2026 NBA DRAFT CLASS

[BigGargamel]

This is the second round of my most recent mock. So I guess I'm higher on some of the big men without elite college production. Onyeso, Brown, Nelson.

It's really a crap shoot though. Any of these guys could go in any order, or about 15 players that didn't make the cut. Scouts are gonna have their work cut out for them, that's for sure.

31. New York Knicks (from WAS) – SF/PF Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
32. Memphis Grizzlies (from IND) – PF/C Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
33. Brooklyn Nets – C Tarris Reed Jr., Connecticut
34. Sacramento Kings – PG/SG Sergio De Larrea, Spain
35. San Antonio Spurs (from UTA) – SG Jack Kayil, Germany
36. Los Angeles Clippers (from MEM) – SF/PF Baba Miller, Cincinnati
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (from DAL) – SF/PF Alex Karaban, Connecticut
38. Chicago Bulls (from NO) – PG Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
39. Houston Rockets (from CHI) – PF/C Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
40. Boston Celtics (from MIL) – SG Ryan Conwell, Louisville
41. Miami Heat (from GS) – SG/SF Richie Saunders, BYU
42. San Antonio Spurs (from POR) – PG Braden Smith, Purdue
43. Brooklyn Nets (from LAC) – SG/SF Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
44. San Antonio Spurs (from MIA) – PG/SG Vsevolod Ishchenko, Russia
45. Sacramento Kings (from CHA) – SG Emanuel Sharp, Houston
46. Orlando Magic – PG/SG Jaden Bradley, Arizona
47. Phoenix Suns (from PHI) – PF/C Maliq Brown, Duke
48. Dallas Mavericks (from PHX) – PF Pavle Backo, Serbia
49. Denver Nuggets (from ATL) – PG/SG Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
50. Toronto Raptors – C Oscar Cluff, Purdue
51. Washington Wizards (from MIN) – PF/C Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
52. Los Angeles Clippers (from CLE) – SF Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
53. Houston Rockets – SG/SF Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt
54. Golden State Warriors (from LAL) – PF/C Graham Ike, Gonzaga
55. New York Knicks – SG/SF Otega Oweh, Kentucky
56. Chicago Bulls (from DEN) – PG Noam Yaacov, Denmark
57. Atlanta Hawks (from BOS) – PG/SG Milos Uzan, Houston
58. New Orleans Pelicans (from DET) – C Ugonna Onyeso, Virginia
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from SA) – SF/PF Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
60. Washington Wizards (from OKC) – C Nate Bittle, Oregon

[Chuck Everett]

^^^that second round is an eyesore. My god. Of the players I see, I would take Bittle, Ike, Oweh, Bradley, Saunders, Conwell, Karaban, Reed, Jefferson, Ejiofor and Martinelli.

We might see a lot of international draft and stash guys that the draft media haven't been talking about, if there are any guys. If I'm picking after 45, I'm taking a guy like Donovan Atwell, simply because a 6'5 elite shooter who can play defense, has a clearly defined role in the NBA. Sort of like how John Poulakidas found a home in Dallas after going undrafted out of Yale.

[BigGargamel]

^^^that second round is an eyesore. My god. Of the players I see, I would take Bittle, Ike, Oweh, Bradley, Saunders, Conwell, Karaban, Reed, Jefferson, Ejiofor and Martinelli.

We might see a lot of international draft and stash guys that the draft media haven't been talking about, if there are any guys. If I'm picking after 45, I'm taking a guy like Donovan Atwell, simply because a 6'5 elite shooter who can play defense, has a clearly defined role in the NBA. Sort of like how John Poulakidas found a home in Dallas after going undrafted out of Yale.

I've never seen anything like it. A few of these guys should turn out decent, but it's any guess as to who. Just no upside to pretty much any of these picks. Looks like a bunch of 2 way guys who will have to fight for scraps in the NBA. Those teams who traded a bunch of 2nd round picks a year or two ago, doesn't look so bad now. Just sign an UDFA who's just as good as all those guys listed.

[FarBeyondDriven]

meh, much ado about nothing. Most drafts you're lucky to get a few role players and a surprise starter. This is no different.

My favorites from this class likely to go 2nd round are:

Ejiofor
Karaban
Hall
Bradley
Sharpe
Reed
Brazile
Saunders
Jefferson

[babyjax13]

I kind of wonder if Saunders gets drafted due to the injury. He should be, but a team may not want to pay him till he can play?

[Chuck Everett]

I kind of wonder if Saunders gets drafted due to the injury. He should be, but a team may not want to pay him till he can play?

