Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

Do we trade away our pick or draft a player?

  • Draft

    Votes: 44 89.8%
  • Trade

    Votes: 3 6.1%
  • Cash Considerations

    Votes: 2 4.1%

  • Total voters
    49
Big game today with players who will probably be in our draft range,With joshua jefferson playing against chris cenac jr today.
 
Swain has shot up the draft boards.

Before the college season started, Swain was nowhere to be found in any mock draft. None.

Now he's borderline first round and still rising.

My only criticism of him, as a Longhorn fan, is that he tends to disappear for fairly long periods.

But he definitely bears watching for the rest of the season.
Yeah, but that wouldn't be so much of an issue in San Antonio. With our depth, he would have limited minutes. Honestly, as long as he can play D and make his FTs, I will be happy with his rookie year.

He was a mid 2nd round pick, but now a late 1st. If he keeps this up the rest of the year he could possibly be in the teens.

JT Toppin has also moved from 2nd rounder to late 1st.

Steinbach has seemed to move his stock to top 10.

These are my 3 favorite prospects.
 
All in all a good game for both Cenac and JJ. Cenac showcased his ability to be a catch and shoot big and make big rebounds. JJ showed special perimeter defense for a player his size, while making nifty passes (dare I say, Castle-esque?). However, I did not see Cenac defending any players on the perimeter which would make him just a center on our team. Don’t take my word for it, my eyes were blurry tonight.
 
All in all a good game for both Cenac and JJ. Cenac showcased his ability to be a catch and shoot big and make big rebounds. JJ showed special perimeter defense for a player his size, while making nifty passes (dare I say, Castle-esque?). However, I did not see Cenac defending any players on the perimeter which would make him just a center on our team. Don’t take my word for it, my eyes were blurry tonight.
I think Cenac played decently until that disasterclass on both ends - Sampson is going to light his ass up tomorrow, so it'll be interesting to see if he continues to improve the rest of the season. Still, not bad for a raw 19 year old going on the road against a top 5 team and matching up against a top 10 NPOY candidate. His tools are so good, but sometimes he plays so soft, which has always been a concern of mine. Then you have that sequence where he got like 3 contested OREBs in a row in traffic

Jefferson is who he's always been, great player, dribble-pass-shoot-defend forward. He's this year's "next Draymond" (+IQ +passing forward with versatile defense) the way CMB was last year. Kyle Anderson is another example of this type, and Scottie Barnes is probably the apex predator version.
 
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^ I think Keldon will get another contract with the Spurs, but if they are looking for a replacement of that archetype it’s probably Karim Lopez.

They’ll also retain Champaigne, but I do think the clock is ticking on Dev. May not be a bad idea to draft his replacement now.
 
Who would we say is this year’s Collin Murray-Boyles? I think that profile player would be perfect next to VW.

The dream, long term, is to have decent enough shooting to start Harper, Steph, Bryant, and Victor. A dog like CMB would be perfect next to those guys.
 
^ I think Keldon will get another contract with the Spurs, but if they are looking for a replacement of that archetype it’s probably Karim Lopez.

They’ll also retain Champaigne, but I do think the clock is ticking on Dev. May not be a bad idea to draft his replacement now.
I've thought about this as well. One of the main reasons I'm so high on Braylon Mullins. He'd fit seamlessly in Devin's place and would make moving on from him a lot easier. Don't think he'll be available when we're on the clock though sadly after he inevitably lights it up at the combine.

 
I've thought about this as well. One of the main reasons I'm so high on Braylon Mullins. He'd fit seamlessly in Devin's place and would make moving on from him a lot easier. Don't think he'll be available when we're on the clock though sadly after he inevitably lights it up at the combine.

He'd be a luxury pick given the Spurs' front court needs, but I'm pretty high on this guy too, currently #6 on my fictitious big board (where I conveniently omit point guards). He could mend all the fans brokenhearted over missing out on Kon Kneuppel while providing an *essential* building block for a Wemby-led roster.
 
He'd be a luxury pick given the Spurs' front court needs, but I'm pretty high on this guy too, currently #6 on my fictitious big board (where I conveniently omit point guards). He could mend all the fans brokenhearted over missing out on Kon Kneuppel while providing an *essential* building block for a Wemby-led roster.

Braylon Mullins stats out as better than Liam McNeeley from UConn last year. A bit shorter and doesn't get to the line at all, but overall statistically much better.

 
Why is nobody talking about Amari Allen? He is definitely underrated and should rise to mid 1st round.
 
Braylon Mullins stats out as better than Liam McNeeley from UConn last year. A bit shorter and doesn't get to the line at all, but overall statistically much better.

Do we need him to get to the line with a three headed PG rotation already
 
Anyone have a handle on why Koa Pete keeps falling? Now squarely in our projected range. On paper seems to be the PF type we’re looking for.
 
Anyone have a handle on why Koa Pete keeps falling? Now squarely in our projected range. On paper seems to be the PF type we’re looking for.
Shitty rebounder. Shitty FT shooting. 3pt shooting, 33.3%, is probably fake, based on crap FTs and tiny sample of 0.7 per game. Players slide because they outrun their hype and build up, revealing their flaws.
 
