Mock draft 2026

[twslam07]

Wagler intrigues me as well.

The fact that his 3PAR and FTAR are both above 47.5% is pretty impressive and unique…

So unique that I did a little bit of research to see how many top 10 picks in the past 20 years had both a 3PAR and FTAR above 47.5%. This is the list…

Eric Gordon (2008)
Nik Stauskas (2014)
Luka Doncic (2018)

That’s it. 3 players out of a pool of 200 top 10 selections. Damian Lillard barely missed the cut (.465 3PAR and .519 FTAR) and there are a couple others that were somewhat close like Trae Young (.531 3PAR and .443 FTAR) & Bradley Beal (.473 3PAR and .440 FTAR).

On top of that unique scoring profile, Wagler is an impressive passer/playmaker. So much so that he has a 2.46 AST:TO…as a freshman. He’s better in that metric compared to that list of 3 players (Doncic = 2.08, Stauskas = 1.76, and Gordon = 0.68).

Again, he has an interesting, unique scoring profile which seems to mesh very well with where the NBA has gone (threes and get to the FT line) and he’s a very good passer & playmaker who could have the potential to play a PG like role. Factor in that he’s 6’6”, a freshman, not a horrible defender, and you have quite a prospect on your hands.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Wagler intrigues me as well.

The fact that his 3PAR and FTAR are both above 47.5% is pretty impressive and unique…

So unique that I did a little bit of research to see how many top 10 picks in the past 20 years had both a 3PAR and FTAR above 47.5%. This is the list…

Eric Gordon (2008)
Nik Stauskas (2014)
Luka Doncic (2018)

That’s it. 3 players out of a pool of 200 top 10 selections. Damian Lillard barely missed the cut (.465 3PAR and .519 FTAR) and there are a couple others that were somewhat close like Trae Young (.531 3PAR and .443 FTAR) & Bradley Beal (.473 3PAR and .440 FTAR).

On top of that unique scoring profile, Wagler is an impressive passer/playmaker. So much so that he has a 2.46 AST:TO…as a freshman. He’s better in that metric compared to that list of 3 players (Doncic = 2.08, Stauskas = 1.76, and Gordon = 0.68).

Again, he has an interesting, unique scoring profile which seems to mesh very well with where the NBA has gone (threes and get to the FT line) and he’s a very good passer & playmaker who could have the potential to play a PG like role. Factor in that he’s 6’6”, a freshman, not a horrible defender, and you have quite a prospect on your hands.

His defense in the houston game was impressive and for someone lacking strength/athleticism he gets to the line a lot like you pointed out

I like how versatile it will be to build around him compared to guys like flemming or Acuff with his size we could still draft another PG and not low size in the lineup

 

[jiimbob]

Yeah, if we’re outside the top four Wagler intrigues me most.
Figure a way to resign Precious as a big and build around a good sized front court.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Yes. He's my Dad.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Burries is a guard a lot of people are sleeping on. He has good size and plays both ends of the court.

I think it's because he's old for a Freshman (will be 21 when the season tips off). That's all I got.

 

[twslam07]

His defense in the houston game was impressive and for someone lacking strength/athleticism he gets to the line a lot like you pointed out

I like how versatile it will be to build around him compared to guys like flemming or Acuff with his size we could still draft another PG and not low size in the lineup

I have Flemings below both Wagler and Acuff at this point but the Wagler/Acuff debate is ongoing for me. Perhaps the combine measurements will be the final data point to tilt it one way or another.

But the case for Acuff is also notable compared to Wagler…

- Dawg mentality (Wagler doesn’t give me the same feeling when I watch him but it’s admittedly a “feeling”
- Volume scoring (averages 5.1 more points than Wagler per 36 min)
- Efficiency on that volume scoring (.604 TS% vs Wagler’s .597 TS%)
- AST:TO ratio (2.97 vs. Wagler’s 2.46)
- Strength (Acuff’s built like a football player and can create space with that strength. Wagler is lacking here but he has time to add it)
- Length (Acuff reportedly measured with a +4.5-5 inch wingspan meaning his wingspan is 4.5-5 inches longer than his height. Wagler’s wingspan is a little more up in the air but I’m seeing guesses of around 6’10”-7’0”. I don’t know if that’s accurate, but that would be very good for his draft stock. But coming back to Acuff…a 6’3” PG with a 6’7.5-6’8” wingspan and good strength is a good physical profile.)


I like Wagler as the better outside threat (his range beyond the line is eye popping). He’s obviously taller (and very likely longer) and he’s a better defender with the opportunity to be a solid NBA defender (as you already alluded to) which I don’t feel confident in saying about Acuff. But gun to my head, I think I favor Acuff’s offensive game more in the NBA which might get me to pull the trigger since we’re star hunting.