A few years ago, Collin Gillespie was rehabbing his Villanova injury as a two-way in Denver. Also, team could give him an exhibit-10 contract, cut him in training camp and oversee his rehab in the G-League. That's much cheaper than using a two-way slot on an injured player.

[JMAC3]

Otega Oweh is my sleeper.
6-4 with 6-8 wingspan.
Weighs 215 lbs which is great for a wing.
Also tested really well athletically at combine.

His 46 dunks this year is more than Dybantsa, Ngbonba, Cam Boozer, Chris Cenac, Billy Richmond, Cam Carr etc...
He also had a 16.5% assist rate which is pretty strong for an off ball guard.
Also averaged 1.8 steals per game.

I know he can't shoot it but the volume was at an all time high this year and he showed flashes.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Otega Oweh is my sleeper.
6-4 with 6-8 wingspan.
Weighs 215 lbs which is great for a wing.
Also tested really well athletically at combine.

His 46 dunks this year is more than Dybantsa, Ngbonba, Cam Boozer, Chris Cenac, Billy Richmond, Cam Carr etc...
He also had a 16.5% assist rate which is pretty strong for an off ball guard.
Also averaged 1.8 steals per game.

I know he can't shoot it but the volume was at an all time high this year and he showed flashes.

I've liked him since his Sophomore year

[babyjax13]

Re: Reanue (and also Kel'el Ware)... Mike Woodsen was the worst big man coach in the country. He ran an antiquated early 2000s offense so I am completely unsurprised that anyone who left that system would look better.

[redslastlaugh]

This is the second round of my most recent mock. So I guess I'm higher on some of the big men without elite college production. Onyeso, Brown, Nelson.

It's really a crap shoot though. Any of these guys could go in any order, or about 15 players that didn't make the cut. Scouts are gonna have their work cut out for them, that's for sure.

31. New York Knicks (from WAS) – SF/PF Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
32. Memphis Grizzlies (from IND) – PF/C Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
33. Brooklyn Nets – C Tarris Reed Jr., Connecticut
34. Sacramento Kings – PG/SG Sergio De Larrea, Spain
35. San Antonio Spurs (from UTA) – SG Jack Kayil, Germany
36. Los Angeles Clippers (from MEM) – SF/PF Baba Miller, Cincinnati
37. Oklahoma City Thunder (from DAL) – SF/PF Alex Karaban, Connecticut
38. Chicago Bulls (from NO) – PG Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
39. Houston Rockets (from CHI) – PF/C Izaiyah Nelson, South Florida
40. Boston Celtics (from MIL) – SG Ryan Conwell, Louisville
41. Miami Heat (from GS) – SG/SF Richie Saunders, BYU
42. San Antonio Spurs (from POR) – PG Braden Smith, Purdue
43. Brooklyn Nets (from LAC) – SG/SF Nick Martinelli, Northwestern
44. San Antonio Spurs (from MIA) – PG/SG Vsevolod Ishchenko, Russia
45. Sacramento Kings (from CHA) – SG Emanuel Sharp, Houston
46. Orlando Magic – PG/SG Jaden Bradley, Arizona
47. Phoenix Suns (from PHI) – PF/C Maliq Brown, Duke
48. Dallas Mavericks (from PHX) – PF Pavle Backo, Serbia
49. Denver Nuggets (from ATL) – PG/SG Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
50. Toronto Raptors – C Oscar Cluff, Purdue
51. Washington Wizards (from MIN) – PF/C Trevon Brazile, Arkansas
52. Los Angeles Clippers (from CLE) – SF Keyshawn Hall, Auburn
53. Houston Rockets – SG/SF Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt
54. Golden State Warriors (from LAL) – PF/C Graham Ike, Gonzaga
55. New York Knicks – SG/SF Otega Oweh, Kentucky
56. Chicago Bulls (from DEN) – PG Noam Yaacov, Denmark
57. Atlanta Hawks (from BOS) – PG/SG Milos Uzan, Houston
58. New Orleans Pelicans (from DET) – C Ugonna Onyeso, Virginia
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from SA) – SF/PF Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA
60. Washington Wizards (from OKC) – C Nate Bittle, Oregon

The top 4 of this mock look like first round value. The younger Euros like Kayil, Backo, etc might be worth something down the road. The rest of this is like shopping at the dollar store

I think Izaiyah Nelson could surprise. Conwell, Bradley, Thornton maaaaybe. Brazille has the tools but probably won’t pan out.

