2026 NBA Draft thread

2weekswithpay · Post #141 » by **2weekswithpay** » Thu Dec 25, 2025 2:32 pm

wolffy wrote:
2weekswithpay wrote:I wonder what the NBA/NCAA will do about this in the future.

Read on Twitter

Why is he allowed back in the NCAA? Was just he never signed a pro contract or something? Im unfamiliar with the situation.

He never signed an NBA contract and continued to play overseas.

Bulls Fan 23 · Post #142 » by **Bulls Fan 23** » Thu Dec 25, 2025 7:49 pm

VolumePoster wrote:This is one of the more stacked drafts I can recall. High to end talent and good depth. A second FRP would be a godsend.

I agree. Also get some second round picks. There will be some players that fall.

But our GM doesn't value second round picks.

Guru · Post #143 » by **Guru** » Fri Dec 26, 2025 12:16 am

WesPeace wrote:
Guru wrote:
WesPeace wrote:

Yeah I agree..he was on my shortlist as well! Maybe we can get him one year later - Buzelis and Yaxel duo at wing spots would be freaking awesome.

Do people not know what the wing spots are? I see this misquoted a lot.

My bad, it was 5am here lol.. forward spots

Youre not the only one. I see it thrown out all the time

Rose2Boozer · Post #144 » by **Rose2Boozer** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:00 am

A clear lottery talent in my opinion.

Watch on YouTube

TheSuzerain · Post #145 » by **TheSuzerain** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 6:39 pm

Feel like there's a clear top 7.

Boozer
Dybantsa
Peterson
Caleb Wilson
Yaxel
Steinbach
Flemings

Chi town · Post #146 » by **Chi town** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 6:57 pm

TheSuzerain wrote:Feel like there's a clear top 7.

Boozer
Dybantsa
Peterson
Caleb Wilson
Yaxel
Steinbach
Flemings

Q will be in there.

Yaxel prob earliest is 8 due to age. Steinbeck too due to athletic profile.

TheSuzerain · Post #147 » by **TheSuzerain** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:07 pm

Q is a horrendous shooter and injured. Not a top tier prospect.

Chi town · Post #148 » by **Chi town** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 7:14 pm

TheSuzerain wrote:Q is a horrendous shooter and injured. Not a top tier prospect.

He’s a freak athlete with crazy measurables and was elite as a 17 year old defensively at ASU. Hes Jalen Duren with more juice and size.

Last week in his first game back from an ACL.

https://youtube.com/shorts/f5hOfA7nfEk?si=WyvqQ79sv5tcNGSh

I think he goes 5 after DP AJ Boozer Caleb.

TheSuzerain · Post #149 » by **TheSuzerain** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:20 pm

You have to be clinically blind to think he has more size than Duren.

He's too small to play center.

Post #150 » by **DuckIII** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 9:32 pm

Bulls Fan 23 wrote:
VolumePoster wrote:This is one of the more stacked drafts I can recall. High to end talent and good depth. A second FRP would be a godsend.

I agree. Also get some second round picks. There will be some players that fall.

But our GM doesn't value second round picks.

Or first round picks.

wolffy · Post #151 » by **wolffy** » Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:17 pm

DuckIII wrote:
Bulls Fan 23 wrote:
VolumePoster wrote:This is one of the more stacked drafts I can recall. High to end talent and good depth. A second FRP would be a godsend.

I agree. Also get some second round picks. There will be some players that fall.

But our GM doesn't value second round picks.

Or first round picks.

If you were as bad at drafting as AKME, you wouldn't value the picks either.

Jvaughn · Post #152 » by **Jvaughn** » Sun Dec 28, 2025 12:29 am

Rose2Boozer wrote:A clear lottery talent in my opinion.

Watch on YouTube

Agreed. Definitely undervalued, and I hope he stays under the Raydar. Looking like mid first now, but with tourney and workouts, I can definitely see 8-14 range. Can defend the paint as well as stretch the floor. Would be potentially be a huge upgrade over Vuc if he reaches his potential.

