Mock draft 2026
- Thread starter iowamcnabb
- Start date
I think Caleb Wilson is going to look incredibly impressive in pre-draft workouts.
And while I think Boozer will look fine in workouts, I don't think that's where he shines the most. I was most impressed by his ability to make in game adjustments based on what opposing defenses were doing, which doesn't show up in an empty gym. Especially when he isn't an explosive athlete. I think he has the lowest bust potential of anyone in the lottery. I just don't know whether his ceiling is great role player or star.
Bryce Simon did a "best game" breakdown on Nate Ament for the Game Theory Substack and while he looked pretty in that game (it was against Auburn) he still reminded me of Risacher with a slower wind up on his shot. And in the couple games that I watched him he was mostly invisible. Maybe I just caught bad games, but no part of me thought, "that's a guy I really want on my team."
And while I think Boozer will look fine in workouts, I don't think that's where he shines the most. I was most impressed by his ability to make in game adjustments based on what opposing defenses were doing, which doesn't show up in an empty gym. Especially when he isn't an explosive athlete. I think he has the lowest bust potential of anyone in the lottery. I just don't know whether his ceiling is great role player or star.
Bryce Simon did a "best game" breakdown on Nate Ament for the Game Theory Substack and while he looked pretty in that game (it was against Auburn) he still reminded me of Risacher with a slower wind up on his shot. And in the couple games that I watched him he was mostly invisible. Maybe I just caught bad games, but no part of me thought, "that's a guy I really want on my team."
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I think I am AJ, Wilson, Boozer, Peterson for the reasons Cap outlined.
They are the top 4 guys though and as much as I'd love to pick first I could settle picking 3rd or 4th and not even having the opportunity to Bagley or Fultz it up. I'll admit as much as I'm biased against Duke, it is Peterson who scares me the most because of erratic play time at Kansas. Is that a long term concern or just a blip? If it were football I think it would be standard injury mitigation and draft insurance, but in basketball I am really not sure what to make of it.
And I think I am Flemings at 5.
They are the top 4 guys though and as much as I'd love to pick first I could settle picking 3rd or 4th and not even having the opportunity to Bagley or Fultz it up. I'll admit as much as I'm biased against Duke, it is Peterson who scares me the most because of erratic play time at Kansas. Is that a long term concern or just a blip? If it were football I think it would be standard injury mitigation and draft insurance, but in basketball I am really not sure what to make of it.
And I think I am Flemings at 5.
Yeah, I think we're in agreement on the top four. Obviously I'm not privy to medical or personal red flags like the front offices are, so those can't change my impressions (e.g. What's the deal with Peterson? Good kid with some nagging injuries or bad apple? Makes a difference.)
The Wilson/Boozer ranking is the hardest for me. I think the deciding factor is that Wilson does a lot of his work in space and hustling off the ball, and I think that translates well, while Boozer does a lot of his work in the low post against contact (whether he's scoring, rebounding, or passing) and that contact is going to be bigger and tougher in the NBA so I worry a bit about how he translates. But strong undersized post guys have many times become huge NBA stars (e.g. Barkley, Boozer Sr.) so we all may be overthinking it.
If we fall out of the top 4, right now I feel like it's gotta be a PG. Burries is going to be good but I don't know that he'll be more impactful than a true on-ball player of similar caliber. Ament, if he's a ceiling player instead of a floor player would be a home run, but I don't know if it's worth the risk. Lendeborg and Steinbach both look to have good futures, but while we still have Domas, and Max/Dylan are rounding out the big side of a frontcourt rotation (with Precious potentially still in town as well) I don't think they represent big enough upgrades to use a 5-9 pick on. So barring somebody coming out of nowhere, we should fill need with one of the many excellent PG prospects.
I may be Acuff at 5, but I could be bumped off that. If we do end up at 5 and Perry takes any of the Acuff/Wagler/Philon/Flemings/Brown mix (that might be my order right now, very flexible) then I can totally roll with it.
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
Yeah I give him less credit for Tatum than Brown. But regardless Danny takes big swings for wings in the top 10
Main difference is Luka had shake and strength where Boozer mostly just has strength. Also Luka is a generational offensive talent that completely covers up his lack of defense. Boozer would have to be better than your standard 20 and 10 guy in order to cover up his potential defensive concerns. We've seen Max put up 20 and 10 plenty but it doesn't quite make up for his defense yet.
