) great coaching and development, you might find a (lesser) Tim Duncan-type. Advanced upon entering the league.
They stay under some glam-cam coach that want's just talent to overwhelm... you might get an "old" prospect getting stuck in their ways.

 

[CGD]

I'm not an expert, but I feel like in the long run, a shifting of draft talent to include more talented upperclassmen and fewer one-and-dones will be a good thing.

Im sure the owners will love it anyway. One less big contract to pay potentially.

I think it comes down to the impact on development. There is something to be said for a team being able to mold a guy for two years (think Carter Bryant). On the other hand, may be a wash if these kids get that at the various colleges they’ll inevitably will transfer to in a 4 year period.

 

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047783514636992887

 

[scott]

This is some next level scouting... raise your game, Bums

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047796725268844564

 

[SpursBills]

I'm not an expert, but I feel like in the long run, a shifting of draft talent to include more talented upperclassmen and fewer one-and-dones will be a good thing.

This is basically a win-win for both the NCAA and the NBA

Someone like Dame Sarr had a massive bust risk in the NBA due to being buried on the bench for multiple years and given he has not that many actual basketball skills but could become one of the top wings in country next year. That goes double for Braylon Mullins.

NCAA teams get to retain more of their stars and increases the overall quality of play, especially during the tournament. NBA teams get more data on prospects to more accurately project pro success and have rookies who are more ready to play. Also, the "athletic toolsy freshman with no basketball skills" is basically the biggest bust trap for NBA GMs and they get to largely avoid that issue now while tying their resources up on players who actually stand out by being good at basketball.

 

[scott]

This is basically a win-win for both the NCAA and the NBA

Someone like Dame Sarr had a massive bust risk in the NBA due to being buried on the bench for multiple years and given he has not that many actual basketball skills but could become one of the top wings in country next year. That goes double for Braylon Mullins.

NCAA teams get to retain more of their stars and increases the overall quality of play, especially during the tournament. NBA teams get more data on prospects to more accurately project pro success and have rookies who are more ready to play. Also, the "athletic toolsy freshman with no basketball skills" is basically the biggest bust trap for NBA GMs and they get to largely avoid that issue now while tying their resources up on players who actually stand out by being good at basketball.

This was my line of thinking as well. Fewer one and dones = more predictable outcomes for NBA teams as the bust risk for factors endogenous to the player are reduced (though they'll still present for exogenous factors, such as team development).

I too see this as a win-win.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

For sure prioritize Luke's backup in this draft.

Nothing but centers, wings, and guards on this roster. Except for Karim Lopez.

 

[OK Computer]

Games like last night makes it so easy to envision Joshua Jefferson on this team. Instead of CB wasting his spot-up shooting talent (because he was assigned to screen for others when he was playing small ball C), it would be JJ doing that instead — while having the handle, vision, and passing. Deadly.

It was so frustrating to watch CB pass up so many 3’s.

 

[Exstatic]

Games like last night makes it so easy to envision Joshua Jefferson on this team. Instead of CB wasting his spot-up shooting talent (because he was assigned to screen for others when he was playing small ball C), it would be JJ doing that instead — while having the handle, vision, and passing. Deadly.

It was so frustrating to watch CB pass up so many 3’s.

Wasn’t his role last night. The guards were rolling, so he was the DHO guy. Don’t be surprised if Mitch flips the script on Sunday, though. Timelord is elite at what he does, but his kryptonite is guarding a shooter outside the arc. He was the one that let Wemby get loose in game one. Even if they want CB to play that DHO role, you create more space for your guards if you pop a few 3s.

 

[QuarryHeights]

Games like last night makes it so easy to envision Joshua Jefferson on this team. Instead of CB wasting his spot-up shooting talent (because he was assigned to screen for others when he was playing small ball C), it would be JJ doing that instead — while having the handle, vision, and passing. Deadly.

It was so frustrating to watch CB pass up so many 3’s.

With a few guys staying in college making me make change potential picks for us. My likes for first round:
1. Joshual Jefferson
2. Motiejus Krivas
3. Koa Peat
4. Luigi Suigo

Second Round:
1. Henry Veesaar
2. Flory Bidunga
3. Tarris Reed
4. Sergio
5. Momcilovic
6. Saunders
7. Zuby Ejiofor

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Kowacie Reeves Jr.

