2026 NBA Draft Prospects Thread

Catchall · Post #1 » by **Catchall** » Sat Sep 27, 2025 4:24 am

Let's get this thread started. This draft has multiple high-impact prospects beyond the top three of Peterson, Dybantsa and Boozer. Ament and Yessoufou look like difference-makers coming into their freshman seasons. Lopez and Cenac look like solid prospects as well, though perhaps more 2nd-option types. Caleb Wilson and Koa Peat could be sleepers. Then there's Lauri's running mate Miikka Muurinen from Finland who should be draft-eligible.

Catchall · Post #2 » by **Catchall** » Sat Sep 27, 2025 4:28 pm

If the Jazz can't get one of the top 3 guys, I might be drawn to Tounde, in part because the Jazz still need an on-ball creator who can force action and make defenders collapse. Tounde is physical and should be skilled enough to play on the ball for a lot of possessions. He'd fit well next to Ace and Lauri, and also fit well next to guards like Keyonte and Walt, who play at the 1, but can play off the ball.

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babyjax13 · Post #3 » by **babyjax13** » Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:52 am

Mikel Brown also looks incredible. Really exciting class going into the season, hopefully stays that way.

Catchall · Post #4 » by **Catchall** » Sun Sep 28, 2025 3:18 pm

At the moment, I'd put the top 5 as:
1) Peterson
2) Dybantsa
3) Boozer
4) Ament
5) Tounde
Then Lopez & Cenac at 6 & 7.
Then Mikel Brown at about 8. Brown might be higher than this. It's just that teams tend to favor more size at the top of the draft.

I see the appeal of Ament. He's super long, can handle, can shoot all over the floor and shoot off the dribble. He just doesn't have a physical presence to speak of and gets pushed around too much at this stage to be your primary guy.

babyjax13 · Post #5 » by **babyjax13** » Sun Sep 28, 2025 5:59 pm

Koa Peat is also really interesting. The top 10 this year is pretty wild.

I do think with Ament you have to think about what he looks like as he fills out. I see some Gallo to his game.

babyjax13 · Post #6 » by **babyjax13** » Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:20 pm

I have already watched games for over 70 prospects lol, I am so excited for this draft. Excited for this season, too, now that we picked a direction.

Catchall · Post #7 » by **Catchall** » Sun Sep 28, 2025 8:02 pm

babyjax13 wrote:Koa Peat is also really interesting. The top 10 this year is pretty wild.

I do think with Ament you have to think about what he looks like as he fills out. I see some Gallo to his game.

Karim Lopez has a bit of post-injury Gallinari to him. I liken him to Avdija. Lopez is just a bit slow-footed on defense.

babyjax13 · Post #8 » by **babyjax13** » Mon Sep 29, 2025 5:06 pm

Catchall wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:Koa Peat is also really interesting. The top 10 this year is pretty wild.

I do think with Ament you have to think about what he looks like as he fills out. I see some Gallo to his game.

Karim Lopez has a bit of post-injury Gallinari to him. I liken him to Avdija. Lopez is just a bit slow-footed on defense.

I don't think he has the handle and creation that either have - at least as of yet. But he plays with a lot of force and hustle + can spread the court. Honestly, he is kind of Taylor Hendricks-like as a prospect, but with a big mean streak.

babyjax13 · Post #9 » by **babyjax13** » Mon Sep 29, 2025 5:12 pm

Here is where I think I am at for a top-10
1. Darryn Peterson
2. AJ Dybantsa
3. Nate Ament
4. Cameron Boozer
5. Koa Peat
6. Mikel Brown Jr.
7. Chris Cenac
8. Karim Lopez
9. Tounde Yessoufou
10. Caleb Wilson

I actually think I will move Brown to 5, and I may move Yessoufou and Cenac above Peat. I think all of Peterson/AJ/Ament/Boozer/Brown have the chance to be #1 or #2 caliber players on a good team. Wilson is harder to get a read on, less tape is publicly available - so he could be a lot better or worse than I think!

Catchall · Post #10 » by **Catchall** » Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:03 pm

babyjax13 wrote:
Catchall wrote:
babyjax13 wrote:Koa Peat is also really interesting. The top 10 this year is pretty wild.

I do think with Ament you have to think about what he looks like as he fills out. I see some Gallo to his game.

Karim Lopez has a bit of post-injury Gallinari to him. I liken him to Avdija. Lopez is just a bit slow-footed on defense.

I don't think he has the handle and creation that either have - at least as of yet. But he plays with a lot of force and hustle + can spread the court. Honestly, he is kind of Taylor Hendricks-like as a prospect, but with a big mean streak.

Lopez has some handle and passing. I don't think Avdija is being too generous as a comp. Gallinari was special early in his career, but after his injuries he really slowed down.

Catchall · Post #11 » by **Catchall** » Tue Oct 7, 2025 3:30 pm

The Jazz still don't have a high-level advantage creator. This is the guy that the team can run their offense through who creates advantages for other players on the floor. Not sure where the Jazz will get one if not in this draft. Peterson, Dybantsa or maybe Yessoufou look like the best candidates so far.

Ament could be a sleeper lead initiator. It's just hard to tell before his body fills out.