That being said, I still have Boozer 3rd on my list. I think he has the highest floor of any player in the draft but I don't think he has as high of a ceiling as some of the others.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Man don’t even compare max to boozer..
Boozer will be better then just 20-10 empty numbers he will be an offensive hub also in this era of ball you can get whatever matchup you want through pick and roll it will be switched every time so boozer can chose who he wants to bully
If only we already had a strong 6'10" guy capable of putting up 20-10 and being an offensive hub in the post
Boozer can finish with both hands and shoot the 3. He’s going to be able to get to his spots and operate on both sides of the pick-and-roll. He could be special on offense and could slot next to a defensive center.
Telemachus
Starter
I love Caleb Wilson. I personally only see 2 sure-fire franchise players in this draft (assuming health and reaching 80% of potential), and they are Wilson and Dybantsa.
coolhandluke
Starter
Apparently we are trying to trade that guy for Jakob Poetl
Tizzy Flip
Starter
I agree with this but also think Peterson is there as well. There was just something weird about the whole Kansas situation. Was an odd fit and they mostly played him off ball.
Caleb has so much skill and IQ, I see shades of AD. We’ll see if he can develop a similar offensive skill set, but AD coming out of Kentucky was considered an elite rim protector and rebounder but raw offensively.
I’ve seen so much Paolo recently that I just think that is Boozer’s ceiling. Not saying that’s a bad thing, just not what a rebuilding team needs. Perfect for the Pacers, not our situation.
Street Clothes is actually a perfect comp for a combination of Caleb and Peterson.
I think the projections currently on Boozer is fair. High floor but what’s the ceiling? Agree with ESP47 in that the lack of twitchyness here may limit his ceiling but he’s going to be a good player. That being said, this could be the draft where someone in the 5-10 range busts out as the best player down the road. Acuff is explosive. Meh defense but he’s explosive. Maxey vibes on O for smaller player. Other PGs can breakout or be solid. Not really excited about our lotto pick just being solid
I'm glad he'll be in the draft and there was very little chance that he wouldn't be, but it sure would have been fun watching the internet (and at least a half dozen NBA front offices) explode if he had decided to spend another year in college.
QWERTYLICIOUS
Starter
This is, by far, the most disappointing aspect of his decision to declare...
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I'm hoping Peterson comes into interviews with that Kawhi like attitude, might end up where the Kings are picking if they don't rise haha.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
The issue with any tweenerish F though is the downside. The upside for someone like Wilson is terrific, probably higher than any other player but the gamble is always if they can't transition to the wing or if they are able to play the 5. It wasn't much of an issue the last decade or so but the league has gotten bigger and more physical all the way around. Slight guards and tweeners might see a dramatic shift in impact. For the Kings it wouldn't matter. Any of the top 4 and the future is much better looking heading into next season.
SacKings123
G-League
Welcome to Sacramento, Dybantsa
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
Can we use some other acronym than STD
It wasn't us that picked the unfortunate user name!Can we use some other acronym than STD
I have not one, not two, but three different ventures in my life and at work that all consist of a word starting with a "B" followed by a word starting with an "M" and I have become very careful to never abbreviate any of them in polite company.
Section 101
All-Star
Could be way worse! User name format first initial, last name. Knew someone Angela Hole. AHole!
Idk, im just not going overthink the Boozer measurables. Watched 5 or 6 Duke games this year and he showed over and over he can get his own bucket off the bounce.
Dime Dropper
All-Star
In Dukes final game, he got blocked at least 4 times at the rim with about 7 minutes still left in the half. Ignoring flaws doesn't negate them. I'm not saying he won't be a great player because it's impossible to know. But he does have limitations that should be noted.
whitechocolate
Bench
Telemachus
Starter
Here's my problem with Boozer. I think he is going to be a very good NBA player, not someone who is your best player. He may prove me wrong, but I think he will be at his best if he is the 2nd or 3rd best player on a team. One of the reasons for this he how he responded when his team needed someone to step up to stop a run or make a big play at the end of games. For Duke, that player was consistently Isaiah Evans, not Boozer. Now, he is only 18, but that bothers me.
For BYU, that player was almost always Dybantsa. For NC, it was almost always Caleb Wilson. Just a difference in mentality.