GuardianEnzo · Post #153 » by **GuardianEnzo** » Sun Dec 28, 2025 1:38 am

I'm just going to dream on Yaxel until it doesn't happen. At least a few teams are going to stupidly pass on him because the NBA is obsessed with age. He's a stud.

WesPeace · Post #154 » by **WesPeace** » Sun Dec 28, 2025 7:57 am

TheSuzerain wrote:You have to be clinically blind to think he has more size than Duren.

He's too small to play center.

He is 18.5yrs old, maybe he grows a little bit more. He isnt that tall, somewhere between 6'9 - 6'10, but strong, big frame, big wingspan.. he can easily play center in modern NBA.

Muzbar · Post #155 » by **Muzbar** » Sun Dec 28, 2025 8:06 am

Jvaughn wrote:
Rose2Boozer wrote:A clear lottery talent in my opinion.

Watch on YouTube

Agreed. Definitely undervalued, and I hope he stays under the Raydar. Looking like mid first now, but with tourney and workouts, I can definitely see 8-14 range. Can defend the paint as well as stretch the floor. Would be potentially be a huge upgrade over Vuc if he reaches his potential.

The guy looks good, stretches the floor, scores down low not much of a rim protector though and he'll be 22 when he's drafted.

He'll likely be available when the Bulls pick (11-16) mostly due to his age.

I think I'll add him to my short list.

TheSuzerain · Post #156 » by **TheSuzerain** » Sun Dec 28, 2025 2:17 pm

WesPeace wrote:
TheSuzerain wrote:You have to be clinically blind to think he has more size than Duren.

He's too small to play center.

He is 18.5yrs old, maybe he grows a little bit more. He isnt that tall, somewhere between 6'9 - 6'10, but strong, big frame, big wingspan.. he can easily play center in modern NBA.

Not well enough to be a top tier prospect.

He was oddly hyped preseason despite being a sub 50% FT shooter.

Almost Retired · Post #157 » by **Almost Retired** » Sun Dec 28, 2025 8:22 pm

Jvaughn wrote:
Rose2Boozer wrote:A clear lottery talent in my opinion.

Watch on YouTube

Agreed. Definitely undervalued, and I hope he stays under the Raydar. Looking like mid first now, but with tourney and workouts, I can definitely see 8-14 range. Can defend the paint as well as stretch the floor. Would be potentially be a huge upgrade over Vuc if he reaches his potential.

In the many Mock Simulations I've done we always seem to pick 13th and the BPA for our needs that's almost always available there is Chris Cenac. Now I like Veesaar a lot. He mocks in the low 20s. I'd be in favor of a trade down if we can find a trading partner in order to pick up a 2nd rounder we previously squandered. Then I'd hope that Sergio de Larrea would drop far enough for us to grab him. For his elite 3 pt shot making if nothing else. We can always use more shooters. That would be my favored outcome. Veesaar and a shooter in the 2nd round. But please no more skinny tweener forwards that can't shoot or rebound. Or guards that can't defend.

Chi town · Post #158 » by **Chi town** » Mon Dec 29, 2025 4:21 pm

TheSuzerain wrote:
WesPeace wrote:
TheSuzerain wrote:You have to be clinically blind to think he has more size than Duren.

He's too small to play center.

He is 18.5yrs old, maybe he grows a little bit more. He isnt that tall, somewhere between 6'9 - 6'10, but strong, big frame, big wingspan.. he can easily play center in modern NBA.

Not well enough to be a top tier prospect.

He was oddly hyped preseason despite being a sub 50% FT shooter.

Kid played his freshman season at 17. Youngest in all of D1.

He’s 6’10.5 255 and his wingspan is reportedly 7’3.

Duren is 6’10 250.

Don’t know what you are talking about.

2weekswithpay · Post #159 » by **2weekswithpay** » Mon Dec 29, 2025 10:21 pm

Read on Twitter

Better image for those who don't use Twitter.

Spoiler:

drosestruts · Post #160 » by **drosestruts** » Mon Dec 29, 2025 10:39 pm

It's almost the new year. Can't wait for the annual declarations that this is a deep draft full of talent.

Death, Taxes, and NBA Fans falling in love with every crop of new players