Mock draft 2026
- Thread starter iowamcnabb
- Start date
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
A really good time to be in the lottery if the cards fall a certain way
Joshyjosh31
Starter
The way he moves at his size is crazy
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Cam is a really interesting prospect to me because he’s by no means an elite athlete in the way AJ Dybantsa is (he’s not a traffic cone by any means) but his feel for the game is ridiculous for his age and he’s much further along in his development than Paolo was when he was first playing for Duke.
Not that it really matters because I would be more than happy with any of them but my current top three ranking is probably
1- Peterson
2- AJ
3- Cam
But once again, it doesn’t matter
Joshyjosh31
Starter
His feel for the game is promising hopefully he could measure out well where he could play center vs non Jokic teams. I agree with your top three simply because I’d take a wing over a big unless that big is 6’11 with plus athleticism. Peterson would give up a big back court with Nique but AJ and his size and athleticism is so tantalizing
As exciting as this year's draft class looks, I can't shake the feeling that none of this will matter in 8 months and we'll either trade down, draft another 5th year senior (Nique Clifford does look awesome, to be fair), or straight-up move the pick for a veteran. We've been burned so many times over the years that I just can't muster the same level of enthusiasm for the draft anymore.
Are you saying we're getting the 4th pick in the draft?
QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
Nah. He's saying that we're getting the 1st pick in the draft. He just doesn't want to admit it.
coolhandluke
Starter
So, who's the Bagley in this draft?
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
I will say that while the top three in this class are currently the top three by a fairly wide margin, there are a bunch of guys behind them that would be top prospects in pretty much any other year.
QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
There will never be another Bagley. So, to answer your question, no one.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
The Kings burn themselves every time. Outside of a little blip when Monte was at the helm this franchise has gone out of its way to not develop anyone recently. This is literally why this franchise has remained such a boulder for so long. Give any young player time and opportunity and they'll do something once they get in rhythm. The Kings mantra has always been putting young guys in horrible situations and/or out of position because of need. Then they'll just give up on them before they even got the chance. The Kings also rarely utilize the value of rookie contracts for themselves and instead bloat their own cap and cut off opportunity. The Kings aren't the only team that has done this but this they sure have made it clockwork over the years. They even almost did it to Fox. Him breaking through and sticking as long as he did was almost a miracle.
Oh, so we're still drafting x + 1 in an x deep draft.
Don't be so pessimistic. We're probably drafting X+10.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Not really sure what this guy is. Definitely a bit like Fox physically but less athletic, not quite the frame, and more shooting. The concern to me is the frame. He looked overwhelmed in the Kansas game. Reminds me of Anfernee Simons. Overall this is going to be a good draft.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Nique Monk
Lavine Keon
Keegan Devin
Boozer Tugler
Sabonis Max Cardwell
Put that team on the floor next year and fans would be excited.
Lavine Keon
Keegan Devin
Boozer Tugler
Sabonis Max Cardwell
Put that team on the floor next year and fans would be excited.
Bosnian Diehard
Starter
Would those who have followed the prospects for 2026 say that the top 3 guys are potential franchise guys? I’ve only seen highlights if each so far and they are very exciting. I think Peterson looks the most interesting, but I’ll definitely have to watch all of their full games more. Especially since it looks like the Kings might have a good pick this year! Lol
bajaden
Hall of Famer
Darryn Petterson: SG - 6'6" - 195 Lb's - Kansas
While everyone is in love with Petterson, and there's a lot to love, I do have some reservations. Offensively, and I hate to use this comp, because a lot of pundits have used it, but it's the first thing that leaped into my mind when I watched him play. He moves like he's on skates. He seems to glide across the floor. He makes everything seem effortless at times. He's a three level scorer with a lot of wiggle when going to the basket. His ballhandling is outstanding and he shows promise as a passer. He played PG his last year in highschool. More on that at a later.
He's a very good jumpshooter from anywhere on the floor, but has the habit of shortarming his shots on occasion, more often than not when he's highly contested, and taking a shot that was ill advised. I might add, that most of his flaws I found, are correctable. He has all the tools to be a great player. But at times he does seem distracted, or lazy almost. Particularly on defense!
A high percentage of times, he looks like a lockdown defender. But I think he could be in a better defensive stance, which is something I'm picky about. At other times he seems to lack recognition. Example: In one of the games I watched he was battling with an offensive player for position off the ball to prevent him from cutting to the basket. What he didn't realize was that the player was actually setting a backscreen to prevent a close out by Petterson until it was too late.
That's something that will improve with experience. There are other times when he realizes, a tad too late, that he needs to close out on a player. He's able to cover a lot of ground in a hurry and you can't help but believe with earlier recognition, his close out would have been more effective. Back to his passing ability. He's a good passer and at times looks like an elite passer. Unfortunately, he's not a point guard and to try and make him one would be putting him in a postion to fail, or at least delay his reaching his potential. He turns the ball over a bit too much for me and doesn't recognize traps quickly enough.
I may change my mind once college play starts. He's going to be a very good basketball player. He has a very high ceiling, and I would bet on him to reach it. But if we, somehow luck out and end up with the first pick in the draft and I'm the Kings, I can't pass on Boozer or Dybantsa. Right now, I don't think the talent difference between the top three is great enough to point to one and say, this is the best player!
While everyone is in love with Petterson, and there's a lot to love, I do have some reservations. Offensively, and I hate to use this comp, because a lot of pundits have used it, but it's the first thing that leaped into my mind when I watched him play. He moves like he's on skates. He seems to glide across the floor. He makes everything seem effortless at times. He's a three level scorer with a lot of wiggle when going to the basket. His ballhandling is outstanding and he shows promise as a passer. He played PG his last year in highschool. More on that at a later.
He's a very good jumpshooter from anywhere on the floor, but has the habit of shortarming his shots on occasion, more often than not when he's highly contested, and taking a shot that was ill advised. I might add, that most of his flaws I found, are correctable. He has all the tools to be a great player. But at times he does seem distracted, or lazy almost. Particularly on defense!
A high percentage of times, he looks like a lockdown defender. But I think he could be in a better defensive stance, which is something I'm picky about. At other times he seems to lack recognition. Example: In one of the games I watched he was battling with an offensive player for position off the ball to prevent him from cutting to the basket. What he didn't realize was that the player was actually setting a backscreen to prevent a close out by Petterson until it was too late.
That's something that will improve with experience. There are other times when he realizes, a tad too late, that he needs to close out on a player. He's able to cover a lot of ground in a hurry and you can't help but believe with earlier recognition, his close out would have been more effective. Back to his passing ability. He's a good passer and at times looks like an elite passer. Unfortunately, he's not a point guard and to try and make him one would be putting him in a postion to fail, or at least delay his reaching his potential. He turns the ball over a bit too much for me and doesn't recognize traps quickly enough.
I may change my mind once college play starts. He's going to be a very good basketball player. He has a very high ceiling, and I would bet on him to reach it. But if we, somehow luck out and end up with the first pick in the draft and I'm the Kings, I can't pass on Boozer or Dybantsa. Right now, I don't think the talent difference between the top three is great enough to point to one and say, this is the best player!
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I'm a huge fan of Stirtz and the more games I watch of him only convince me more that he's the front runner to be the best pg in the draft.
