Mock draft 2026

[hrdboild]

I think most scouts would say AJ is the better prospect then fox look at his numbers, positional advantage, size and athleticism. AJ has mvp potential fox didn’t and I wouldn’t consider a one time all star an offensive hub especially when the year he won it Sabonis was basically the hub

I think Wilson will be a more than just a defensive player but what has he shown that he could even be a number two on a good team? His shooting % at the rim is a major red flag as well

I’m just saying AJ could be like a 6’9 SGA not that that’s what he is

It's hard to compare Fox (a 6'3" guard) and Dybantsa (a 6'8 or 6'9 forward). I assumed Fox and Peterson was the comparison to be made there. Fox was better at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. He also could finish above the rim. Peterson is by far the better shooter, which most would say is more important in the modern game. I feel like Fox also impacted the game more defensively.

But it seems like you're now changing the definition of what "offensive hub" means on me. Sabonis has never been an elite scorer. Fox spent 2 years as a top 10 PPG player in the league and that streak only ended because he got traded (at his own request) to another team which already had their #1 guy. He also, not for nothing, led the league in 4th quarter scoring for both of those years and won a clutch player of the year award. So does hub mean an elite playmaker or does hub mean a "put the team on your back and get points when needed" player? If it's the latter, that has to include Fox. If it's the former, I'm not sure that Dybantsa or Peterson have proven they fit that definition either. Heck, Peterson is only averaging 2 assists per game right now. That's less than half of what Fox averaged in his college season.

Wilson's poor shooting percentage on layups may or may not be relevant. He's a guy who is looking to dunk everything he can. I'd be curious to see the breakdown of how many layups he is attempting vs. mid-range jumpers or dunks. This could be much ado about nothing. He also leads the NCAA in dunks right now by quite a large margin and as we all know, a dunk is the most "high percentage" shot there is.

Sure, I get that. I'm high on Dybantsa too. But we play the "Player X" could be like "Player Y" game every year with the draft and the same concept applies to other elite prospects. Caleb Wilson could be Kevin Garnett. AJ Peterson could be Kobe Bryant. Oh my god, Cameron Boozer could be Al Horford / Amare Stoudamire. We have 4 Hall of Famers in this draft! Pity we can't draft them all!

 

[TheBigO]

People are starting to fall into the same trap with Boozer they did with Luka. "Not explosive enough, not athletic enough, it'll never work in the NBA". And yet, as an 18 year old freshman, he's dominating college basketball like a 22-23 year old elite senior would playing at the highest level. In fact, I see a match-up nightmare with him at the 4 at the NBA level with how many teams try and get away with smaller wings now.

My initial read with Boozer remains fairly true; not flashy, not going to wow you with athleticism, but he makes the right play over and over again, puts the ball in the hoop and his team is going to win the game. I don't even know how his numbers can be real, especially for an 18 year old

AJ is at 1, Peterson probably at 2, but would not fault any team at all to grab Boozer instead at 2. He's going to be damn good

Here's the other thing with Boozer - you can see him figuring things out during games. Dybantsa has been rightfully applauded for his steady improvement this season, but Boozer isn't just getting better game to game, he's making adjustments IN REAL TIME and finding ways to be productive despite what teams throw at him.

I still have him #3 or #4 right now, but I think he's just too smart and too skilled to not be a good player on the next level. I think he has a harder path to stardom than Peterson or Dybantsa potentially do, but I after re-watching a couple recent Duke games and focusing on him more, I'm definitely done doubting him.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011220855888757208

 

[Joshyjosh31]

It's hard to compare Fox (a 6'3" guard) and Dybantsa (a 6'8 or 6'9 forward). I assumed Fox and Peterson was the comparison to be made there. Fox was better at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. He also could finish above the rim. Peterson is by far the better shooter, which most would say is more important in the modern game. I feel like Fox also impacted the game more defensively.

But it seems like you're now changing the definition of what "offensive hub" means on me. Sabonis has never been an elite scorer. Fox spent 2 years as a top 10 PPG player in the league and that streak only ended because he got traded (at his own request) to another team which already had their #1 guy. He also, not for nothing, led the league in 4th quarter scoring for both of those years and won a clutch player of the year award. So does hub mean an elite playmaker or does hub mean a "put the team on your back and get points when needed" player? If it's the latter, that has to include Fox. If it's the former, I'm not sure that Dybantsa or Peterson have proven they fit that definition either. Heck, Peterson is only averaging 2 assists per game right now. That's less than half of what Fox averaged in his college season.

Wilson's poor shooting percentage on layups may or may not be relevant. He's a guy who is looking to dunk everything he can. I'd be curious to see the breakdown of how many layups he is attempting vs. mid-range jumpers or dunks. This could be much ado about nothing. He also leads the NCAA in dunks right now by quite a large margin and as we all know, a dunk is the most "high percentage" shot there is.

Sure, I get that. I'm high on Dybantsa too. But we play the "Player X" could be like "Player Y" game every year with the draft and the same concept applies to other elite prospects. Caleb Wilson could be Kevin Garnett. AJ Peterson could be Kobe Bryant. Oh my god, Cameron Boozer could be Al Horford / Amare Stoudamire. We have 4 Hall of Famers in this draft! Pity we can't draft them all!

