First Round Pick 2026 Watch

[MasterGMer]

What kind of draft it is like in 2026? A deep one?

[Idiosyncratic]

What kind of draft it is like in 2026? A deep one?

On paper looks like one of the strongest tops in a while. Depth to me is going to be hard to project nowadays until all the NIL stayers age out of college. I'd say likely better than this draft though.

[basketballRob]

Hopefully, the Suns and Wizards are 1 and 2.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[T-Cat]

Hopefully, the Suns and Wizards are 1 and 2.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

We would get the least favorable of the two picks (#2) and either Suns or Wizards get our pick (#30)

Let's go

[mattdelray1220]

Hopefully, the Suns and Wizards are 1 and 2.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

We would get the least favorable of the two picks (#2) and either Suns or Wizards get our pick (#30)

Let's go

Having this pick next year makes it all the more obvious to trade BOTH of our picks this year. I understand having a pipeline and I am all for it but whoever we draft is not playing at all next year. If we keep one but upgrade a guard I wont be upset but I am thinking they may go home rune and trade both hoping next year will net them a top 10 talent on a rookie contract.

[drsd]

and considering we're at the timeframe where rookies aren't going to help us much it would be smart to move that pick at its highest value which would be draft night/this summer. Don't wait for Suns to make mad moves and somehow scrap into the play in.

For me, especcialy if (hopefully) the Magic has no rookies this year, a high-pick rookie in 2026 allows the Magic to get a quality 3rd stringer in a win-now mode, that can also develop into a rotational player, and perhaps even emerge as a future starter. In this, an upside Center makes a huge amount of sense.

Rookie's value in a win-now team are more on finanical managment of payroll, after all.

[drsd]

What kind of draft it is like in 2026? A deep one?

In the 6-12 range, where this pick could plausible slot: just select whatever guard leaves Kentuky one-and-done

[Hogified05]

I'm still fuzzy on the way the swaps work and who has the swap priority...

I'm assuming that if all available options are exercised, ORL has no power over WAS, but ORL can swap with PHX, so...ORL has the second best pick of the three ?

From what I understand...this trade was so complex hard to capture...but what we should be rooting for (even if highly unlikely)...is for Washington to overachieve and PHX to be at the bottom of the league.

If Washington's pick is 9 or above it conveys to someone forget who....that would trigger us just getting PHX's pick. So if PHX is at the bottom of the league that could be a top 5 pick.

Ultimately...if they both suck that works too...top ten pick is feasible. But Washington being in play-in range and PHX being god awful would put us in the running for #1 pick. Would could be in the ECF with a shot at #1 if everything plays out perfectly.

All together a top ten pick is very doable.

[Skybox]

I'm still fuzzy on the way the swaps work and who has the swap priority...

I'm assuming that if all available options are exercised, ORL has no power over WAS, but ORL can swap with PHX, so...ORL has the second best pick of the three ?

From what I understand...this trade was so complex hard to capture...but what we should be rooting for (even if highly unlikely)...is for Washington to overachieve and PHX to be at the bottom of the league.

If Washington's pick is 9 or above it conveys to someone forget who....that would trigger us just getting PHX's pick. So if PHX is at the bottom of the league that could be a top 5 pick.

Ultimately...if they both suck that works too...top ten pick is feasible. But Washington being in play-in range and PHX being god awful would put us in the running for #1 pick. Would could be in the ECF with a shot at #1 if everything plays out perfectly.

All together a top ten pick is very doable.

Yeah...Pepe cleared up that it's also not that big a trade chip back to PHX, but could be really strong for us...It makes me more likely to want to move #16 this year (and maybe #25, depending on options) for immediate help and hold onto that pick next year.

[pepe1991]

I have my doubts about Suns actually trading KD after all.

I think they will try to talk Beal into prospect of going back to Wizards and Wizards won't mind just changing him for Middelton ( player's option) and Smart ( expiring) .

Wizards are so undercapped that even with Beal (without rookies) they are right there at cap's minimal floor. For that franchise, him, Wall and that nutcase Arenas are only stars they had since Jordan retirement.

Because they know they can't tank, it limits most of trading options. And sending bunch of bodies and Wiggins for KD still kind a does nothing for them.

Ofc they can accept Houston's offer around Sheppard, Jabari, Brooks and get picks back, but somewhere in their heads they still probably believe that Durant + Book + playable role players = good team.

[cedric76]

I have my doubts about Suns actually trading KD after all.

I think they will try to talk Beal into prospect of going back to Wizards and Wizards won't mind just changing him for Middelton ( player's option) and Smart ( expiring) .

Wizards are so undercapped that even with Beal (without rookies) they are right there at cap's minimal floor. For that franchise, him, Wall and that nutcase Arenas are only stars they had since Jordan retirement.

Because they know they can't tank, it limits most of trading options. And sending bunch of bodies and Wiggins for KD still kind a does nothing for them.

