Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[OK Computer]

Brad Stevens of the Celtics spotted in the kansas vs houston game. There’s a trade down option @SpursBills

 

[OK Computer]

I think I am out on Cenac… there are just long stretches where he’s invisible and making zero impact on the game.

Also, as we’re solidifying our rotation it’s becoming more evident that we need a third center. Kornet not having a good night or if he’s out because of an injury is too much of a setback for the team.

The other reason i’m out on Cenac is because I feel like we need a TRUE center. If you’re a big and you don’t have quick enough feet to guard the perimeter, you must at least have a presence inside. And you’re less likely to have a presence if you’re not 7’0+, 240+lbs, with wide shoulders.

My latest spurs draft preference order:

1. Ament
2. Joshua Jefferson
3. Hannes
4. Aday Mara
5. Tounde
6. Amari Allen

 

[bozhemoi]

I think I am out on Cenac… there are just long stretches where he’s invisible and making zero impact on the game.

Also, as we’re solidifying our rotation it’s becoming more evident that we need a third center. Kornet not having a good night or if he’s out because of an injury is too much of a setback for the team.

The other reason i’m out on Cenac is because I feel like we need a TRUE center. If you’re a big and you don’t have quick enough feet to guard the perimeter, you must at least have a presence inside. And you’re less likely to have a presence if you’re not 7’0+, 240+lbs, with wide shoulders.

My latest spurs draft preference order:

1. Ament
2. Joshua Johnson
3. Hannes
4. Aday Mara
5. Tounde
6. Amari Allen

Steinbach and Mara are both pretty intriguing as center prospects. Mara is super skilled and huge, almost like a Zach Edey who is not quite as good scoring around the basket but probably a better passer.

 

[OK Computer]

Steinbach and Mara are both pretty intriguing as center prospects. Mara is super skilled and huge, almost like a Zach Edey who is not quite as good scoring around the basket but probably a better passer.

I’m not so concerned about what center prospects bring offensively as much as they do defensively. Kornet has a simple job on offense, he mostly just does alley oops, layups, and nothing advanced. What makes Kornet valuable are the things he does that only centers with a big frame can do - set strong screens, cover a lot of ground in the paint to deter opponents, and use their big body as an opposing force against physical players. As far as I can tell, only Hannes and Mara are the only center prospects projected in the first round with this kind of size while having these set of fundamentals.

 

[bozhemoi]

I’m not so concerned about what center prospects bring offensively as much as they do defensively. Kornet has a simple job on offense, he mostly just does alley oops, layups, and nothing advanced. What makes Kornet valuable are the things he does that only centers with a big frame can do - set strong screens, cover a lot of ground in the paint to deter opponents, and use their big body as an opposing force against physical players. As far as I can tell, only Hannes and Mara are the only center prospects projected in the first round with this kind of size while having these set of fundamentals.

If you're using a lottery pick on a big, having multiple skills would be nice. Mara's passing suggests he could be a high post hub or initiate actions on rolls off picks.

 

[SpursBills]

Brad Stevens of the Celtics spotted in the kansas vs houston game. There’s a trade down option @SpursBills

13 for Hauser and mid 20s pick. Draft Morez Johnson Jr as your anti 5-out small ball center / enforcer / physical 4 to counter spurs biggest weakness.

Profit.

 

[mo7888]

13 for Hauser and mid 20s pick. Draft Morez Johnson Jr as your anti 5-out small ball center / enforcer / physical 4 to counter spurs biggest weakness.

Profit.

I don't hate it...

 

[spurraider21]

celtics arent trading hauser. i dont understand why people dont get this lol

 

[LeBowen]

celtics arent trading hauser. i dont understand why people dont get this lol

They literally chose him over Kornet and his contract is up until 2029. He's one of their most important role players.
40% from 3pt on 6.6 attempts and plays above average defense, bargain at $10M per year.