This is a historically unimpressive second round… that would happen from time to time, I think 2017 2nd round had only a couple of guys but at least before NIL you had lottery tickets to gamble on… this second is just dull as all get out

[clyde21]

Is Otega Oweh still in college? here is my thread on him from like 3 years ago

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2337550&hilit=Otega+Oweh

[Upperclass]

I think Oweh will go first round in a redraft as well. he can play and his athleticism and strength is top tier for a defender

[Klomp]

I kind of wonder if Saunders gets drafted due to the injury. He should be, but a team may not want to pay him till he can play?

A few years ago, Collin Gillespie was rehabbing his Villanova injury as a two-way in Denver. Also, team could give him an exhibit-10 contract, cut him in training camp and oversee his rehab in the G-League. That's much cheaper than using a two-way slot on an injured player.

Minnesota drafting Jaylen Clark is another example of this. Was reportedly getting first round looks during the season but his achilles injury caused him to fall down to No. 53 and he began on a two-way.

[FrodoBaggins]

Stats vs. top 50 teams (venue-adjusted):

AJ Dybantsa (17 games):
24.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.4 apg
.496 2PT%, .312 3PT%, .772 FT%, .489 EFG%, .549 TS%
13-17 dunks, 53-90 close 2PT (.589), 61-140 far 2PT (.436)
3.5 ORB%, 15.4 DRB%, 20.7 AST%, 12.9 TOV%, 1.2 A/TO, 0.5 BLK%, 0.8 STL%, .485 FTr

Darryn Petersen (14 games):
18.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 apg
.423 2PT%, .376 3PT%, .835 FT%, .488 EFG%, .549 TS%
4-7 dunks, 20-36 close 2PT (.556), 27-75 far 2PT (.360)
2.2 ORB%, 12.8 DRB%, 11.9 AST%, 10.6 TOV%, 0.9 A/TO, 3.2 BLK%, 2.6 STL%, .387 FTr

Cameron Boozer (21 games):
21.9 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 4.8 apg
.584 2PT%, .365 3PT%, .761 FT%, .575 EFG%, .621 TS%
17-17 dunks, 112-183 close 2PT (.612), 17-38 far 2PT (.447)
10.1 ORB%, 20.7 DRB%, 29.0 AST%, 15.4 TOV%, 1.7 A/TO, 1.9 BLK%, 1.9 STL%, .539 FTr

Caleb Wilson (8 games):
18.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.6 apg
.574 2PT%, .100 3PT%, .694 FT%, .534 EFG%, .570 TS%
16-19 dunks, 31-46 close 2PT (.674), 23-48 far 2PT (.479)
7.0 ORB%, 19.7 DRB%, 17.5 AST%, 10.9 TOV%, 1.6 A/TO, 3.8 BLK%, 3.2 STL%, .471 FTr

[JMAC3]

Mock Draft with Trades

Selection Team Player Trade Details
1 Washington Wizards AJ Dybantsa
2 Utah Jazz Darryn Peterson
3 Memphis Grizzlies Cameron Boozer
4 Brooklyn Nets (via Chicago) Caleb Wilson --#6, Knicks 27 1st, 76ers 28 1st for #4
5 Los Angeles Clippers Keaton Wagler
6 Chicago Bulls (via Brooklyn) Mikel Brown --#4 for #6, Knicks 27 1st and 76ers 28 1st
7 Sacramento Kings Darius Acuff
8 Atlanta Hawks Kingston Flemings
9 OKC Thunder (via Dallas) Nate Ament --#9 for #12 and #17
10 Milwaukee Bucks Brayden Burries
11 LA Clippers (via Warriors) Aday Mara-- #11, Podziemski, future 1st, Butler for Kawhi and DJJ.
12 Dallas Mavs (via Okc) Cameron Carr-- #12 and #17 for #9
13 Milwaukee Bucks (via Miami) Morez Johnson-- Giannis Trade
14 Charlotte Hornets Yaxel Lendeborg
15 Chicago Bulls Jayden Quaintance
16 Memphis Grizzlies Dailyn Swain
17 Dallas Mavs (via Okc) LaBaron Philon-- #12 and #17 for #9
18 Charlotte Hornets Hannes Steinbach
19 Milwaukee Bucks (via Toronto) Karim Lopez --Myles Turner for Poeltl and #19
20 San Antonio Spurs Koa Peat
21 Detroit Pistons Bennett Stirtz
22 Philadelphia 76ers Allen Graves
23 Atlanta Hawks Chris Cenac
24 New York Knicks Meleek Thomas
25 Los Angeles Lakers Henri Veesaar
26 Denver Nuggets Josh Jefferson
27 Boston Celtics Isaiah Evans
28 Minnesota Timberwolves Ebuka Okorie
29 Cleveland Cavaliers Zuby Ejifor
30 Dallas Mavericks Luigi Suigo

[Cammo101]

Otega Oweh is my sleeper.
6-4 with 6-8 wingspan.
Weighs 215 lbs which is great for a wing.
Also tested really well athletically at combine.

