Mock draft 2026

iowamcnabb

iowamcnabb

Hall of Famer
I figured it would be cool to start the 2026 draft thread haha. The 26 draft is loaded and it least on paper is filled with a bunch of wings and bigs in the top part of the draft. There is also an early riser in the process (Bennett Stirtz) from Iowa that could be our point guard of the future. He has a very unique game and I expect him to blow up this season after transferring from Drake. Obviously this list is going to change dramatically over the season. Unless we swing a big trade this draft could be a big part of the next era of Kings basketball

nbadraftroom.com

2026 NBA Mock Draft - NBA Draft Room

The 2026 NBA Mock Draft features the top players in the 2025 recruiting class. This is a running list that will be updated as new info ...
nbadraftroom.com
 
Pavle Backo looks like a super legit big , they call him baby Joker but imo he's like a bigger ZBo with some Marc Gasol (shooting/straight up defense) extremely soft touch and a beast around the rim. If he measures out well which he looks like he will I could see him going in the Sengun range. He's 6"11 and has a feathery 3 point stroke and crazy size. I don't really see the elite passing ability to compare him to Jokic or Marc Gasol hopefully he plays for the main Mega squad this year.

 
Chris Cenac: PF, 6'9", 220 Lbs: Houston

Cenac looks like a legit big man, and maybe the best one in this class. He's a well rounded player who looks like he's ready for the next level. He has a good post game with very good footwork. If your looking for someone to throw lobs to, he's your guy. However his game isn't restricted to dunks and putbacks. He has a nice looking 3pt shot, and a very polished turn around jumper from 15 feet. Actually, I was impressed with his offensive game. Bear in mind, he's going up against highschool players.

Defensively he has all the tools. Good lateral quickness and anticipation. Most of all, he's a willing defender who will run the floor for a chance to block a shot from behind. In the post he's more of a help shotblocker, but none the less, he's a presence. While he needs to get stronger, he's still a very physical player. He seems to enjoy banging down low. He has a great motor and seems to have good basketball IQ. We'll see. I plan on revisiting him after a few weeks into the college season.

 
Caleb Wilson: SF/PF, 6'9", 195Lbs: North Carolina

I like this kid alot. I think he has a ton of upside. Right now he's projected to go late lottery to high 20's, which is where the Kings could be drafting. He needs to add about 15 lbs of muscle, and work on his weaknesses. What are those you ask? Ballhandling for one thing. He's not terrible by anymeans, but he's also not as good as he thinks he is. He's pretty much a straight line driver, but when he gets in a crowd, he trys to add some wiggle to his game that he doesn't have.

He's a smart player with good court vision. He's good at driving into the lane and kicking the ball out when he sees the double coming. He's a very good athlete and runs the floor like a deer which sometimes ends with a spectacular dunk. He knows when to cut to the basket for bail outs. He has a 3pt shot and a midrange in his bag of tricks. To be honest, his game just needs some polishing. He's also a very good shot blocker. He would look good next to Sabonis as a help defender, who can also stretch the floor

I'm very high on this kid right now We'll see how I feel a couple weeks into the college season. Right now he looks like the whole package, but I've felt that way before.

 
Darius Acuff: PG, 6'2", 170 Lb's Arkansas

Some project Acuff as the best pg in the class, and after viewing a lot of film on him, it's hard to argue with that. Although he's a bit undersized by todays standards. If you're isolated on the perimeter against him, you're in trouble. He has a lightning quick first step along with the ability to shoot the step back three. Focus too much on his step back, and he's gone. He's fun to watch in transition with his change of speeds and hesitation moves. He can basically get anywhere he wants on the floor.

He has a very nice 3pt shot to go along with his midrange which includes a stepback and a floater. He appeared to be a decent to good defender who likes to play the passing lanes. Not sure about his rebounding since it wasn't highlighted, which leads me to believe it's not his strong suit. He appears to be a good passer and a safe one. Didn't see him try any miraculous passes and he seemed to have very good court vision.

Because of his body type, and his lightning speed, he reminded me quite a bit of Fox, but with a better outside shot. I'm trying to convince myself that it wasn't the fact that he was wearing the number 5 and it was subcounciously affecting my perceptions. In short, I like him quite a bit. I see a lot of upside with him and Calipari is known for developing guards, expecially pg's. I think he has a bright future in the NBA and would look good in a Kings uniform.