Ofc they can accept Houston's offer around Sheppard, Jabari, Brooks and get picks back, but somewhere in their heads they still probably believe that Durant + Book + playable role players = good team.

KD is gone

[Magic_Johnny12]

Is the swap completely unprotected?

[Idiosyncratic]

Is the swap completely unprotected?

Yes, but Wizards get 1st dibs. So if the Suns get #1 and Wizards get #2 they will swap for 1st and we would pick 2nd.

[MasterGMer]

I’d like to get to the potential Devin Booker discussion with PHX here

Of course, KD is gone. How much of a motive would Suns have to regain their FRP after that trade is done with KD?

Would they give up their new foundational piece in Booker?

Anyone?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pepe1991]

Way too early look at 2026 draft is very funny looking.
Dyson Daniels younger brother, Carlos Boozer's son , Gilbert Arenas son, Kevin Knox brother, Obi Topin's brother.


As sucker who got hooked into Cody Williams hype ( Jalen's brother) and watching Jalen McDaniels fail, Robin Lopez being friction of player Brook is, still remembering JR Smith's brother, Goran Dragić brother etc, one thing that scares piss out of me is drafting players who have succesful brothers/fathers in a league.
But especially brothers.

[Ducklett]

I have my doubts about Suns actually trading KD after all.

I think they will try to talk Beal into prospect of going back to Wizards and Wizards won't mind just changing him for Middelton ( player's option) and Smart ( expiring) .

Wizards are so undercapped that even with Beal (without rookies) they are right there at cap's minimal floor. For that franchise, him, Wall and that nutcase Arenas are only stars they had since Jordan retirement.

Because they know they can't tank, it limits most of trading options. And sending bunch of bodies and Wiggins for KD still kind a does nothing for them.

Ofc they can accept Houston's offer around Sheppard, Jabari, Brooks and get picks back, but somewhere in their heads they still probably believe that Durant + Book + playable role players = good team.

My friends in Phoenix said that as far as local sports go, Durant is gone even if he isn't traded. They are over him as a fanbase.

[pepe1991]

I have my doubts about Suns actually trading KD after all.

I think they will try to talk Beal into prospect of going back to Wizards and Wizards won't mind just changing him for Middelton ( player's option) and Smart ( expiring) .

Wizards are so undercapped that even with Beal (without rookies) they are right there at cap's minimal floor. For that franchise, him, Wall and that nutcase Arenas are only stars they had since Jordan retirement.

Because they know they can't tank, it limits most of trading options. And sending bunch of bodies and Wiggins for KD still kind a does nothing for them.

Ofc they can accept Houston's offer around Sheppard, Jabari, Brooks and get picks back, but somewhere in their heads they still probably believe that Durant + Book + playable role players = good team.

My friends in Phoenix said that as far as local sports go, Durant is gone even if he isn't traded. They are over him as a fanbase.

He rejected trade that was going to send him to Warriors in Februrary (at deadline).
That trade would have been slam dunk for Suns (Butler+ Kuminga)

[RookieStar]

What kind of draft it is like in 2026? A deep one?

In the 6-12 range, where this pick could plausible slot: just select whatever guard leaves Kentuky one-and-done

Yup.. Brandon Knight, Ashton Hagans , Goodwin , Harrison twins....

[Audi]

The Orlando Magic could be in for a major draft-day win in 2026 — and they don’t even have to tank to get it.

Thanks to a savvy deal involving pick swaps, Orlando holds the right to swap their 2026 first-round pick with the least favorable of Washington’s and Phoenix’s picks. And if current trends hold, that could translate to a top-10 pick.

The trade itself that led to this was three low SRPs the Magic was never, ever going to keep. The Suns simply needed players on the roster and took this deal:

Magic Sent to Suns:
2024 second-round pick (via Denver Nuggets)
2026 second-round pick (least favorable among Orlando, Milwaukee Bucks, or Detroit Pistons)
2028 second-round pick (top-45 protected, via Boston Celtics)


Magic Received:
Rights to a 2026 first-round pick swap with the Suns


What an awsome trade for Orlando.

Well this trade could technically still net us nothing, but on paper certainly seems like a solid move.

Could you elaborate on this?

[Idiosyncratic]

The trade itself that led to this was three low SRPs the Magic was never, ever going to keep. The Suns simply needed players on the roster and took this deal:

Magic Sent to Suns:
2024 second-round pick (via Denver Nuggets)
2026 second-round pick (least favorable among Orlando, Milwaukee Bucks, or Detroit Pistons)
2028 second-round pick (top-45 protected, via Boston Celtics)


Magic Received:
Rights to a 2026 first-round pick swap with the Suns


What an awsome trade for Orlando.

Well this trade could technically still net us nothing, but on paper certainly seems like a solid move.

Could you elaborate on this?

If the Suns finish with a better record than us next year we don't gain anything.