Draft 2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

[OK Computer]

I didn't say he was. Sochan is a non shooter, Haugh is a poor one.

I also didn't suggest they should focus on a McDermott like specialist.

That was before they had a championship contender. Now they do, so the focus should and probably will shift to filling specific needs.

By pointing out that Haugh is “less likely to be a spacer” and then immediately saying the Spurs now need to fill specific needs, it kind of implies that spacing from that position is the main thing you’re prioritizing. Otherwise the point about him not becoming a spacer wouldn’t really matter. That either leans toward wanting a specialist shooter there, or it suggests that the other things Haugh brings aren’t really valued for this team.

And that’s the part I find hard to square, because the things Haugh actually does well are exactly the kinds of traits Spurs fans usually say they want. He has size, versatility, defensive awareness, and a strong feel for the game. Those are qualities the team has emphasized for years now. So dismissing him mainly because he might not develop into a high level spacer seems to overlook a lot of the areas where he already fits what the team tends to value.

 

[DTW]

What do you view as the current biggest needs for the team that can be addressed via draft and who do you like within the spurs range (or can be reasonably obtained with draft capital) to address those needs?

As ideal as it'd be to get a four or big who can space, there's not an obvious candidate, so I think guard or wing shooters like Mullins and Carr could be in play more than most probably think or hope.

It's two-fold: One, I think they'll address the immediate rotational PF need with someone like Hachimura and two, Fox will likely be traded in two years tops, so eventually rotational minutes will open up on the perimeter. In the meantime, they'd address the need for better Vassell/Champagnie insurance.

By pointing out that Haugh is “less likely to be a spacer” and then immediately saying the Spurs now need to fill specific needs, it kind of implies that spacing from that position is the main thing you’re prioritizing.

The main thing, sure, but not at the expense of them being a defensive liability.

 

[BatManu20]

Rueben Chinyelu with 13 pts, 8 rbs, 1 blk, 1 stl today.

Flory Bidunga with 13 pts, 5 rbs, 4 blks, 2 stls today.

Give me either guy in the 2nd Round as our 3rd string Center next year and I'll be a happy camper tbh.

 

[Uriel]

Henri Veesar anyone?

 

[pad300]

@OK Computer .
I think you're arguing a strawman when you say "The argument keeps coming back to size."

I think everyone agrees Haugh plays very hard; he's ferocious. You say he's "a freak athlete" (I'd suggest he's an NBA athlete, sure, but freaks in NBA terms are really freaky...). He has NBA size. He plays minutes (33 MPG). He's 23 playing against college kids (and wasn't some late starter - he played both AAU and High School B-ball). But his production is pedestrian (for the minutes). WHY?

To me, the profile says he's not very skilled (and at 23, he's old enough that he's unlikely to take a jump in skill development). What makes you think that's going to work out when he steps up to the NBA? He'll be facing more skill, size and better athletes...

@OK Computer

Knock knock...

 

[BatManu20]

Henri Veesar anyone?

Another intriguing older prospect. Will be 22 on draft night. Can really shoot the 3-ball (41% on 3 attempts per). He's really improved this season after transferrin to UNC form Arizona. Talented offensive player (I wish Kornet played like him tbh) but he offers little-to-no rim protection. Needs to get a lot stronger too. I think he'll end up being a late FRP assuming he shoots it well at the combine.

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030432187028283811

 

[BatManu20]

Would be the perfect fit beside Wemby. Would need some insane lottery luck to have a shot at him though tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030459736609730736

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030431857054044540

 

[STAT88]

Boozer is like a mix of Kevin Love and Blake Griffin tbh. He’s gonna be elite offensively. Just don’t expect too much defensively.

 

[BatManu20]

Boozer is like a mix of Kevin Love and Blake Griffin tbh. He’s gonna be elite offensively. Just don’t expect too much defensively.

That's why he'd be the perfect fit beside Wemby, who could help cover some of his defensive shortcomings. He's a great 3PT shooter, an elite rebounder, and has a nice back-to-the-basket game when he he sees a mismatch. Seamless fit on this team tbh. Wish we had a shot at him.