 
Cameron Boozer: PF, 6'9", 225 Lb's, Duke

Boozer is projected to be a top 3 pick. At this point in time, I have him ranked number one. That could change over the course of the season, but the Kid is damm good. He has excellent handles for a big man and can easily work his way through traffic. Actually, there's not much he can't do. He has the 3pt shot, the midrange shot, and is a beast under the basket. What surprised me, was his passing ability. He's an excellent passer with very good court vision.

When you combine those offensive abilities to his defensive abilities, you've got a top pick. He apparently inherited a lot of his abilities from his all star father, who is probably remembered more for the wrong reasons. But Carlos was a hell of a player. He's on the same team, Duke, as his twin brother. Who somehow got screwed when God was handing out inches in height and ended up being 6'5". But more on Cayden later. Cameron right now looks like the whole package.

Once again, I remind you that I'm watching Highschool basketball. Cameron is also a very good offensive rebounder. Anyone who thinks this isn't a good draft needs their head examined. I'm watching a lot of film, and there's a lot of talent in this draft. I'm actually surprised by the quality and the quanity of talent.

 
Yeah, this draft might be a good one. Dang it. Haven't even heard much about Trey McKenney. I like what I've seen out of him. He reminds me of Mitch Richmond with that body.
 
SacTownKid said:
Yeah, this draft might be a good one. Dang it. Haven't even heard much about Trey McKenney. I like what I've seen out of him. He reminds me of Mitch Richmond with that body.
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It's hard to go into detail on these players until they get some college games under their belt. Right now, if I had to choose a PG I'd choose Acuff over Mikel Brown. That's if I'm looking for a PG, because Acuff looks more like a pure PG to me, But that opinion could change.
 
Mikel Brown: :PG, 6'4", 170 Lb's, Louisville

My question is, is Brown more of a SG than a PG? Either way, he's a hell of a player. But if your looking for Haliburton, or some resemblence there of, it's not him. He's a very good shooter who has no problem creating his own shot, but at times he tends to pound the ball a bit to much for me. He's a good finisher, and very good at getting to the basket. He has a lot of wiggle to his game. He's very athletic. I know the coaching staff at Louisville is raving about him.

I can't really comment on his defense. I could'nt find much film showing him on the defensive side of the ball. I only saw brief glimpses of his assists. I saw a lot of game results where he scored 24 or so points but only 3 or 4 assists, which gives me Pause. But we'll see. We don't know what he was asked to do. He's definitely a 3 level scorer with a bag full of tools. I'm excited to see what he turns into .

 
Karim Lopez: SF, 6'8", 220 Lb's, New Zealand

Lopez is one of the players that suddenly shot up the boards. Where he's going in the draft is anyone's guess. I've seen him as high as 8th and as low as 36. He's like a new hot potatoe and no one knows where to put him. I've watched a lot of film on him, and there is a lot for those who want to take a peak, and he has a lot of potential. He's a very good defender with good hands. His 3pt shot has improved from bad to acceptable. He has a decent to good midrange shot.

He also has very good handles and isn't afraid to attack the basket. Actually he loves to attack the basket. But what stands out about him is endless supply of energy. He has a non stop motor. Stop paying attention to him for a minute, and he'll steal you blind! I think he has a lot of growth left on both sides of the ball. He said he loved playing defense. He'll likely be the best Mexican player to ever play in the NBA.

 
bajaden said:
Karim Lopez: SF, 6'8", 220 Lb's, New Zealand

Lopez is one of the players that suddenly shot up the boards. Where he's going in the draft is anyone's guess. I've seen him as high as 8th and as low as 36. He's like a new hot potatoe and no one knows where to put him. I've watched a lot of film on him, and there is a lot for those who want to take a peak, and he has a lot of potential. He's a very good defender with good hands. His 3pt shot has improved from bad to acceptable. He has a decent to good midrange shot.

He also has very good handles and isn't afraid to attack the basket. Actually he loves to attack the basket. But what stands out about him is endless supply of energy. He has a non stop motor. Stop paying attention to him for a minute, and he'll steal you blind! I think he has a lot of growth left on both sides of the ball. He said he loved playing defense. He'll likely be the best Mexican player to ever play in the NBA.

