Tony Bennett And 2026 Draft Discussion

I was thinking about Meleek Thomas a a good pick up in the late 1st rd, 85% FT, 41% 3Pt, 2.8% stl. Definitely adds speed and 2way ability. I also really like Billy Richmond on Arkansas.

I came across this Tobi lawal guy on Virginia Tech who declared for the draft. 6'8" high flier that dunks everything, great rebounder and great shot blocker. Playing in the ACC went up against teams like Duke and UNC.

 

Big day today.

Pulling for Indy land the #1 pick cause I'm fine with them becoming an Eastern Conference juggernaut and want to see their bet pay off on the protection they put on that Clippers pick.

I want the least favorable outcome for the Kings and Jazz, ineptitude should not be rewarded.

And most importantly, the OKC pick needs to fall WAY down.

 

Hopefully Bennett earns his paycheck this summer.

 

New substack from Mike Garcia (canyondriver)

 

New B/R mock from Wasserman




Even if we lose Luke, I'd be upset if we opted for drafting that skillet over 3&D wing or a big.

 

those lawal clips look a bit thiero-esque. though i'm doubting he's actually that 6'8". he looks like an interesting guy for a buy-in in the 40s.

thomas didn't jump off the screen to me in the games i watched (which were admittedly few), but people whose opinion i respect like him, and let's be honest...calipari knows talent.

always like seeing mike's insights, and i'm glad someone else is on the richmond train. maybe i'm overselling him, but i think his ceiling is actually much higher than gpII (which i think is bronny's ceiling). i see richmond as more like herb jones, but maybe with more offensive potential. will be curious to see his official measurements, as it's hard to tell sometimes in college games.

i've also been mentioning jefferson as a late first round pick for a long time. he makes a lot of sense if rui leaves or if we move on from jake, imo. his hoop iq really jumped out to me in the games i watched. he's not super quick or really athletic in any way, but he's big and strong for a forward and will just be in the right place on both ends all the time.

 

I'm out on Evans, he's too one dimensional from what I've seen. Really nice read from Garcia. I've been high on Richmond since midway through the college season. He just makes plays at crucial moments and has a relentless motor. He originally reminded me of young KCP but I can see the Tony Allen comp too. If we could grab him in the second round and Jefferson at #25 I'd be happy. I don't think we have a lot of room on the roster for development projects. Luka and Austin are in their primes, and we need contributors next season from the jump. Some other draft combos I'd like to see from us 1st rd/2nd rd:

• Jefferson/Richmond
• Swain (but he'll go sooner)/Jefferson
• Allen/Thornton (many experts are high on him, he's 6'2" but built like a tank, good rebounder, 40% 3pt)
• Thomas (up there with Flemings on rim pressure)/Keyshawn Hall (great all around wing, could compete for mins day 1)

 

it's combine measurement day. don't think they've released the full results yet, but dybantsa is apparently 6'8.5" without shoes, 8'10" standing reach (that's pretty huge for a wing). peterson is 6'4.5", 8'7" reach, which is basically like your prototypical nba sg size (in the harden/ant/booker/reaves range).

 

New mock from Clutch Points

 

Morez no longer in our range after today

 

If we're looking to buy into the 2nd round, here's who what picks

 

chicago's 38, SA's 42, bkn's 43, okc's 37 all could be of interest.

feel like the draft this year gets pretty dicey even in the late 30s. of course someone will be taken after that, but tbh, most of the time i like playing the udfa game more than picking after 45.

 

Hopefully not solo.

 

Of course not. Defensive savant extraordinaire .... according to others.

 

btw, i think if cenac slips all the way down to near us, we might trade up to get him. he's a bill duffy guy. maybe bill does us a solid and just steers him here?

 

looks like a lot of my targets are shooting up the boards again, as cenac has joined carr and swain as guys that i think have no chance of slipping to us. good news is that means some folks that were consensus ahead of them most of the year may fall. bad news is that that's usually for a reason (see: jhs, whitmore).

i've warmed a lot to ejiofor, as he measured out actually bigger than draymond with a very similar looking game (not quite the defender/rebounder green was in his last year, but close). compares pretty favorably to toronto's CMB, who was a lotto pick last year and had a solid rookie year, too.

 

I still haven’t taken a look at all the measures, jumps and agility but I’m surprised at some of the top performers. Karaban? Josh Jefferson? Even Koa Peat I thought was more of a bruiser. And who is. Bryce Hopkins?

 

There aren't any rumors out ,about the Lakers looking to acquire additional picks?

 

Don't know but I would bet Walter is going to want to make use of all the money and effort the team has put into scouting this year's draft .... for a bang for the buck young player to pick up as a 2 way defensive stud, or a center, as opposed to trading #25 in some high dollar or high cost in personnel scheme for an expensive established NBA player.