6'7", 23 year-old, 5th year senior from Georgia Tech. 2.1/5.3 (38.7%) on 3-point shooting.

Looks to be built from the Jayden McDaniels mold, with slightly less length. Interesting 2nd round possibility.

 

[samurai]

The Arizona barstool twitter posted that Krivas is going returning to Arizona next year. I haven’t seen it confirmed anywhere else yet.

 

[Ariel]

2026 NBA draft big board rankings: Top 100 prospects

Here is the updated top 100 big board for the 2026 class after an exciting college season.

www.espn.com

Krivas not declaring is bad news. I would have considered him at #20 but, even if the Spurs wouldn't have, it takes away from the big men depth and may cause some team in the later first / early second reach for potential Spurs targets at #35 (Tarris Reed, Ejiofor, Veesar, etc). Let's hope we don't see many players removing their names from the draft from now on.

 

[The Truth #6]

This is my Experimental Board for this draft. I'm trying to predict who Wright prioritizes and will ultimately pick. These criteria are based on my assessment of Wright's drafting priorities/proclivities/tendencies and nothing, absolute zero, about their basketball skill, other than they are in most consensus Big Boards from around number 8 to 25, give or take, I used the ESPN board for reference. But I am watching zero film and reading nothing about their basketball skill.

This is sort of a surreal alternative to let's say one of Scott's hard data crunches. This is subjective, not based on who I think they SHOULD draft but who they WILL draft in the first round, based on an unscientific vibes based assessment of Wright's drafting predilections.

The Buford model of overlooked gems is not Wright's model at all.

Could Wright totally change his paradigm and approach starting this year based on how we do in the playoffs? Of course. Regardless, we aren't there yet. And of course, this is me just goofing around and taking a piss. So. Ándale...

The criteria/preferences:

1. Age - 18 year old and 19 year olds exclusively. 20 year olds might as well join AARP.
2. Race - no one who identifies as white but mixed race is extra points.
3. Major College program - no small schools or international leagues.
4. Blue chip prospects preferred.
5. Extracurriculars - nerd interests or high level of community service almost a hard requirement.
6. Strong family background /support.
7. Photogenic - do they smile well in photos (seems insignificant but actually correlates the most highly with getting drafted by Wright)

* The first pass (no one aged 20 or over, or white, or from a small school/international))

The Players

1. Nate Ament

2. Chris Cenac Jr.

3. Jayden Quaintance

4. Koa Peete

* The second pass adding nerd potential, photogenics, and community service to the criteria.

1. Nate Ament (basketball coach father; Rwanda genocide survivor mother) ("personal finance nerd", loves Minecraft) (advocate for Rwandan children and organ/tissue donors) (great smile, appears genuine, innocent)

2. Chris Cenac Jr. (both parents involved and hard working) ("huge improv nerd" - has comedian aspirations?) (family history with philanthropy) (smile is also very good)

3. Jayden Quaintance (father very involved) (likes chess and anime) (great smile, almost manic)

4. Koa Peete (volunteers with a Native American community) (both parents involved) (no obvious nerd potential) (huge smile, could do anti perpisirant commercials)



Notable Mentions

* Karim Lopez (both parents around, Dad is very involved) (leads youth basketball camps) (no obvious community service) (no American college) (smile is very good)
* Dailyn Swain (age 20, but what a smile!)
* Allen Graves (small school)


The Verdict

Nate Ament is probably the dream candidate due to his multiple community service interests, and it's hard to under appreciate the Rwandan human interest but he looks to be top 10, evidently he must be good at basketball so not likey.

Cenac Jr. seems to lack any obvious human interest story potential, so I'm not as bullish, but he's on the short list.

To me it's a two-man race between Quaintance and Koa. Unless Quaintance is really good at chess, I think the pick, if available, is Koa Peete.

Koa works with a nearby Indian tribe, went to a great program that just gave us Carter Bryant, and let's be honest, just has an amazing smile and chiseled physique. Alpha but not asshole. Could easily do body odor product commercials but is grounded in community.

Koa Peete, welcome to San Antonio!!