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Best Mexican player but he plays in New Zealand? Recall Eduardo Najera.....as far as Mexican player - maybe he naturalized I dunno - too lazy to look up. He was on the Mavericks for a long while.
 
Here's a video with two of the best PG's in the draft going at one another. Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown. I'm a big Acuff fan, but both are going to be starting PG's in the NBA. Acuff is number 5, and Brown is number 0, if I remember correctly. Brown is the one with the big hair.

 
bajaden said:
Here's a video with two of the best PG's in the draft going at one another. Darius Acuff and Mikel Brown. I'm a big Acuff fan, but both are going to be starting PG's in the NBA. Acuff is number 5, and Brown is number 0, if I remember correctly. Brown is the one with the big hair.

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They were saying brown was the best player in fiba play but AJ won mvp for political reasons
 
Bennett Stirtz: PG-6'4"-190 Lb's- Sr- Iowa
39.4 mpg - 19.5 ppg - 48.9% fgp - 38.6% 3pp - 79.4% ftp - 4.5 rpg - 5.6 apg - 2.1 stl's

Stirtz played for Drake last season and put up great numbers. Most people thought he would throw his hat into the last draft, but instead he decided to use the portal and transfer to Iowa which is in a much tougher conference. If he can put up similar numbers as last season, or perhaps even better numbers, I believe he can be a lottery pick. He's definitely an NBA player though.

His 3pt catch and shoot numbers are off the chart. He finished in the 89th percentle. At times he'll remind you of Curry when he'll pull up from 35 feet and hit nothing but net. He also takes his share of bad shots which accounts for his only shooting 38.6% overall from three. For Drake, he was the offense. The offense amounted to, let's get the ball to Ben, which sometimes ended up with time running out and a bad shot.

He's a very crafty player who won't blow you away with an explosive first step, but still has no problem getting past his defender by getting him leaning the wrong way with head fakes etc. He gets where he wants when he wants. Almost everything he does has a reason. He knows how to play. But lets see how he fares this season in the larger conference against tougher competion.

 
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A. J. Dybantsa: SF/PF - 6'10" - 200 Lb's - 7'0" Wingspan Fr - BYU

Right now, today, if I had the first pick in the draft for the Kings, AJ is my choice. He has superstar written all over him. Yes, he's a freak athlete who can jump out of the gym. He beats everyone down the floor! But the NBA grave yard is littered with freak athlete's. Dybantsa comes with an excellent skill set to go along with his athleticism. He has great handles for a big man. He's a very good passer. He can shoot the three, although a bit inconsistent. He loves the 15 foot turnaround jumpshot, and he's a violent finisher at the rim.

He has some work to do though. He needs to stop taking bad shots from beyond the arc. On defense he often has the look of a lock down defender, and other times looks lost. Particularly when playing off the ball. He often quits on a defensive play when he gets taken off the dribble. Let's remember that he's young, and all these things are correctable. He's an aggressive player and while he needs to add some muscle, he doesn't shy away from physical contact when attacking the basket.

He's a good post up player with an explosive spin move to blow by his man for an easy dunk. He was known for occasionally showboating in highschool like taking the ball through his legs when dunking it. That won't fly in college. He plays with a lot of confidence, as if he's the best player on the floor. He did have one head to head game with Peterson and I guess you could sat Peterson won that battle since his team won by one point and Peterson outscored AJ 58 to 49.

 
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Next year's draft class has A LOT of potential names that could very well become the future of the NBA. I see a lot of talent coming out of the 2026 draft class!!!
 
Yaxel Lendeborg: PF - 6'10" - 235 Lb's - 7'4" Wingspan - 9'05" Standing reach - 31.5" Max Vertical - Sr. - Michigan
33.6 mpg - 17.7 ppg - 52.2% fgp - 35.6% 3pp - 75.7% ftp - 11.4 rpg - 4.2 apg - 1.7 stl's - 1.8 blk's

This is a player that I was lusting after in the 2nd round last year, but he pulled his name out of the draft and then transfered from UAB to Mich. He dominated at UAB, but because he was an older player and player in a mid-level conference, he had no guarantee's of a 1st round selection. If he can repeat what he did at UAB at Mich, he'll likely go in the first round, and could be sitting there when the Kings pick. Probably somewhere between 16 and 23 is my guess, but you never know, someone could fall in love with him and take him in the lottery.