 

[BatManu20]

Big game from Koa tonight. If only he could shoot the 3.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030529362341384573

 

[bozhemoi]

The guy catching my eye for Arizona is Brayden Burries. Good defender alongside being an outside threat. Too small for a wing, though, but is the kind we'd need off the bench.

 

[Robz4000]

Would be the perfect fit beside Wemby. Would need some insane lottery luck to have a shot at him though tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030459736609730736

Boozer is like a mix of Kevin Love and Blake Griffin tbh. He’s gonna be elite offensively. Just don’t expect too much defensively.

That's why he'd be the perfect fit beside Wemby, who could help cover some of his defensive shortcomings. He's a great 3PT shooter, an elite rebounder, and has a nice back-to-the-basket game when he he sees a mismatch. Seamless fit on this team tbh. Wish we had a shot at him.

Starting to feel the opposite tbh. Not sure how Boozer would fit defensively on the Spurs and I think he'd get in Castle/Harper's way when he isn't on the 3-pt line (which would waste his talent). If the Spurs luck into a top pick and Dybansta is off the board I'd trade down to hopefully take Wilson or just accrue more draft assets to replenish the team down the line.

 

[BatManu20]

Starting to feel the opposite tbh. Not sure how Boozer would fit defensively on the Spurs and I think he'd get in Castle/Harper's way when he isn't on the 3-pt line (which would waste his talent). If the Spurs luck into a top pick and Dybansta is off the board I'd trade down to hopefully take Wilson or just accrue more draft assets to replenish the team down the line.

How would be get in the way when he's a great 3-point shooter? He'd likely just stand in the corner just like Barnes does on offensive possessions where Castle/Harper/Fox are at the top of the key with the ball. He'd give us a big-bodied rebounder beside Wemby though which we sorely need. He's a great passer, has a high bball IQ, is unselfish, has an NBA pedigree obv, is high-character, etc. He has all the intangibles on top of the size and talent. I think it'd be a no-brainer pick tbh. We most likely won't even have the chance to draft him so the point is prob moot, but I think he'd fit in seamlessly here.

Wilson would also be a home run pick and would definitely offer more defensive versatility and rim protection, but his offensive game is a lot less polished and less refined than Boozer's, and much like Wemby, he's built like a twig. Couldn't go wrong with either though. Hopefully we get some lottery luck and find ourselves in position to make that call tbh.

 

[Robz4000]

How would be get in the way when he's a great 3-point shooter? He'd likely just stand in the corner just like Barnes does on offensive possessions where Castle/Harper/Fox are at the top of the key with the ball. He'd give us a big-bodied rebounder beside Wemby though which we sorely need. He's a great passer, has a high bball IQ, is unselfish, has an NBA pedigree obv, is high-character, etc. He has all the intangibles on top of the size and talent. I think it'd be a no-brainer pick tbh. We most likely won't even have the chance to draft him so the point is prob moot, but I think he'd fit in seamlessly here.

Wilson would also be a home run pick and would definitely offer more defensive versatility and rim protection, but his offensive game is a lot less polished and less refined than Boozer's, and much like Wemby, he's built like a twig. Couldn't go wrong with either though. Hopefully we get some lottery luck and find ourselves in position to make that call tbh.

He plays a lot like Timmy did back in the day; not a knock on him at all obviously but on a team with a lot of mouths to feed he'd require too many touches imo. His high BBIQ would make it work on offense assuming Castle/Harper become decent 3-pt shooters and with their already elite abilities to cut, but it'd reduce Wemby to a spacer. On defense he wouldn't be able to cover the perimeter which would take Wemby out of the paint, which is the Spurs' biggest achilles heel defensively right now. I wouldn't hate taking him at all if the opportunity presented itself since at worst he could be an instant bucket-getter like Keldon with better size to guard the paint, but he wouldn't make Wemby's life easier on defense.