I’d consider a hub someone who the teams runs the offense through that year fox yes was a score wr but we ran most the offense with DHO through Sabonis. Fox rarely made his teammates better and it’s still the same in San Antonio I’d consider Young a hub.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011660223870554120

 

[hrdboild]

I’d consider a hub someone who the teams runs the offense through that year fox yes was a score wr but we ran most the offense with DHO through Sabonis. Fox rarely made his teammates better and it’s still the same in San Antonio I’d consider Young a hub.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011660223870554120

Again, is an offensive hub a scoring machine or is it your leading playmaker? Cause if "ran the offense" and "made his teammates better" are the new criteria I don't see how Peterson can be considered an offensive hub when he's averaging 2 apg and Caleb Wilson is not when he's averaging 2.7 apg. And it's hard for me to take the "Fox doesn't make his teammates better" argument seriously when the team he left won 40 games last year and is now on pace for 22 wins while the team he joined won 34 games last year and is now on pace for 55 wins.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Again, is an offensive hub a scoring machine or is it your leading playmaker? Cause if "ran the offense" and "made his teammates better" are the new criteria I don't see how Peterson can be considered an offensive hub when he's averaging 2 apg and Caleb Wilson is not when he's averaging 2.7 apg. And it's hard for me to take the "Fox doesn't make his teammates better" argument seriously when the team he left won 40 games last year and is now on pace for 22 wins while the team he joined won 34 games last year and is now on pace for 55 wins.

Stop it man

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011681039538901429

 

[kingsboi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011681039538901429

if he doesn't shoot in the NBA, isn't that similar to a Amen Thompson?

 

[The_Jamal]

if he doesn't shoot in the NBA, isn't that similar to a Amen Thompson?

I think Wilson has a weaker handle than Amen.

 

[Tetsujin]

I think Wilson has a weaker handle than Amen.

He’s also bigger than Amen and probably a bit better of a shooter so it’s not really that good of a comparison.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011660223870554120

aLl He DoEs Is DuNk

 

[Kingster]

I need to see him create and shoot before I even think of taking him over Boozer to me there’s nothing he could do to be drafted over AJ/Peterson

Boozer could be a better college player than Caleb, but Caleb's NBA ceiling is much greater.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

if he doesn't shoot in the NBA, isn't that similar to a Amen Thompson?

Amen is a guard of Wilson can’t shoot he’s gonna be a rim runner

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011866741811397007

 

[hrdboild]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011866741811397007

Labaron Philon is a guy who seems to be getting unfairly overlooked in this class. He's not a top 5 prospect but he could end up being a steal for someone if he lasts until the late lottery.

 

[hrdboild]

Stop it man

We have a thread dedicated to hating on De'Aaron Fox here so I also don't expect this crowd to be able to look at him objectively. I would agree with anyone who wants to argue that a guy who seems to have peaked as a one-time third team All-NBA selection is not someone who you can expect to lead you to a championship. But where this gets iffy for me is the next step of "Peterson is miles better as a prospect and player than Fox is". He might be but I'm deeply skeptical of players who impact the game primarily as a scorer without a lot of playmaking or defensive production on top of that. It has been my observation over the last 20 or so years that these types of players are often not worth their max contracts and tend to lead their teams into limbo -- too good to find a second star in the draft but not good enough to get their team to the finals. It would be extremely disappointing if we blew up our 48 win team only to wind up in exactly the same position a few years later.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

We have a thread dedicated to hating on De'Aaron Fox here so I also don't expect this crowd to be able to look at him objectively. I would agree with anyone who wants to argue that a guy who seems to have peaked as a one-time third team All-NBA selection is not someone who you can expect to lead you to a championship. But where this gets iffy for me is the next step of "Peterson is miles better as a prospect and player than Fox is". He might be but I'm deeply skeptical of players who impact the game primarily as a scorer without a lot of playmaking or defensive production on top of that. It has been my observation over the last 20 or so years that these types of players are often not worth their max contracts and tend to lead their teams into limbo -- too good to find a second star in the draft but not good enough to get their team to the finals. It would be extremely disappointing if we blew up our 48 win team only to wind up in exactly the same position a few years later.

The "good" news is we're going to suck next year too. And probably the year after. So potentially this is the year we get Tyreke and next year is Boogie.

Or the year we draft Fox (and had a shot at 1-2 All Stars but between us and Portland we blew all three picks at 10, 15 and 20), and get a crack at a JJJ or Luka next year.

Honestly just comes down to our organization's talent evaluation and not screwing up. I'm definitely on the record of being unconvinced we have that, but then again Cardwell and Maxime are showing we can find talent deep in the draft so maybe when our number finally gets called they won't pick the one guy out of 5 to be a complete and total bust.

 

[KainLear]

Fox rarely made his teammates better

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011858662688768084

6 out of 8 in the top 15 were or are all stars the other two are Flagg and Chet. There’s three guys from this draft on the top 15 AJ, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson, and flemming

 

[hrdboild]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011858662688768084

6 out of 8 in the top 15 were or are all stars the other two are Flagg and Chet. There’s three guys from this draft on the top 15 AJ, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson, and flemming

That list is kindof a cautionary tale too, in a way, or at least a nudge toward more realistic expectations. Joel Embiid is the only guy here who won an MVP award (once). We'd most likely be getting an All-Star at the top of the draft this year but a true superstar is a whole level of rare above that. Those types of players are awfully hard for anyone to predict (except for Lebron James, anyway).

EDIT: Oops, I missed James Harden. So that's two MVP awards accounted for.