He'll be 24 years old on the day of the draft if memory serves, but he's a player that can step in and play right now. He's very polished. He has good handles. He's a good passer and he's a three level scorer. He a terrific rebounder and a good offensive rebounder. He's a shot blocker. When he has a head of steam in transition, you don't want to get in his way. He's a very physical player whether going downhill, or posting up. He's strong enough to play some center and long enough with that 9 foot standing reach and the huge wingspan.

So if your looking for a player that can step in and help you right now, who can actually have an impact on the game, Yaxel is your guy. Personally, I think he should be a lottery pick, but won't be because of his age. But, if he explodes this season at Michigan, who knows


Some side notes on Yaxel: He played his first 2 years of college basketball at Arizona Western before transfering to UAB in the American Athletic Conference, or AAC not to be confused with the ACC. His last two years at UAB he was voted 1st team all conference honors and was also voted the conference defensive player of the year. He's one of only two players in NCAA history to to record over 600 Points, 400 rebounds, and 150 assists in one season. The other player was Larry Bird! Also, a correction from earlier. He's be 23 years old at the time of the draft. His birthday is in Sept.
 
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Dwayne Aristode: SF - 6'8" - 200 Lb's - 6'10" Wingspan - Fr. Arizona

Aristode is a player to keep your eye on. He's probably a first rd pick and maybe a chance to work his way into the lottery if he has the kind of year that many scouts he's capable of. He's a very good athlete at 6'8" with a large wingspan. He has the foundation of a solid offensive game. He's a very good 3pt shooter when he squared up and open on a catch and shoot. Not so much off the dribble. Something he needs to work on. His handles are decent to good.

Where he shines though, is on the defensive side of the ball. He might be the best defensive player in the draft, which means he projects to be the best 3 and D player in the draft. It's not that hard to find players that can score, and not that hard to find players that can play defense, but hard to find players that can do both. Aristode projects to be one of those players.

And by no means is he just a stand in the corner and shoot guy. He's a good finisher at the basket, a solid rebounder, and has shown the ability to score from mid-range. I really have no idea where he projected to go in the draft right now, but he has nowhere to go but up! Aristode is number 1 in the


 
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Thomas Haugh: SF/PF - 6'9" - 210 Lb's - Junior - Florida
24.4 mpg - 9.8 ppg - 48.5% fgp - 34.0% 3pp - 79.4% ftp - 6.1 rpg - 2.2 apg - 0.8 stl's - 0.8 blks

When I watch Haugh play I see Jake Laravia with a little more length. He's one of those energizer bunny type players. All over the court and he's a smart player with a big time nose for the ball. If he can take another step this season he has a chance to be a lottery pick. While the sample size is small, he did shoot 34% from three, up from around 22% his freshman year.

He's a solid rebounder who isn't afraid to move bodies under the basket. Basically, he's a fundimentally sound player that does all the dirty work, but who can also score. Some scouts say his shot is fundamentally sound, but to me it looks like he releases it before he reaches the top of his jump. But, he repeats the same shot every time, so as they say, if it ain't broke......

He's the kind of player I like. He plays with a fierce intensity that's inspiring and contagious. He's out there busting his butt every minute on the floor. He's also a good athlete, who looks smoother on defense than offense, but non the less plays both sides of the ball very well. He knows his limitations and his role. He has outstanding role player written all over him, and maybe more. He knows how to play and would be a good addition to a position of great need.

 
Neoklis Avdalas: PG/SG/SF - 6'9" - 215 Lb's - 6'9" Wingspan - 8'10" Standing Reach - Freshman - Virginia Tech
19.2 mpg - 8.8 ppg - 45.1% fgp - 40.7% 3pp - 73.3% ftp - 2.6 rpg - 1.3 apg - 0.6 stl's - 0.3 blk's - (Greek League Stats)

Where do I start? I've watched a ton of film on this kid, and he's a very impressive player who is currently slotted in the 2nd rd by most mocks. I can almost guarantee you that by years end, he'll be a first rd pick, and maybe a lottery pick. This kid is extremely talented, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. He played PG in highschool and you can see that by his passing instincts and court vision. Don't know his history yet, but he may have been one of those players that shot up 6 or so inches in one year.

