Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[Mugen]

Give it up buddy, we're not picking top 3

Not even simpin' for DP to the Spurs. I just think he's the best prospect in the draft and should be #1 pick tbh.

 

[BatManu20]

New No Ceilings Big Board.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029220811664400519

 

[BatManu20]

Lol.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029213705070653867

 

[Mugen]

Whole family has jokes tbh

 

[Ariel]

Witty answer, but in all jokes there's a bit of truth... I was working under the assumption he'd love to go to the Spurs, but I wonder if he'd prefer to go elsewhere rather than being under Vic's (massive) shadow.

 

[BatManu20]

New BR Mock has us taking Ament 14th Overall. Can't see him lasting that long though.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029293139488321779

 

[Ariel]

Nah, Ament probably goes top 10 over some of the guards mock there, I wish they all went top 10 to push back players Spurs can use but they won't and rightly so.

 

[BatManu20]

Need to start seriously considering Rueben Chinyelu with one of our 2nd Round Picks. Big, strong, physical 6'11 265 lb Center with a massive 7'8 wingspan who's one of the best defensive big men in CBB this season and who's a monster on the glass (currently top-15 in both Offensive AND Defensive Rebounding %). If you watch college hoops then you know who he is. He was a big part of their National Championship team last season. Won't give you much offensively outside of lobs, put-backs, and the occasional jump-hook, but he'd give us some much needed size, rebounding, and shot-blocking on the interior. Solid Bismack replacement tbh.

vs. Tennessee: 16 pts, 17 rbs, 1 blk, 2 stls
vs. Vanderbilt: 20 pts, 10 rbs, 3 blks,
vs. Oklahoma: 19 pts, 12 rbs, 1 blk
vs. S. Carolina: 15 pts, 17 rbs, 1 blk
vs. Alabama: 14 pts, 17 rbs, 2 blks, 2 stls
vs. Florida State: 10 pts, 16 rbs, 1 blk
vs. Arkanas: 12 pts, 16 rbs, 2 blks, 2 stls
vs. Merrimack: 14 pts, 21 rbs, 2 blks, 2 stls

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019956573917835546

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018037156036628800

 

[Ariel]

^Yeah, definitely one of the bigs I had in mind in the 2nd round, depending on what we do in the first

 

[Bruno]

In the 2025 draft, only 4 college early entrants were drafted in the second round. On these 4 players, 2 (Flemming at #31 and Thiero at #36) were on the bubble to be first round picks. NIL money has just changed everything for second round picks.

Some mock drafts have currently more than half of their second round filled with college underclassmen. It makes no sense at all in the current college financial landscape.

Given that, I'm only looking at seniors as 2nd round picks targets for Spurs. It's less fun but more realistic.

 

[WFO]

I don’t watch cbb, but remember Chinyelu from the tourney last year. Beast. Do want.

 

[SpursBills]

I'm actually surprised I don't hear Johann Grunloh's name brought up more as a backup center possibility, since he seems to possess a ton of the skillsets that the Spurs are looking for -

- Listed at 7'0 (so probably 6'10-6'11 barefoot), current freshman but sophomore aged (20.8 on draft night)
- Shotblocking - top 5 in the country among high majors in BLK% at 12.2%; functions as a high level rim protector
- Unlike other less mobile shotblockers, is relatively mobile relative to his size, excels in drop by can also do a credible job defending at the level
- Rebounding - top 30 among high majors in OREB% at 13
- Legit stretch center potential - shooting 35% from 3 on the season and 39% in conference play on about 2 attempts / game

This isn't exactly new either, as he was showing pretty similar skills in Bundesliga last year

Spurs seem to like running defenses with one high level rim protector and a bunch of multipositional switchable defenders surrounding him
They seem to like running inverted offenses with smalls pressuring the rim and bigger players with some shooting ability

When viewed in this light, Grunloh (not listed on Tankathon mock, not listed on nbadraftroom mock, not listed on Wasserman mock, #57 on ESPN mock draft) checks the vast majority of what the Spurs need; he probably comes back for next season due to NIL, but it's at least worth a discussion re whether he's a decent fit

 

[CGD]

In the 2025 draft, only 4 college early entrants were drafted in the second round. On these 4 players, 2 (Flemming at #31 and Thiero at #36) were on the bubble to be first round picks. NIL money has just changed everything for second round picks.

Some mock drafts have currently more than half of their second round filled with college underclassmen. It makes no sense at all in the current college financial landscape.

Given that, I'm only looking at seniors as 2nd round picks targets for Spurs. It's less fun but more realistic.

Exactly. This is the place for the Alex Karabans of the world. Upperclassmen from elite programs.

 

[OK Computer]

Houston v Baylor right now

Cenac appears to have been moved to the bench by his coach

 

[onechance87]

Houston v Baylor right now

Cenac appears to have been moved to the bench by his coach

damn lets see how he responds...Hopefully it motivates him.

 

[Uriel]

Why aren’t Yaxel and Haugh getting more attention in this thread? They seem to fit exactly the archetype of player the Spurs need right now.