Another thing to consider is if Wemby isn't able to sustain heavy minutes over the long haul. In that case Boozer makes a lot of sense.

 

[OK Computer]

@OK Computer .
I think you're arguing a strawman when you say "The argument keeps coming back to size."

I think everyone agrees Haugh plays very hard; he's ferocious. You say he's "a freak athlete" (I'd suggest he's an NBA athlete, sure, but freaks in NBA terms are really freaky...). He has NBA size. He plays minutes (33 MPG). He's 23 playing against college kids (and wasn't some late starter - he played both AAU and High School B-ball). But his production is pedestrian (for the minutes). WHY?

To me, the profile says he's not very skilled (and at 23, he's old enough that he's unlikely to take a jump in skill development). What makes you think that's going to work out when he steps up to the NBA? He'll be facing more skill, size and better athletes...

When you say his “production is pedestrian,” that feels like looking mostly at the stat line. But if you watch how he’s actually being used, there’s a reason his coach is playing him so many minutes a night and struggling to take him off the floor. Coaches usually don’t do that for players who aren’t impacting the game.

I actually had a similar view a week or two ago and started watching him more closely and asking why he stays on the floor so much. What stood out is that Haugh is the kind of player who synergizes with everyone around him. He spaces the floor, keeps the ball moving, plays with activity, defends multiple actions, and generally keeps possessions flowing. He’s not in there to put up 20 points or rack up 10 rebounds every night. His impact is more about how the team functions when he’s out there.

It reminds me a bit of what Castle does for the Spurs. His value isn’t just in the box score, it’s the tone he sets defensively and the way that lifts the group. Remember last season when the Spurs constantly came out flat in the first quarter? That changed once Castle started setting the defensive tone. Some players influence the game in ways that don’t always show up as big statistical production, but coaches clearly value it because it affects how the whole unit plays.

 

[OK Computer]

He plays a lot like Timmy did back in the day; not a knock on him at all obviously but on a team with a lot of mouths to feed he'd require too many touches imo. His high BBIQ would make it work on offense assuming Castle/Harper become decent 3-pt shooters and with their already elite abilities to cut, but it'd reduce Wemby to a spacer. On defense he wouldn't be able to cover the perimeter which would take Wemby out of the paint, which is the Spurs' biggest achilles heel defensively right now. I wouldn't hate taking him at all if the opportunity presented itself since at worst he could be an instant bucket-getter like Keldon with better size to guard the paint, but he wouldn't make Wemby's life easier on defense.

Another thing to consider is if Wemby isn't able to sustain heavy minutes over the long haul. In that case Boozer makes a lot of sense.

This guy gets it! He’s looking at how players actually fit and work with each other on the court (not just stat lines), which is something that often gets overlooked. Who are your preferred prospects in our range right now?

 

[Robz4000]

This guy gets it! He’s looking at how players actually fit and work with each other on the court (not just stat lines), which is something that often gets overlooked. Who are your preferred prospects in our range right now?

Depends on what CB shows the rest of the way tbh. Spurs' most obvious need is a large PF that can defend and shoot but if CB continues to shine then I'd draft a big like PNII or trade the pick.

 

[Exstatic]

He plays a lot like Timmy did back in the day; not a knock on him at all obviously but on a team with a lot of mouths to feed he'd require too many touches imo. His high BBIQ would make it work on offense assuming Castle/Harper become decent 3-pt shooters and with their already elite abilities to cut, but it'd reduce Wemby to a spacer. On defense he wouldn't be able to cover the perimeter which would take Wemby out of the paint, which is the Spurs' biggest achilles heel defensively right now. I wouldn't hate taking him at all if the opportunity presented itself since at worst he could be an instant bucket-getter like Keldon with better size to guard the paint, but he wouldn't make Wemby's life easier on defense.

Another thing to consider is if Wemby isn't able to sustain heavy minutes over the long haul. In that case Boozer makes a lot of sense.

Yeah, well you,probably would have said not to pick Harper last year,too.

You pick the talent and you figure it out.