TierPlayerNBA CompWhy This Comp
Tier 1 – FranchiseDarryn PetersonJoe JohnsonThree-level scorer with size, smooth pace, isolation shot creation, and ability to carry half-court offense.
Tier 1 – FranchiseAJ DybantsaPaul GeorgeTwo-way wing tools, shot creation off the dribble, defensive upside, and scalable scoring profile.
Tier 1 – FranchiseCaleb WilsonCarmelo AnthonyNatural scoring forward, face-up game, mid-post comfort, offensive polish over defensive dominance.
Tier 2 – Running MateCameron BoozerPaul MillsapStrong interior presence, rebounding motor, interior scoring with dependable but not elite athletic ceiling.
Tier 2 – Running MateMikel Brown Jr.Andre Miller with a shotCrafty floor general, pace control, advanced feel, improved perimeter jumper elevates archetype.
Tier 2 – Running MateTounde YessefouLesser Anthony EdwardsExplosive downhill scorer, physical wing frame, streak scoring bursts without full superstar refinement.
Tier 3 – Long Term Role PlayerDailyn SwainLesser Andre IguodalaStrong on-ball creator with advanced handle for his size, capable of breaking defenders down off the dribble and generating downhill scoring opportunities; offensive upside tied to his ability to turn that ball control into consistent shot creation at the next level.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerJoshua JeffersonShades of Boris Diaw and Aaron GordonConnector forward, strength-based versatility, glue skill set over primary scoring.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerHannes SteinbachIsaiah HartensteinSkilled big with passing touch, positional size, team-oriented interior presence.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerChris Cenac Jr.Kalel Ware or Lesser John CollinsAthletic rim runner, vertical spacing, flashes of scoring but role-dependent growth.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerBraylon MullinsShades of Klay Thompson, Tyler HerroMovement shooting, perimeter gravity, offense tied heavily to jumper efficiency.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerCameron CarrShades of Noa Essengue and Aaron NesmithLong athletic wing, energy defender, catch-and-shoot utility with developmental upside.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerNate AmentCam JohnsonFloor-spacing forward, off-ball scoring, value driven by shooting and positional size.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerKeaton WaglerLesser Tyrese HaliburtonHigh-IQ guard, playmaking instincts, efficiency focus without elite burst.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerThomas HaughSlightly more agile Zach CollinsMobile big, stretch flashes, rotational frontcourt skill set.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerKingston FlemingsSam CassellConfident scoring guard, midrange craft, competitive shot-maker mentality.
Tier 3 – Long-Term Role PlayerBrayden BurriesLesser Derrick WhiteTwo-way guard traits, team defender, complementary scoring rather than primary usage.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractLabaron PhilonImmanuel QuickleyMicrowave scoring profile but size and consistency questions limit long-term role security.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractYaxel LendeborgLesser Jerami GrantTweener forward without elite skill anchor, dependent on development jump.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractJayden QuaintanceKevin LooneyDefense-first interior archetype with limited offensive ceiling.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractKoa PeatTobias HarrisProductive forward skill set but lacks defining elite trait.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractDarius AcuffLesser Kyle LowryCompetitive guard mentality, but size and athletic margin thin for sustained impact.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractPatrick Ngongba IIWendell Carter JrTraditional interior big archetype without elite defensive or offensive separator.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractBennett StirtzLesser Ricky RubioPass-first guard with strong feel, efficient scoring touch, and high-IQ decision making, but average athletic tools may cap long-term ceiling in a league driven by burst and defensive versatility.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractKarim LopezTrey LylesStretch forward skill flashes but role-player ceiling without standout trait.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractAday MaraHansen YangOversized interior presence reliant on situational fit and development curve.
Tier 4 – Out After Rookie ContractJT ToppinLesser Zach RandolphInterior scoring motor but limited perimeter scalability in modern spacing schemes.
 
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JT Toppin is a warrior. You can't measure that.

He's projected to go late first round or maybe late lottery.

He looks like the kind of player this Spurs roster could use.

Keep your eye on him.
I'm a Tech guy, I love Toppin and would love to snag him with the Utah pick, but I don't think I'd take him at 11-12. Like you said, he's a warrior, a solid defender who'll collect stocks, a dog. He's long and a great O rebounder. But he's a bad FT shooter. In lots of ways he's a great compliment to Vic, but with Fox + Steph + Harp its a lot harder to draft a below to way below avg 3% shooter with what may be the final lottery pick of this era.

I'd be a lot more comfortable with him at in the 20's or 30's, but he's getting PAID in NIL $4M+ (basically what the 14th pick in '25 is making which prolly isn't an accident) and if he's not looking like a lottery pick he prolly withdraws and returns next yr for even more NIL money vs taking a pay-cut (maybe a huge pay-cut) if he's drafted below 15.
 
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Love your table @OK Computer - one suggestion, check the colors on your header... I had to highlight them to be able to see what they say.
 
I think I responded to that post already, but yeah, that was a pretty bad draft in retrospect. Banchero is causing problems for his team with inefficiency, Jabari Smith is an overpaid role player, Murray has plateaued or declined, Shaeden Sharpe is a no-offense gunner who is very inefficient, Ivey is hurt all the time, etc. There are some good role players like Christian Braun but others like LaRavia who are just meh.
We could have taken Jaylon Williams or Jaylen Duren……. Rather than Sochan
 
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