He's a very good shooter from beyond the arc, and can create his own shot from there with pumpfakes, crossovers, and stepbacks. He doesn't have a high release, but he gets his shot off quickly. On catch and shoots he's deadly. He loves to attack close outs and has a lightning quick first step. He loves to attack the basket and has more drop step moves than I've seen a player use in a long time. He'll litterally screw his defender into the floor. He has great touch at the basket.

What he needs to improve is his rebounding. 2.6 boards in 19 minutes isn't terrible, but with his motor, which is terrific, he should be grabbing more. The other improvement needs to come on the defensive side of the ball. He's not a bad defender, and most of his flaws are correctable. When in his defensive stance, which could be better, he has good lateral quickness and he's capable of staying in front of his man. But too often he rises out of his stance and gets caught flatfooted, and blown by.

Off the ball he's not bad. He has his head on a swivel which leads to good anticipation and steals. He's a very smart player who can read the opposition plays before they happen. He's also a very good athlete who loves to play above the rim and who has made some spectacular dunks in transition. I'm extremely, extremely high on this kid. I can't wait to see what he can do at Virginia Tech.


 
At the moment I'm concentrating on players who are 6'8" or above. Talented players of course, but players that fill a position of need. I know, always draft the best player available. I agree with that premise, but when there are players whose talent level is almost equal, then I go with need. This draft is loaded with big men, and it would be criminal to draft another player 6'6" or under, unless maybe his name is Peterson. I'm looking for players that excell in multiple areas and who have a bit of the dog in them. Those kind of players are winners.

There are no guarantee's of course, but there are some things that almost always translate. Rebounding being one of them. Most of the time, if a player blows you away with his handles in highschool, you can pretty much assume his handles will be just fine at the next level. Of course running and jumping always translate. The one mystery area is always what's between the players ears? What is his basketball IQ, and is he coachable? What is his work ethic?

The impressions I have now, will likely change throughout the season. There are a lot of Freshmen in the so called top 20 right now, and I'm sure some of them will slide down, and that some returning upper classmen will start moving up. A lot of teams are starting to draft what they consider a more proven product. That's why a player like Avdalas is so intriguing to me. Yeah, he's still young, but he's been playing in the Greek pro league since he was 16 years old. He's been playing against professionals. So we'll see!
 
bajaden said:
Neoklis Avdalas: PG/SG/SF - 6'9" - 215 Lb's - 6'9" Wingspan - 8'10" Standing Reach - Freshman - Virginia Tech
19.2 mpg - 8.8 ppg - 45.1% fgp - 40.7% 3pp - 73.3% ftp - 2.6 rpg - 1.3 apg - 0.6 stl's - 0.3 blk's - (Greek League Stats)

Where do I start? I've watched a ton of film on this kid, and he's a very impressive player who is currently slotted in the 2nd rd by most mocks. I can almost guarantee you that by years end, he'll be a first rd pick, and maybe a lottery pick. This kid is extremely talented, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. He played PG in highschool and you can see that by his passing instincts and court vision. Don't know his history yet, but he may have been one of those players that shot up 6 or so inches in one year.

He's a very good shooter from beyond the arc, and can create his own shot from there with pumpfakes, crossovers, and stepbacks. He doesn't have a high release, but he gets his shot off quickly. On catch and shoots he's deadly. He loves to attack close outs and has a lightning quick first step. He loves to attack the basket and has more drop step moves than I've seen a player use in a long time. He'll litterally screw his defender into the floor. He has great touch at the basket.

What he needs to improve is his rebounding. 2.6 boards in 19 minutes isn't terrible, but with his motor, which is terrific, he should be grabbing more. The other improvement needs to come on the defensive side of the ball. He's not a bad defender, and most of his flaws are correctable. When in his defensive stance, which could be better, he has good lateral quickness and he's capable of staying in front of his man. But too often he rises out of his stance and gets caught flatfooted, and blown by.

Off the ball he's not bad. He has his head on a swivel which leads to good anticipation and steals. He's a very smart player who can read the opposition plays before they happen. He's also a very good athlete who loves to play above the rim and who has made some spectacular dunks in transition. I'm extremely, extremely high on this kid. I can't wait to see what he can do at Virginia Tech.


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Bit of Baby Peja vibes here
 
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