 

[Bruno]

Most of the projected mid first round picks are quite straightforward to evaluate with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

The difficult part is how these players could help Spurs. Spurs might have their main 9 players rotation set until 2029 with Fox, Castle, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama, Harper, Johnson, Bryant and Kornet. Right now, there isn't a single player among these 9 ones who should be kicked out of the rotation. Will Spurs use a mid first round pick on a player who won't be on the main rotation for 3 years ?

Right now, Spurs trading their pick for a 2013213 first seems to be most likely scenario for this draft. It might change with what Playoffs will reveal about Spurs and/or Spurs are especially high on a player.

 

[Exstatic]

Depends on what CB shows the rest of the way tbh. Spurs' most obvious need is a large PF that can defend and shoot but if CB continues to shine then I'd draft a big like PNII or trade the pick.

I’m one item,off from you. I see the need as a large PF who can shoot and REBOUND. In my mind, his defense just has to be neutral.

 

[100%Duncan]

Most of the projected mid first round picks are quite straightforward to evaluate with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

The difficult part is how these players could help Spurs. Spurs might have their main 9 players rotation set until 2029 with Fox, Castle, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama, Harper, Johnson, Bryant and Kornet. Right now, there isn't a single player among these 9 ones who should be kicked out of the rotation. Will Spurs use a mid first round pick on a player who won't be on the main rotation for 3 years ?

Right now, Spurs trading their pick for a 2013213 first seems to be most likely scenario for this draft. It might change with what Playoffs will reveal about Spurs and/or Spurs are especially high on a player.

I don’t think Kornet is a shoe-in 2029 rotational player. And we might lose Vassell once his contract expires in that year if he continues to be a top tier role player/4th option.

Harper may be too good in 2 years and Fox may be the odd-man out, etc.

 

[CGD]

Most of the projected mid first round picks are quite straightforward to evaluate with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

The difficult part is how these players could help Spurs. Spurs might have their main 9 players rotation set until 2029 with Fox, Castle, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama, Harper, Johnson, Bryant and Kornet. Right now, there isn't a single player among these 9 ones who should be kicked out of the rotation. Will Spurs use a mid first round pick on a player who won't be on the main rotation for 3 years ?

Right now, Spurs trading their pick for a 2013213 first seems to be most likely scenario for this draft. It might change with what Playoffs will reveal about Spurs and/or Spurs are especially high on a player.

You know this world better than me, but seems like the salary crunch will be the big factor in keeping that group together long term. In that world it makes sense to think about using the pick to think about developing a “replacement.”

Just as an example: If the Spurs think they’ll need to move Keldon within the next 2 years, it might make sense for them to draft someone like Karim Lopez, who to me, profiles very similarly. He’s currently in the range.

The other scenario is packaging it up with some other stuff to overpay for TM3 as a Devin replacement. But honestly, Devin has really leveled up that I don’t think that makes sense right now.

 

[Vienna]

Most of the projected mid first round picks are quite straightforward to evaluate with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

The difficult part is how these players could help Spurs. Spurs might have their main 9 players rotation set until 2029 with Fox, Castle, Vassell, Champagnie, Wembanyama, Harper, Johnson, Bryant and Kornet. Right now, there isn't a single player among these 9 ones who should be kicked out of the rotation. Will Spurs use a mid first round pick on a player who won't be on the main rotation for 3 years ?

Right now, Spurs trading their pick for a 2013213 first seems to be most likely scenario for this draft. It might change with what Playoffs will reveal about Spurs and/or Spurs are especially high on a player.

I would agree to this view, if the Spurs won this years championship. If not, then there will have been something they lacked. They might trust the development potential of those nine players. But in the PO they might also find out the hard way, that the roster has holes that don't disapear with the growth of some players.
I agree that there is a good chance they don't use the pick to add another project and projects usually don't help to close a hole immediately. (well, Kawhi did, so it's not totally impossible).
Spurs are in a perfect position to make a trade. If I had to bet, I would put my money on a trade including the pick, to adress whatever they found out was the main reason for the PO out.