Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007558222987817172

 

[BatManu20]

This kid might push Dybantsa for the 1st Overall Pick if he actually stays healthy and keeps playing. His talent is obvious and his game is advanced for his age.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007541467871371622

 

[Shmurs]

not taking AJ at 1 would be a near fireable offense. Taking boozer at 1 instead and you should just resign on the spot.

Peterson is more defensible but he doesn’t have a real differentiated ability compared to a good pro guard. I wouldn’t rate him above Harper. Even Harper pre-draft had me more excited because of his supernatural abilities to get to the rim and finish. If peterson’s jumper goes cold, what’s his path to dominate a game, then?

Definitely a future all star. But I don’t see all nba. AJ is a generational athlete with seemingly a real commitment to rounding out his game. He has MVP potential. The only one of the big 3.

 

[Bruno]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006024477822575020

Karaban would work really well fit wise for Spurs. To me, he is looking more like a late first/early second round draft pick but it seems he might be higher than that. If Hawks get better, he might turn as an option for Spurs.

 

[mo7888]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006024477822575020

Karaban would work really well fit wise for Spurs. To me, he is looking more like a late first/early second round draft pick but it seems he might be higher than that. If Hawks get better, he might turn as an option for Spurs.

I'm a fan... nice role player who can can stroke it from deep... I've got him late 20's right now, but I think you can justify him anywhere outside of the lottery..

 

[scott]

Karaban didn’t look like an NBA player to me when I watched him live in the 2024 Maui Invitational. Just looked like a college player who is one of the best on the floor because he’s 3 years old than everyone else.

I personally don’t see him making it in the NBA

 

[Vienna]

Karaban is pretty much a copy of Niang and Hauser. Like them he should find a niche in the NBA. But I don't think a team will spenden a 1st rounder for him. Kispert comes to mind, but he is a significantly better athlete and more skilled. And still team will look at the 21 draft and see several players, that shoud have been picked ahead. (Sengun, Johnson, TM3, Herb, Cam). I think Karaban might become a usefull role player, but you don't spend a 1st on that ticket.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006024477822575020

Karaban would work really well fit wise for Spurs. To me, he is looking more like a late first/early second round draft pick but it seems he might be higher than that. If Hawks get better, he might turn as an option for Spurs.

Karaban's a great shooter, but he'll be nearly 24 when his Rookie season begins and he's a poor defender in space. His role at the next level will be a depth piece off the bench who can give you some shooting in spot minutes, but teams won't be able to play him much in meaningful games because of his poor defense. For a Spurs team whose biggest weakness is already perimeter defense, I'm not sure there's a place for him on our roster if we're already going to be replacing Sochan and Biyombo tbh.

 

[scott]

Another potential Biyombo (and future Kornet) replacement is 19 year-old Sophomore Patrick Ngongba II. 6'11 250 lb Center for Duke who's currently averaging 12 Pts / 7 Rbs / 2.5 Asts / 1.4 Blks per game on 63% from the field. Has the size and physique to play in the NBA right away. He's a developing player offensively who shows some back-to-the-basket game while also getting lobs and put-backs off of Offensive Rebounds. He's also a very good passer already at the top of the key. Intriguing prospect who's currently projected to go in the mid-high teens (if he declares). Not sure ATL will finish with a high enough pick for us to be in range, but definitely a player to keep an eye on.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1973526554291609629

https://twitter.com/x/status/1982625841700810899

He's starting to get more hype... currently #22 on the Tankathon big board though.

Have seen him referred to as a "utility forward" - is that right? Or is he a traditional C?

 

[scott]

First and only spin of the Tankathon today... yo dawg I heard ya'll like point guards

 

[Kick-Stand]

First and only spin of the Tankathon today... yo dawg I heard ya'll like point guards

I rolled the #2 pick and they had the Spurs taking Boozer with Indy getting Peterson #1. Yeah no way I'm passing on AJ.

 

[spursistan]

First and only spin of the Tankathon today... yo dawg I heard ya'll like point guards

View attachment 297

I'm pretty sure if Spurs get a Top 4 pick via ATL this draft (let alone#1) that lottery system is getting absolutely overhauled in the aftermath

 

[CGD]

This kid might push Dybantsa for the 1st Overall Pick if he actually stays healthy and keeps playing. His talent is obvious and his game is advanced for his age.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007541467871371622

I think he’s already near consensus #1 for most of the big draft followers.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

First and only spin of the Tankathon today... yo dawg I heard ya'll like point guards

View attachment 297

Pretty sure I take Dybansta here, but what could we extort from Utah? A good negotiator could probably get the #2 and a national park in return.

 

[scott]

Pretty sure I take Dybansta here, but what could we extort from Utah? A good negotiator could probably get the #2 and a national park in return.

#2 and a lifetime supply of magic underwear is the best Ainge can do

 

[Shmurs]

Not sure how boozer would project to be any better of a pro than sabonis. Seems like a poor man’s version. Not as naturally gifted or fluid. But sure a touch more aggressive (against future car salesmen). And regardless, is sabonis a #1 pick in any draft? Do teams like having undersized bigs who can’t guard regular bigs?