 

[spurraider21]

They literally chose him over Kornet and his contract is up until 2029. He's one of their most important role players.
40% from 3pt on 6.6 attempts and plays above average defense, bargain at $10M per year.

exactly. but throughought the deadline people here kept coming up with Hauser salary dump trades lol, and now this

 

[BatManu20]

I'm not giving up on Cenac because he had 2 subpar games (one of which he dominated the boards), especially when he's been playing well as of late. He's a true Freshman playing a limited role on a veteran Houston team and he still fits the stretch-big archetype that we're looking for beside Wemby. I don't necessarily think he'll end up being be the pick, but I do think he's going to be in the group of guys the Spurs are going to be seriously looking at if they keep that pick.

 

[BatManu20]

Some hyperbole here but Swain really is an interesting and unique prospect.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026024848368022005

 

[scott]

I am fully prepared to see this turn into a 20133 FRP and a couple of swaps. My body is ready.

 

[LeBowen]

I am fully prepared to see this turn into a 20133 FRP and a couple of swaps. My body is ready.

As long as it's 20133 and not 20331, we're good.

I never really cared about the draft up until these tanking years and I'm fully ready to go back to that mindset.
I'll scout the pick after we make it, can't be bothered with hoping that mid-late round picks will be the next big thing.

 

[spurraider21]

Some hyperbole here but Swain really is an interesting and unique prospect.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026024848368022005

but how many isos is Swain actually running?

also, i know we are past the point where we only need to take high upside freshmen, but always have to look at Jr/Sr breakout players with a hint of skepticism as just being physically better than their competition

 

[OK Computer]

13 for Hauser and mid 20s pick. Draft Morez Johnson Jr as your anti 5-out small ball center / enforcer / physical 4 to counter spurs biggest weakness.

Profit.

To @BatManu20 ’s post too.

I just remain unconvinced that there’s any effort (or plan for future effort) by the Spurs to address this so-called weakness. We let go of Sochan, Mamu, took Plumlee instead of any available “small ball center” as you call it. We dropped Umude for a what? Another wing-sized 4! Signing a two way of that archetype is the very minimum of what they could do to show they’re interested in that archetype. After all, if you could get a player for cheap and develop them, why wouldn’t you start there?

How long until Spurs fans stop projecting what they think the Spurs need onto the Spurs? I think if after this offseason we still didn’t get a small ball 5/ stretch-big, we all should give up that dream, right? …right?

 

[OK Computer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026113386216386782

People will watch this video and see Harper’s play only.

Avert your eyes onto Kornet and the player (#11) initially guarding Harper.

Look at how much ground (#11) lost because of Kornet’s wide body.

I think the Spurs value THIS over a stretch big who sets poor screens because of their wiry frame (or pairing them with Wemby with lackluster perimeter defense).

The Spurs are prioritizing their shot creators, and it makes their life easy when they have a true center who screens effectively, rolls to the basket, and can be reliable on defense in the paint.

I think they’re sticking with their model of 4 versatile guards and wings and 1 big.

 

[mo7888]

To @BatManu20 ’s post too.

I just remain unconvinced that there’s any effort (or plan for future effort) by the Spurs to address this so-called weakness. We let go of Sochan, Mamu, took Plumlee instead of any available “small ball center” as you call it. We dropped Umude for a what? Another wing-sized 4! Signing a two way of that archetype is the very minimum of what they could do to show they’re interested in that archetype. After all, if you could get a player for cheap and develop them, why wouldn’t you start there?

How long until Spurs fans stop projecting what they think the Spurs need onto the Spurs? I think if after this offseason we still didn’t get a small ball 5/ stretch-big, we all should give up that dream, right? …right?

When it comes to this draft and small ball C's, I think alot of what we're putting in that slot are PF's on this team. Cenac Jr for instance I see as a PF next to Wemby and not a small ball C.

 

[scott]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026113386216386782

People will watch this video and see Harper’s play only.

Avert your eyes onto Kornet and the player (#11) initially guarding Harper.

Look at how much ground (#11) lost because of Kornet’s wide body.

I think the Spurs value THIS over a stretch big who sets poor screens because of their wiry frame (or pairing them with Wemby with lackluster perimeter defense).

The Spurs are prioritizing their shot creators, and it makes their life easy when they have a true center who screens effectively, rolls to the basket, and can be reliable on defense in the paint.

I think they’re sticking with their model of 4 versatile guards and wings and 1 big.