His 46 dunks this year is more than Dybantsa, Ngbonba, Cam Boozer, Chris Cenac, Billy Richmond, Cam Carr etc...
He also had a 16.5% assist rate which is pretty strong for an off ball guard.
Also averaged 1.8 steals per game.

I know he can't shoot it but the volume was at an all time high this year and he showed flashes.

I really like him too. It's just too easy to see the role he will play at the NBA level.

[Chuck Everett]

Otega Oweh is my sleeper.
6-4 with 6-8 wingspan.
Weighs 215 lbs which is great for a wing.
Also tested really well athletically at combine.

His 46 dunks this year is more than Dybantsa, Ngbonba, Cam Boozer, Chris Cenac, Billy Richmond, Cam Carr etc...
He also had a 16.5% assist rate which is pretty strong for an off ball guard.
Also averaged 1.8 steals per game.

I know he can't shoot it but the volume was at an all time high this year and he showed flashes.

I really like him too. It's just too easy to see the role he will play at the NBA level.

Oweh's best chance to get onto the floor is to commit to being a POA defender. Since he's going to be a second rounder at best, no one is going to give him the ball and let him do stuff with it off rip. He starts locking up a few guys without fouling, the rest will follow.

[moss_is_1]

Otega Oweh is my sleeper.
6-4 with 6-8 wingspan.
Weighs 215 lbs which is great for a wing.
Also tested really well athletically at combine.

His 46 dunks this year is more than Dybantsa, Ngbonba, Cam Boozer, Chris Cenac, Billy Richmond, Cam Carr etc...
He also had a 16.5% assist rate which is pretty strong for an off ball guard.
Also averaged 1.8 steals per game.

I know he can't shoot it but the volume was at an all time high this year and he showed flashes.

I really like him too. It's just too easy to see the role he will play at the NBA level.

Oweh's best chance to get onto the floor is to commit to being a POA defender. Since he's going to be a second rounder at best, no one is going to give him the ball and let him do stuff with it off rip. He starts locking up a few guys without fouling, the rest will follow.

Yep. Even if he turns out he can't fix his jumper, or become enough of a playmaker, you'll hang around a long time if you can work your ass off on defense. Look at a Josh Okogie whos had a nice career even though hes bounced around.

[moss_is_1]

Who would be the best fit for the Wolves? I'm going back and forth between Stirtz and Anderson. I'm a Huskers fan, and I watched Stirtz shut down Sandfort better than about anyone down the stretch, so I think as a role guy, vs when he had the whole offensive load while playing basically the entire game, he would commit more defensively and become a really strong player. Just think his IQ, passing, shooting, size would fit in like a glove and checks a ton of boxes.

Then Anderson I feel has a lot of that too, and looked great with German national team. Just worry about the size, but he also might have more potential and is already so good.

[Chuck Everett]

Who would be the best fit for the Wolves? I'm going back and forth between Stirtz and Anderson. I'm a Huskers fan, and I watched Stirtz shut down Sandfort better than about anyone down the stretch, so I think as a role guy, vs when he had the whole offensive load while playing basically the entire game, he would commit more defensively and become a really strong player. Just think his IQ, passing, shooting, size would fit in like a glove and checks a ton of boxes.

Then Anderson I feel has a lot of that too, and looked great with German national team. Just worry about the size, but he also might have more potential and is already so good.

I am an Anderson guy as well, but for what Minnesota needs, I like Stirtz. Give me someone who can actually run an offense and get guys into sets, rather than just read/react garbage. I think they will have similar careers, but Stirtz is a guy who could outperform his draft position, simply by sticking to the things he does well. However, if he was the Wolves' pick, then I think he needs to master catch and shoot jumpers, if he's ever asked to play with Ant, because Ant is going to be the primary ballhandler, unless Stirtz proves to be a savant at this level with the ball. When Ant goes to the bench, then I would expect Bennett to be asked to get the team into their actions.

Then again, Minnesota's a weird team. So many guys like getting their own shot with the dribble (Ant, Ayo, Jaden, Naz), maybe Christian Anderson would be better, since he can easily play off the ball and make shots with range.