 

[Exstatic]

On that spin, I would LOVE to extort major pick-assets + #2 from Ainge by convincing Ainge we are after Dybantsa, then picking Boozer at #2.

 

[bozhemoi]

Karaban didn’t look like an NBA player to me when I watched him live in the 2024 Maui Invitational. Just looked like a college player who is one of the best on the floor because he’s 3 years old than everyone else.

I personally don’t see him making it in the NBA

The age thing also describes Landebourg.

 

[Ariel]

On that spin, I would LOVE to extort major pick-assets + #2 from Ainge by convincing Ainge we are after Dybantsa, then picking Boozer at #2.

My guess is Ainge is planning some version of that if he lands 2/3, but trying to convince a team he's after Peterson / Boozer when he's actually after Dybantsa (seems much more of an Ainge prospect that the other 2). I don't think it would work though, people have caught up with his ways.

 

[Ariel]

Karaban's a great shooter, but he'll be nearly 24 when his Rookie season begins and he's a poor defender in space. His role at the next level will be a depth piece off the bench who can give you some shooting in spot minutes, but teams won't be able to play him much in meaningful games because of his poor defense. For a Spurs team whose biggest weakness is already perimeter defense, I'm not sure there's a place for him on our roster if we're already going to be replacing Sochan and Biyombo tbh.

I wouldn't mind him with a mid second rounder (say 3/4 year contract, first 1/2 guaranteed), you can always find a place for smart players with size who can shoot, but definitely wouldn't use a first on him.

 

[Kick-Stand]

On that spin, I would LOVE to extort major pick-assets + #2 from Ainge by convincing Ainge we are after Dybantsa, then picking Boozer at #2.

I'd expect Ainge to want Peterson. Peterson / George / Bailey / Markannen / Kessler would be absolutely disgusting with all that shooting while also forging a team built to take Wemby down.

 

[scott]

The age thing also describes Landebourg.

I'll admit I've only seen highlights of Yaxel, never seen game action. I'll also say I never watched any game action of college Derrick White.

With that said, I think there are older prospects who have real skills who are just older... and then there are older prospects who are better than the rest of the college competition because they are older. RJ Davis from UNC is one of those guys. He was a 5-year senior who clearly UNC's best player but went undrafted, signed an X10 deal with the Lakers and was waived and is now in the G-League. Meanwhile his teammate, Drake Powell, who was not nearly as good as him at UNC, is a first round pick.

You watch a lot more college ball and do college scouting than I do... are you saying that Yaxel falls into the latter RJ Davis camp as opposed to the Derrick White camp?

 

[BatManu20]

I'll admit I've only seen highlights of Yaxel, never seen game action. I'll also say I never watched any game action of college Derrick White.

With that said, I think there are older prospects who have real skills who are just older... and then there are older prospects who are better than the rest of the college competition because they are older. RJ Davis from UNC is one of those guys. He was a 5-year senior who clearly UNC's best player but went undrafted, signed an X10 deal with the Lakers and was waived and is now in the G-League. Meanwhile his teammate, Drake Powell, who was not nearly as good as him at UNC, is a first round pick.

You watch a lot more college ball and do college scouting than I do... are you saying that Yaxel falls into the latter RJ Davis camp as opposed to the Derrick White camp?

I'd argue that he still has untapped potential and has a higher chance of improving considerably despite his age, much like D-White has since he was drafted at 24 years old. I say this because Yaxel was a late bloomer. He only payed 11 basketball games in high school (!). It's actually a pretty cool story tbh. He was cut his Freshman year and was academically ineligible his Sophomore and Junior seasons so he didn't think he had a future in basketball. He played 11 games his Senior year and then a coach convinced him to come play at a JUCO, where he spent 3 years before improving enough that he was offered a scholarship by UAB before his Junior year. He then improved so much again during his 2 years there that he became the #1 player in the transfer portal last year before signing with Michigan. He talks about it in this interview:

https://www.hoopshq.com/big-ten/yaxel-lendeborg

 

[spurraider21]

i know peterson is insanely good, but i dno how you pass up on AJ

 

[bozhemoi]

I'll admit I've only seen highlights of Yaxel, never seen game action. I'll also say I never watched any game action of college Derrick White.

With that said, I think there are older prospects who have real skills who are just older... and then there are older prospects who are better than the rest of the college competition because they are older. RJ Davis from UNC is one of those guys. He was a 5-year senior who clearly UNC's best player but went undrafted, signed an X10 deal with the Lakers and was waived and is now in the G-League. Meanwhile his teammate, Drake Powell, who was not nearly as good as him at UNC, is a first round pick.

You watch a lot more college ball and do college scouting than I do... are you saying that Yaxel falls into the latter RJ Davis camp as opposed to the Derrick White camp?

I really haven't watched much college ball this year, after cutting the cord. I'll try to find ways to watch more conference play.

I don't have any sense of Yaxel, really, just that he pulled out last year. I'm hesitant to think he's as new to basketball as many say -- this is his sixth year of college basketball. He's playing really well for a stacked team with a great coach. Really promising, and his advanced defensive stats have shot up (were already good). Is that a scheme improvement? Or a real improvement? I'm hopeful about him.