 

[Uriel]

Why aren’t Yaxel and Haugh getting more attention in this thread? They seem to fit exactly the archetype of player the Spurs need right now.

Just kidding, I know why. They’re old.

 

[spurraider21]

Why aren’t Yaxel and Haugh getting more attention in this thread? They seem to fit exactly the archetype of player the Spurs need right now.

Age

 

[Ariel]

I'm actually surprised I don't hear Johann Grunloh's name brought up more as a backup center possibility, since he seems to possess a ton of the skillsets that the Spurs are looking for -

- Listed at 7'0 (so probably 6'10-6'11 barefoot), current freshman but sophomore aged (20.8 on draft night)
- Shotblocking - top 5 in the country among high majors in BLK% at 12.2%; functions as a high level rim protector
- Unlike other less mobile shotblockers, is relatively mobile relative to his size, excels in drop by can also do a credible job defending at the level
- Rebounding - top 30 among high majors in OREB% at 13
- Legit stretch center potential - shooting 35% from 3 on the season and 39% in conference play on about 2 attempts / game

This isn't exactly new either, as he was showing pretty similar skills in Bundesliga last year

Spurs seem to like running defenses with one high level rim protector and a bunch of multipositional switchable defenders surrounding him
They seem to like running inverted offenses with smalls pressuring the rim and bigger players with some shooting ability

When viewed in this light, Grunloh (not listed on Tankathon mock, not listed on nbadraftroom mock, not listed on Wasserman mock, #57 on ESPN mock draft) checks the vast majority of what the Spurs need; he probably comes back for next season due to NIL, but it's at least worth a discussion re whether he's a decent fit

Can't say I'm familiar with his game, but sure, why not. For the most part, a center with size, length, motor, not brain-dead, somewhat coordinated and productive is a good bet to at least be a rotation player. This is the kind of bet that I'd like the Spurs to use their 12-15 roster spots on, say add 1/2 of these a year on a 4 year deal (2 years guaranteed), if they're clear busts it's a 2 year commitment and you can use them as salary ballast as early as year 2 so it's not as bad as it seems. Problem arises when you need multiple years to weed them out (the Blake Wesleys and Cissokos of the world) but if you take productive upperclassmen and rotate quickly (like OKC does) you can probably find a rotation player every couple of years. Better than Biyombo, Waters or Olynyk TBH.

 

[onechance87]

Why aren’t Yaxel and Haugh getting more attention in this thread? They seem to fit exactly the archetype of player the Spurs need right now.

Yaxel for sure...But his age and inconsitent shooting is dropping them both imo.

 

[OK Computer]

Updated draft preference, based around talent + fit + personality:

1. Ament - I’ll keep him here on this list on the off-chance he drops
2. Haugh - off-ball activity on offense is what I look for in players and he has it in spades. Winning pedigree will probably play a factor too.
3. Carr - above the next two based on his talent alone
4. Joshua Jefferson - just a uniquely talented passer that will keep him at the top half of my lists
5. Zuby Ejiofor - another new addition.
6. Amari Allen - has had some poor games lately so he might drop if it continues
7. Hannes
8. Mara
9. Tounde - my guy has fallen so far. He is more of a home run swing kind of pick.

Not sold on:
-Watched more of Morez but I just can’t see it. Not enough activity without the ball on offense. Compared to someone like Zuby who is also known for defensive versatility, Morez’s tendencies on offense mirror an undersized C who prefers to roam the paint. I think Zuby has way more hope of being functional in the Spurs offense.
-Yaxel - not a personality fit with Mitch
-Karim - not a personality fit with Mitch
-Cenac - just a tweener in the worst way, also too passive
-Swain - not a basketball fit with the guards we already have. He’ll shine somewhere else
-Peat - we don’t need another hopelessly bad shooter

 

[Vienna]

Morez comes with a lot of baggage in person of his wannabe VIP father, who was the driving force in the Illinois dramas.
constantly complaining to coaches about son's role, showing up at practices, bashing team mates etc.
and Morez jr. isn't immune to this. he fought a hate war with Ivisic and took it on social media. his dad was taking video from practises, when Morez destroit big T and posted those on Insta etc.
the "Ivish*t" Insta post from Yaxel is likely a product from the Morez&Morez influence. we don't want another uncle, right?

 

[Vienna]

I'm warming up to the idea of just picking the best shooter available, no matter his position. when the Spurs pick in the mid teens, that might be Anderson.

or Stirtz, and yes, he is an older prospect. on the other hand, it's a bit like when the C's draftet Pritchard.
they didn't need another back court player back then and the pick was criticised by many fans and experts.
but they just took the best shooter available and trusted the odds, that he will find his niche. he did.

 

[eric365]

Spurs have 3 2nd round pick.
With the current standing, it would be #35, #41 and #45

Would they keep at least the #35? or at least swap them for futur 2nd rounder?

 

[Exstatic]

Spurs have 3 2nd round pick.
With the current standing, it would be #35, #41 and #45

Would they keep at least the #35? or at least swap them for futur 2nd rounder?

What they’ve been doing is cashing out the best pick, and either using or kicking the others down the road.