2026 NBA Draft (Part I)

[djFan71]

Ben Pfeifer, draft analyst, has a new mock draft on Sportscasting:
https://www.sportscasting.com/news/nba-mock-draft-2026-the-number-one-pick-race-is-wide-open/

A few new names of interest. Another center in Moreno in the 1st is good for us.
I like Joshua Jefferson some, I feel he'll rise on other mocks as well. Keaton Wagler too. I wouldn't hate getting 2 of Jefferson, Wagler, Veesaar draft. Heck, possibly all 3 if the than 2nd second stays high enough. Not super ambitious or drool worthy, but could be solid.

Super early, though, these aren't officially my dudes yet. Just staking some early claims, lol.

[djFan71]

We're currently projected to have the 22nd pick.

Here's my board (my personal rankings) in the 11-22 range:

Trey McKenney
Labaron Philon
Cameron Carr
Yaxel Lendeborg
Thomas Haugh
Neoklis Avdalas
Tounde Yessoufou
Christian Anderson
Isaiah Evans
Hannes Steinbach
Bennett Stirtz
Flory Bidunga

Steinbach would be interesting if we elect to go with a big. Celtics like bigs who can pass and have high feel..he checks that box. Has some shooting potential too..I bet Celtics staff looks at him and thinks they can help develop his shooting more.

Plus he's from Germany..we have had 2 German bigs on our roster in recent years (Theis and Moe Wagner) plus we had a German guard - Dennis Schroeder.

He's someone to keep an eye on..I think he goes 1st round but not in the top 10..so he could be a possibility..

I liked Hannes early, now I'm guessing he doesn't last to us.
I like a lot of those guys on your list. Will have to checkout Trey soon.

[Hal14]

We're currently projected to have the 22nd pick.

Here's my board (my personal rankings) in the 11-22 range:

Trey McKenney
Labaron Philon
Cameron Carr
Yaxel Lendeborg
Thomas Haugh
Neoklis Avdalas
Tounde Yessoufou
Christian Anderson
Isaiah Evans
Hannes Steinbach
Bennett Stirtz
Flory Bidunga

Steinbach would be interesting if we elect to go with a big. Celtics like bigs who can pass and have high feel..he checks that box. Has some shooting potential too..I bet Celtics staff looks at him and thinks they can help develop his shooting more.

Plus he's from Germany..we have had 2 German bigs on our roster in recent years (Theis and Moe Wagner) plus we had a German guard - Dennis Schroeder.

He's someone to keep an eye on..I think he goes 1st round but not in the top 10..so he could be a possibility..

I liked Hannes early, now I'm guessing he doesn't last to us.
I like a lot of those guys on your list. Will have to checkout Trey soon.

Good chance Steinbach goes before our pick if we're at 22. But at the same time, I also wouldn't be that surprised if he's still on the board at 22. ESPN's latest board has him at 17..only a few spots before 22 and I feel like that 17 - 22 range is so fluid that the players could conceivably go in pretty much any order..

We'll see..

As for Trey, he does kind of remind me of Jrue, like how Jrue played when he was here. I wrote an article on him here:
https://bustingbrackets.com/michigan-s-dominant-start-their-secret-weapon-trey-mckenney-basketball

[165bows]

We're currently projected to have the 22nd pick.

Here's my board (my personal rankings) in the 11-22 range:

Trey McKenney
Labaron Philon
Cameron Carr
Yaxel Lendeborg
Thomas Haugh
Neoklis Avdalas
Tounde Yessoufou
Christian Anderson
Isaiah Evans
Hannes Steinbach
Bennett Stirtz
Flory Bidunga

Steinbach would be interesting if we elect to go with a big. Celtics like bigs who can pass and have high feel..he checks that box. Has some shooting potential too..I bet Celtics staff looks at him and thinks they can help develop his shooting more.

Plus he's from Germany..we have had 2 German bigs on our roster in recent years (Theis and Moe Wagner) plus we had a German guard - Dennis Schroeder.

He's someone to keep an eye on..I think he goes 1st round but not in the top 10..so he could be a possibility..

What do you think about Veesaar from UNC? Seems like a good Kornet impression lately - also Euro maybe S2N has an opinion.

[djFan71]

We're currently projected to have the 22nd pick.

Here's my board (my personal rankings) in the 11-22 range:

Trey McKenney
Labaron Philon
Cameron Carr
Yaxel Lendeborg
Thomas Haugh
Neoklis Avdalas
Tounde Yessoufou
Christian Anderson
Isaiah Evans
Hannes Steinbach
Bennett Stirtz
Flory Bidunga

Steinbach would be interesting if we elect to go with a big. Celtics like bigs who can pass and have high feel..he checks that box. Has some shooting potential too..I bet Celtics staff looks at him and thinks they can help develop his shooting more.

Plus he's from Germany..we have had 2 German bigs on our roster in recent years (Theis and Moe Wagner) plus we had a German guard - Dennis Schroeder.

He's someone to keep an eye on..I think he goes 1st round but not in the top 10..so he could be a possibility..

What do you think about Veesaar from UNC? Seems like a good Kornet impression lately - also Euro maybe S2N has an opinion.

That's my as-of-now realistic guy, but assume come June he'll go higher than 22 or wherever the heck we are.

https://youtu.be/kL3q2mHBiY8?si=ymOheAnPfH5DUU7y

[Hal14]

We're currently projected to have the 22nd pick.

Here's my board (my personal rankings) in the 11-22 range:

Trey McKenney
Labaron Philon
Cameron Carr
Yaxel Lendeborg
Thomas Haugh
Neoklis Avdalas
Tounde Yessoufou
Christian Anderson
Isaiah Evans
Hannes Steinbach
Bennett Stirtz
Flory Bidunga

Steinbach would be interesting if we elect to go with a big. Celtics like bigs who can pass and have high feel..he checks that box. Has some shooting potential too..I bet Celtics staff looks at him and thinks they can help develop his shooting more.

Plus he's from Germany..we have had 2 German bigs on our roster in recent years (Theis and Moe Wagner) plus we had a German guard - Dennis Schroeder.

He's someone to keep an eye on..I think he goes 1st round but not in the top 10..so he could be a possibility..

What do you think about Veesaar from UNC? Seems like a good Kornet impression lately - also Euro maybe S2N has an opinion.

He's pretty good.

I see him as a 2nd round pick. I think he has looked better than he really is because UNC has had a pretty soft schedule so far this season. Not sure if I buy the 3 pt shooting since the volume is so low. Not to mention the FT% is bad. And his defense/rim protection are meh..and he'd old, not that strong or athletic.

Maybe I'll move him up as the season goes on, but as of now I have him in like the 45-55 range on my board. And since he has another year of college eligibility left, if his draft stock is that low (like unless he's a 1st round lock) he'll likely return for another year of college ball and make that guaranteed NIL $.

[djFan71]

Currently feasible draft after all my previous guys keep going up as our pick falls down.

1st: Dash Daniels
2nds: Flory Bidunga, Joshua Jefferson

Dash is a project, but gives us the crazy maniac on D to add to the group of similar wings, but with some ball handling.

Flory - best of the bigs that could be around at NOP pick
Jefferson - bigger/stronger than our current wings, but still plays hard, processes fast, etc.


I like some of the other guards too, Burries, Anderson, Tounde. Tough to know who stays if they are gonna drop to our pick. They could just stay, make NIL, and come back in a (supposedly) weaker draft.