I agree with you and this why I've saying we need to stop thinking in terms of PG/SG/SF/PF/C and more in terms of Guard/Wing/Big. It seems to me the Spurs want to play a base lineup of 2 Guards + 2 Wings + Big (2-2-1). Occasionally they go 1-3-1, 1-2-2 or 2-1-2, but it's they have a bunch of guys who fit this mold and a couple of guys who can flex across G/W (Castle, Vassell, Champ to a lesser extent) to give various looks.

I do not think we will use a lotto or even mid FRP for a third string C, and I think we're a bit full on guards, so wing in that Champ/Bryant mold probably fits best with what they'd like to have fall right into their laps on draft night... but I also think they'll prioritize good players over a perfect fit.

 

[OK Computer]

When it comes to this draft and small ball C's, I think alot of what we're putting in that slot are PF's on this team. Cenac Jr for instance I see as a PF next to Wemby and not a small ball C.

I touch on this in the post before yours and it’s somewhat of a topic on its own altogether - what you’re saying depends on the viewer’s perception of whether Cenac is a type of player who can play next to Wemby. I don’t and that’s because he has not displayed the quickness I think that’s required for that position - in the full games I’ve watched, he’s often trailing smaller players when he guards them out on the perimeter, there is a ton of blowbys that would make Bryn Forbes blush.

 

[Uncle Oscar]

I am fully prepared to see this turn into a 20133 FRP and a couple of swaps. My body is ready.

This is literally exactly what I told a Spurs buddy today.

 

[Correct Crusader]

I am fully prepared to see this turn into a 20133 FRP and a couple of swaps. My body is ready.

I think the available talent is too good to pass up imo.

 

[SpursBills]

When it comes to this draft and small ball C's, I think alot of what we're putting in that slot are PF's on this team. Cenac Jr for instance I see as a PF next to Wemby and not a small ball C.

I think @OK Computer makes some excellent points, and this gets at the heart of a bigger discussion, of whether it's better to go with one style and try and dictate that on your opponents, or whether it's better to have multiple pieces you can mix and match to either better exploit opponent weaknesses or prevent opponents from exploiting yours. As he and @scott said, it looks like right now the preferred configuration is 1 giant center playing drop who can do big person things with four guys 6'5-6'8 who can switch across positions. In that scenario it looks like Mara and his 13% block rate would work best. The alternative to this is to have one guy who fills multiple roles (occasional starting PF, sometimes backup PF, sometimes backup C) to guard against two big lineups in the future (somebody to handle guys like Gobert-Randle, Kat-MitchRob, Sengun-Adams, etc.). Or a faster, mobile guy who can guard against 5-out Warriors style lineups, which will be at least one way that teams try and counter Wemby in the future. Whether Cenac or Morez or anyone else in this draft can fill all those roles is another discussion, but it's an interesting question: Do you lean into your strengths and risk not having a counter to something new, or try and future-proof against something that might not even happen?

The correct answer to this is probably just the simple one: just take the players who you think will be good in the future.

 

[bozhemoi]

I'd be ecstatic for a later pick and swaps if we're around 12 or 14 or whatever. This draft is getting pretty overrated and there are no players of the archetype that really sing in that area right now. I'd be happy to take a Steinbach but getting more assets is more attractive right now. We haven't even really integrated Bryant and Harper in yet.

 

[OK Computer]

I'd be ecstatic for a later pick and swaps if we're around 12 or 14 or whatever. This draft is getting pretty overrated and there are no players of the archetype that really sing in that area right now. I'd be happy to take a Steinbach but getting more assets is more attractive right now. We haven't even really integrated Bryant and Harper in yet.

The last sentence is key to my response to @scott ‘s point about drafting a third center. If you think about it, CB is currently a “third wing”. And so if you look at it from those lens, the timeline for a center if we draft one fits pretty nicely. Kornet is not a young man, let’s say he’s still in the same shape next year as this year. But I think a decline will be evident by the rookie’s year 2 (2027-2028 season) and that’s when he can start being phased out by the center we draft this year.

And that’s ignoring the possibility that Wemby or Kornet next year miss significant time due to injury (or maybe even rest games as luxury because our good team evolved to great). By then, it’s not really like having a third center but a pretty damn talented one that we drafted in the teens of the first round.